IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,034,761
Granted Patent B2
US 7,034,761 · App. 10/889,662 · Granted Apr 25, 2006

Directional antenna

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,034,761
App. No.
10/889,662
Granted
Apr 25, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

An antenna includes a dielectric substrate, an ative antenna element carried by the dielectric substrate, and passive antenna elements carried by the dielectric substrate. The passive antenna elements are laterally adjacent the active antenna element. A respective impedance element is selectively connectable to each passive antenna element for antenna beam steering. Image elements are carried by the dielectric substrate, and a respective image element is connected to each impedance element and ground.

Claims (59)

1. An antenna comprising:

a dielectric substrate;

an active antenna element carried by said dielectric substrate;

at least one passive antenna element carried by said dielectric substrate and laterally adjacent said active antenna element;

at least one impedance element carried by said dielectric substrate and selectively connectable to said at least one passive antenna element for antenna beam steering; and

at least one image element carried by said dielectric substrate, and connected to said at least one impedance element and ground.

2. An antenna according to claim 1 wherein each image element is associated with a respective impedance element and a respective passive antenna element.

3. An antenna according to claim 1 wherein each passive antenna element comprises a monopole antenna element.

4. An antenna according to claim 1 wherein each image element is approximately a same length as a corresponding passive antenna element.

5. An antenna according to claim 1 wherein each image element is approximately a same shape as a corresponding passive antenna element.

6. An antenna according to claim 1 wherein each impedance element is associated with a respective passive antenna element, each impedance element comprising an inductive load and a capacitive load, with said inductive load and said capacitive load being selectively connectable to the respective passive antenna element.

7. An antenna according to claim 1 further comprising:

at least one second dielectric substrate connected to said dielectric substrate adjacent said active antenna element;

at least one second passive antenna element carried by each second dielectric substrate, each second passive antenna element being laterally adjacent said active antenna element;

a second impedance element selectively connectable to each respective second passive antenna element for antenna beam steering; and

at least second image element carried by each second dielectric substrate, with a second image element being connected to a respective second impedance element and ground.

8. An antenna according to claim 7 wherein each second passive antenna element comprises a monopole antenna element.

9. An antenna according to claim 7 wherein each second image element is approximately a same length as a corresponding second passive antenna element.

10. An antenna according to claim 7 wherein each second image element is approximately a same shape as a corresponding second passive antenna element.

11. An antenna according to claim 7 wherein each second impedance element is associated with a respective second passive antenna element, each second impedance element comprising an inductive load and a capacitive load, with said inductive load and said capacitive load being selectively connectable to the respective second passive antenna element.

12. An antenna according to claim 1 wherein said dielectric substrate comprises a flexible dielectric substrate.

13. A communications device comprising:

a transceiver; and

an antenna for generating a plurality of antenna beams, said antenna connected to said transceiver and comprising

a dielectric substrate,

an active antenna element carried by said dielectric substrate,

at least one passive antenna element carried by said dielectric substrate and laterally adjacent said active antenna element,

at least one impedance element carried by said dielectric substrate and selectively connectable to said at least one passive antenna element for antenna beam steering, and

at least one image element carried by said dielectric substrate, and connected to said at least one impedance element and ground.

14. A communications device according to claim 13 wherein each image element is associated with a respective impedance element and a respective passive antenna element.

15. A communications device according to claim 13 wherein each passive antenna element comprises a monopole antenna element.

16. A communications device according to claim 13 wherein each image element is approximately a same length as a corresponding passive antenna element.

17. A communications device according to claim 13 wherein each image element is approximately a same shape as a corresponding passive antenna element.

18. A communications device according to claim 13 wherein each impedance element is associated with a respective passive antenna element, each impedance element comprising an inductive load and a capacitive load, with said inductive load and said capacitive load being selectively connectable to the respective passive antenna element.

19. A communications device according to claim 13 further comprising:

at least one second dielectric substrate connected to said dielectric substrate adjacent said active antenna element;

at least one second passive antenna element carried by each second dielectric substrate, each second passive antenna element being laterally adjacent said active antenna element;

a second impedance element selectively connectable to each respective second passive antenna element for antenna beam steering; and

at least second image element carried by each second dielectric substrate, with a second image element being connected to a respective second impedance element and ground.

20. A communications device according to claim 13 wherein said dielectric substrate comprises a flexible dielectric substrate.

21. A method for making an antenna comprising:

forming an active antenna element on a dielectric substrate;

forming at least one passive antenna element on the dielectric substrate that is laterally adjacent the active antenna element;

forming at least one impedance element that is selectively connectable to the at least one passive antenna element for antenna beam steering; and

forming at least one image element on the dielectric substrate, and connecting the at least one image element to the at least one impedance element and ground.

22. A method according to claim 21 wherein each image element is associated with a respective impedance element and a respective passive antenna element.

23. A method according to claim 21 wherein each passive antenna element comprises a monopole antenna element.

24. A method according to claim 21 wherein each image element is approximately a same length as a corresponding passive antenna element.

25. A method according to claim 21 wherein each image element is approximately a same shape as a corresponding passive antenna element.

26. A method according to claim 21 wherein each impedance element is associated with a respective passive antenna element, each impedance element comprising an inductive load and a capacitive load, with the inductive load and the capacitive load being selectively connectable to the respective passive antenna element.

27. A method according to claim 21 further comprising:

connecting at least one second dielectric substrate to the dielectric substrate adjacent the active antenna element;

forming at least one second passive antenna element on each second dielectric substrate, each second passive antenna element being laterally adjacent the active antenna element;

forming a second impedance element to be selectively connectable to each respective second passive antenna element for antenna beam steering; and

forming at least second image element on the second dielectric substrate, with a second image element being connected to a respective second impedance element and ground.

28. A method according to claim 27 wherein each second passive antenna element comprises a monopole antenna element.

29. A method according to claim 27 wherein each second image element is approximately a same length as a corresponding second passive antenna element.

30. A method according to claim 27 wherein each second image element is approximately a same shape as a corresponding second passive antenna element.

31. A method according to claim 27 wherein each second impedance element is associated with a respective second passive antenna element, each second impedance element comprising an inductive load and a capacitive load, with the inductive load and the capacitive load being selectively connectable to the respective second passive antenna element.