Curved dipole antenna with center-post amplifier

Claim 2

An antenna system, comprising: a conductive flat planar base including a groundplane comprised of a solid metal and providing for an electrical ground reference; a pair of curved dipole antennas disposed orthogonal to one another on an X-shaped insulative substrate and mechanically-anchored by respective electrically-open ends to four points just inside a perimeter of the base with the center of said substrate arid dipole antennas separated from the base, wherein the dipole antennas and said substrate comprise a single-sided flexible printed circuit having a slot proximate to said substrate center; and an amplifier assembly completely disposed on a support perpendicular to the base between the center of the base and the center of said substrate and providing for amplification of radio signals provided by a connection to the dipole antennas, wherein the amplifier assembly engages said slot and electrically connects to the dipole antennas.

Claim 3

The system of claim 1, wherein: the dipole antennas further include capacitive loads at respective tips for adjusting a response pattern of the antenna system.

Claim 4

The system of claim 2, wherein: the dipole antennas further include a keying means to orient the base and amplifier assembly to the dipole antennas.

Claim 5

The system of claim 1, wherein: the dipole antennas are separated from the base at their respective centers by approximately one-quarter wavelength of a predetermined operating frequency wherein an impedance match between the dipole antennas and the amplifier assembly is obtained.

Claim 6

The system of claim 1, wherein: the dipole antennas are adapted for use at a nominal center frequency of 1575.42 MHz, wherein carrier signals from global positioning system satellites may be received; and the amplifier assembly supports the dipole antennas at said substrate center aloft from the base by approximately one and one-half inches.

Claim 7

The system of claim 1, further comprising: a non-conductive hemispherical weather dome for enclosing the base, the dipole antennas and the amplifier assembly and comprised of a material substantially transparent to microwave radio signals.

Claim 8

An antenna system, comprising: a conductive flat planar circular base including a groundplane; a pair of hemispherically-curved dipole antennas disposed orthogonal to one another at their centers on an X-shaped insulative substrate and mechanically-anchored by respective electrically-open ends to four points distributed proximate to a circumference of the base with the center of said substrate and dipole antennas spaced away from the base; and an amplifier assembly completely disposed on a support perpendicular to the base between the center of the base and the center of said substrate and providing for amplification of radio signals provided by a connection to the dipole antennas; wherein, the base is comprised of a solid metal and provides for an electrical ground reference; the dipole antennas and said substrate comprise a single-sided flexible printed circuit having a slot proximate to said substrate center; and the amplifier assembly engages said slot and electrically connects to the dipole antennas.

Claim 9

An antenna system, comprising: a conductive flat planar circular base including a groundplane; a pair of hemispherically-curved dipole antennas disposed orthogonal to one another at their centers on an X-shaped insulative substrate and mechanically-anchored by respective electrically-open ends to four points distributed proximate to a circumference of the base with the center of said substrate and dipole antennas spaced away from the base; and an amplifier assembly completely disposed on a support perpendicular to the base between the center of the base and the center of said substrate and providing for amplification of radio signals provided by a connection to the dipole antennas; wherein, the base is comprised of a solid metal and provides for an electrical ground reference; the dipole antennas and said substrate comprise a single-sided flexible printed circuit having a slot proximate to said substrate center; and the amplifier assembly engages said slot and electrically connects to the dipole antennas.

Claim 10

The system of claim 7, wherein: the dipole antennas further include capacitive loads at respective tips for adjusting a response pattern of the antenna system.

Claim 11

The system of claim 7, wherein: the dipole antennas further include a keying means to orient the base and amplifier assembly to the dipole antennas.

Claim 12

The system of claim 7, wherein: the dipole antennas are separated from the base at their respective centers by approximately one-quarter wavelength of a predetermined operating frequency wherein an impedance match between the dipole antennas and the amplifier assembly is obtained.

Claim 13

The system of claim 7, wherein: the dipole antennas are adapted for use at a nominal center frequency of 1575.42 MHz, wherein carrier signals from global positioning system satellites may be received; and the amplifier assembly supports the dipole antennas at said substrate center aloft from the base by approximately one and one-half inches.

Claim 14

The system of claim 7, further comprising: a non-conductive hemispherical weather dome for enclosing the base, the dipole antennas and the amplifier assembly and comprised of a material substantially transparent to microwave radio signals.