Ultra-miniature antennas
Systems and methods for operating a communication device. The methods comprise: immersing an antenna in an electric field of an incident radio wave; producing a net change in electrical charge on a surface of an electrodeformative element that acoustically vibrates when the antenna is immersed in the electric field of the incident radio wave; harvesting the electrical charge produced on the surface of the electrodeformative element to provide an antenna receive function; and providing the harvested electrical charge from the antenna to a receiver circuit of the communication device.
1. A method for operating a communication device, comprising:
immersing an antenna in an electric field of an incident radio wave;
producing a net change in electrical charge on a surface of an electrodeformative element that acoustically vibrates when the antenna is immersed in the electric field of the incident radio wave;
harvesting the electrical charge produced on the surface of the electrodeformative element to provide an antenna receive function; and
providing the harvested electrical charge from the antenna to a receiver circuit of the communication device;
wherein the electrodeformative element is acoustically suspended in a housing of the antenna by a plurality of suspension members.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the communication device is a navigation receiver, a radio, or a smart phone.
3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the navigation receiver is an eLoran receiver.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a frequency of the radio wave is between 50 kHz and 200 kHz.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of suspension members comprise at least one of a coil spring, a wire carrier, a compressible pad and an elastomeric element.
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of said suspension members resides on all sides of the electrodeformative element.
7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the electrodeformative element comprises lead zirconium titanate in a bulk vibration mode.
8. A method for operating a communication device, comprising:
immersing an antenna in an electric field of an incident radio wave;
producing a net change in electrical charge on a surface of an electrodeformative element that acoustically vibrates when the antenna is immersed in the electric field of the incident radio wave;
harvesting the electrical charge produced on the surface of the electrodeformative element to provide an antenna receive function;
providing the harvested electrical charge from the antenna to a receiver circuit of the communication device; and
using at least one sidewall of the antenna's housing to directly (1) facilitate a retention of the electrodeformative element in the housing and (2) suspend the electrodeformative element in the housing.
9. A method for operating a communication device, comprising:
immersing an antenna in an electric field of an incident radio wave;
producing a net change in electrical charge on a surface of an electrodeformative element that acoustically vibrates when the antenna is immersed in the electric field of the incident radio wave;
harvesting the electrical charge produced on the surface of the electrodeformative element to provide an antenna receive function;
providing the harvested electrical charge from the antenna to a receiver circuit of the communication device; and
adjusting a resistance of the antenna by changing a distance between two electrical contacts disposed on a surface of the electrodeformative element.
10. A method for operating a communication device, comprising:
immersing an antenna in an electric field of an incident radio wave;
producing a net change in electrical charge on a surface of an electrodeformative element that acoustically vibrates when the antenna is immersed in the electric field of the incident radio wave;
harvesting the electrical charge produced on the surface of the electrodeformative element to provide an antenna receive function;
providing the harvested electrical charge from the antenna to a receiver circuit of the communication device; and
disposing a mechanical tuning mass on the electrodeformative element to decrease an operating frequency of the electrodeformative element.
11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the mechanical tuning mass comprises paint, a pencil marking, a lead rubbing, a graphite rubbing, a solder rubbing, an adhesively attached piece, glue or a sticker.
12. An antenna for receiving radio waves, comprising:
a housing;
an electrodeformative element that is disposed in the housing and vibrates when the antenna is immersed in an electric field of an incident radio wave; and
electrical elements that harvest an electrical charge produced on a surface of the electrodeformative element when the electrodeformative element vibrates to provide an antenna receive function;
wherein the electrodeformative element is acoustically suspended in the housing by a plurality of suspension members.
13. The antenna according to claim 12 , further comprising a transmission line to facilitate a provision of the harvested electrical charge from the antenna to a receiver circuit of a communication device.
14. The antenna according to claim 13 , wherein the communication device is a navigation receiver, a radio, or a smart phone.
15. The antenna according to claim 14 , wherein the navigation receiver is an eLoran receiver.
16. The antenna according to claim 12 , wherein a frequency of the incident radio wave is between 50 kHz and 200 kHz.
17. The antenna according to claim 12 , wherein the plurality of suspension members comprise at least one of a coil spring, a wire carrier, a compressible pad and an elastomeric element.
18. The antenna according to claim 12 , wherein at least one of said suspension members resides on all sides of the electrodeformative element.
19. The antenna according to claim 12 , wherein the electrodeformative element comprises lead zirconium titanate in a bulk vibration mode.
20. The antenna according to claim 12 , wherein the electrodeformative element is sized in accordance with a speed of sound.
21. An antenna for receiving radio waves, comprising:
a housing;
an electrodeformative element that is disposed in the housing and vibrates when the antenna is immersed in an electric field of an incident radio wave; and
electrical elements that harvest an electrical charge produced on a surface of the electrodeformative element when the electrodeformative element vibrates to provide an antenna receive function;
wherein at least one sidewall of the housing directly (1) facilitates a retention of the electrodeformative element in the housing and (2) suspends the electrodeformative element in the housing.
22. An antenna for receiving radio waves, comprising:
a housing;
an electrodeformative element that is disposed in the housing and vibrates when the antenna is immersed in an electric field of an incident radio wave; and
electrical elements that harvest an electrical charge produced on a surface of the electrodeformative element when the electrodeformative element vibrates to provide an antenna receive function;
wherein a resistance of the antenna is adjustable by changing a distance between two electrical contacts disposed on a surface of the electrodeformative element.
23. An antenna for receiving radio waves, comprising:
a housing;
an electrodeformative element that is disposed in the housing and vibrates when the antenna is immersed in an electric field of an incident radio wave;
electrical elements that harvest an electrical charge produced on a surface of the electrodeformative element when the electrodeformative element vibrates to provide an antenna receive function; and
a mechanical tuning mass disposed on the electrodeformative element to decrease an operating frequency of the electrodeformative element.
24. The antenna according to claim 23 , wherein the mechanical tuning mass comprises paint, a pencil marking, a lead rubbing, a graphite rubbing, a solder rubbing, an adhesively attached piece, glue or a sticker.