Dual role antenna assembly

1. A dual-role antenna assembly operable for use with both geostationary earth orbit (GEO) and low earth orbit/medium earth orbit (LEO/MEO) satellites, the dual-role antenna assembly comprising:

a ground plane;

a first curled inverted-F substantially omnidirectional antenna mounted to the ground plane, the first curled inverted-F substantially omnidirectional antenna having a first asymmetrical gain pattern with a first higher gain sector in a first direction, the first curled inverted-F substantially omnidirectional antenna being adapted for communicating with either of GEO satellites or LEO/MEO satellites;

a second curled inverted-F substantially omnidirectional antenna mounted to the ground plane in a position diametrically opposed to the first curled inverted-F substantially omnidirectional antenna, the second curled inverted-F substantially omnidirectional antenna having a second asymmetrical gain pattern with a second higher gain sector in a second direction, the second curled inverted-F substantially omnidirectional antenna being adapted for communicating with either of GEO satellites or LEO/MEO satellites;

an RF beam selection switch for selectively connecting the first curled inverted-F substantially omnidirectional antenna and the second curled inverted-F substantially omnidirectional antenna to an RF front-end; and

a controller programmed to select either the first or second curled inverted-F substantially omnidirectional antenna and use the selected curled inverted-F substantially omnidirectional antenna for GEO satellites based at least in part on a predetermined criteria, wherein the controller is programmed to prioritize GEO satellite communications over LEO/MEO satellite communications by scheduling a LEO/MEO satellite communication to not transmit on the selected curled inverted-F substantially omnidirectional antenna while a GEO satellite communication transmits on the selected curled inverted-F substantially omnidirectional antenna, wherein at least one of said first and second curled inverted-F substantially omnidirectional antenna comprises two feed strips and a ground strip, and wherein each feed strip corresponds to a different frequency sub-band.

2. A dual-role antenna assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least one of the curled inverted-F substantially omnidirectional antennas is mounted on an elliptical dielectric form.

3. A dual-role antenna assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first and second asymmetrical gain patterns are tilted in relation to the ground plane.

4. A dual-role antenna assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the controller is programmed to select either the first curled inverted-F substantially omnidirectional antenna or the second curled inverted-F substantially omnidirectional antenna and share the selected curled inverted-F substantially omnidirectional antenna between at least two frequencies associated with at least two corresponding satellites in a half-duplex manner.

5. A dual-role antenna assembly as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the controller is programmed to give priority to frequencies between 1518 Mhz and 1675 Mhz.

6. A dual-role antenna assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the controller is programmed to use a non-selected curled inverted-F substantially omnidirectional antenna for LEO/MEO satellites.

7. A dual-role antenna assembly as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a received signal strength monitor configured to provide a received signal strength indication, and wherein the predetermined criteria comprise the received signal strength indication.

8. A dual-role antenna assembly as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the received signal strength indication is based on signals received from a GEO satellite.

9. A dual-role antenna assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said first and second curled inverted-F substantially omnidirectional antennas are tunable between frequency sub-bands, and each of the curled inverted-F substantially omnidirectional antennas further comprises a frequency switch operative to switch between the frequency sub-bands.

10. A dual-role antenna assembly as claimed in claim 9 , wherein each said frequency switch is controlled by said controller.

11. A dual-role antenna assembly as claimed in claim 9 , wherein said curled inverted-F substantially omnidirectional antennas have multiple feed points corresponding to respective ones of the frequency sub-bands.

12. A dual-role antenna assembly as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the ground plane lies on a printed circuit board, and each said frequency switch is mounted on the printed circuit board in proximity to the first and second curled inverted-F substantially omnidirectional antennas.

13. A dual-role antenna assembly as claimed in claim 9 , wherein said frequency switch of each said antenna is mounted inside a dielectric form forming part of each said curled inverted-F substantially omnidirectional antenna.

14. A dual-role antenna assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first and second asymmetrical gain patterns are tilted in relation to the ground plane with Right Hand Circular Polarization coverage.

15. A dual-role antenna assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a height of at least one of the curled inverted-F substantially omnidirectional antennas is at least 12 mm.

16. An antenna comprising:

a dielectric form of elliptical cross section; and

conductive strips peripherally mounted on said dielectric form to provide a curled inverted-F substantially omnidirectional antenna, said curled inverted-F substantially omnidirectional antenna having an asymmetrical gain pattern with a higher gain pattern in one direction, wherein said conductive strips comprise two feed strips and a ground strip, and wherein each feed strip corresponds to a different frequency sub-band.

17. An antenna as claimed in claim 16 , wherein said dielectric form is hollow.

18. An antenna as claimed in claim 16 , wherein said dielectric form has major and minor axis radii of 11 mm and 7 mm, respectively.

19. An antenna as claimed in claim 16 , wherein said dielectric form has a height of 12 mm.