BICONICAL ANTENNA ASSEMBLY

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a biconical antenna assembly for electromagnetic compatibility testing. The biconical antenna assembly has an antenna feeding point, a first antenna structure and a second antenna structure. The first antenna structure and the second antenna structure extend from the antenna feed point towards opposite directions. The biconical antenna assembly includes at least one additional capacitive structure that is attached to a most distal point of the first antenna structure or the second antenna structure from the antenna feed point.

Claims

1. A biconical antenna assembly for electromagnetic compatibility testing, the biconical antenna assembly comprising an antenna feeding point, a first antenna structure and a second antenna structure, wherein the first antenna structure and the second antenna structure extend from the antenna feed point towards opposite directions, characterized in that the biconical antenna assembly comprises at least one additional capacitive structure that is attached to a most distal point of the first antenna structure or the second antenna structure from the antenna feed point.

2. The biconical antenna assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first antenna structure and the second antenna structure each have a substantially conical geometry.

3. The biconical antenna assembly according to claim 2, wherein the first antenna structure and the second antenna structure each have a first conical portion and a second conical portion which are connected with each other via their wide ends.

4. The biconical antenna assembly according to claim 1, wherein the additional capacitive structure has a galvanic connection to the most distal point of the respective antenna structure.

5. The biconical antenna assembly according to claim 1, wherein the additional capacitive structure has a three-dimensional geometry.

6. The biconical antenna assembly according to claim 1, wherein the additional capacitive structure has an ellipsoid shape.

7. The biconical antenna assembly according to claim 1, wherein the additional capacitive structure has a substantially spherical shape.

8. The biconical antenna assembly according to claim 1, wherein the additional capacitive structure has a perfectly spherical shape.

9. The biconical antenna assembly according to claim 1, wherein the biconical antenna assembly comprises a first additional capacitive structure and a second additional capacitive structure, wherein the first additional capacitive structure is attached to a most distal point of the first antenna structure from the antenna feed point, and wherein the second additional capacitive structure is attached to a most distal point of the second antenna structure from the antenna feed point.

10. The biconical antenna assembly according to claim 1, wherein the biconical antenna assembly is symmetrically shaped, and wherein the antenna feed point is located in the center of symmetry.

11. The biconical antenna assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one additional capacitive structure is configured to provide improved matching characteristics of the biconical antenna assembly.

12. The biconical antenna assembly according to claim 1, wherein the antenna structures nearly touch each other at their ends facing the antenna feed point.

13. The biconical antenna assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first antenna structure and/or the second antenna structure are/is established by several radiating conductors.

14. The biconical antenna assembly according to claim 13, wherein the several radiating conductors are interconnected with each other at an end facing away from the antenna feed point.

15. The biconical antenna assembly according to claim 13, wherein the several radiating conductors of the respective antenna structure are orientated with respect to each other such that the respective antenna structure has a substantially conical geometry.

16. The biconical antenna assembly according to claim 1, wherein the respective antenna structure has an end face at which the most distal point of the respective antenna structure from the antenna feed point is provided, and wherein the additional capacitive structure is attached to the most distal point at the end face.

17. The biconical antenna assembly according to claim 16, wherein a connecting member is located within the end face, which connects several individual radiating conductors of the respective structure.

18. The biconical antenna assembly according to claim 16, wherein the additional capacitive structure extends away from the end face in a direction facing away from the antenna feed point.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of the claimed subject matter will become more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0037] FIG. 1 schematically shows a biconical antenna assembly according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure, and

[0038] FIG. 2 shows the biconical antenna assembly according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings, where like numerals reference like elements, is intended as a description of various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter and is not intended to represent the only embodiments. Each embodiment described in this disclosure is provided merely as an example or illustration and should not be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. The illustrative examples provided herein are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the claimed subject matter to the precise forms disclosed.

[0040] In FIG. 1, a biconical antenna assembly 10 is shown that comprises an antenna feed point 12 located in the center of the biconical antenna assembly 10. The biconical antenna assembly 10 further comprises a first antenna assembly 14 as well as a second antenna assembly 16 which are both extending from the antenna feed point 12 in opposite directions, but nearly touching each other at their ends facing the antenna feed point 12.

[0041] In the embodiment shown. the antenna structures 14, 16 each comprise a substantially (bi-)conical geometry, wherein the respective antenna structure 14, 16 has a first conical portion 18 as well as a second conical portion 20. The respective conical portions 18, 20 are connected with each other at their wide ends, as the respective cones of the conical portions 18, 20 are orientated in opposite directions.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 1, the respective antenna structures 14, 16 are established by several radiating conductors 22 that are made of electrically conductive rods or bars. The radiating conductors 22 are orientated with respect to each other and with respect to a center axis A of the entire biconical antenna assembly 10 such that the respective antenna structures 14, 16 each have the (bi-)conical geometry. In some embodiments, the center axis A of the entire biconical antenna assembly 10 coincidences with center axes A′, A″ of the respective antenna structures 14, 16.

[0043] The several radiating conductors 22 can be configured such that the biconical antenna assembly 10 can be folded in order to provide a compact transport state. Thus, the several radiating conductors 22 may be moved with respect to a center element 23 that runs along the center axis A′, A″ of the respective antenna structure 14, 16.

[0044] When folding the respective antenna structure 14, 16, the radiating conductors 22 associated with the second conical portion 18 may be moved inwardly towards the antenna feed point 12, wherein the radiating conductors 22 associated with the first conical portion 16 are moved towards the center element 23, thereby ensuring the compact state of the biconical antenna assembly 10.

[0045] The biconical antenna assembly 10 may also comprise a first additional capacitive structure 24 as well as a second additional capacitive structure 26. The respective additional capacitive structures 24, 26 are each attached to a most distal point 28, 30 of the respective antenna assemblies 14, 16 to which the respective additional capacitive structure 24, 26 is attached.

[0046] In other words, the first additional capacitive structure 24 is attached to the first antenna structure 14 at the most distal point 28 of the first antenna structure 14 from the antenna feed point 12. The second additional capacitive structure 26 is attached to the most distal point 30 of the second antenna structure 18 from the antenna feed point 12.

[0047] The respective additional capacitive structures 24, 26 are connected to the respective antenna structures 14, 16 via a galvanic connection. As shown in FIG. 1, the additional capacitive structure 24, 26 generally has a three-dimensional geometry, namely a perfectly spherical shape.

[0048] Since both additional capacitive structures 24, 26 are established in a similar manner, the entire biconical antenna assembly 10 is symmetrically shaped, for example wherein the antenna feed point 12 is located in the center of symmetry C of the biconical antenna assembly 10. Hence, the antenna feed point 12 is also located on the center axis A.

[0049] The additional capacitive structures 24, 26 provide an improved matching characteristics of the biconical antenna assembly 10 due to the additional capacity provided at the most distal points 28, 30 of the respective antenna structures 14, 16.

[0050] Moreover, the respective antenna structures 14, 16 each have a connecting member 32 to which the individual radiating conductors 22 of the respective antenna structures 14, 16 are connected. The connecting member 32 may be established by a disc or rather a plate that can be moved with respect to the center element 23 when folding the biconical antenna assembly 10.

[0051] In some embodiments, the connecting member 32 is connected to the several individual radiating conductors 22 in an electrically conductive manner, thereby establishing the respective antenna structure 14, 16. Put differently, the first antenna structure 14 and/or the second antenna structure 16 each comprise the several individual radiating conductors 22 as well as the connecting member 32 to which the individual radiating conductors 22 are electrically connected.

[0052] The connecting member 32 is located at an end face 34 of the respective antenna structure 14, 16 at which the most distal point 28, 30 of the respective antenna structure 14, 16 is also provided. In the shown embodiment, the most distal points 28, 30 are also located at the end faces 34 of the respective antenna structures 14, 16.

[0053] The additional capacitive structures 24, 26 may be attached to the connecting members 32, for instance by a screw or an electrically conductive adhesive. The screw allows to detach the additional capacitive structures 24, 26, thereby supporting the folding of the biconical antenna assembly 10.

[0054] In FIG. 2, an alternative embodiment of the biconical antenna assembly 10 is shown that differs from the one shown in FIG. 1 in that only a single additional capacitive structure 24 is provided such that the entire biconical antenna assembly 10 is not symmetrically shaped.

[0055] The additional capacitive structure 24 is however attached to the most distal point 28 of the first antenna structure 14, namely in a similar manner as described above with respect to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

[0056] In addition, the shape of the additional capacitive structure 24 differs from the perfectly spherical shape of the additional capacitive structures 24, 26 shown in FIG. 1, as the additional capacitive structure 24 shown in FIG. 2 corresponds to an ellipsoid.

[0057] In some embodiments, the additional capacitive structure 24 has only a substantially spherical shape.

[0058] Generally, the additional capacitive structure 24, 26 may have a flat spot that faces the connecting member 32 such that the additional capacitive structure 24, 26 can be connected to the respective connecting member 32 easily, namely via the flat spot, resulting in a deviation from the perfect spherical shape.

[0059] In general, the additional capacitive structure 24, 26 provides an additional capacity at the distal ends of the antenna structures 14, 16 thereby improving the matching characteristics of the entire biconical antenna assembly 10. Therefore, the biconical antenna assembly 10 can be operated with a simple amplifier while ensuring the requested field strength at low frequencies, namely within a frequency range of 20 to 30 MHz.

[0060] In the foregoing description, specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of representative embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art, however, that the embodiments disclosed herein may be practiced without embodying all of the specific details. In some instances, well-known process steps have not been described in detail in order not to unnecessarily obscure various aspects of the present disclosure. Further, it will be appreciated that embodiments of the present disclosure may employ any combination of features described herein.

[0061] The present application may reference quantities and numbers. Unless specifically stated, such quantities and numbers are not to be considered restrictive, but exemplary of the possible quantities or numbers associated with the present application. Also in this regard, the present application may use the term “plurality” to reference a quantity or number. In this regard, the term “plurality” is meant to be any number that is more than one, for example, two, three, four, five, etc. The terms “about,” “approximately,” “near,” etc., mean plus or minus 5% of the stated value. For the purposes of the present disclosure, the phrase “at least one of A and B” is equivalent to “A and/or B” or vice versa, namely “A” alone, “B” alone or “A and B.”. Similarly, the phrase “at least one of A, B, and C,” for example, means (A), (B), (C), (A and B), (A and C), (B and C), or (A, B, and C), including all further possible permutations when greater than three elements are listed.

[0062] Throughout this specification, terms of art may be used. These terms are to take on their ordinary meaning in the art from which they come, unless specifically defined herein or the context of their use would clearly suggest otherwise.

[0063] The principles, representative embodiments, and modes of operation of the present disclosure have been described in the foregoing description. However, aspects of the present disclosure which are intended to be protected are not to be construed as limited to the particular embodiments disclosed. Further, the embodiments described herein are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. It will be appreciated that variations and changes may be made by others, and equivalents employed, without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it is expressly intended that all such variations, changes, and equivalents fall within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, as claimed.