Patent ID: 7439934

Claim:
A three-dimensional, dielectrically loaded antenna with a frequency of operation in excess of 200 MHz, comprising: an insulative dielectric core of a solid material having a relative dielectric constant greater than 5, a plurality of metallised conductor elements disposed about the core such that they define an interior volume that is occupied by the dielectric core, and a feeder structure which passes longitudinally through the dielectric core, wherein the core has transversely extending end surfaces and a side surface extending longitudinally between the end surfaces, the metallised conductor elements defining a three-dimensional antenna element structure including at least a pair of elongate conductive antenna elements disposed on or adjacent the side surface of the core and extending from one of the end surfaces towards the other end surface; the feeder structure including first and second feed conductors coupled respectively to one and the other of said pair of antenna elements; and a matching section including a shunt capacitance coupled across the antenna elements of the pair, the matching section comprising a laminate board connected to the feeder structure at said one end surface of the core.