Compact, broadband inverted-F antennas with conductive elements and wireless communicators incorporating same

An inverted-F antenna, comprising:

• a first ground plane;
• an elongated, meandering conductive element capacitively coupled to the first ground plane, wherein the elongated, meandering conductive element is in adjacent, spaced-apart relationship with the first ground plane, wherein the elongated, meandering conductive element comprises a plurality of U-shaped portions that extend towards the first ground plane;
• an RF signal feed extending from the elongated, meandering conductive element;
• and
• a ground feed extending from the elongated, meandering conductive element adjacent the RF signal feed and electrically grounding the meandering conductive element.

An inverted-F antenna, comprising:

• a ground plane;
• at least one grounded portion extending outwardly from the ground plane;
• an elongated conductive element in adjacent, spaced-apart relationship with the ground plane and with the at least one outwardly extending grounded portion, wherein the elongated conductive element is spaced apart from the ground plane by a first distance, and wherein the elongated conductive element is spaced apart from the at least one outwardly extending grounded portion by a second distance less than the first distance;
• an RF signal feed extending from the elongated conductive element;
• and
• a ground feed extending from the elongated conductive element adjacent the RF signal feed and electrically grounding the elongated conductive element.

An inverted-F antenna, comprising:

• a ground plane;
• an elongated conductive element in adjacent, spaced-apart relationship with the ground plane;
• an RF signal feed extending from the elongated conductive element;
• a ground feed extending from the elongated conductive element adjacent the RF signal feed and electrically grounding the elongated conductive element;
• and
• an inductive element electrically connected to the elongated conductive element adjacent the RF signal feed, wherein the inductive element comprises a plurality of helical turns.

A wireless communicator, comprising:

• a housing configured to enclose a transceiver that transmits and receives wireless communications signals;
• and
• an inverted-F antenna disposed within the housing, comprising:
• a first ground plane;
• an elongated conductive element capacitively coupled to the first ground plane, wherein the elongated conductive element is in adjacent, spaced-apart relationship with the first ground plane, wherein a first plurality of segments of the elongated conductive element are spaced apart from the first ground plane by a first distance, and wherein a second plurality of segments of the elongated conductive element are spaced apart from the first ground plane by a second distance greater than the first distance;
• an RF signal feed extending from the elongated conductive element;
• and
• a ground feed extending from the elongated conductive element adjacent the RF signal feed and electrically grounding the elongated conductive element.

A wireless communicator, comprising:

• a housing configured to enclose a transceiver that transmits and receives wireless communications signals;
• and
• an inverted-F antenna disposed within the housing, comprising:
• a first ground plane;
• an elongated, meandering conductive element capacitively coupled to the first ground plane, wherein the elongated, meandering conductive element is in adjacent, spaced-apart relationship with the first ground plane, wherein the elongated, meandering conductive element comprises a plurality of U-shaped portions that extend towards the first ground plane;
• an RF signal feed extending from the elongated, meandering conductive element;
• and
• a ground feed extending from the elongated, meandering conductive element adjacent the RF signal feed and electrically grounding the meandering conductive element.

A wireless communicator, comprising:

• a housing configured to enclose a transceiver that transmits and receives wireless communications signals;
• and
• an inverted-F antenna disposed within the housing, comprising:
• a ground plane;
• at least one grounded portion extending outwardly from the ground plane;
• an elongated conductive element in adjacent, spaced-apart relationship with the ground plane and with the at least one outwardly extending grounded portion, wherein the elongated conductive element is spaced apart from the ground plane by a first distance, and wherein the elongated conductive element is spaced apart from the at least one outwardly extending grounded portion by a second distance less than the first distance;
• an RF signal feed extending from the elongated conductive element;
• and
• a ground feed extending from the elongated conductive element adjacent the RF signal feed and electrically grounding the elongated conductive element.

A wireless communicator, comprising:

• a housing configured to enclose a transceiver that transmits and receives wireless communications signals;
• and
• an inverted-F antenna disposed within the housing, comprising:
• a ground plane;
• an elongated conductive element in adjacent, spaced-apart relationship with the ground plane;
• an RF signal feed extending from the elongated conductive element;
• a ground feed extending from the elongated conductive element adjacent the RF signal feed and electrically grounding the elongated conductive element;
• and
• an inductive element electrically connected to the elongated conductive element adjacent the RF signal feed, wherein the inductive element comprises a plurality of helical turns.