Patent ID: 7839344

Claim:
A linear antenna, comprising: a first plurality of wire radiating elements extending predominantly in a first direction and forming: a first conducting branch having a connection configured to receive radio frequency signals; a second conducting branch having a connection configured to receive radio frequency signals; and a return conducting branch having a connection configured to couple to a reference voltage; a second plurality of wire radiating elements forming connecting conducting branches between the first and second conducting branches and the return conducting branch, the first and second pluralities of radiating elements are configured to form, in a plane of the antenna, two nested paths between the respective connections of the first and second branches and the connection of the return branch, the paths having at least one radiating element in common; and a plurality of electrical impedance devices interposed along the conducting branches and configured to impede flow of current within selected frequency ranges to establish selectively, according to an operating frequency, a plurality of different current paths along the conducting branches corresponding to a plurality of different electrical and/or geometrical configurations of the antenna.