Circularly polarized microcell antenna

Claim 1

A circularly polarized antenna (10) which is fed by a single feed-line for radiating circularly polarized electromagnetic energy therefrom, said antenna comprising: an electrically conductive housing (12) having a base and a peripheral side wall extending upward therefrom for reflecting electromagnetic energy from therewithin; an electrical connecter (20) having an electrical conductor (24) surrounded by an electrically grounded shell, said shell being mounted to said housing (12) such that an electrical connection is made therebetween, said antenna being connected to the single feed-line by said electrical connector (20); a conductor bar (22) electrically connected to said electrical conductor (24) at a first end and to said housing (12) at a second end such that a standing wave may be generated therein; and a radiating structure including: a first dipole assembly having a first primary dipole arm (52) and a first secondary dipole arm (68) electrically connected via a first phasing loop (56) for imposing a 90° phase shift therebetween, said first primary dipole arm (52) being mounted to said conductor bar (22) so that an electrical connection is made therebetween and said first phasing loop (56) physically elevating said first secondary dipole arm (68) above said base; and a second dipole assembly having a second primary dipole arm (52) and a second secondary dipole arm (68) electrically connected via a second phasing loop (56) for imposing a 90° phase shift therebetween, said second primary dipole arm (52) being mounted to said housing (12) so that an electrical connection is made therebetween and said second phasing loop (56) physically elevating said second secondary dipole arm (68) above said base; wherein said first primary dipole arm (52) is a positively charged dipole arm of a one-half wavelength primary dipole and said second primary dipole arm (52) is a negatively charged dipole arm of said one-half wavelength primary dipole, wherein said first secondary dipole arm (68) is a positively charged dipole arm of a one-half wavelength secondary dipole and said second secondary dipole arm (52) is a negative charged dipole arm of said one-half wavelength secondary dipole, and whereby said radiating structure is fed by the single feed-line such that said positively and negatively charged dipole arms of said primary dipole are fed by the single feed-line via said conductor bar (22) and said housing (12), respectively, and said positively and negatively charged dipole arms of said secondary dipole are respectively fed by said positively and negatively charged dipole arms of said primary dipole via said first and second phasing loops, respectively.