Ring shaped antenna
AssigneeTrimble Navigation Limited
InventorRobert J. Hill
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An antenna for broadcasting omnidirectionally is disclosed. The antenna includes a cylindrical housing which has a lip which includes slots adapted to receive a patch antenna strip and a conductive ring. A GPS receiver and electronics package may be placed in the center of the housing. The patch antenna strip which includes a number of patch antennas broadcasts and receives radio signals. The conductive ring absorbs energy broadcast from the patch antennas and rebroadcasts the signal omnidirectionally. The resulting signal has a high gain and a wide bandwidth. A third embodiment in which the conductive ring is incorporated into a housing cover is also disclosed. The antenna is easily and inexpensively assembled and is more durable and reliable than prior art antennas.
Claims18
A readily manufacturable antenna having driven and parasitic elements, said antenna comprising:
- a plurality of driven antenna elements supported by a support element, said plurality of driven antenna elements oriented in a common plane;
- and
- a single parasitic element disposed around said plurality of driven antenna elements, said single parasitic element disposed such that, upon the application of power to said plurality of driven antenna elements, said power is transmitted to said parasitic element such that said parasitic element radiates said power.
An antenna comprising:
- a housing including a support element;
- a plurality of driven antennas attached to said support element, said plurality of driven antennas disposed within said housing such that, upon the application of power to said driven antennas, said driven antennas emit first radiation energy;
- and
- a ring, said ring disposed within said housing around said plurality of driven antennas such that, upon the application of said power to said plurality of driven antennas, said ring emits second radiation energy.
A method for forming an antenna having driven and parasitic elements, said method comprising the steps of:
- forming a plurality of patch antenna regions;
- disposing said plurality of patch antenna regions in a common plane;
- forming a ring-shaped metal band;
- and
- surrounding said plurality of patch antenna regions with said ring-shaped metal band such that, upon the application of power to said plurality of patch antenna regions to generate first radiation energy, said ring-shaped metal band generates second radiation energy.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.