Smart sensor device and antenna structure for use therewith
An antenna for a smart sensor device includes a generally circular, substantially rigid substrate and a radiative antenna element integrated with the substrate. According to one embodiment, the antenna element is a primary cellular antenna arranged to pass signals at frequencies between 600 MHz and 3 GHz. According to another embodiment, a second radiative antenna element may be integrated with the substrate. In such a case, the second antenna element may be arranged to receive location-based signals from satellites or operate as a cellular diversity antenna arranged to receive cellular signals present in proximity to the antenna. The substrate may include at least one interruption (e.g., aperture or lens) arranged to permit light to reach an area inside the sensor device that would otherwise be shielded by the substrate. In such a case, the radiative antenna element(s) may be integrated with the substrate so as to avoid the interruption.
1 . An antenna comprising:
a generally circular, substantially rigid substrate;
a first antenna element integrated with the substrate, wherein the first antenna element is a primary cellular antenna arranged to pass cellular frequency signals over a cellular network:
a second antenna element integrated with the substrate, wherein the second antenna element is arranged to receive location-based signals from one or more satellites of a satellite constellation system that provides geographic location information; and
a third antenna element integrated with the substrate, wherein the third antenna element is arranged as a diversity antenna to receive cellular frequency signals from the cellular network.
2 . The antenna of claim 1 , wherein the first antenna element is arranged to pass signals at frequencies between 600 megahertz (600 MHz) and three gigahertz (3 GHz).
3 . The antenna of claim 1 , wherein the first antenna element is arranged to pass signals at frequencies between 703 MHz and 2690 MHz.
4 . The antenna of claim 1 , wherein the substrate has a radius between about three-fourths of an inch (0.75 in.) and about four inches (4 in.) and a thickness between about 0.05 inches (50 mils) and about one-half inch (0.50 in. or 500 mils).
5 . The antenna of claim 1 , wherein the substrate includes at least one interruption arranged to permit light to reach an area that would otherwise be shielded by the substrate.
6 . The antenna of claim 5 , wherein the at least one interruption is an aperture.
7 . The antenna of claim 5 , wherein the at least one interruption is a lens.
8 . The antenna of claim 5 , wherein at least the first antenna element is integrated with the substrate so as to avoid the at least one interruption.
9 . The antenna of claim 1 , wherein the substrate is formed from a light-transmissive material.
10 . The antenna of claim 1 , wherein the first antenna element permits omnidirectional communications.
11 . The antenna of claim 1 , wherein the substrate defines an aperture through a center thereof to permit light to reach an area that would otherwise be shielded by the substrate.
12 . An antenna comprising:
a generally circular, substantially rigid substrate including an interruption arranged to permit light to reach an area that would otherwise be shielded by the substrate;
a first antenna element integrated with the substrate so as to avoid the interruption, wherein the first antenna element is a primary cellular antenna arranged to pass cellular frequency signals over a cellular network;
a second antenna element integrated with the substrate, wherein the second antenna element is arranged to receive location-based signals from one or more satellites of a satellite constellation system that provides geographic location information; and
a third antenna element integrated with the substrate, wherein the third antenna element is arranged as a diversity antenna to receive cellular frequency signals from the cellular network.
13 . The antenna of claim 12 , wherein the first antenna element is arranged to pass signals at frequencies between 600 megahertz (600 MHZ) and three gigahertz (3 GHz).
14 . The antenna of claim 12 , further comprising: wherein the substrate has a radius between about three-fourths of an inch (0.75 in.) and about four inches (4 in.), and a thickness between about 0.05 inches (50 mils) and about one-half inch (0.50 in. or 500 mils.