Antenna with electrically long support

Claim 2

An antenna for providing an omnidirectional pattern in an environment which includes conductive members which are long relative to a wavelength of the electromagnetic energy for which the antenna is designed comprising: a plurality of conductive members relatively positioned in a given radiating array, at least one of said conductive members being longer than a predetermined length with respect to the wavelength for which the antenna is designed, said predetermined length being one-quarter of the wavelength for which the antenna is designed, the remaining conductive members being at least of such predetermined length, means for applying electrical energy to said conductive members to effect radiation of electromagnetic energy therefrom, and means for limiting the radiation from each said longer conductive member to a portion thereof equal to such predetermined length, said means for limiting the radiation from each said longer conductive member comprising a cylindrical conductive member of a length equal to one-quarter of such wavelength, said cylindrical member comprising a flexible conductive material adapted to fold upon itself to a foreshortened configuration for compact storage, means for supporting said cylindrical member in coaxial relationship with such longer conductive member in electrically insulated relationship therewith, and means for shorting one end of said cylindrical member to such longer conductive member adjacent one end of the latter, whereby the non-shorted end of said cylindrical member constitutes an open circuit to such electromagnetic energy propagated therealong, thereby preventing the propagation of such energy beyond said non-shorted end.

Claim 3

An antenna for providing an omnidirectional pattern in an environment which includes conductive members which are long relative to a wavelength of the electromagnetic energy for which the antenna is designed in accordance with claim 1, and including means for urging said flexible conductive material into a fully extended condition.

Claim 4

An antenna for providing an omnidirectional pattern in an environment which includes conductive members which are long relative to a wavelength of the electromagnetic energy for which the antenna is designed in accordance with claim 2, wherein said means for urging said flexible material to its extended condition comprises a helical resilient member.

Claim 5

An antenna for providing an omnidirectional pattern in an environment which includes conductive members which are long relative to a wavelength of the electromagnetic energy for which the antenna is designed comprising: a plurality of linear conductive members relatively positioned in a turnstile radiating array, at least one of said linear conductive members being longer than a predetermined length with respect to the wavelength for which the antenna is designed, the remaining linear conductive members being at least of such predetermined length, said predetermined lenGth being one-quarter of the wavelength for which the antenna is designed, means for applying electrical energy to said linear conductive members to effect radiation of electromagnetic energy therefrom, and means for limiting the radiation from each said longer linear conductive member to a portion thereof equal to such predetermined length, said means for limiting the radiation from each said longer linear conductive member comprising a cylindrical conductive member of a length equal to one-quarter of such wavelength, said cylindrical member comprising a flexible conductive material adapted to fold upon itself to a foreshortened configuration for compact storage, means for supporting said cylindrical member in coaxial relationship with such longer linear conductive member in electrically insulated relationship therewith, and means for shorting one end of said cylindrical member to such longer linear conductive member adjacent one end of the latter, whereby the non-shorted end of said cylindrical member constitutes an open circuit to such electromagnetic energy propagated therealong, thereby preventing the propagation of such energy beyond said non-shorted end.

Claim 6

An antenna for providing an omnidirectional pattern in an environment which includes conductive members which are long relative to a wavelength of the electromagnetic energy for which the antenna is designed comprising: a plurality of linear conductive members relatively positioned in a turnstile radiating array, at least one of said linear conductive members being longer than a predetermined length with respect to the wavelength for which the antenna is designed, the remaining linear conductive members being at least of such predetermined length, said predetermined lenGth being one-quarter of the wavelength for which the antenna is designed, means for applying electrical energy to said linear conductive members to effect radiation of electromagnetic energy therefrom, and means for limiting the radiation from each said longer linear conductive member to a portion thereof equal to such predetermined length, said means for limiting the radiation from each said longer linear conductive member comprising a cylindrical conductive member of a length equal to one-quarter of such wavelength, said cylindrical member comprising a flexible conductive material adapted to fold upon itself to a foreshortened configuration for compact storage, means for supporting said cylindrical member in coaxial relationship with such longer linear conductive member in electrically insulated relationship therewith, and means for shorting one end of said cylindrical member to such longer linear conductive member adjacent one end of the latter, whereby the non-shorted end of said cylindrical member constitutes an open circuit to such electromagnetic energy propagated therealong, thereby preventing the propagation of such energy beyond said non-shorted end.

Claim 7

An antenna for providing an omnidirectional pattern in an environment which includes conductive members which are long relative to a wavelength of the electromagnetic energy for which the antenna is designed in accordance with claim 4, and including means for urging said flexible conductive material into a fully extended condition.

Claim 8

An antenna for providing an omnidirectional pattern in an environment which includes conductive members which are long relative to a wavelength of the electromagnetic energy for which the antenna is designed in accordance with claim 5, wherein said means for urging said flexible material to its extended position comprises a helical resilient member.

Claim 9

An antenna comprising: a first conductive member which is longer than a predetermined length; a second conductive member positioned adjacent said first conductive member and substantially equal in length to said predetermined length, said second member comprising a flexible conductive material adapted to fold upon itself to a foreshorted configuration for compact storage; means for applying electrical energy to said second conductive member to effect radiation of electromagnetic energy therefrom; and means connecting said first conductive member with said second conductive member and cooperating with said second conductive member for preventing said electrical energy from passing to a portion of said first conductive member.

Claim 10

An antenna comprising: a first conductive member which is longer than a predetermined length; a second conductive member positioned adjacent said first conductive member and substantially equal in length to said predetermined length, said second member comprising a flexible conductive material adapted to fold upon itself to a foreshorted configuration for compact storage; means for applying electrical energy to said second conductive member to effect radiation of electromagnetic energy therefrom; and means connecting said first conductive member with said second conductive member and cooperating with said second conductive member for preventing said electrical energy from passing to a portion of said first conductive member.

Claim 11

An antenna comprising: an elongated conductor which is longer than a predetermined length; a hollow cylindrical conductive member displaying an axial length equal to said predetermined length and positioned coaxially around said conductor, said cylindrical member comprising a flexible conductive material adapted to fold upon itself to a foreshorted configuration for compact storage; means for applying electrical energy to said cylindrical member to effect radiation of electromagnetic energy therefrom; and electrically conductive means connected to one end of said cylindrical member and to said conductor at a point adjacent said one end whereby said cylindrical conductor acts as an electrical choke for preventing said electrical energy from passing to that portion of said conductor extending outside said cylindrical member.

Claim 12

An antenna comprising: an elongated conductor which is longer than a predetermined length; a hollow cylindrical conductive member displaying an axial length equal to said predetermined length and positioned coaxially around said conductor, said cylindrical member comprising a flexible conductive material adapted to fold upon itself to a foreshorted configuration for compact storage; means for applying electrical energy to said cylindrical member to effect radiation of electromagnetic energy therefrom; and electrically conductive means connected to one end of said cylindrical member and to said conductor at a point adjacent said one end whereby said cylindrical conductor acts as an electrical choke for preventing said electrical energy from passing to that portion of said conductor extending outside said cylindrical member.

Claim 13

An antenna for providing an omnidirectional pattern, comprising: a plurality of elongated conductive members at least one of which is longer than a predetermined length, said elongated members being orthogonally positioned with respect to one another and having inner portions adjacent to one another; a plurality of hollow cylindrical conductive members each of which displays an axial length equal to said predetermined length, each of said cylindrical members being positioned coaxially with and surrounding the inner portion of a different one of each of said elongated members sO that said cylindrical members are mutually orthogonally positioned and each has an inner end adjacent to the inner ends of said other cylindrical members; means for applying electrical energy to each of said cylindrical members near said inner ends thereof to effect omnidirectional pattern radiation of electromagnetic energy from said cylindrical members; and electrically conductive means connecting said inner ends of each of said cylindrical members to said inner portion of said elongated members whereby said cylindrical members act as electrical chokes for preventing said electrical energy from passing to those portions of said elongated members extending outside said cylindrical members.

Claim 14

An antenna for providing an omnidirectional pattern, comprising: a plurality of elongated conductive members at least one of which is longer than a predetermined length, said elongated members being orthogonally positioned with respect to one another and having inner portions adjacent to one another; a plurality of hollow cylindrical conductive members each of which displays an axial length equal to said predetermined length, each of said cylindrical members being positioned coaxially with and surrounding the inner portion of a different one of each of said elongated members sO that said cylindrical members are mutually orthogonally positioned and each has an inner end adjacent to the inner ends of said other cylindrical members; means for applying electrical energy to each of said cylindrical members near said inner ends thereof to effect omnidirectional pattern radiation of electromagnetic energy from said cylindrical members; and electrically conductive means connecting said inner ends of each of said cylindrical members to said inner portion of said elongated members whereby said cylindrical members act as electrical chokes for preventing said electrical energy from passing to those portions of said elongated members extending outside said cylindrical members.

Claim 15

An antenna according to claim 9 wherein said predetermined length is one-quarter of the wavelength for which the antenna is designed.

Claim 16

An antenna according to claim 10 wherein said cylindrical member comprises a flexible conductive material adapted to fold upon itself to a foreshorted configuration for compact storage.