Antenna System Positioned Within a Support Structure

Abstract

An antenna system that is positioned within a support structure. The antenna system includes at least one antenna that may have one or more antenna elements formed on a substrate. The support structure encloses the antenna and includes an outer support portion defining a cavity and an inner support portion positioned within the cavity. The antenna is positioned within the cavity between the outer support portion and the inner support portion so that the antenna is substantially surrounded by air.

1 . An antenna system comprising: 
 at least one antenna; and    a support structure enclosing the at least one antenna, said support structure including an outer support portion defining a cavity and an inner support portion positioned within the cavity, wherein the at least one antenna is positioned in the cavity between the outer support portion and the inner support portion so that the at least one antenna is substantially surrounded by air.    
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the outer support portion includes at least one angled side portion.  
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the inner support portion includes a structural configuration that includes walls and open spaces therebetween.  
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the support structure includes an encapsulating material selected from the group consisting of nonconductive composites, concrete, polyurethane, fiberglass and epoxy.  
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one antenna includes an antenna substrate and at least one antenna element.  
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 5  wherein the inner support portion includes a plurality of ridges and a plurality of support posts, wherein the plurality of ridges extend through slots in the antenna substrate and the plurality of posts support the antenna.  
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 6  wherein the ridges and the posts define an air gap around the at least one antenna of at least one-half of an inch on both sides of the substrate.  
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 5  wherein the at least one antenna element includes a plurality of antenna elements.  
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 8  wherein the plurality of antenna elements include a plurality of director elements and reflector elements.  
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 5  wherein the substrate is a flexible substrate and the at least one antenna element is conductive ink deposited on the substrate.  
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one antenna is horizontally polarized.  
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one antenna is operable to both transmit and receive RF signals.  
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one antenna is selected from the group consisting of a tapered slot antenna, a dual band printed dipole antenna with reflectors and a Yagi-Uda array antenna.  
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the inner support portion is a single piece molded plastic member and the outer support portion is a single piece molded plastic member.  
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 1  further comprising at least one metal member for improving a front-to-back ratio of the at least one antenna.  
     
     
         16 . An antenna system comprising: 
 at least one antenna including a substrate and at least one antenna element formed thereon; and    a support structure enclosing the antenna, said support structure including an outer support portion having an angled side wall and a cavity and an inner support portion positioned with the cavity, said inner support portion including a plurality of posts that extend into the cavity, said at least one antenna being positioned on the posts within the cavity, wherein the inner support portion has a structural configuration that includes walls and open spaces therebetween.    
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 16  wherein the posts and the cavity provide an air gap around the at least one antenna of at least one-half of an inch on both sides of the substrate.  
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 16  wherein the at least one antenna element includes a plurality of antenna elements having director elements and reflector elements.  
     
     
         19 . An antenna system comprising: 
 an antenna including a substrate and a plurality of antenna elements, said substrate including a plurality of slots; and    a support structure enclosing the antenna, said support structure including an outer support portion defining a cavity and an inner support portion positioned within the cavity, said inner support portion including a plurality of posts and a plurality of ridges where the antenna is positioned on the posts so that the ridges extend through the slots so as to position and support the antenna, wherein the posts allow the antenna to be positioned within the cavity and be substantially surrounded by air.    
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 19  wherein the posts and the cavity provide an air gap around the at least one antenna of at least one-half of an inch on both sides of the substrate.