Coplanar slot antenna having dielectric-filled radial, transverse, concentric arc, and perimeter tip slots in a continuous conductive disc for horizontally polarized azimuthally omnidirectional radiation

A telemetry unit assembly comprising:

• a housing enclosing electronics configured to obtain measurement data and to transmit the measurement data using radio-frequency signals;
• a cover coupled to the housing, the cover including a rim and a substantially planar surface;
• and
• an antenna mounted to the substantially planar surface of the cover, the antenna comprising:
• a generally planar conductive disc defining a disc radius and having a central region and a peripheral edge;
• a dielectric substrate supporting the conductive disc;
• a plurality of dielectric-filled slot openings formed through the conductive disc and defining radiating apertures, the plurality of dielectric-filled slot openings including a central radial feed slot, a transverse slot intersecting the central radial feed slot to form a generally T-shaped slot junction, a pair of arcuate slots intersecting respective arms of the transverse slot and disposed in mirrored relationship, and linear tip slots extending to the peripheral edge;
• and a coplanar feed structure coupled between the electronics and the antenna and disposed in the same plane as the conductive disc;
• wherein the antenna is configured to provide horizontally polarized, substantially azimuthally omnidirectional radiation in a horizontal plane when excited by the electronics.

A method of operating a telemetry device, comprising:

• providing an antenna comprising a generally planar conductive disc supported by a dielectric substrate, the conductive disc having dielectric-filled slot openings formed therethrough that include a central radial feed slot intersecting a transverse slot to form a generally T-shaped slot junction, opposing arcuate slots intersecting respective arms of the transverse slot in mirrored relationship, and linear tip slots extending to a peripheral edge of the conductive disc;
• coupling a coplanar feed structure to the antenna such that ground and signal conduction pathways of the coplanar feed structure are disposed in the same plane as the conductive disc;
• applying a radio-frequency excitation across opposing edges of the central radial feed slot using the coplanar feed structure;
• inducing circumferential surface currents in the conductive disc responsive to the radio-frequency excitation;
• and
• transmitting or receiving radio-frequency signals with a substantially azimuthally omnidirectional radiation characteristic in a horizontal plane.