US 4,176,356 A · Directional antenna system including pattern control · patentgrep

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Abstract

A directional antenna system is disclosed which selectively couples two radiating antenna elements to a transceiver through a selective phase, magnitude and matching network which is controlled by the output of a logic circuit. The network provides for equal magnitude current coupling between the transceiver and the two antennas while simultaneously selectively producing either positive or negative approximately 90.degree. phase shifts between the two antennas to produce either of two discrete directive cardioid radiation patterns directed in substantially opposite directions. The logic circuit, in conjunction with a manual step switch, provides for a manually selecting either of the two cardioid radiation patterns, as well as producing a figure eight or an omnidirectional radiation pattern. For generating a transceiver omnidirectional pattern, one antenna is used and the other is connected to a standard broadcast band receiver. Matching networks are simultaneously selectively connected between the two antennas and the transceiver such that maximum power transfer and impedance matching is maintained for different radiation patterns. An automatic scanning switch is coupled to the logic circuit and provides for automatically selecting one of the cardioid radiation patterns as an optimum pattern in which the signal from the remote site is most strongly received by the transceiver. Indicating lights are provided to indicate which one of the radiation patterns is generated for the transceiver.

Claims49

Dependent claims

A directive antenna system comprising:

a motor vehicle movable in a straight line direction;
first transceiver communication means carried by said motor vehicle and operative at a first frequency for establishing communications with a site remotely located from said first communication means;
second communication means carried by said vehicle and operative at a second frequency for establishing commumications with other remote sites;
a plurality of at least two antenna elements mounted to said vehicle and selectively coupled to said first and second communication means for providing radiation patterns for said first and second communication means;
said two antenna elements positioned on said motor vehicle at approximately one quarter of a wavelength apart at the operating frequency of said first transceiver communication means, said two antenna elements mounted along a line substantially parallel to the straight line direction of movement of the motor vehicle;
means including a network coupled to said antenna elements for selectively generating and maintaining any one of a plurality of at least two discrete directive radiation patterns for said first transceiver communication means by simultaneously utilizing said two antenna elements while selectively providing various phase differences between said utilized antenna elements and simultaneously providing for substantially equal magnitude current coupling between said utilized antenna elements and said first communication means, said network also selectively utilizing each one of said two antenna elements to simultaneously generate a separate radiation pattern for each of said first and second communication means, respectively,
said plurality of directive radiation patterns for said first communication means including at least two radiation patterns which have substantial nulls directed in substantially different directions;
first means for indicating which one of said plurality of directive radiation patterns is selectively generated for said first communication means;
and
second means for indicating the magnitude of a desired signal transmitted at said remote site and received by said first communication means in the selected directive radiation pattern;
and
means coupled to said network for automatically selecting one of said directive radiation patterns as an optimum pattern for said first communication means, said automatically selected optimum radiation pattern corresponding to the one pattern of said plurality of directive patterns in which a desired signal is most strongly received by said first communication means.

9 more elements

A directive antenna system comprising:

communication means operative at a carrier frequency for establishing communications with a remote site;
means coupled to said communication means for selectively generating a plurality of discrete directive radiation patterns for said communication means;
and
means coupled to said radiation pattern generating means for automatically selecting one of said radiation patterns as an optimum pattern for said communication means, said automatically selected optimum radiation pattern corresponding to the one pattern of said plurality of patterns in which a desired signal is most strongly received by said communication means;
whereby the communication means is automatically able to avoid interferring signals which are not directly in line between the communication means and the remote site;
said directive antenna system including indicating means coupled to said radiation pattern generating means for indicating which one of said plurality of directive radiation patterns is selectively generated for said communication means, whereby said indicating means, in conjunction with said pattern selecting means, generally provides information as to the location of the remote site with respect to the location of said communication means.

3 more elements

A directive antenna system comprising:

communication means operative at a frequency for establishing communications with a site remotely located from said communication means;
a plurality of antenna elements coupled to said communication means for providing radiation patterns for said communication means;
and
means coupled to said antenna elements for selectively generating a plurality of discrete directive radiation patterns for said communication means by simultaneously utilizing at least two of said antenna elements at any one time,
said selective radiation pattern generating means including a network coupling said plurality of antenna elements to said communication means and selectively providing various phase differences between said utilized antenna elements while simultaneously providing for substantially equal magnitude current coupling between said utilized antenna elements and said communication means, whereby substantially identical but differently directed radiation patterns can be created by the use of various phase differences in conjunction with controlling of the magnitude coupling of the radiation currents between the antenna elements and the communication means.

2 more elements

A directive antenna system comprising:

transceiver means operable at a carrier frequency and adaptable to be carried by a motor vehicle for establishing two-way communications between the motor vehicle and a remote site;
at least two antenna elements adapted to be carried by said motor vehicle for establishing radiation patterns for said transceiver means;
means coupled to said antenna elements for selectively generating and maintaining any one of a plurality of discrete directive radiation patterns for said transceiver means by simultaneously utilizing said two antenna elements, said plurality of radiation patterns including at least two radiation patterns which have substantial nulls directed in substantially opposite directions;
said two utilized antenna elements adapted to be positioned on said motor vehicle at approximately one quarter of a wavelength apart at the operating frequency of said transceiver means, said two antenna elements adapted to be mounted along a line substantially parallel to the straight line of movement of the motor vehicle.

1 more element

A directive antenna system comprising:

a motor vehicle movable in a straight line direction;
transceiver means operable at a carrier frequency and carried by said motor vehicle for establishing two-way communications between the motor vehicle and a remote site;
at least two antenna elements mounted to said motor vehicle for establishing radiation patterns for said transceiver means;
means coupled to said antenna elements for selectively generating and maintaining any one of a plurality of discrete directive radiation patterns for said transceiver means by simultaneously utilizing said two antenna elements, said plurality of radiation patterns including at least two radiation patterns which have substantial nulls directed in substantially different directions;
said two utilized antenna elements positioned on said motor vehicle at approximately one quarter of a wavelength apart at the operating frequency of said transceiver means, said two antenna elements mounted along a line substantially parallel to the straight line direction of movement of the motor vehicle.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 05/810,234Filed 27 Jun 1977
Granted: 27 Nov 1979
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

H01Q 1/3275
Characterised by the location of the antenna on the vehicle: mounted on a horizontal surface of the vehicle, e.g. on roof, hood, trunk
G01S 3/38
Systems for determining direction or deviation from predetermined direction: using adjustment of real or effective orientation of directivity…
H01Q 3/26
Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna…
H01Q
Antennas, i.e. radio aerials

Family

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