Antenna Having Unitary Radiating And Grounding Structure
An antenna includes radiating elements and a ground structure formed as a single unitary conductive member, the radiating elements extending from the ground structure such that some of the radiating elements are spaced from the ground structure on a first side thereof, others of the radiating elements being spaced from the ground structure on a second side thereof. The antenna may be an omnidirectional antenna and the single conductive member may be formed as a single metal sheet.
1 . An antenna including one or more radiating elements and a ground structure formed as a single unitary conductive member, wherein:
i. a first set of the radiating elements is spaced from the ground structure on a first side of the ground structure; and
ii. a second set of the radiating elements is spaced from the ground structure on a second side of the ground structure opposite the first side.
2 . An antenna as claimed in claim 1 being an omnidirectional antenna.
3 . An antenna as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ground structure is formed as a central conductive region with the first set of radiating elements extending from a first extremity of the central conductive region and the second set of radiating elements extending from a second extremity of the central conductive region.
4 . An antenna as claimed in claim 1 wherein the radiating elements and ground structure form a substantially figure of eight shape in transverse cross-section.
5 . An antenna as claimed in claim 1 wherein the radiating elements have a curved profile.
6 . An antenna as claimed in claim 1 wherein the radiating elements have a part-polygonal profile.
7 . An antenna as claimed in claim 1 further including one or more ribs on the radiating elements for improved structural stability.
8 . An antenna as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more radiating elements and the ground structure are formed from a single metal sheet.
9 . An antenna as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more radiating elements and the ground structure are formed from a flexible metallic or metallized sheet mounted to a support embodying the antenna structure.
10 . An antenna as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more radiating elements and the ground structure are formed from a metallic extrusion.
11 . An antenna as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more radiating elements and the ground structure are formed from a preformed dielectric embodying the antenna structure and subsequently metallized.
12 . An antenna as claimed in claim 1 wherein the conductive member is formed from one of aluminum and brass.
13 . An antenna as claimed in claim 1 being a cellular antenna.
14 . An antenna as claimed in claim 1 configured to receive and/or transmit in a frequency range from the group of frequency ranges: 2.3 to 2.7 GHz; 3.3 to 3.8 GHz; and 1710 to 2180 MHz.
15 . An antenna as claimed in claim 1 further including a feed network configured to feed signals to and/or from the radiating elements and allowing control of phase and/or amplitude of signals fed to and/or from the radiating elements in order to achieve one or more of: adjustable antenna beam downtilt; upper sidelobe suppression; and nullfill.
16 . A method of forming an antenna, including:
i. forming a ground structure;
ii. forming a first set of one or more radiating elements spaced from the ground structure on a first side of the ground structure;
iii. forming a second set of one or more radiating elements spaced from the ground structure on a second side of the ground structure;
wherein the radiating elements and the ground structure are formed as a single unitary conductive member.
17 . A method as claimed in claim 16 including forming the ground structure as a central conductive region with the first set of radiating elements extending from a first extremity of the central conductive region and the second set of radiating elements extending from a second extremity of the central conductive region.
18 . A method as claimed in claim 17 including forming the radiating elements and ground structure into a substantially figure of eight shape in transverse cross-section.
19 . A method as claimed in claim 16 including forming one or more ribs on the radiating elements for improved structural stability.
20 . A method as claimed in claim 16 including forming the radiating elements and the ground structure from a single metal sheet.
21 . A method as claimed in claim 20 including stamping and bending the metal sheet to form the radiating elements and ground structure.
22 . A method as claimed in claim 16 including forming the radiating elements and the ground structure from a flexible metallic or metallized sheet mounted to a support embodying the antenna structure.
23 . A method as claimed in claim 16 including forming the radiating elements and the ground structure from a metallic extrusion.
24 . A method as claimed in claim 16 including forming the radiating elements and the ground structure from a metallized dielectric.
25 . A method as claimed in claim 16 further including forming a feed network configured to feed signals to and/or from the radiating elements and allowing control of phase and/or amplitude of signals fed to and/or from the radiating elements.
26 . An omnidirectional antenna including one or more radiating elements and a ground structure, the radiating elements and ground structure being formed as a single unitary conductive member.
27 . An antenna as claimed in claim 26 wherein the radiating elements have a curved profile.
28 . An antenna as claimed in claim 26 wherein the radiating elements have a part-polygonal profile.
29 . An antenna as claimed in claim 26 wherein the one or more radiating elements and the ground structure are formed from a single metal sheet.
30 . An antenna as claimed in claim 26 wherein the one or more radiating elements and the ground structure are formed from a flexible metallic or metallized sheet mounted to a support embodying the antenna structure.
31 . An antenna as claimed in claim 26 wherein the one or more radiating elements and the ground structure are formed from a metallic extrusion.
32 . An antenna as claimed in claim 26 wherein the one or more radiating elements and the ground structure are formed from a preformed dielectric embodying the antenna structure and subsequently metallized.
33 . An antenna as claimed in claim 26 being a cellular antenna.
34 . An antenna as claimed in claim 26 further including a feed network configured to feed signals to and/or from the radiating elements and allowing control of phase and/or amplitude of signals fed to and/or from the radiating elements in order to achieve one or more of: adjustable antenna beam downtilt; upper sidelobe suppression; and nullfill.
35 . An antenna including a ground structure and one or more non-planar radiating elements formed as a single unitary conductive member.
36 . An antenna as claimed in claim 35 being an omnidirectional antenna.
37 . An antenna as claimed in claim 35 wherein the radiating elements have a curved profile.