# US 2006/0232490 A1 · Antenna element, feed probe; dielectric spacer, antenna and method of communicating with a plurality of devices > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2006/0232490 A1 - Document ID: US20060232490A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 11/446,766 - Filed: 2006-06-05 - Published: 2006-10-19 - Earliest claimed: 2003-06-26 - Assignees: Andrew Corporation - Inventors: Peter Bisiules; Ching-Shun Yang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20060232490A1 ## CPC - H01Q 1/246: {specially adapted for base stations} - H01Q 9/0414: {in a stacked or folded configuration} - H01Q 9/0457: {electromagnetically coupled to the feed line} - H01Q 9/0464: {Annular ring patch} - H01Q 21/28: Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems {(multiple beam H01Q25/00)} - H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72) ## Abstract A multiband base station antenna for communicating with a plurality of terrestrial mobile devices is described. The antenna including one or modules, each module including a low frequency ring element; and a high frequency dipole element superposed with the low frequency ring element. The element includes a ground plane; and a feed probe directed away from the ground plane and having a coupling part positioned proximate to the ring to enable the feed probe to electromagnetically couple with the ring. A dielectric clip provides a spacer between the feed probe and the ring, and also connects the ring to the ground plane. An antenna element is also described including a ring, and one or more feed probes extending from the ring, wherein the ring and feed probe(s) are formed from a unitary piece. ## Claims ### Claim 1 (canceled) ### Claim 2 (canceled) ### Claim 3 (canceled) ### Claim 4 (canceled) ### Claim 5 (canceled) ### Claim 6 (canceled) ### Claim 7 (canceled) ### Claim 8 (canceled) ### Claim 9 (canceled) ### Claim 10 (canceled) ### Claim 11 (canceled) ### Claim 12 (canceled) ### Claim 13 (canceled) ### Claim 14 (canceled) ### Claim 15 (canceled) ### Claim 16 (canceled) ### Claim 17 (canceled) ### Claim 18 (canceled) ### Claim 19 (canceled) ### Claim 20 (canceled) ### Claim 21 (canceled) ### Claim 22 An antenna element including a ring, and one or more feed probes extending from the ring, wherein the ring and feed probe(s) are formed from a unitary piece. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) An antenna element according to claim 22 wherein the ring lies in a plane, and the feed probe(s) extend(s) out of the plane of the ring. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) An antenna according to claim 22 wherein each feed probe is formed by bending the feed probe out of the plane of the ring. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) An antenna element according to claim 22 wherein the unitary piece is stamped from a piece of sheet metal. ### Claim 26 (depends on 22) An antenna element according to claim 22 wherein each feed probe meets the ring at a periphery of the ring. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) An antenna element according to claim 26 wherein the periphery is an inner periphery of the ring. ### Claim 28 (depends on 22) An antenna element according to claim 22 wherein each feed probe meets the ring at a recess formed in the periphery of the ring. ### Claim 29 (depends on 22) An antenna element according to claim 22, wherein the ring has a minimum outer diameter b, a maximum inner diameter a, and the ratio b/a is less than 1.5. ### Claim 30 (depends on 22) An antenna element according to claim 22 wherein the ring is a dual-polarized element. ### Claim 31 (depends on 22) An antenna including one or more antenna elements according to claim 22. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) A communication system including a network of antennas according to claim 31. ### Claim 33 (depends on 22) A method of manufacturing an antenna element according to claim 22, the method including forming the ring and the feed probe(s) from a unitary piece. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) A method according to claim 33 wherein the ring lies in a plane, and each feed probe is formed by bending the feed probe out of the plane of the ring. ### Claim 35 (depends on 33) A method according to claim 33 wherein the ring and feed probe(s) are formed by stamping from a piece of sheet metal. ### Claim 36 An antenna element including a ring; and a feed probe having a coupling section positioned proximate to the ring to enable the feed probe to electromagnetically couple with the ring, wherein the coupling section of the feed probe has an inner side which cannot be seen within an inner periphery of the ring when viewed in plan perpendicular to the ring. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) An antenna element according to claim 36 wherein the feed probe includes a feed section; and a coupling section attached to the feed section, the coupling section having inner and outer opposite sides, a distal end remote from the feed section; and a coupling surface which is positioned proximate to the ring to enable the feed probe to electromagnetically couple with the ring, wherein the inner side appears convex when viewed perpendicular to the coupling surface, and wherein the outer side appears convex when viewed perpendicular to the coupling surface. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) An antenna element according to claim 37 wherein the coupling section includes two or more arms extending from the feed section, each arm having first and second opposite sides, a distal end remote from the feed section; and a coupling surface which is positioned proximate to the ring to enable the feed probe to electromagnetically couple with the ring, wherein the inner side appears convex when viewed perpendicular to the coupling surface, and wherein the outer side appears convex when viewed perpendicular to the coupling surface. ### Claim 39 (depends on 36) An antenna element according to claim 36 wherein the inner and outer sides are curved. ### Claim 40 (depends on 37) An antenna element according to claim 37 wherein the feed section includes a feed leg which is disposed at an angle to the coupling surface. ### Claim 41 (depends on 37) An antenna element according to claim 37 wherein the feed section and the coupling section are formed from a unitary piece of material. ### Claim 42 (depends on 36) An antenna element according to claim 36, wherein the coupling section of the feed probe extends circumferentially with respect to the ring. ### Claim 43 (depends on 36) An antenna element according to claim 36 wherein the ring has a pair of major faces joined by an inner peripheral edge and an outer peripheral edge, and wherein the feed probe is couples electromagnetically with one of the major faces of the ring. ### Claim 44 (depends on 36) An antenna element according to claim 36 wherein the coupling section of the feed probe is proximate to a first side of the ring, and wherein the element further includes a second feed probe having a coupling section proximate to a second side of the ring to enable the second feed probe to electromagnetically couple with said second side of the ring. ### Claim 45 (depends on 44) An antenna element according to claim 44 wherein the first side of the ring is opposite to the second side of the ring. ### Claim 46 (depends on 44) An antenna element according to claim 44 wherein the first side of the ring is adjacent to the second side of the ring. ### Claim 47 (depends on 36) An antenna element according to claim 36 including an air gap between the feed probe and the ring. ### Claim 48 (depends on 36) An antenna element according to claim 36 wherein the coupling section extends circumferentially around the ring. ### Claim 49 (depends on 36) An antenna element according to claim 36 further including a second ring positioned adjacent to the first ring to enable the second ring to electromagnetically couple with said first ring. ### Claim 50 (depends on 36) An antenna element according to claim 36, wherein the ring has a minimum outer diameter b, a maximum inner diameter a, and the ratio b/a is less than 1.5. ### Claim 51 (depends on 36) An antenna including one or more antenna elements according to claim 36. ### Claim 52 (depends on 51) A communication system including a network of antennas according to claim 51. ### Claim 53 (canceled) ### Claim 54 (canceled) ### Claim 55 (canceled) ### Claim 56 (canceled) ### Claim 57 (canceled) ### Claim 58 (canceled) ### Claim 59 (canceled) ### Claim 60 (canceled) ### Claim 61 (canceled) ### Claim 62 (canceled) ### Claim 63 (canceled) ### Claim 64 (canceled) ### Claim 65 (canceled) ### Claim 66 (canceled) ### Claim 67 (canceled) ### Claim 68 (canceled) ### Claim 69 (canceled) ### Claim 70 (canceled) ### Claim 71 (canceled) ### Claim 72 (canceled) ### Claim 73 (canceled) ### Claim 74 (canceled) ### Claim 75 (canceled) ### Claim 76 (canceled) ### Claim 77 (canceled) ### Claim 78 (canceled) ### Claim 79 (canceled) ### Claim 80 A microstrip antenna including a ground plane; a radiating element spaced from the ground plane by an air gap; a feed probe having a coupling section positioned proximate to the ring to enable the feed probe to electromagnetically couple with the ring; and a dielectric spacer positioned between the radiating element and the feed probe. ### Claim 81 (depends on 80) An antenna according to claim 80 further including a dielectric support connecting the radiating element to the ground plane. ### Claim 82 (depends on 81) An antenna according to claim 81 wherein the dielectric support is connected to the dielectric spacer. ### Claim 83 (depends on 82) An antenna according to claim 82 wherein the dielectric support and dielectric spacer are formed as a unitary piece. ### Claim 84 (depends on 80) An antenna according to claim 80 wherein the dielectric spacer passes through an aperture in the feed probe and an aperture in the radiating element. ### Claim 85 (depends on 80) An antenna according to claim 80 wherein the dielectric support passes through an aperture in the ring. ### Claim 86 (depends on 80) An antenna according to claim 80 including an air gap between the feed probe and the radiating element. ### Claim 87 (depends on 80) An antenna according to claim 80 wherein the radiating element is a ring. ### Claim 88 (depends on 80) A communication system including a network of antennas according to claim 80. ### Claim 89 (depends on 80) A dielectric spacer for use in an antenna according to claim 80, the spacer including a spacer portion configured to maintain a minimum spacing between a feed probe and a radiating element; and a support portion configured to connect the radiating element to a ground plane, wherein the support portion and dielectric portion are formed as a unitary piece. ### Claim 90 (depends on 89) A clip according to claim 89 wherein the spacer portion includes a pair of snap-fit connectors. ### Claim 91 (depends on 90) A clip according to claim 90 wherein each snap-fit connector includes a groove and a resilient ramp adjacent to the groove. ### Claim 92 (depends on 89) A clip according to claim 89 wherein the support portion includes one or more snap-fit connectors. ### Claim 93 (depends on 92) A clip according to claim 92 wherein each snap-fit connector includes a groove and a resilient ramp adjacent to the groove. ### Claim 94 A dual polarized antenna element including a ring; and two or more feed probes, each feed probe having a coupling section positioned proximate to the ring to enable the feed probe to electromagnetically couple with the ring.