Omni-directional, multi-polarity, low profile planar antenna

1. A planar antenna for receiving high definition television signals, which comprises:

a dielectric substrate having a first side and a second side disposed opposite the first side, the first and second sides respectively having first and second conductive patterns including segments functioning as antenna elements and forming respective first and second modified H-shaped patterns thereon, the first conductive pattern situated on the first side of the dielectric substrate of the planar antenna further having a first extended S-shaped segment, the second conductive pattern situated on the second side of the dielectric substrate of the planar antenna further having a second extended S-shaped segment, each of the first and second extended S-shaped segments comprising an S-shaped segment and an extended segment, the S-shaped segment comprising an elongated main portion and two sub-segments perpendicularly connected to ends of the elongated main portion; wherein each of the extended segments is perpendicularly connected to an end of each of the S-shaped segments and acts as a parasitic element for the planar antenna.

2. The planar antenna for receiving high definition television signals as defined by claim 1 , wherein the first modified H-shaped pattern is disposed substantially ninety degrees with respect to the second modified H-shaped pattern.

3. A planar antenna for receiving high definition television signals, which comprises:

a dielectric substrate having a first side and a second side disposed opposite the first side, the first and second sides respectively having first and second conductive patterns including segments functioning as antenna elements and forming respective first and second modified H-shaped patterns thereon, the first modified H-shaped pattern being disposed substantially ninety degrees with respect to the second modified H-shaped pattern;

wherein the first conductive pattern situated on the first side of the dielectric substrate of the planar antenna includes:

a) a first extended S-shaped segment, the first extended S-shaped segment including:

a1) an elongated main portion centrally located on the first side of the dielectric substrate and which functions as a first transmission line, the elongated main portion having a first axial end and a second axial end situated opposite the first axial end;

a2) a first sub-segment situated at and operatively coupled to the second axial end of the elongated main portion and disposed perpendicularly to the length of the elongated main portion, the first sub-segment of the first extended S-shaped segment functioning as a first driven element of the planar antenna, the first sub-segment of the first extended S-shaped segment having a first axial end which is operatively coupled to the second axial end of the elongated main portion, and a second axial end situated opposite the first axial end of the first sub-segment;

a3) a second sub-segment situated at and operatively coupled to the first axial end of the elongated main portion and disposed perpendicularly to the length of the elongated main portion, the second sub-segment of the first extended S-shaped segment functioning as a second driven element of the planar antenna; and

a4) a third sub-segment situated at and operatively coupled to the second axial end of the first sub-segment of the first extended S-shaped segment and disposed perpendicularly to the length of the first sub-segment, the third sub-segment functioning as a first parasitic element of the planar antenna;

b) a second segment, the second segment being situated at and operatively coupled to the second axial end of the elongated main portion of the first extended S-shaped segment and disposed perpendicularly to the length of the elongated main portion, the second segment functioning as a third driven element of the planar antenna; and

c) a third segment, the third segment being situated at and operatively coupled to the first axial end of the elongated main portion of the first extended S-shaped segment and disposed perpendicularly to the length of the elongated main portion, the third segment functioning as a second parasitic element of the planar antenna;

whereby the first extended S-shaped segment, the second segment and the third segment define the first modified H-shaped pattern on the first side of the dielectric substrate of the planar antenna;

and wherein the second conductive pattern situated on the second side of the dielectric substrate of the planar antenna includes:

d) a second extended S-shaped segment, the second extended S-shaped segment including:

d1) an elongated main portion centrally located on the second side of the dielectric substrate and which functions as a second transmission line, the elongated main portion having a first axial end and a second axial end situated opposite the first axial end;

d2) a first sub-segment of the second extended S-shaped segment situated at and operatively coupled to the second axial end of the elongated main portion of the second extended S-shaped segment and disposed perpendicularly to the length of the elongated main portion of the second extended S-shaped segment, the first sub-segment of the second extended S-shaped segment functioning as a fourth driven element of the planar antenna, the first sub-segment of the second extended S-shaped segment having a first axial end which is coupled to the second axial end of the elongated main portion of the second extended S-shaped segment, and a second axial end situated opposite the first axial end of the first sub-segment of the second extended S-shaped segment;

d3) a second sub-segment of the second extended S-shaped segment situated at and operatively coupled to the first axial end of the elongated main portion of the second extended S-shaped segment and disposed perpendicularly to the length of the elongated main portion, the second sub-segment of the second extended S-shaped segment functioning as a fifth driven element of the planar antenna, the second sub-segment of the second extended S-shaped segment having a first axial end which is coupled to the first axial end of the elongated main portion of the second extended S-shaped segment, and a second axial end situated opposite the first axial end of the second sub-segment of the second extended S-shaped segment; and

d4) a third sub-segment of the second extended S-shaped segment situated at and operatively coupled to one of the second axial end of the first sub-segment of the second extended S-shaped segment and disposed perpendicularly to the length of the first sub-segment of the second extended S-shaped segment and the second axial end of the second sub-segment of the second extended S-shaped segment and disposed perpendicularly to the length of the second sub-segment of the second extended S-shaped segment, the third sub-segment functioning as a third parasitic element of the planar antenna;

e) a fourth segment, the fourth segment being situated at and operatively coupled to the second axial end of the elongated main portion of the second extended S-shaped segment and disposed perpendicularly to the length of the elongated main portion of the second extended S-shaped segment, the second segment functioning as a sixth driven element of the planar antenna; and

f) a fifth segment, the fifth segment being situated at and operatively coupled to the first axial end of the elongated main portion of the second extended S-shaped segment and disposed perpendicularly to the length of the elongated main portion of the second extended S-shaped segment, the fifth segment functioning as a fourth parasitic element of the planar antenna;

whereby the second extended S-shaped segment, the fourth segment and the fifth segment define the second modified H-shaped pattern on the second side of the dielectric substrate of the planar antenna.

4. The planar antenna for receiving high definition television signals as defined by claim 3 , which further comprises:

a first inductor, the first inductor operatively coupling the second segment situated on the first side of the dielectric substrate to the first extended S-shaped segment;

a first capacitor, the first capacitor operatively coupling the third segment situated on the first side of the dielectric substrate to the first extended S-shaped segment;

a second inductor, the second inductor operatively coupling the fourth segment situated on the second side of the dielectric substrate to the second extended S-shaped segment; and

a third inductor, the third inductor operatively coupling the fifth segment situated on the second side of the dielectric substrate to the second extended S-shaped segment.

5. The planar antenna for receiving high definition television signals as defined by claim 4 , wherein the dielectric substrate has a dielectric constant in a range of about 5 to about 5.5.

6. The planar antenna for receiving high definition television signals as defined by claim 3 , wherein the first conductive pattern situated on the first side of the dielectric substrate further includes:

g) a sixth segment, the sixth segment being situated adjacent to and partially surrounded by the elongated main portion of the first extended S-shaped segment, the first sub-segment of the first extended S-shaped segment, the third sub-segment of the first extended S-shaped segment and the third segment, the sixth segment functioning as a seventh driven element of the planar antenna;

h) a seventh segment; and

i) an eighth segment, the seventh segment and the eighth segment being situated adjacent to one another and further being situated adjacent to and partially surrounded by the second segment, the elongated main portion of the first extended S-shaped segment and the second sub-segment of the first extended S-shaped segment, the seventh segment functioning as a first reflector of the planar antenna, the eighth segment functioning as a ground plane for the planar antenna.

7. The planar antenna for receiving high definition television signals as defined by claim 6 , wherein the second conductive pattern situated on the second side of the dielectric substrate further includes:

j) a ninth segment, the ninth segment being situated adjacent to and partially surrounded by the elongated main portion of the second extended S-shaped segment, the first sub-segment of the second extended S-shaped segment, and the fifth segment, the ninth segment functioning as a ground plane of the planar antenna; and

k) a tenth segment, the tenth segment being situated adjacent to and partially surrounded by the elongated main portion of the second extended S-shaped segment, the second sub-segment of the second extended S-shaped segment and the fourth segment, the tenth segment functioning as an eighth driven element of the planar antenna.

8. The planar antenna for receiving high definition television signals as defined by claim 7 , which further comprises:

a fourth inductor, the fourth inductor operatively coupling the sixth segment to the elongated main portion of the first extended S-shaped segment; and

a fifth inductor, the fifth inductor operatively coupling the tenth segment to the elongated main portion of the second extended S-shaped segment.