Direction finding antenna systems and methods for use thereof
AssigneeHong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited
InventorsAngus C. K. Mak, Corbett R. Rowell, Chi-Lun Mak
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Abstract
An antenna system comprising a first antenna element, a second antenna element, and a parasitic element, wherein the parasitic element is arranged with regard to the first antenna element and the second antenna element such that a greatest difference in gain between respective antenna patterns of the first and second antenna elements occurs at a null of the pattern of the first antenna element.
Claims21
An antenna system comprising:
- a first antenna element;
- a second antenna element;
- and
- a parasitic element, wherein the parasitic element is arranged with regard to the first antenna element and said second antenna element such that a greatest difference in gain between respective antenna patterns of said first and second antenna elements occurs at a null of the pattern of the first antenna element, said greatest difference being a known value, and wherein an indication of direction is determined based on a relationship between signal strengths received from the respective patterns and said known value.
A direction-finding antenna system comprising:
- a first antenna element;
- a second antenna element;
- a parasitic component, wherein said parasitic component and said first and second antenna elements are configured such that said first antenna element has a pattern with a single null, and said second antenna element has a pattern that is substantially omni directional across all azimuths;
- and
- circuitry receiving signals from each of said antenna patterns, comparing signal strengths thereof, and providing an indication of direction of a signal transmitter based at least in part on the comparing.
A method for providing an indication of direction of a transmitter using an antenna system that includes a first and a second antenna element and a parasitic element, the method comprising:
- receiving a signal from the transmitter using a pattern of the first antenna element;
- receiving the signal from the transmitter using a pattern of the second antenna element, wherein a greatest difference in gain between the patterns of the first and second antenna elements occurs at an azimuth associated with a null of the pattern of the first antenna element, said greatest different being a known value;
- ascertaining a difference in received signal strengths of the first and second antennas;
- comparing said ascertained difference to said known value;
- and
- outputting an indication of direction based at least in part upon said difference in received signal strengths.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.