Multi-system multi-band antenna and antenna array assembly

Abstract

To provide an integrated antenna assembly disposed in a blade portion of a vehicle and providing omnidirectional coverage.SOLUTION: An integrated antenna assembly 106 supporting an omni-directional beam is formed in a top portion 206 of a blade portion 204 of a vehicle. A first antenna array 208 is formed on a first surface 216 of the top portion 206, an antenna array 210A is formed on a first side 212A of the top portion 206, an antenna array 210B is formed on a second side 212B of the top portion 206, the antenna array 210A is formed on a third side 212C of the top portion 206, an antenna array 210C is formed on the first side 212A of the top portion 206, and an antenna array 210D is formed on a fourth side 212D of the top portion 206. The vehicle is attached to the integrated antenna assembly 106 at a first surface 201 of a base portion 202 of the blade portion 204.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a system and method for communicating information via an antenna, particularly via a system of multi-band antennas.

Background Art

[0002] Description of Related Art Existing wireless communication systems deploy their own antennas for a single band for omnidirectional coverage areas. Multiple systems need to deploy multiple antennas for a specified band and coverage range. The configuration of multiple antennas requires a large surface area. This competes with other systems for very valuable physical property within a vehicle having a limited surface area. In addition, a congested antenna farm interferes with other systems installed on the vehicle. Multiple antennas also increase the weight and aerodynamic drag of the vehicle, acting negatively.

Summary of the Invention

[0003] This summary introduces selected concepts that will be further described later in the form of implementing the invention in a simple form. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

[0004] To address the above requirements, this document discloses a multi-band antenna assembly that includes a base adapted to be coupled to an outer surface of a vehicle, a blade portion having a first end and a second end coupled to the base, and a top coupled to the second end of the blade portion distal from the first end of the blade portion, the top including a first surface facing away from the base and having a first antenna array including a plurality of first antenna elements, a second surface facing the base, and an outer peripheral surface disposed between the first surface and the second surface and surrounding the top and including one or more additional antenna arrays having a plurality of additional antenna elements.

[0005] In one embodiment, the first antenna array has a first field of view that is directed in the zenith direction, and the one or more additional antenna arrays provide a combined field of view that increases the first field of view and has a field of view larger than the first field of view. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface forms an angle θ with the first surface. In one such embodiment, θ > 45. In yet another embodiment, the one or more additional arrays provide a combined azimuthal field of view of 360 degrees.

[0006] Some embodiments are demonstrated by a method of transmitting a first RF signal and a second RF signal via the same antenna assembly. The method includes providing the first RF signal and the second RF signal to an antenna assembly as described above. The method includes transmitting, and also includes simultaneously transmitting a first RF signal via a plurality of first antenna elements and a second RF signal via at least one subset of the plurality of additional antenna elements.

[0007] The foregoing antenna assembly supports multiple wireless systems and a wide range of frequency bands. This antenna assembly comprises a blade antenna having a crown panel including antenna arrays at the top and sides of the panel. The antenna array at the top of the panel covers a vertical radiation area (with a maximum elevation angle of 90 degrees), and the antenna array at the side covers the entire horizontal range (360-degree azimuth angle). The blade antenna can simultaneously provide a typical omnidirectional radiation coverage range for the same or different frequency bands and can be replaced with a panel that houses multiple monopole antennas for MIMO operation.

[0008] The above-described features, functions, and advantages can be achieved individually in various embodiments of the present disclosure or combined in other embodiments, and these further details can be seen with reference to the following description and drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009] In the following drawings, like reference numerals represent corresponding parts throughout the several drawings.

[0010]

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[0011] In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof and are shown by way of illustration of several embodiments. It is to be understood that other embodiments are available and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0012] Overview The systems and methods disclosed herein integrate multiple antennas and antenna arrays for multiple systems having multiple use cases into a single antenna assembly. This provides an omnidirectional coverage range for lower frequency bands such as 4G / Long Term Evolution (LTE) / 5th Generation (5G)-sub 6 GHz band (less than 6 GHz) and a directive beam coverage range for higher frequency bands such as 5G-millimeter Wave (mmWave) band simultaneously. This addresses the installation, operation, performance, and maintainability challenges inherent in deploying multiple wireless communication systems in constrained environments such as aircraft, ground vehicles, marine vehicles, or spacecraft. The small physical size of this assembly reduces the installation limitations caused by a finite installation surface area and the resulting co-site restrictions, as well as the weight and aerodynamic drag on the vehicle. The assembly including the antenna array addresses concerns about insufficient antenna gain for higher frequency bands. The assembly including the antenna array also addresses concerns about electrical performance such as lack of electrical scanning ability, inability to perform spatial multiplexing, and limited connection link range. The single assembly addresses maintainability challenges such as the maintenance and replacement of multiple antennas.

[0013] This assembly combines multiple antenna arrays for multi-system and multi-band communication and comprises blades having one or more monopole antennas (e.g., for LTE / 5G-sub 6 GHz cellular communication) including a top hat panel (e.g., for 5G mmWave cellular / satellite communication). The blade / monopole antennas operate at lower frequency bands and the antenna arrays located on the top hat panel operate at higher frequency bands. The assembly is small, provides a 360° coverage range, and addresses concerns about limited physical property, weight, and aerodynamic drag of vehicles moving within constrained environments including air, ground, or sea.

[0014] The assembly simplifies the design and manufacture of the vehicle and also reduces the overall weight. The assembly can also be used in other applications having physically constrained environments such as space, self-propulsion, and / or marine.

[0015] Communication system FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a communication system 100. This communication system includes a vehicle 104 such as an aircraft, a transceiver 102 that can include one or more of a ground transceiver 102T and an airborne or satellite transceiver 102S, and another vehicle 110. This includes communication with other vehicles having similar communication capabilities. The vehicle 104 includes one or more integrated antenna assemblies (IAA) 106. In one embodiment, the IAA 106 includes a first, i.e., upper IAA 106U attached to the upper outer surface of the vehicle, and a second, i.e., lower IAA 106L attached to the lower outer surface of the vehicle 104. The IAA 106 is communicatively coupled to a communication controller 108 that supplies and receives data and control from other aircraft subsystems including the IAA 106. The IAA 106 is used to communicate data that may include passenger or crew communication data (e.g., person-to-person communication of a mobile phone, Internet communication via a passenger's Internet service provider (ISP) or an ISP provided by the aircraft 104), as well as avionics and / or cockpit data.

[0016] Integrated antenna assembly A - C of FIG. 2 are schematic diagrams of an embodiment of the IAA 106. FIG. 2A shows a side view of the IAA 106. The IAA 106 includes a base 202, a blade portion 204, and a top 206. The base 202 is disposed at a first end of the blade portion 204 and is adapted to be coupled to a vehicle (e.g., the vehicle 104). The top 206 is disposed at a second end of the blade portion 204.

[0017] In some embodiments, the base 202 is coupled to the outer surface of the vehicle, for example, by attaching a first surface 201 of the base 202 to the outer surface or outer panel of the vehicle. In some embodiments, if the vehicle 104 has an outer panel that transmits RF energy, the IAA 106 can be attached to the inner surface of the vehicle 104.

[0018] IAA 106 also includes a blade portion 204 having a first end and a second end. As shown, the first end of the blade portion 204 is connected to the second surface 203 of the base 202, and the second end of the blade portion 204 is connected to the second surface 205 of the top 206 that is distal from the first end of the blade portion 204. In some embodiments, the blade portion 204 has an elongated cross-section centered on an axis that is substantially collinear with the velocity vector of the vehicle 104. The blade portion may have an aerodynamic teardrop-shaped cross-section.

[0019] The top 206 also includes a first surface 216 having a plurality of first antenna elements 250 that face away from the base 202. In the illustrated embodiment, the plurality of first antenna elements 250 are configured in a first antenna array 208 having dimensions of 8x8. Other dimensions and sizes of the first antenna array 208 may be used.

[0020] The top also includes an outer peripheral surface 212 around the top and is disposed between the first surface 216 and the second surface 205. The outer peripheral surface 212 includes one or more antenna arrays 210. In the illustrated embodiment, the outer peripheral surface 212 is substantially rectangular and includes four side surfaces or surfaces 212A-212D. Each of the side surfaces 212 includes a plurality of first antenna elements 250. The top is typically disposed in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the zenith of the vehicle (a point in the sky or celestial sphere directly above the observer) during horizontal flight.

[0021] The outer peripheral surface 212 includes one or more additional antenna arrays 210 each having a plurality of additional antenna elements 252. In the illustrated embodiment, the outer perimeter includes four additional antenna arrays 210A-210D each disposed on a respective side surface 212A-212D of the top and each having respective antenna elements 252A-252D. In the illustrated embodiment, each element of the additional antenna array 210 is 2x8, but other numbers and configurations of additional antenna elements 252 can be used. These arrays are particularly useful for vehicle-to-vehicle (one-to-one or one-to-many) in-flight off-board communication.

[0022] In some embodiments, the first antenna array 208 and the additional antenna array 210 operate at Ku, K, Ka, and V-band frequencies (in the range of 10 - 86 GHz).

[0023] FIG. 2B also shows the use of the control / RF module 262. The control / RF module 262 receives commands and RF signals from the vehicle 104 via the link 264, provides RF signals from the vehicle to the antenna arrays 208 and 210, and is used to control the antenna elements of the arrays 208 and 210 to perform beamforming and scanning via one or more links 260. Controllers collocated with the antenna arrays 208 and 210 can distribute RF energy to the antenna elements of their respective arrays. Power for the control module 262 and other elements of the IAA 106 is provided by the link 266.

[0024] A - C of FIG. 3 are schematic diagrams showing the coverage achieved using the IAA 106. FIG. 3A is a front view of the IAA 106 showing the field of view 302 provided by the IAA 106. The first antenna array 208 provides a first field of view 302 in the direction of the zenith Z. The decrease in gain with increasing scan angle follows the typical cosine roll-off of this array. The 2D-array is operable in both the azimuth and elevation planes. The center of the field of view 302 is nominally directed towards the zenith and spreads at an angle θ Z in all directions towards the horizontal line and provides a coverage range of 180 degrees or approximately 180 degrees in all directions perpendicular to the zenith Z. As shown in FIG. 3B, each of the additional antenna arrays 210 has an angle θ HProvide a vertical field of view 304 that extends from a horizontal plane perpendicular to the zenith Z. As shown at C in FIG. 3, the coverage range is provided within a 360-degree azimuth field of view centered on the zenith, and each of the additional antenna arrays 210A - 210D contributes to the overall field of view. As shown, some of the additional antenna arrays 210 can have a different field of view from other antenna arrays of the additional antenna arrays, and the fields of view of each of the additional antenna arrays 210 can overlap. As shown, one or more of the additional antenna arrays 210 increase the first field of view 302 and provide a combined field of view larger than the first field of view 302. For example, the addition of the field of view 304 expands the first field of view 302 by θ H 360 degrees in the horizontal plane. Further, since the field of view 304 can be selected to be adjacent to or overlap with the field of view 302, a continuous field of view is provided from the zenith in the lower range of the vertical field of view 304.

[0025] A - C in FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of the IAA 106 in which the outer peripheral surface 212 is angled at an angle θ P with respect to the first (upper) surface 216. This embodiment allows the center of the vertical field of view 304 to be angled upward by an amount of θ P -90 degrees toward the field of view 302 centered on the zenith Z. Thereby, the boresight of the vertical field of view 304 is brought toward the edge of the field of view 302 centered on the zenith, and thus the performance is improved in the region where the fields of view 302 and 304 intersect or overlap. In this embodiment, θ P >90 degrees, but other embodiments where θ P <90 degrees and the outer peripheral surface 212 is angled away from the zenith can be utilized.

[0026] A - B in FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing some embodiments of the outer peripheral surface 212. In the embodiment shown at A - C in FIG. 2, the outer peripheral surface had four side surfaces 212A - 212D, each having one of the additional antenna arrays 210A - 210D. Although shown as a rectangle in the figure, the outer peripheral surface may have a square cross-section or may have four sides of different lengths (e.g., a quadrilateral).

[0027] A in FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment having three side surfaces 512A - 512C with a triangular outer peripheral surface, each having a corresponding further array 510A - 510C or a further antenna element 252. For aerodynamic purposes, the triangle can be an isosceles triangle with the minimum angle facing in the direction of the velocity vector having the vehicle 104. In some embodiments, the field of view of the further antenna array on each side surface is such that a complete coverage range is achieved in the horizontal plane. B in FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment having a substantially circular outer peripheral surface and having one or more of a further antenna array 511A - 511A arranged at equal angular intervals along the outer peripheral surface. Four such further antenna arrays 511A - 511D are illustrated, but fewer or more arrays can be utilized. Although not shown, the outer peripheral surface can also be elliptical with one or more of a further antenna array arranged thereon. In this embodiment, the major axis of the ellipse typically aligns with the velocity vector of the vehicle 104.

[0028] In some embodiments, the blade portion 204 includes a blade antenna. The blade antenna is a variant of a monopole antenna and typically includes a flat conductor that is trapezoidal, often for aerodynamic purposes. The conductor often includes notches to improve broadband characteristics. Such a blade antenna can be used for services in the LTE frequency band (2 GHz with a bandwidth of about 100 MHz) and / or the 5G sub - 6 GHz frequency band.

[0029] A and B of FIG. 6 are schematic diagrams showing some embodiments of IAA 106. In this embodiment, the blade portion includes one or more monopole antennas 602A - 602D disposed inside the blade 204. In this embodiment, the blade transmits RF energy. In some embodiments, the first antenna array 208 and the further antenna array 210 operate in a first frequency band, and the one or more monopole antennas 602 operate in a second frequency band different from the first frequency band. For example, the first antenna array 208 and the further antenna array 210 can operate in the Ku and 5G millimeter wave bands of 12 - 86 GHz, and the one or more monopole antennas operate in a second frequency band lower than 6 GHz.

[0030] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a use case for transmitting RF signals. In one use case, the first antenna array 208 and the further antenna array 210 are used to transmit and receive information with a satellite transceiver 100S or other entity (e.g., an aircraft) located above the vehicle 104 while the vehicle is on or near the ground. With the satellite transceiver 100S located directly above the vehicle 104, communication can be made using the first antenna array 208, and with the satellite 100S located closer to the horizon, communication can be made by one or more further antenna arrays 210.

[0031] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an exemplary method for transmitting an RF signal from an antenna assembly in this first use case. In block 802, an RF signal is provided to the IAA 106. In block 804, one or more of the first antenna array 208 or the further antenna array 210 are selected to transmit the RF signal, for example, depending on whether a satellite transceiver 102S is within the field of view. Which array 210 is used may also depend on the priority or type of communication data being communicated. In block 806, the signal is transmitted via the selected first array or one or more further antenna arrays 210.

[0032] In the second use case, the first antenna array 208 is used to communicate with the satellite 100S over a first RF signal, and one or more of the additional antenna arrays 210 are used to communicate with the ground transceiver 102T over a second RF signal. Such communications are independent and can occur simultaneously.

[0033] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing an exemplary method for transmitting a first RF signal and a second RF signal from an antenna assembly in a second use case. At block 902, the first RF signal and the second RF signal are provided to the IAA 106. At block 904, the first RF signal is simultaneously transmitted via the first antenna array 208, and the second RF signal is transmitted via at least one of the additional antenna arrays 210. In one embodiment, the first RF signal is transmitted to a satellite via the first antenna array 208, and the second RF signal is transmitted to the ground transceiver 102T via an additional antenna array. Further embodiments include an antenna in the blade portion that can be used to communicate a third RF signal, for example, to or from the ground transceiver 102T.

[0034] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing another use case. In this use case, two IAAs 106 including an upper IAA 106U and a lower IAA 106L are used. The upper IAA 106U is used to communicate with a first entity such as the satellite 100S. Nominally, the first antenna array 208 is used, but additional antenna arrays 210 can also be used, particularly when the satellite transceiver 102S is close to the horizon. Similarly, the lower IAA 106L is used to communicate with a second entity such as the ground transceiver 102T. Again, the first antenna array 208 is generally used, but additional antenna arrays 210 can also be used, particularly when the ground transceiver 102T is close to the horizon.

[0035] Hardware Environment FIG. 11 shows an exemplary computer system 1100 that can be used to implement the processing elements disclosed above, including the control / RF module 262. Computer 1102 includes a processor 1104 and a memory such as random access memory (RAM) 1106. Computer 1102 is operably coupled to a display 1122 that presents images such as windows to a user on a graphical user interface 1118B. Computer 1102 can be coupled to other devices such as a keyboard 1114, a mouse device 1116, a printer 1128, and the like. Needless to say, those skilled in the art will recognize that any combination of the above components, or any number of different components, peripherals, and other devices can be used with computer 1102.

[0036] Generally, computer 1102 operates under the control of an operating system 1108 stored in memory 1106, interacts with a user to receive inputs and commands, and presents results through a graphical user interface (GUI) module 1118A. Although GUI module 1118B is shown as a separate module, the instructions implementing the GUI functionality can be resident or distributed in operating system 1108, computer program 1110, or implemented using dedicated memory and a processor. Computer 1102 can also implement a compiler 1112 that enables an application program 1110 written in a programming language such as COBOL, C++, FORTRAN, or other languages to be translated into processor 1104-readable code. After completion, application 1110 accesses and manipulates data stored in memory 1106 of computer 1102 using the relationships and logic generated using compiler 1112. Computer 1102 optionally includes an external communication device such as a modem, a satellite link, an Ethernet card, or other device for communication with other computers.

[0037] In some embodiments, the instructions implementing the operating system 1108, computer program 1110, and compiler 1112 are tangibly embodied on a computer-readable medium, such as data storage device 1120, that can include one or more fixed or removable data storage devices, such as a zip drive, floppy disk drive 1124, hard drive, CD-ROM drive, tape drive, etc. Further, the operating system 1108 and computer program 1110, when read and executed by computer 1102, are composed of instructions that cause computer 1102 to perform the operations described herein. The computer program 1110 and / or the operating instructions can also be tangibly embodied in the memory 1106 and / or data communication device 1130, thereby creating a computer program product or article of manufacture. Accordingly, the terms "article of manufacture", "program storage device", and "computer program product" as used herein are intended to include a computer program accessible from any computer-readable device or medium.

[0038] One skilled in the art will recognize that numerous modifications can be made to this configuration without departing from the scope of the disclosure. For example, one skilled in the art will recognize that any combination of the above components, or any number of different components, peripherals, and other devices can be used. Further, the disclosure includes embodiments that include the following.

[0039] An antenna assembly including a base adapted to be coupled to an outer surface of a vehicle, a blade portion having a first end coupled to the base and a second end, and a top coupled to the second end of the blade portion distal from the first end of the blade portion, the top having a first surface facing away from the base and having a first antenna array including a plurality of first antenna elements, a second surface facing the base, and an outer peripheral surface disposed between the first surface and the second surface and surrounding the top and including one or more additional antenna arrays having a plurality of additional antenna elements.

[0040] The implementation mode may include one or more of the following features: The first antenna array has a first field of view facing in the zenith direction, and one or more additional antenna arrays increase the first field of view to provide a combined field of view that is larger than the first field of view, the antenna assembly described above.

[0041] Any of the above-described antenna assemblies, wherein a part of the outer peripheral surface forms an angle θ with the first surface.

[0042] Any of the above-described antenna assemblies, wherein θ > 45 degrees.

[0043] Any of the above-described antenna assemblies, wherein one or more additional arrays provide a combined azimuthal field of view of 360 degrees.

[0044] Any of the above-described antenna assemblies, wherein the outer peripheral surface includes three side surfaces, and at least one of the three side surfaces has at least one of the additional antenna arrays.

[0045] Any of the above-described antenna assemblies, wherein the outer peripheral surface includes four side surfaces, and at least one of the four side surfaces has at least one of the additional antenna arrays.

[0046] Any of the above-described antenna assemblies, wherein the outer peripheral surface is substantially circular and has one or more additional antenna arrays disposed thereon.

[0047] Any of the above-described antenna assemblies, wherein the outer peripheral surface is substantially elliptical and has one or more additional antenna arrays disposed thereon.

[0048] Any of the above-described antenna assemblies, wherein the blade portion includes a blade antenna.

[0049] Any of the aforementioned antenna assemblies further including one or more monopole antennas disposed inside the blade portion.

[0050] Any of the aforementioned antenna assemblies in which the first antenna array and one or more additional antenna arrays operate in a first frequency band and one or more monopole antennas operate in a second frequency band.

[0051] Any of the aforementioned antenna assemblies in which the first frequency band is from 10 to 86 GHz, or the Ku, K, Ka, and V - bands, and the second frequency band is less than 6 GHz.

[0052] Any of the aforementioned antenna assemblies in which the blade portion has an elongated cross - section centered on an axis substantially collinear with the vehicle's velocity vector.

[0053] Any of the aforementioned antenna assemblies in which the top is disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to the zenith.

[0054] Some embodiments are demonstrated by a method of transmitting an RF signal from an antenna assembly, the method including providing a first RF signal to the antenna assembly, the antenna assembly including a blade portion, a base disposed at a first end of the blade portion and adapted to be coupled to an outer surface of a vehicle; and a top disposed at a second end of the blade portion distal from the first end of the blade portion, the top having a first surface facing away from the base and having a first antenna array including a plurality of first antenna elements, a second surface facing the base; and an outer peripheral surface disposed between the first surface and the second surface and surrounding the top and including one or more additional antenna arrays having a plurality of additional antenna elements. The method of transmitting also includes selecting at least one of the first antenna array or the additional antenna arrays.

[0055] The above method may also include transmitting an RF signal via at least one of the selected first antenna array or a further antenna array.

[0056] The RF signal is a first RF signal, and the method further includes providing a second RF signal to the antenna assembly and simultaneously transmitting the first RF signal via a plurality of first antenna elements and the second RF signal via at least one set of a plurality of further antenna elements.

[0057] The antenna assembly further includes one or more monopole antennas disposed inside the blade portion, and the method further includes transmitting a third RF signal via the one or more monopole antennas.

[0058] Any of the above methods, wherein the first antenna array (208) and one or more further antenna arrays (210) operate in a first frequency band and the one or more monopole antennas operate in a second frequency band.

[0059] A further embodiment is demonstrated by a method of transmitting a first RF signal and a second RF signal via the same antenna assembly, the method including providing the first RF signal and the second RF signal to the antenna assembly, the antenna assembly including a blade portion, a base disposed at a first end of the blade portion and adapted to be coupled to an outer surface of the vehicle, and a tip disposed at a second end of the blade portion distal from the first end of the blade portion, the tip having a first surface facing away from the base and having a first antenna array including a plurality of first antenna elements, a second surface facing the base, and an outer peripheral surface disposed between the first surface and the second surface and surrounding the tip and including one or more further antenna arrays having a plurality of further antenna elements.

[0060] Implementations may include one or more of the following features: The foregoing method, comprising simultaneously transmitting a first RF signal via a plurality of first antenna elements and a second RF signal via at least one subset of the plurality of further antenna elements.

[0061] Any of the foregoing methods, wherein the antenna assembly further includes one or more monopole antennas disposed inside the blade portion, and the method further includes transmitting a third RF signal via the one or more monopole antennas.

[0062] Any of the above methods, 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.

[0063] Any of the above methods, wherein the first frequency band is from 10 to 86 GHz, or the Ku, K, Ka, V - band, and the second frequency band is less than 6 GHz. The antenna assembly may also include a multi - system multi - band antenna and an antenna array assembly.

[0064] Conclusion Herein concludes the description of the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure. The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. The foregoing description is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present disclosure to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. It is intended that the scope of the rights be defined by the claims rather than by this detailed description.

[0065] As used herein, the terms "comprising", "having", and their variants are intended to be inclusive as broad transitional terms similar to the term "including" without excluding any additional elements or other elements.

Claims

1. A base (202) adapted to be coupled to an outer surface of a vehicle, A blade portion (204) having a first end and a second end coupled to the base (202), A tip (206) coupled to the second end of the blade portion (204) distal from the first end of the blade portion (204) An antenna assembly comprising: wherein the tip (206) has A first surface (216) facing away from the base (202), the first surface (216) having a first antenna array (208) including a plurality of first antenna elements (250); A second surface (205) facing the base (202); and An outer peripheral surface (212) around the tip (206) disposed between the first surface (216) and the second surface (205), the outer peripheral surface (212) including one or more additional antenna arrays (210) having a plurality of additional antenna elements (252) An antenna assembly including.

2. The first antenna array (208) has a first field of view facing in the zenith direction, The one or more additional antenna arrays (210) increase the first field of view to provide a combined field of view having a field of view larger than the first field of view. The antenna assembly according to claim 1.

3. The antenna assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a portion of the outer peripheral surface (212) forms an angle θ with the first surface (216).

4. The antenna assembly according to claim 3, wherein the angle θ is greater than 45 degrees.

5. The antenna assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the one or more additional arrays provide a combined azimuthal field of view of 360 degrees.

6. The outer peripheral surface (212) has Includes three side surfaces, at least one of the three side surfaces having at least one of the additional antenna arrays (210), or Includes four side surfaces, at least one of the four side surfaces having at least one of the additional antenna arrays (210), or The boundary between the first surface (216) and the outer peripheral surface (212) is Substantially circular, and the one or more additional antenna arrays (210) are disposed on the outer peripheral surface (212), or Substantially elliptical, and the one or more additional antenna arrays (210) are disposed on the outer peripheral surface (212). The antenna assembly according to claim 5.

7. The antenna assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the blade portion (204) includes a blade antenna.

8. The antenna assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising one or more monopole antennas disposed inside the blade portion (204).

9. The antenna assembly according to claim 8, wherein the first antenna array (208) and the one or more additional antenna arrays (210) operate in a first frequency band, and the one or more monopole antennas operate in a second frequency band.

10. The antenna assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the blade portion (204) has an elongated cross-section centered on an axis substantially collinear with the velocity vector of the vehicle.

11. The antenna assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the top (206) is disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to the zenith.

12. A method of transmitting an RF signal from an antenna assembly, comprising providing the RF signal to the antenna assembly, the antenna assembly comprising a blade portion (204), a base (202) disposed at a first end of the blade portion (204) and adapted to be coupled to an outer surface of a vehicle, and a top (206) disposed at a second end of the blade portion (204) distal from the first end of the blade portion (204), wherein the top (206) comprises a first surface (216) facing away from the base (202), the first surface (216) having a first antenna array (208) including a plurality of first antenna elements; a second surface (205) facing the base (202); and an outer peripheral surface (212) around the top (206) disposed between the first surface (216) and the second surface (205), the outer peripheral surface (212) including one or more additional antenna arrays (210) having a plurality of additional antenna elements (252), providing the RF signal to the antenna assembly. Selecting either the first antenna array (208) or at least one of the additional antenna arrays (210); Transmitting the RF signal via either the selected first antenna array (208) or the at least one of the additional antenna arrays (210); A method comprising the steps above. **Claim 13** The RF signal is a first RF signal, and the method further comprises: Providing a second RF signal to the antenna assembly; Simultaneously transmitting the first RF signal via the plurality of first antenna elements and the second RF signal via at least one set of the plurality of additional antenna elements (252). The method according to claim 12, further comprising the steps above. **Claim 14** The antenna assembly further comprises one or more monopole antennas disposed inside the blade portion (204), and the method further comprises: Transmitting a third RF signal via the one or more monopole antennas The method according to claim 12 or 13, further comprising the steps above. **Claim 15** The method according to claim 14, wherein the first antenna array (208) and the one or more additional antenna arrays (210) operate in a first frequency band, and the one or more monopole antennas operate in a second frequency band.

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