Conformable antenna
View Patent ↗A polymorphic antenna, including a metallic template configurable in at least first and second possible different three-dimensional shapes, the antenna, when configured in the at least first and second different three-dimensional shapes, having a common antenna feed point, a common balun coupled to the common antenna feed point; and a common dipole coupled to the common antenna feed point and to the common balun. The antenna operates in a common frequency band when configured in either of the at least first and second different three-dimensional shapes when fed via the common antenna feed point.
1. A polymorphic omni-directional antenna, comprising:
a metallic template configurable in at least first and second possible different three-dimensional shapes,
said antenna, when configured in said at least first and second different three-dimensional shapes, having:
a common antenna feed point;
a common balun directly coupled to the common antenna feed point; and
a common dipole directly coupled to the common antenna feed point and to the common balun, and
said antenna operating omni-directionally in a common frequency band when configured in either of said at least first and second different three-dimensional shapes and fed via the common antenna feed point.
2. The antenna according to claim 1 , wherein said antenna when configured in either of said at least first and second different three-dimensional shapes is free-standing.
3. The antenna according to claim 1 , and comprising a cable guide.
4. The antenna according to claim 3 , wherein the cable guide and the common balun are formed in a common section of the metallic template.
5. The antenna according to claim 3 , wherein the cable guide and an arm of the common dipole are formed in a common section of the metallic template.
6. The antenna according to claim 1 , wherein the common dipole comprises a first arm having a first shape and a second arm having a second shape different from the first shape.
7. The antenna according to claim 1 , wherein the common dipole comprises a first arm and a second arm that is a mirror image of the first arm.
8. The antenna according to claim 1 , and comprising at least one mounting hole.
9. The antenna according to claim 8 , wherein the at least one mounting hole and the common balun are formed in a common section of the metallic template.
10. The antenna according to claim 8 , wherein the at least one mounting hole and the common dipole are formed in a common section of the metallic template.
11. The antenna according to claim 1 , wherein the common dipole comprises a first dipole operative at a first frequency band and a second dipole operative at a second frequency band different from the first frequency band.
12. The antenna according to claim 11 , wherein the common antenna feed point comprises a first antenna feed point coupled to the first dipole and a second antenna feed point coupled to the second dipole.
13. The antenna according to claim 12 , wherein the common balun comprises a first balun coupled to the first antenna feed point and a second balun coupled to the second antenna feed point.
14. A method for implementing a polymorphic omni-directional antenna, comprising:
configuring a metallic template in at least first and second possible different three-dimensional shapes;
arranging said antenna, when the metallic template is configured in said at least first and second different three-dimensional shapes, to have:
a common antenna feed point,
a common balun directly coupled to the common antenna feed point, and
a common dipole directly coupled to the common antenna feed point and to the common balun; and
arranging said antenna to operate omni-directionally in a common frequency band when configured in either of said at least first and second different three-dimensional shapes and fed via the common antenna feed point.
15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein said antenna when configured in either of said at least first and second different three-dimensional shapes is free-standing.
16. The method according to claim 14 , and comprising forming a cable guide and the common balun in a common section of the metallic template.
17. The method according to claim 14 , and comprising forming a cable guide and an arm of the common dipole in a common section of the metallic template.
18. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the common dipole comprises a first arm having a first shape and a second arm having a second shape different from the first shape.
19. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the common dipole comprises a first dipole operative at a first frequency band and a second dipole operative at a second frequency band different from the first frequency band.
20. The method according to claim 19 , wherein the common antenna feed point comprises a first antenna feed point coupled to the first dipole and a second antenna feed point coupled to the second dipole.
21. The method according to claim 20 , wherein the common balun comprises a first balun coupled to the first antenna feed point and a second balun coupled to the second antenna feed point.
22. A communication device, comprising:
a transceiver; and
an omni-directional antenna comprising:
a metallic template configurable in at least first and second possible different three-dimensional shapes,
said antenna, when configured in said at least first and second different three-dimensional shapes, having:
a common antenna feed point coupled to the transceiver;
a common balun directly coupled to the common antenna feed point; and
a common dipole directly coupled to the common antenna feed point and to the common balun, and
said antenna operating omni-directionally in a common frequency band when configured in either of said at least first and second different three-dimensional shapes and fed via the common antenna feed point.
23. A method for producing a communication device, comprising:
providing a transceiver; and
coupling an omni-directional antenna to the transceiver, the antenna comprising:
a metallic template configurable in at least first and second possible different three-dimensional shapes,
said antenna, when configured in said at least first and second different three-dimensional shapes, having:
a common antenna feed point coupled to the transceiver;
a common balun directly coupled to the common antenna feed point; and
a common dipole directly coupled to the common antenna feed point and to the common balun, and
said antenna operating omni-directionally in a common frequency band when configured in either of said at least first and second different three-dimensional shapes and fed via the common antenna feed point.