Abstract: An antenna assembly that has particular application for a hand held reader that interrogates sensors embedded within a vehicle tire, such as RFID sensors and tire pressure sensors. In one embodiment, the antenna assembly includes a first antenna operating in the 432-435 MHz range that employs a meander-line slot that provides increased antenna cross-polarization so that the sensor can be interrogated regardless of the antenna orientation and polarization. The antenna assembly also includes two RFID antennas that operate in the 902-928 MHz range that are planar antenna that make the antenna bi-directional, polarization free and a wide enough bandwidth for the RFID interrogation.

Abstract: A transceiver array that employs vertically integrated circuits in one or more wafers. The array includes a digital wafer having digital circuits. A plurality of RF cubes are formed to the digital wafer, where each RF cube includes an antenna wafer and at least one lower wafer, and where each RF cube represents a separate channel of the array. The antenna wafer includes a patch antenna and a resonating cavity. The at least one lower wafer includes high frequency RF integrated circuits and intermediate frequency RF integrated circuits. The array has application as a front-end for a digital beam-forming system.

Abstract: An antenna assembly that has particular application for a hand held reader that interrogates sensors embedded within a vehicle tire, such as RFID sensors and tire pressure sensors. In one embodiment, the antenna assembly includes a first antenna operating in the 432-435 MHz range that employs a meander-line slot that provides increased antenna cross-polarization so that the sensor can be interrogated regardless of the antenna orientation and polarization. The antenna assembly also includes two RFID antennas that operate in the 902-928 MHz range that are planar antenna that make the antenna bi-directional, polarization free and a wide enough bandwidth for the RFID interrogation.

Abstract: A speed measuring device that employs a Fresnel zone plate lens antenna. The Fresnel lens antenna is mounted to one end of a low profile collection housing, typically cylindrical in configuration. An opposite end of the collection housing includes a back plate having an opening. A transceiver unit is mounted to the outside surface of the back plate so that a transmitter and a detector within the transceiver are in communication with the opening. A signal is transmitted from the transceiver unit through the opening, and is directed by the lens antenna. A reflected signal is received and focused by the lens antenna, and collected by the housing to be directed through the opening to the transceiver.

Abstract: A transceiver array that employs vertically integrated circuits in one or more wafers. The array includes a digital wafer having digital circuits. A plurality of RF cubes are formed to the digital wafer, where each RF cube includes an antenna wafer and at least one lower wafer, and where each RF cube represents a separate channel of the array. The antenna wafer includes a patch antenna and a resonating cavity. The at least one lower wafer includes high frequency RF integrated circuits and intermediate frequency RF integrated circuits. The array has application as a front-end for a digital beam-forming system.

Abstract: A vehicle tire interrogation system for interrogating sensors embedded in a vehicle tire. The interrogation system both transmits and receives appropriate RF signals to and from the sensors. The system includes antennas operating at two separate frequency bands that have an input impedance at both frequency bands at 50 ohms, are horizontally polarized, and have a gain at a minimum of 2 dBi at the two frequency bands. The antennas may be printed dual band antennas, such as wideband tapered slot antennas, dual band printed dipoles with reflectors or Yagi-Uda array antennas. The antennas can be embedded in various support structures to protect both the antenna and the vehicle tires.

Abstract: A multifunction printed antenna for wireless and telematic applications. In one embodiment, GPS and satellite radio patch antenna elements are printed on one side of a printed circuit board and AMPS, PCS, GSM and terrestrial radio slot antenna elements are etched in a ground plane on an opposite side of the same printed circuit board. In an alternate embodiment, the GPS and satellite radio patch antenna elements are elements mounted on one printed circuit board and the AMPS, GSM, PCS and terrestrial radio slot antenna elements are etched in a ground plane on another printed circuit board rigidly secured orthogonal to the GPS and satellite printed circuit board.

Abstract: A multifunction printed antenna for wireless and telematic applications. In one embodiment, GPS and satellite radio patch antenna elements are printed on one side of a printed circuit board and AMPS, PCS, GSM and terrestrial radio slot antenna elements are etched in a ground plane on an opposite side of the same printed circuit board. In an alternate embodiment, the GPS and satellite radio patch antenna elements are elements mounted on one printed circuit board and the AMPS, GSM, PCS and terrestrial radio slot antenna elements are etched in a ground plane on another printed circuit board rigidly secured orthogonal to the GPS and satellite printed circuit board.

Abstract: A multifunction printed antenna for wireless and telematic applications. In one embodiment, GPS and satellite radio patch antenna elements are printed on one side of a printed circuit board and AMPS, PCS, GSM and terrestrial radio slot antenna elements are etched in a ground plane on an opposite side of the same printed circuit board. In an alternate embodiment, the GPS and satellite radio patch antenna elements are elements mounted on one printed circuit board and the AMPS, GSM, PCS and terrestrial radio slot antenna elements are etched in a ground plane on another printed circuit board rigidly secured orthogonal to the GPS and satellite printed circuit board. The AMPS, GSM and PCS circuit board can be curved to reduce the nulls at the edges of the circuit board. Further, the edge of the AMPS, GSM and PCS circuit board that contacts the GPS and satellite radio circuit board can have a saw-tooth pattern so that edge currents are reduced.

Abstract: An integrated planar antenna including a metalized ground plane printed on a dielectric slab. One or more slot antenna elements are etched into the metalized layer, and resonate at a particular resonant frequency band. A plurality of voids extend through the slab and act to vary the dielectric constant of the slab so that resonant waves are suppressed in the slab, thus reducing power loss in the antenna. The voids can be selectively localized in the slab to provide various functions, such as impedance matching and reduction of antenna element coupling. The voids 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 voids are formed in a random manner completely through slab, and the voids have an opening diameter less than {fraction (1/20)}th of the operational wavelength of the antenna.

Abstract: A multifunction printed antenna for wireless and telematic applications. In one embodiment, GPS and satellite radio patch antenna elements are printed on one side of a printed circuit board and AMPS, PCS, GSM and terrestrial radio slot antenna elements are etched in a ground plane on an opposite side of the same printed circuit board. In an alternate embodiment, the GPS and satellite radio patch antenna elements are elements mounted on one printed circuit board and the AMPS, GSM, PCS and terrestrial radio slot antenna elements are etched in a ground plane on another printed circuit board rigidly secured orthogonal to the GPS and satellite printed circuit board. The AMPS, GSM and PCS circuit board can be curved to reduce the nulls at the edges of the circuit board. Further, the edge of the AMPS, GSM and PCS circuit board that contacts the GPS and satellite radio circuit board can have a saw-tooth pattern so that edge currents are reduced.

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: An integrated planar antenna including a metalized ground plane printed on a dielectric slab. One or more slot antenna elements are etched into the metalized layer, and resonate at a particular resonant frequency band. A plurality of voids extend through the slab and act to vary the dielectric constant of the slab so that resonant waves are suppressed in the slab, thus reducing power loss in the antenna. The voids can be selectively localized in the slab to provide various functions, such as impedance matching and reduction of antenna element coupling. The voids 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 voids are formed in a random manner completely through slab, and the voids have an opening diameter less than {fraction (1/20)}th of the operational wavelength of the antenna.

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.