Switch-tuned meandered-slot antenna
AssigneeSouthwest Research Institute
InventorsThomas J. Warnagiris, Thomas J. Minardo, Donald R. Bannon
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Abstract
An electrically-short meandered-slot antenna having a plurality of switch-selected resonant frequencies is described. Meander slot sections are substantially parallel, closely coupled, electrically significant, and substantially equal in length to the overall monopole length of the antenna. Switching among resonant frequencies is accomplished with shunt switches across the antenna slot, the switches preferably being powered inductively and selectively at individual frequencies outside the operating band of the antenna.
Claims14
An electrically-short monopole antenna having a monopole length, said antenna comprising
- an electrically conductive sheet comprising an elongated meandered slot having first and second longitudinal slot edges, said meandered slot comprising a plurality of substantially parallel meander sections of substantially uniform length joined end-to-end in series at folds;
- shunt RF switching means comprising at least one switchable conducting element connected via a path of relatively low RF impedance substantially transversely across said meandered slot from said first edge to said second edge;
- and
- an antenna terminal pair comprising first and second terminals located on said conductive sheet proximate said first and second slot edges respectively, said first and second terminals being substantially opposite one another.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.