Abstract: An omni-directional printed antenna that includes at least two wound slot antenna elements. The spacing between the elements, the lengths of the elements and the feed location of the elements are selected to provide a desirable electromagnetic coupling between the elements that causes the narrow bandwidth of the individual elements to combine into a wide bandwidth while providing an omni-directional radiation pattern. Winding the elements together in this manner also allows different antennas for different frequency bands to be combined as a single antenna in a small space. Further, the printed antenna can be patterned on a copper tape to create a sticker type antenna that can be readily mounted on different surfaces.

Abstract: A planar antenna that includes a high dielectric constant superstrate lens having a plurality of air holes that vary the actual dielectric constant of the lens to provide an effective dielectric constant superstrate lens. The holes can take on any shape and configuration in accordance with a particular antenna design scheme so as to optimize the effective dielectric constant for a particular application. In one particular design, the holes are formed in a random manner completely through superstrate lens, and the holes have an opening diameter less than 1/20th of the operational wavelength of the antenna. The holes act to vary the dielectric constant of the superstrate lens so that the resonant waves do not form in the lens, thus reducing power loss in the antenna. The holes are formed by a suitable mechanical or laser drilling operation.