US6288682B1 — Directional antenna assembly

Claim 1

Independent Claim 57 words

A directional antenna assembly arrangement comprising: a dielectric structure having a surface, wherein a ground plane is not positioned in or on the dielectric structure; and an array of wire antenna elements disposed within or on the surface of the dielectric structure, at least one of the wire antenna elements being active and the remainder being passive.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 57 words

A directional antenna assembly arrangement comprising: a dielectric structure having a surface, wherein a ground plane is not positioned in or on the dielectric structure; and an array of wire antenna elements disposed within or on the surface of the dielectric structure, at least one of the wire antenna elements being active and the remainder being passive.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 63 words

A directional assembly arrangement comprising: a dielectric structure having a surface, wherein the dielectric structure is formed from a material having a relative dielectric constant ∈ r of greater than four, and an array of wire antenna elements positioned within or on the surface of the dielectric structure, at least one of the wire antenna elements being active and the remainder being passive.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 63 words

A directional assembly arrangement comprising: a dielectric structure having a surface, wherein the dielectric structure is formed from a material having a relative dielectric constant ∈ r of greater than four, and an array of wire antenna elements positioned within or on the surface of the dielectric structure, at least one of the wire antenna elements being active and the remainder being passive.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 15 words

The antenna assembly arrangement of claim 2 , wherein ∈ r is greater than ten.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 70 words

A directional antenna assembly arrangement comprising: a dielectric structure having a surface; an array of wire antenna elements positioned within or on the surface of the dielectric structure, at least one of the wire antenna elements being active and the remainder being passive; and switching means electrically connected to the antenna elements, the switching means being operable to selectively switch one or more of the antenna elements to be active.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 70 words

A directional antenna assembly arrangement comprising: a dielectric structure having a surface; an array of wire antenna elements positioned within or on the surface of the dielectric structure, at least one of the wire antenna elements being active and the remainder being passive; and switching means electrically connected to the antenna elements, the switching means being operable to selectively switch one or more of the antenna elements to be active.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 34 words

The antenna assembly arrangement as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the passive antenna elements are switched by the switching means either to be electrically connected to ground or in an open circuit condition.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 19 words

The antenna assembly arrangement as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the antenna elements are arranged in symmetric array.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 17 words

The antenna assembly arrangement as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the dielectric structure is a cylinder.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 18 words

The antenna assembly arrangment as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the dielectric structure is a rectangular body.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 18 words

The antenna assembly arrangement as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the cylinder is either solid or hollow.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 42 words

The antenna assembly arrangement as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the switching means are selectively controlled by control means to cause one or more of the antenna elements to be active in accordance with the direction of greatest received signal strength.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 33 words

The antenna assembly as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the relative dielectric constant of the dielectric structure is greater than ∈ 0 , where ∈ 0 is the permittivity of free space.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 62 words

The antenna assembly arrangement as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the antenna elements are separated by a minimum distance of λ 0 10 · 1 ɛ r , where λ 0 is the wavelength in free space of the electromagnetic radiation to be received or transmitted by the antenna elements, and ∈ r is the relative permittivity of the dielectric structure.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 28 words

The antenna assembly arrangement as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the length of the antenna elements is greater than. λ 0 5 · 1 ɛ r .

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 95 words

An antenna assembly including at least: a substantially planar structure of dielectric material, wherein a ground plane is not positioned in or on the structure of dielectric material, and an array of at least three antenna elements mounted on a common surface of said structure, the array including an active element having a feed connection point, a first passive element being parallel with and spaced apart from the active element, and a second passive element being parallel with and spaced apart from the first active element in an opposed direction to said first passive element.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 95 words

An antenna assembly including at least: a substantially planar structure of dielectric material, wherein a ground plane is not positioned in or on the structure of dielectric material, and an array of at least three antenna elements mounted on a common surface of said structure, the array including an active element having a feed connection point, a first passive element being parallel with and spaced apart from the active element, and a second passive element being parallel with and spaced apart from the first active element in an opposed direction to said first passive element.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 16 words

The antenna assembly as claimed in claim 14 , wherein said antenna elements are substantially elongate.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 14 words

A portable communications device having an antenna assembly as claimed in claim 14 .

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 44 words

The portable communications device as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the antenna assembly is mounted from the communications device in a manner such that the plane of the array is perpendicular to a user's head, with the second passive element being proximate thereto.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 33 words

The portable communications device as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the antenna assembly is mounted from the communications device in a manner such that the antenna assembly can pivot about its base.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 126 words

An antenna assembly including at least: a substantially planar structure of dielectric material, and an array of at least three antenna elements mounted on a common surface of said structure, the array including an active element having a feed connection point, a first passive element being parallel with and spaced apart from the active element, and a second passive element being parallel with an spaced apart from the active element in an opposed direction to said first passive element wherein said antenna elements are substantially elongate, wherein said second passive element has a transverse portion substantially L-shaped, and of greater length than the active element to act as a reflector, and said L-shaped second passive element is arranged to at least partially surround the active element.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 126 words

An antenna assembly including at least: a substantially planar structure of dielectric material, and an array of at least three antenna elements mounted on a common surface of said structure, the array including an active element having a feed connection point, a first passive element being parallel with and spaced apart from the active element, and a second passive element being parallel with an spaced apart from the active element in an opposed direction to said first passive element wherein said antenna elements are substantially elongate, wherein said second passive element has a transverse portion substantially L-shaped, and of greater length than the active element to act as a reflector, and said L-shaped second passive element is arranged to at least partially surround the active element.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 28 words

The antenna assembly as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the first passive element is equal or lesser length than the active element to act as a director.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 31 words

The antenna assembly of claim 20 , wherein said second passive element passes through said dielectric structure and extend over at least a portion of the opposed surface of the structure.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 35 words

The antenna assembly of claim 21 , wherein the feed point of the active element is electrically connected with a centre conductor of a coaxial feed line, being at one end of the active element.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 25 words

The antenna assembly of claim 22 , wherein the second passive element is electrically connected to a signal ground conductor of the coaxial feed line.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 100 words

An antenna assembly including at least: a substantially planar structure of dielectric material, and an array of at least three elongate antenna elements mounted on a first surface of said dielectric material, the array including an active element having a feed connection point, a first passive element being parallel with and spaced apart from the active element, and a second passive element being parallel with and spaced apart from the first active element in an opposed direction to said first passive element, said second passive element also extending through the dielectric material to a second surface opposite the first surface.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 100 words

An antenna assembly including at least: a substantially planar structure of dielectric material, and an array of at least three elongate antenna elements mounted on a first surface of said dielectric material, the array including an active element having a feed connection point, a first passive element being parallel with and spaced apart from the active element, and a second passive element being parallel with and spaced apart from the first active element in an opposed direction to said first passive element, said second passive element also extending through the dielectric material to a second surface opposite the first surface.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 32 words

The antenna assembly of claim 24 , wherein said second passive element passes through said dielectric material and extends over at least a portion of the second surface of the dielectric material.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 52 words

The antenna assembly of claim 25 , wherein said second passive element has, on said first surface, a transverse portion being substantially L-shaped, and of greater length than the active element, to act as a reflector, and said L-shaped second passive element is arranged to at least partially surround the active element.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 27 words

The antenna assembly of claim 26 , wherein the first passive element is of equal or lesser length than the active element to act as a director.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 35 words

The antenna assembly of claim 27 , wherein the feed point of the active element is electrically connected with a center conductor of a coaxial feed line, being at one end of the active element.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 25 words

The antenna assembly of claim 28 , wherein the second passive element is electrically connected to a signal ground conductor of the coaxial feed line.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 14 words

A portable communications device having an antenna assembly as claimed in claim 24 .

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 42 words

The portable communications device of claim 30 , wherein the antenna assembly is mounted from the communications device in a manner such that the plane of the array is perpendicular to a user's head, with the second passive element being proximate thereto.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 31 words

The portable communications device of claim 31 , wherein the antenna assembly is mounted from the communications device in a manner such that the antenna assembly can pivot about its base.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2004-09-10	2005-03-12	2005-09-11	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2008-09-10	2009-03-12	2009-09-11	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2012-09-10	2013-03-12	2013-09-11	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Directional antenna assembly

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