Patent ID: 7592968

Claim:
An antenna comprising a resonant structure having a first portion disposed in a first plane, and respective second portions provided at first and second opposite edges of said first portion, each second portion being disposed in a plane non-parallel with said first plane, a third portion being spaced apart from, and substantially parallel with, said first portion, said respective second portions extending between and electrically connecting said respective first and second edges of said first portion with a respective first and second edge of said third portion, wherein the resonant structure is embedded in a non-conductive material, and said respective second portions are substantially planar in shape and are comprised of a plurality of electrically conductive vias arranged in a row and embedded in said non-conductive material, and wherein said first portion comprises a lamina of electrically conductive material and is shaped to define at least one slot, said at least one slot being open-ended at an interface between the first portion and at least one of said respective second portions, from which interface said at least one of said second portions extends to said third portion, wherein said at least one of said respective second portions includes a respective one of said electrically conductive vias aligned with a respective edge of said at least one slot, said respective vias defining a gap therebetween that is aligned with the open end of said at least one slot in said first portion, and wherein said third portion comprises at least one lamina of electrically conductive material and is shaped to define at least one slot, said at least one slot in said third portion being open-ended at an interface between said third portion and said at least one of said respective second portions, from which interface said at least one of said second portions extends to said first portion, wherein said respective vias that are aligned with said respective edge of said at least one slot in said first portion are also aligned with a respective edge of said at least one slot formed in said third portion to define a continuous folded slot that has a first section formed in said lamina of said first portion, a second section defined by said gap between said respective vias and a third section formed in said at least one lamina of said third portion.