Wide beamwidth ultra-compact antenna with multiple polarization

Abstract

In a first aspect, an antenna for use at a particular frequency or in a frequency band including said particular frequency, comprises a conductive ground plane having a length in at least one dimension of about a quarter wavelength at said particular frequency or more, and first and second crossed conductive driven elements arrayed over at least a portion of said ground plane, wherein the elements in the region in which they cross are spaced apart so as to avoid electrical contact and any substantial capacitive coupling to each other, each element is about a quarter wavelength electrically at said particular frequency, each element has at least one end portion generally perpendicular to said ground plane and at least one further portion, said elements and ground plane generally defining a volume, at least one end of each driven element is electrically coupled to said ground plane, and the elements are fed ninety degrees out of phase with respect to each other. In a second aspect, an antenna component, comprises a conductive antenna element, a capacitor electrically coupled to said element, the capacitor having plates and a dielectric between the plates, wherein at least one of the plates of said capacitor comprises at least a portion of at least a segment of said conductive antenna element, and a conductive member, at least a portion thereof comprising at least one other plate of said capacitor, wherein the capacitor dielectric includes at least in part a moldable dielectric shaped to hold the plates of the capacitor with respect to each other.