Multi system multi band antenna and antenna arrays assembly
A method and apparatus for transmitting RF signals is described. In one embodiment, the apparatus is evidenced by a multi-band antenna assembly. The multi-band antenna assembly comprises of a base portion, a blade antenna supporting omni-directional beam while the second one is an antenna array that has a directional beam. The top portion comprises a first surface facing away from the base portion, the first surface having an first antenna array including a plurality of first antenna elements; a second surface facing the base portion; and a peripheral surface on a periphery of the top portion and disposed between the first surface and the second surface, the peripheral surface comprising one or more further antenna arrays having a plurality of further antenna elements.
1. An antenna assembly, comprising:
a base portion, adapted to be coupled to an outer surface of a vehicle;
a blade portion, having a first end coupled to the base portion and a second end;
a top portion coupled to the second end of the blade portion distal from the first end of the blade portion, the top portion comprising:
a first surface facing away from the base portion, the first surface having an first antenna array including a plurality of first antenna elements;
a second surface facing the base portion; and
a peripheral surface on a periphery of the top portion and disposed between the first surface and the second surface, the peripheral surface comprising one or more further antenna arrays having a plurality of further antenna elements.
2. The antenna assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the first antenna array has a first field of view toward a zenith; and
the one or more further antenna arrays augment the first field of view to provide a combined field of view having field of view greater than the first field of view.
3. The antenna assembly of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the peripheral surface forms an angle θ with the first surface.
4. The antenna assembly of claim 3 , wherein θ>45 degree.
5. The antenna assembly of claim 1 , wherein the one or more further arrays together provide an azimuthal field of view of 360 degrees.
6. The antenna assembly of claim 5 , wherein:
the peripheral surface includes three sides, wherein at least one side of the three sides has at least one of the further antenna arrays.
7. The antenna assembly of claim 5 , wherein:
the peripheral surface includes four sides, wherein at least one side of the four sides has at least one of the further antenna arrays.
8. The antenna assembly of claim 5 , wherein:
the peripheral surface is substantially circular, having the one or more further antenna arrays disposed thereon.
9. The antenna assembly of claim 5 , wherein:
the peripheral surface is substantially elliptical, having the one or more further antenna arrays disposed thereon.
10. The antenna assembly of claim 1 , wherein the blade portion comprises a blade antenna.
11. The antenna assembly of claim 1 , further comprising one or more monopole antennas, disposed within the blade portion.
12. The antenna assembly of claim 11 , wherein the first antenna array and the one or more further antenna arrays operate in a first frequency band and the one or more monopole antennas operate in a second frequency band.
13. The antenna assembly of claim 12 , wherein the first frequency band is 10 to 86 GHz or Ku, K, Ka and V-band and the second frequency band is below 6 GHz.
14. The antenna assembly of claim 1 , wherein the blade portion has a cross section elongated about an axis substantially co-linear with a velocity vector of the vehicle.
15. The antenna assembly of claim 1 , wherein the top portion is disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to a zenith.
16. A method of transmitting an RF signal from an antenna assembly, comprising:
providing first RF signal to an antenna assembly, the antenna assembly comprising:
a blade portion;
a base portion, disposed at a first end of the blade portion, adapted to be coupled to an outer surface of a vehicle; and
a top portion disposed at a second end of the blade portion distal from the first end of the blade portion, the top portion comprising:
a first surface facing away from the base portion, the first surface having an first antenna array including a first plurality of antenna elements;
a second surface facing the base portion; and
a peripheral surface on a periphery of the top portion and disposed between the first surface and the second surface, the peripheral surface comprising one or more further antenna arrays having a plurality of further antenna elements;
selecting either the first antenna array or at least one of the further antenna arrays; and
transmitting the RF signal via the selected first antenna array or the at least one of the further antenna arrays.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein:
the antenna assembly further comprises one or more monopole antennas, disposed within the blade portion;
the method further comprises:
transmitting a third RF signal via the one or more monopole antennas.
18. A method of transmitting a first RF signal and transmitting a second RF signal via a same antenna assembly, comprising:
providing the first RF signal and the second RF signal to an antenna assembly, the antenna assembly comprising:
a blade portion;
a base portion, disposed at a first end of the blade portion, adapted to be coupled to an outer surface of a vehicle; and
a top portion disposed at a second end of the blade portion distal from the first end of the blade portion, the top portion comprising:
a first surface facing away from the base portion, the first surface having an first antenna array including a first plurality of antenna elements;
a second surface facing the base portion;
a peripheral surface on a periphery of the top portion and disposed between the first surface and the second surface, the peripheral surface comprising one or more further antenna arrays having a plurality of further antenna elements;
concurrently transmitting the first RF signal via the first plurality of antenna elements and the second RF signal via at least a subset of the plurality of further antenna elements.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein:
the antenna assembly further comprises one or more monopole antennas, disposed within the blade portion;
the method further comprises:
transmitting a third RF signal via the one or more monopole antennas.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the first antenna array and the one or more further antenna arrays operate in a first frequency band and the one or more monopole antennas operate in a second frequency band.