Antenna

Abstract

An antenna system, particularly for vehicles. A discone-type antenna is preferably utilized for frequencies outside the vehicle. At various frequencies, either or both the antenna and the vehicle serve as exciters.

1 . A discone-type of antenna comprising: 
 a disc;    a cone comprising an apex and a base comprising a diameter, said disc positioned at said apex of said cone; and    a coaxial cable disposed in an interior of said cone from said apex through said cone and extending outwardly beyond said cone.    
   
   
       2 . The antenna of  claim 2  further comprising an insulator disposed between said disc and said cone.  
   
   
       3 . The antenna of  claim 1  disposed on an exterior of a vehicle.  
   
   
       4 . The antenna of  claim 3  disposed under said exterior of the vehicle.  
   
   
       5 . The antenna of  claim 1  disposed in an interior of a vehicle.  
   
   
       6 . The antenna of  claim 1  disposed in a structure.  
   
   
       7 . The antenna of  claim 1  having a frequency in the range of between approximately 500 KHz and between approximately 8 GHz.  
   
   
       8 . The antenna of  claim 1 , wherein said coaxial cable is disposed through a center of said diameter of said cone.  
   
   
       9 - 29 . (canceled)  
   
   
       30 . In a vehicle having transmitting and/or receiving communication equipment and a body that is in part metallic, an exciter system having broad bandwidth send/receive capability including 
 an antenna mounted on or in the vehicle radiating at high and intermediate frequencies and acting as a direct radiator on the vehicle body causing the body to radiate at lower and intermediate frequencies.    
   
   
       31 . The exciter system of  claim 30  wherein the lower frequency radiation limit is the vehicle body size defined by the one-quarter wavelength of the radiation.  
   
   
       32 . The exciter system of  claim 30  wherein the intermediate frequencies comprise a transition frequency range.  
   
   
       33 . The exciter system of  claim 32  wherein the transition frequency is defined by the vehicle size and configuration.  
   
   
       34 . The exciter system of  claim 30  wherein the high frequency range is between 800 MHz and 2 GHz.  
   
   
       35 . The exciter system of  claim 31  wherein the low frequency radiation limit is 60 MHz.  
   
   
       36 . The exciter system of  claim 35  wherein the low frequency radiation shape is a cadioid.  
   
   
       37 . The exciter system of  claim 36  wherein the low frequency radiation shape is omnidirectional in azimuth.  
   
   
       38 . An exciter system comprising a discone antenna and an automobile metallic body acting as an antenna, the two antenna radiating over the frequency range of 600 KHz to 2 GHz.  
   
   
       39 . The exciter system of  claim 38  wherein said discone antenna is mounted beneath the automobile body.  
   
   
       40 . The exciter system of  claim 38  wherein the discone cone height is between 0.5 and 12 inches.  
   
   
       41 . The exciter system of  claim 40  wherein the disc diameter is between 0.18 and 0.5 wavelengths.