Multi-Range Vehicle Antenna with Cone and Monopole Radiators

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing multi-range antennas for motor vehicles fail to maintain direction-independent omnidirectional characteristics across multiple frequency bands, including GSM, UMTS, LTE, WiMAX, and future services like car-to-car communication, due to shadowing issues from individual radiator elements and mechanical constraints.

Innovation Solution

A multi-range antenna design featuring a cone radiator with a monopole radiator connected to its side surface, allowing active coupling to achieve broadband behavior, especially for lower frequencies, and incorporating a second monopole radiator with roof capacitance to ensure impedance matching across various frequency ranges, while maintaining a compact height and omnidirectional radiation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple separate radiator elements are used to cover different frequency bands, then frequency coverage is improved, but shadowing effects occur in certain directions and omnidirectional characteristics are degraded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefrequency coverageVSAvoidshadowing effects
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple radiator elements (cone radiator and monopole radiators) into a single integrated antenna structure. The cone radiator and monopole radiators are electrically coupled and positioned to work together as one unified radiating system, eliminating the shadowing problems that occur when separate elements are used independently while maintaining broad frequency coverage from GSM to future services.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from planar radiator arrangements to a three-dimensional stacked configuration. The monopole radiators are positioned vertically above the cone radiator base, creating a multi-layered structure that radiates energy in multiple spatial dimensions. This vertical stacking allows omnidirectional horizontal radiation patterns while the different heights and positions of elements cover different frequency bands without mutual shadowing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the antenna structure is extended to cover lower frequency bands, then frequency coverage is improved, but the overall height of the antenna increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefrequency coverageVSAvoidantenna height
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a nested configuration where the monopole radiators are positioned within the vertical space above the cone radiator. The monopole elements are electrically coupled to the cone radiator and are contained within the overall antenna footprint, creating a compact nested structure that achieves extended frequency coverage without proportional increases in height.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses electric coupling between the cone radiator and monopole radiators to create dynamic impedance matching across frequency bands. The monopole radiators are electrically connected to the cone radiator through coupling mechanisms that allow the structure to adapt its electrical characteristics across different frequencies, enabling broad bandwidth coverage with a compact physical structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If conventional multi-range antenna designs are used, then basic frequency coverage is achieved, but impedance matching across all frequency bands is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefrequency coverageVSAvoidimpedance matching
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs parameter optimization of the cone radiator geometry (angle, height, base diameter) and monopole radiator dimensions to achieve impedance matching across all frequency bands. By carefully adjusting these geometric parameters and the electrical coupling between elements, the antenna maintains consistent impedance characteristics from GSM through future services, ensuring reliable performance across the entire frequency range.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 design achieves a broad bandwidth of over 5 GHz with optimal omnidirectional characteristics, reducing the overall height and avoiding shadowing, thus effectively covering frequencies from 780 MHz to 5.925 GHz with improved impedance matching and reduced mechanical complexity.

Implementation Method 1

a multi-range antenna (1), in particular for use in a motor vehicle, which has a direction-independent omnidirectional characteristic in several frequency ranges

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic radiation: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

From the publication EP 1 189 305 A2 a cone antenna is known which is embedded in a dielectric material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDielectric support: Dielectric

Data Source

PatentEP2858176B1Multi-range antenna for a motor vehicle
Publication Date: 2016.05.18 VOLKSWAGEN AG
  • EP2858176B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2858176B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2858176B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a multi-range antenna (1), in particular for use in a motor vehicle, comprising: - a cone radiator (3) with an axis of symmetry (R) in order to mount the cone radiator (3) with its tapered end perpendicularly onto a ground plane (2); - a first monopole radiator (12) which connects to the cone radiator (3) in the direction of the axis of symmetry (R), wherein the first monopole radiator (12) is electrically connected to a side surface (9) of the cone radiator (3).