IP Library Granted Patent US 7,372,426
Granted Patent B2
US 7,372,426 · App. 11/283,698 · Granted May 13, 2008

Antenna device and radio communication apparatus

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,372,426
App. No.
11/283,698
Granted
May 13, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

An antenna device includes an antenna main body having at least three electricity feeding points and a feeder circuit for feeding an electrical signal to the antenna main body. The feeder circuit feeds electrical signals different in at least one of amplitude and phase to the electricity feeding points. The device enables to control the directivity with the use of a single antenna.

Claims (14)

1. An antenna device, comprising:

an antenna main body having at least three electricity feeding points; and

a feeder circuit for feeding an electrical signal to the antenna main body,

wherein the feeder circuit includes a strip line for connecting each feeding point, the strip line having a first path and a second path, wherein the second path has a phase delay; and

a switch which switches between the first path and the second path of said strip line, and wherein the feeder circuit feeds electrical signals different in at least one of amplitude and phase to the electricity feeding points, and

wherein the antenna main body includes an antenna layer, a dielectric layer, a ground layer, a cylindrical conductor for electrically connecting a center part of the antenna layer to a center part of the ground layer, and conductors connected to the antenna layer at the electricity feeding points.

2. An antenna device according to claim 1 , wherein the electricity feeding points are arranged on a circumference of an identical circle on the antenna main body.

3. An antenna device according to claim 2 , wherein the electricity feeding points are arranged at regular intervals.

4. An antenna device according to claim 1 , wherein the antenna main body is formed in a disc shape.

5. An antenna device according to claim 4 , wherein the electricity feeding points are arranged on a circumference of a circle having the same center as the disc-shaped antenna main body.

6. An antenna device according to claim 1 , wherein the feeder circuit includes at least one of an amplifier, an attenuator, and a phase switching device.

7. An antenna device according to claim 6 , wherein the phase switching device switches one of an amplitude and a phase of an electrical signal according to one of a reception sensitivity, a signal quality, and an error rate thereof.

8. An antenna device according to claim 1 , wherein the feeder circuit performs beam steering in a horizontal surface plane of the antenna device.

9. An antenna device according to claim 1 , wherein the conductors connected to the antenna layer at the electricity feeding points are not connected to the ground layer.

Assignments (5)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE SECOND CONVEYING PARTY NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 037209 FRAME: 0592. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Dec 14, 2015
From: WARREN & LEWIS INVESTMENT CORPORATION; COMMIX SYSTEMS, LLC
To: NEC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 037279/0685 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Dec 4, 2015
From: WARREN & LEWIS INVESTMENT CORPORATION; COMMIX SYSTEMS, LCC
To: NEC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 037209/0592 →
NOTICE OF TERMINATION Recorded Nov 14, 2014
From: WARREN & LEWIS INVESTMENT CORPORATION
To: NEC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 034244/0623 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 31, 2012
From: NEC CORPORATION
To: WARREN & LEWIS INVESTMENT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 029216/0855 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 22, 2005
From: FUKUDA, JUNICHI
To: NEC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 017268/0893 →