The specification discloses a slot antenna in which the slot opens through an edge of the conductor. Preferably, the slot is nonlinear (e.g. a zigzag shape) enabling a compact configuration in which a relatively long slot is configured in a relatively small conductor.
1. A slot antenna comprising:
a planar electrical conductor having an edge;
the conductor defining a zigzag-shaped slot opening through the edge, the slot including an open end and a closed end, the slot further including a plurality of linear segments between the open end and the closed end, a first segment defining a first width and a second segment defining a second width greater than the first width, the second segment being closer to the open end of the slot; and
a feed connected across the slot.
2. A slot antenna as defined in claim 1 wherein the closed end defines a T shape.
3. A slot antenna as defined in claim 1 wherein the length of the slot is one-quarter of the design wavelength of the antenna.
4. A slot antenna as defined in claim 1 further comprising a dielectric adjacent the open end of the slot.
5. A slot antenna comprising:
an electrically conductive antenna body having an edge;
the antenna body defining a zigzag-shaped slot opening through the edge to define an open end and a closed end, the slot including a plurality of linear segments between the open end and the closed end, wherein the width of at least one linear segment is greater than the width of at least another linear segment that is closer to the closed end of the slot.
6. A slot antenna as defined in claim 5 wherein the slot has a closed end defining a T shape.
7. The slot antenna of claim 5 further comprising a feed connected across the slot.
8. A slot antenna assembly comprising:
a circuit board;
an antenna layer on the circuit board, the antenna layer having an edge, the antenna layer defining a zigzag slot opening through the edge, the zigzag slot including a plurality of linear slot segments, an open end adjacent the edge, and an opposite closed end, wherein the plurality of linear slot segments includes a first segment defining a first width and a second segment defining a second width greater than the first width, the second segment being closer to the open end of the slot than is the first segment;
a feed connected across the zigzag slot; and
a plurality of circuit components supported by the board, at least one of the plurality of circuit components electrically connected to the feed.
9. A slot antenna as defined in claim 8 wherein the closed end of the slot defines a T shape.
10. A slot antenna as defined in claim 9 wherein the length of the zigzag slot is one-quarter of the design wavelength of the antenna assembly.
11. A slot antenna as defined in claim 10 further comprising a dielectric material adjacent the open end of the slot.
12. A slot antenna assembly comprising:
a circuit board;
an antenna layer on the circuit board, the antenna layer having an edge, the antenna layer defining a zigzag slot including a plurality of linear slot segments, the zigzag slot opening through the edge of the antenna layer and including an open end adjacent the edge and an opposite closed end, the closed end defining a T shape, the zigzag slot defining a length one-quarter of the design wavelength of the antenna assembly;
a feed connected across the zigzag slot;
a dielectric material adjacent the open end;
a plurality of circuit components supported by the board, at least one of the plurality of circuit components electrically connected to the feed; and
wherein the width of at least one of the plurality of linear slot segments is greater toward the open end than toward the closed end.