Patent US6369770B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6369770B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Closely spaced antenna array
Assignee: IPR Licensing Inc
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Filing: 2001-01-31
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Granted: 2002-04-09
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Expires: 2021-01-31
Abstract
Abstract An antenna array for use with a mobile subscriber unit in a wireless network communications system. The invention utilizes a multiplicity of resonant strips provided within the ground plane. These strips couple to an equal multiplicity of monopole array elements located on top of the ground plane. This approach increases antenna gain by more efficiently utilizing the available ground plane area. Additionally, since the active element is on top of the ground plane, the antenna array sensitivity is decreased because the direct coupling between the antenna and external environmental factors is minimized. The multiplicity of antenna elements are electrically isolated from the ground plane. Each antenna element has a bottom end located proximal to the ground plane, and is aligned along a respective antenna axis that is substantially perpendicular to the top side. Each resonant strip has a top end electrically connected to the ground plane and a bottom end spaced apart from a bottom side of the ground plane, and is aligned along the antenna axis of a corresponding antenna element. The multiplicity of antenna elements and the multiplicity of resonant strips are equally spaced about the perimeter of the ground plane, and the combination of each antenna element with a respective resonant strip provides a unbalanced dipole antenna element so that the multiplicity of dipole antenna elements form a composite beam which may be positionally directed along a horizon that is substantially parallel to the ground plane.
Inventors
- 👤 Griffin K. Gothard
- 👤 William Robert Palmer
- 👤 Christopher A. Snyder
- 👤 Bing Chiang
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 08:46
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01Q; H01Q3/00; H01Q3/44; H01Q3/446; H01Q19/00; H01Q19/28; H01Q19/32; H01Q21/00; H01Q21/06; H01Q21/061; H01Q21/062
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
191 words
An antenna apparatus for use in a wireless communication subscriber unit, comprising: a multiplicity of antenna elements disposed above a top side of a ground plane and electrically isolated from the ground plane, each antenna element including a bottom end located proximal to the ground plane, and each antenna element also being aligned along a respective antenna axis that is substantially perpendicular to the top side; and an equal multiplicity of resonant strips positioned beneath the top side of the ground plane, each resonant strip including a top end electrically connected to the ground plane and a bottom end spaced apart from a bottom side of the ground plane, and each resonant strip being aligned along the antenna axis of a corresponding antenna element; the multiplicity of antenna elements and the multiplicity of resonant strips being equally spaced about the perimeter of the ground plane, and the combination of each antenna element with a respective resonant strip providing an unbalanced dipole antenna element so that the multiplicity of dipole antenna elements form a composite beam which may be positionally directed along a horizon that is substantially parallel to the ground plane.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
191 words
An antenna apparatus for use in a wireless communication subscriber unit, comprising: a multiplicity of antenna elements disposed above a top side of a ground plane and electrically isolated from the ground plane, each antenna element including a bottom end located proximal to the ground plane, and each antenna element also being aligned along a respective antenna axis that is substantially perpendicular to the top side; and an equal multiplicity of resonant strips positioned beneath the top side of the ground plane, each resonant strip including a top end electrically connected to the ground plane and a bottom end spaced apart from a bottom side of the ground plane, and each resonant strip being aligned along the antenna axis of a corresponding antenna element; the multiplicity of antenna elements and the multiplicity of resonant strips being equally spaced about the perimeter of the ground plane, and the combination of each antenna element with a respective resonant strip providing an unbalanced dipole antenna element so that the multiplicity of dipole antenna elements form a composite beam which may be positionally directed along a horizon that is substantially parallel to the ground plane.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The antenna apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the ground plane is cylindrical, the top side of the ground plane being a planar end of the cylinder, and the bottom side of the ground plane being an opposite planar end of the cylinder.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
66 words
The antenna apparatus of claim 2 , wherein each resonant strip is disposed within a respective slot of the ground plane, the walls of each slot being spaced apart from the surface of the respective resonant strip, and the space between the walls and the surface being filled with nonmetallic material to electrically isolate a non-top end portion of the resonant strip from the ground plane.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The antenna apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the nonmetallic material is made of a PCB material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The antenna apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the nonmetallic material is made of polystyrene.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The antenna apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the nonmetallic material is made of Teflon.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The antenna apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the ground plane, the antenna elements, and the resonant strips are made of copper.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
The antenna apparatus of claim 2 , wherein at least one antenna element is connected to a phase shifter located within the ground plane, the phase shifters being independently adjustable to affect the phase of respective signals transmitted from the antenna elements.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The antenna apparatus of claim 2 , wherein at least one antenna element is connected to a delay line.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The antenna apparatus of claim 2 , wherein at least one antenna element is connected to a lumped impedance element.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The antenna apparatus of claim 2 , wherein at least one antenna element is connected to a variable impedance element.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The antenna apparatus of claim 2 , wherein at least one antenna element is connected to a switch.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The antenna apparatus of claim 2 , wherein at least one antenna element is connected to a delay line, a lumped impedance element, and a switch.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The antenna apparatus of claim 2 , wherein at least one antenna element is connected to a delay line, a variable impedance element, and a switch.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
85 words
The antenna apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the ground plane is made of a multiplicity of plates equal in number to the multiplicity of resonant strips, each plate having an outer edge and an inner edge, the resonant strips being aligned along the outer edge of a respective plate, and the inner edges of the plates being joined together at the center of the ground plane forming a central joint with an axis that is substantially parallel to the axes of the resonant strips.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The antenna apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the central joint is a hinge which facilitates collapsing the antenna apparatus into a flat compact unit.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
The antenna apparatus of claim 15 , wherein each plate includes a first nonmetallic substrate and a first conductive material layered over one side of the first substrate, a conductive portion of the ground plane and the resonant strips being made of the first conductive material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The antenna apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the nonmetallic substrate is made of a PCB material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The antenna apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the nonmetallic substrate is made of polystyrene.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The antenna apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the nonmetallic substrate is made of Teflon.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The antenna apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the conductive material and the antenna elements are made of copper.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
66 words
The antenna apparatus of claim 17 , wherein each plate includes a second nonmetallic substrate, a second conductive material sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate, and a third conductive material layered on an opposite side of the second nonmetallic substrate, the conductive portion of the ground plane and the resonant strips being made of the first conductive material and the third conductive material.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
37 words
The antenna apparatus of claim 15 , wherein at least one antenna element is connected to a phase shifter, the phase shifters being independently adjustable to affect the phase of respective signals transmitted from the antenna apparatus.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The antenna apparatus of claim 15 , wherein at least one antenna element is connected to a delay line.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
The antenna apparatus of claim 15 , wherein at least one antenna element is connected to a lumped impedance element.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
The antenna apparatus of claim 15 , wherein at least one antenna element is connected to a variable impedance element.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
26 words
The antenna apparatus of claim 15 , wherein at least one antenna element is connected to a delay line, a lumped impedance element, and a switch.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
26 words
The antenna apparatus of claim 15 , wherein at least one antenna element is connected to a delay line, a variable impedance element, and a switch.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
31 words
The antenna apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one antenna element is connected to a transmission feed line for receiving signals from and transmitting signals to the antenna element.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
21 words
The antenna apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the directed beam rises above the horizon at an angle of about 10°.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
21 words
The antenna apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the directed beam rises above the horizon at an angle of about 5°.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
21 words
The antenna apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the directed beam rises above the horizon at an angle of about 0°.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-04-08 | 2005-10-08 | 2006-04-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-04-08 | 2009-10-08 | 2010-04-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-04-08 | 2013-10-08 | 2014-04-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |