Patent ID: 6850197

Claim:
A printed antenna assembly for the transmission of electromagnetic waves, the printed antenna comprising: a substantially planar circuit board having a first planar surface and a second planar surface, the first and second planar surfaces being parallel and spaced by a material thickness, the circuit board including a mounting section and an antenna section integrally formed with each other; an antenna driving circuit mounted to the first surface of the mounting section for generating electromagnetic waves to be transmitted by the printed antenna; a coating of electrically conductive material covering substantially all of the second planar surface of the mounting section of the circuit board, wherein the conductive material forms a ground plane for the circuit board and provides a radiating element for transmitting the electromagnetic wave; a radiating strip formed on the antenna section of the circuit board and coupled to the radiating element for aiding in the transmission of electromagnetic waves; and an impedance matching strip formed on the antenna section of the circuit board and coupled to the radiating strip, the impedance matching strip having an overall length selected to substantially match the impedance of the antenna driving circuit.