Wide band antenna having unitary radiator/ground plane

An antenna assembly, comprising:

• a generally U-shaped, one piece, metal sheet having a generally planar ground plane element, a generally planar radiating element, and a rectangular-shaped connecting element that at least partially physically supports said radiating element in spaced relation to said ground plane element;
• said connecting element meeting said ground plane element at a first linear line;
• said connecting element meeting said radiating element at a second linear line that is parallel to said first linear line;
• a first pair of side-aligned and parallel through-slots formed in said radiating element, said first pair of through-slots extending perpendicular to said linear lines, and a portion of said radiating element between said first pair of through-slots comprising a first soldering-area;
• and
• a feed cable having one end that includes a first metal conductor that is connected to said ground plane element and a second metal conductor that is soldered to said first soldering-area.

An antenna, comprising:

• a generally U-shaped metal sheet having a generally planar ground plane element, a generally planar radiating element, and a rectangular-shaped connecting element that at least partially physically supports said radiating element in spaced relation to said ground plane element;
• said connecting element joining said ground plane element at a first linear joining-line;
• said connecting element joining said radiating element at a second linear joining-line that is parallel to said first joining-line;
• a first pair of side-aligned and parallel through-slots formed in said radiating element, said first pair of through-slots extending perpendicular to said joining-lines, and a portion of said radiating element between said first pair of through-slots forming a first soldering-area;
• a second pair of side-aligned and parallel through-slots formed in said ground plane element, said second pair of through-slots extending perpendicular to said joining-lines, and a portion of said ground plane element between said second pair of through-slots forming a second soldering-area;
• a first through-hole formed in said ground plane element;
• a second through-hole formed in said radiating element and within said first soldering-area;
• a first cable;
• said first cable having a first metal conductor that is soldered to said second soldering-area on a surface of said ground plane element that is opposite said radiating element;
• and
• said first cable having a second metal conductor that extends through said first through-hole, between said ground plane element and said radiating element, through said second through-hole, and is soldered to said first soldering-area on a surface of said radiating element that is opposite said ground plane element.

A patch antenna, comprising:

• a generally planar and metallic ground plane in which currents flow in a given direction, said ground plane having a top surface and a bottom surface;
• a generally planar and metallic radiating patch in which currents flow in said given direction, said radiating element having a top surface and a bottom surface;
• said radiating patch being physically spaced vertically above said ground plane with said bottom surface of said radiating patch facing said top surface of said ground plane element;
• a first pair of physically spaced and linear through-slots formed in said ground plane, said first pair of through-slots being mutually parallel and extending in said given direction of current flow, and said first pair of through-slots defining a first soldering area therebetween;
• a second pair of physically spaced and linear through-slots formed in said radiating patch, said second pair of through-slots being mutually parallel and extending in said given direction of current flow, and said second pair of through-slots defining a second soldering area therebetween;
• a generally linear coaxial cable having an outer located metal braid and a center located metal feed conductor, said coaxial cable extending in a direction parallel to a plane of said ground plane element with said metal braid in physical engagement with and soldered to said first soldering area;
• and
• a first opening in said ground plane through which said center conductor extends generally vertically upward to terminate in physical engagement with and soldered to said second soldering area.