Patent ID: 7385560
Filing Date: 2008-06-10
Classification: H01Q

Abstract:
1. An antenna system configured for selective directional and omnidirectional operation, comprising: an array of folded monopoles; a first printed circuit board having capacitive hats disposed thereon, each capacitive hat being in association with a folded monopole of the array of folded monopoles, the capacitive hats being formed by a coating on a dielectric substrate; a second printed circuit board having a switched beam forming network formed thereon, the switched beam forming network configured to provide a predetermined omnidirectional antenna operation at a first switching position of the switched beam forming network and an activation of only one input/output port of the switched beam forming network, and a predetermined directional antenna operation at a second switching position of the switched beam forming network and an alternate activation of all inputs/output ports of the switched beam forming network; an antenna radome; a ground plate providing structural support for the switched beam forming network and the antenna radome; a plurality of feeding elements, each feeding element of the plurality of feeding elements being associated with each monopole of the array of folded monopoles, said each feeding element being coupled to one of the capacitive hats and an antenna terminal of the switched beam forming network; shorting elements of the folded monopoles coupled to the capacitive hats and to the ground plate; and a broadband matching network disposed between the folded monopoles and the input/output ports to provide matching therebetween.