Broadband multi-strip patch antenna

An antenna assembly comprising:

• a ground plane;
• a ground strip extending from the ground plane;
• a main patch including a first strip and a second strip, at least a portion of the first strip of the main patch disposed above the ground strip and forming a first radiating edge with the ground strip, and at least a portion of the second strip of the main patch disposed below the ground strip and forming a second radiating edge with the ground plane;
• a first parasitic patch disposed adjacent to and coplanar with the main patch, the first parasitic patch coupled to the main patch along at least a portion of a first non-radiating edge of the main patch, the first parasitic patch including a first strip and a second strip, at least a portion of the first strip of the first parasitic patch disposed above the ground strip and at least a portion of the second strip of the first parasitic patch disposed below the ground strip;
• a second parasitic patch disposed adjacent to and coplanar with the main patch, the second parasitic patch coupled to the main patch along at least a portion of a second non-radiating edge of the main patch, the second parasitic patch including a first strip and a second strip, at least a portion of the first strip of the second parasitic patch disposed above the ground strip and at least a portion of the second strip of the second parasitic patch disposed below the ground strip;
• the at least a portion of the first strip of the main patch, the at least a portion of the first strip of the first parasitic patch, and the at least a portion of the first strip of the second parasitic patch lie in a first plane, and the at least a portion of the second strip of the main patch, the at least a portion of the second strip of the first parasitic patch, and the at least a portion of the second strip of the second parasitic patch lie in a second plane, wherein the first plane is different than the second plane;
• a first tuning strip directly coupled to the first parasitic patch and the ground strip;
• and
• a second tuning strip directly coupled to the second parasitic patch and the ground strip.

A method for providing an antenna for a wireless system, the method comprising:

• providing a ground strip, the ground strip extending from a ground plane;
• providing a main patch including a first strip and a second strip;
• positioning the main patch about the ground strip, wherein at least a portion of the first strip of the main patch positioned above the ground strip and forming a first radiating edge with the ground strip, and at least a portion of the second strip of the main patch positioned below the ground strip and forming a second radiating edge with the ground plane;
• disposing a parasitic patch adjacent to and coplanar with the main patch;
• and
• coupling the parasitic patch to the main patch along at least a portion of a non-radiating edge of the main patch, wherein the parasitic patch including a first strip and a second strip, at least a portion of the first strip of the parasitic patch positioned above the ground strip and at least a portion of the second strip of the parasitic patch positioned below the ground strip.