Low Profile Antenna Module with Ground Plate Aperture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Designing low profile antennas that maintain uniform radiation pattern coverage and frequency stability when installed on varying ground planes, particularly at frequencies where the antenna height is a fraction of a wavelength, is challenging due to reduced bandwidth and potential frequency shifts on conductive and non-conductive surfaces.
Innovation Solution
The antenna module incorporates a ground plate aperture and a thermoplastic carrier with a channel to maintain frequency response consistency across different ground planes, using capacitive coupling and adjusting the aperture to account for material properties, ensuring omni-directional radiation with vertical polarization without introducing trip hazards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If the antenna height is reduced to a fraction of a wavelength, then the antenna profile is lowered and trip hazards are eliminated, but uniform radiation pattern coverage becomes difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
A ground plate is introduced as an intermediary element between the radiating element and the ground. The ground plate with its specific aperture configuration mediates the electromagnetic field distribution, enabling uniform radiation patterns even when the radiating element is positioned very close to the ground (fraction of wavelength height).
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the electrical parameters of the grounding system by introducing a ground plate with specific aperture characteristics. The aperture size, shape, and position are optimized to control the impedance and radiation characteristics, allowing low-profile operation while maintaining uniform coverage.
2Length of stationary object
If the antenna is designed for low profile operation, then the antenna can be placed on ground level without trip hazards, but frequency shift occurs when installed on conductive and non-conductive ground planes
Solution Approach 1:
The ground plate serves as a stable intermediary that decouples the radiating element's frequency response from the variability of the underlying ground plane. By controlling the electromagnetic interaction at the ground plate interface through aperture design, the system achieves frequency stability regardless of whether the ground plane is conductive or non-conductive.
Solution Approach 2:
The ground plate with optimized aperture is designed to provide consistent performance across multiple ground plane types (conductive and non-conductive). This universal design allows the same antenna configuration to maintain stable frequency response on utility meters with metallic housings, plastic housings, or direct ground installation.
3Ease of operation
If vertical polarization is required for ground-level antenna placement, then communication alignment is improved, but achieving this with low profile construction becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The ground plate acts as an intermediary that enables vertical polarization in a low-profile configuration. By controlling the current distribution and electromagnetic field patterns through the aperture, the system achieves vertical polarization characteristics without requiring the radiating element to be positioned high above the ground.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides uniform radiation pattern coverage and frequency stability on both metallic and non-metallic surfaces, minimizing frequency shifts and maintaining performance across different installation conditions, making it suitable for M2M and IoT applications.
Implementation Method 1
The antenna module incorporates a ground plate aperture and a thermoplastic carrier with a channel to maintain frequency response consistency across different ground planes, using capacitive coupling
Data Source
AI summary
An antenna module is described where uniform radiation pattern coverage is provided in the plane of a low profile antenna radiating element. A polarization that is orthogonal to the plane of the low profile antenna radiating element can be achieved for the radiated field. A ground plate aperture is implemented into the antenna ground plate to minimize frequency shift as the antenna is installed on metallic (conductive) and non-metallic (non-conductive) ground planes of varying sizes. This antenna system technique is applicable for use in communication systems such as a local Area network (LAN), cellular communication network, and Machine to Machine (M2M).