Dipole array with reflector and integrated electronics
AssigneeSensis Corporation
InventorStephen E. McMahon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dipole antenna array comprising a ground plane, at least one dipole antenna including an active antenna element and a grounded antenna element, at least one reflector and integrated electronics, wherein the active antenna element is isolated from the ground plane and extends substantially perpendicular to the ground plane and the grounded antenna element extends in a direction substantially opposite to the active antenna element, the ground plane is contained within the area bounded by the reflector; the integrated electronics include at least one of a signal down converter and a signal up-converter, and at least some of the integrated electronics are contained in a space defined by at least one of a portion of the ground plane and a portion of the reflector.
Claims33
A dipole antenna device, comprising:
- a ground plane;
- at least one dipole antenna comprising an active antenna element and a grounded antenna element, the active antenna element being isolated from the ground plane and extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the ground plane, the grounded antenna element extending in a direction substantially opposite to the active antenna element, wherein a frequency range of signals received by said at least one dipole antenna is a function of a physical dimension of said at least one dipole antenna;
- at least one reflector, wherein at least a portion of the ground plane is contained within an area substantially bounded by the reflector;
- and
- integrated electronics comprising at least one of a signal down converter and a signal up-converter, wherein at least some of the integrated electronics are contained in a space defined by at least one of a portion of the ground plane and a portion of the reflector,
- wherein the integrated electronics and associated software determine the azimuth to the source of a transmitted signal from signal amplitude and signal phase of the transmitted signal measured at two adjacent dipole antenna elements.
A dipole antenna device, comprising:
- a ground plane;
- at least one dipole antenna comprising an active antenna element and a grounded antenna element, the active antenna element being isolated from the ground plane and extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the ground plane, the grounded antenna element extending in a direction substantially opposite to the active antenna element, wherein a frequency range of signals received by said at least one dipole antenna is a function of a physical dimension of said at least one dipole antenna;
- at least one reflector, wherein at least a portion of the around plane is contained within an area substantially bounded by the reflector;
- integrated electronics comprising at least one of a signal down converter and a signal up-converter, wherein at least some of the integrated electronics are contained in a space defined by at least one of a portion of the ground plane and a portion of the reflector;
- and
- at least a first resonator located between an active antenna element and the reflector at an equal distance from the active antenna element and a rearmost portion of the reflector opposite the dipole antenna, wherein the physical dimensions of at least the first resonator enhances the frequency bandwidth and Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR) of the dipole antenna.
A method of determining an azimuth to a source of a transmitted signal from a dipole antenna array, the method comprising:
- receiving a transmitted signal at more than one dipole antenna elements of the dipole antenna array;
- determining the dipole antenna element receiving the highest signal amplitude;
- determining the adjacent dipole antenna element receiving the next highest signal amplitude;
- determining an azimuth to the source of the transmitted signal from the dipole antenna array by comparing the signal amplitude and signal phase of the transmitted signal received at each of the two adjacent dipole antenna elements receiving the highest signal amplitude;
- interfacing with a handheld device, and
- displaying the azimuth to the source of the transmitted signal from the dipole antenna array on the handheld device display.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.