Telecommunications – Transmitter and receiver at same station – Radiotelephone equipment detail
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-05
2001-10-02
Maung, Nay (Department: 2681)
Telecommunications
Transmitter and receiver at same station
Radiotelephone equipment detail
C455S090300
Reexamination Certificate
active
06298243
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to cellular antennas and more particularly to a cellular antenna for receiving global positioning satellite signals in addition to transmitting and receiving cellular signals.
The increased utilization of the Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) system for non-military applications has created a significant market targeted at the average consumer. The GPS system can relay position, speed and height with high precision and accuracy to a user. One such application is the ability to relay both to a mobile user and to a base station the user's position during a call from a personal cellular telephone.
The frequency allocation for GPS is approximately 1540 MHZ. The frequency allocation for the Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS) is approximately 824-890 MHZ, and approximately 900-950 MHZ for the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM). The differences in the frequencies of almost an octave and the fact that the cellular system communicates terrestrially, while the GPS system communicates via satellite, mandates that the antenna designs be completely different. The use of the two individual antennas is cosmetically un-attractive and requires almost double the installation effort in respect to mounting and cable routing.
A second problem exists with conventional cellular ¼ wave whip type antennas. Conventional cellular antennas aim their signal from zero to thirty degrees above the horizon. Communications is often lost in mountainous areas, where reception is required at elevation angles above thirty degrees.
The present invention is therefore directed to the problem of developing a combined cellular and GPS antenna while enabling reception at higher elevation angles than conventional cellular antennas.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention solves this problem by providing a combined cellular and GPS antenna that resembles a magnetic mount cellular antenna, but provides both cellular transmit/receive functions as well as GPS reception. Furthermore, the present invention provides a combined GPS antenna operating at 1540 MHIZ with a cellular antenna in the 800 to 950 MHZ range and provides extended elevation coverage for the cellular band.
According to the present invention, one exemplary embodiment of an apparatus for receiving global positioning satellite system signals and transmitting and receiving cellular signals includes a global positioning satellite system antenna, a cellular antenna and a common enclosure. The global positioning satellite system antenna receives the global positioning satellite system signals. The cellular antenna receives and transmits the cellular signals. The common enclosure houses both the global positioning satellite system antenna and the cellular antenna.
According to the present invention, a particularly advantageous embodiment of the above apparatus employs a patch antenna as the global positioning satellite system antenna. One exemplary embodiment of the patch antenna is approximately 25 mm by 25 mm square, which patch antenna has a classical antenna pattern and provides coverage from approximately 30 degrees to 90 degrees in elevation at all azimuth angles. One exemplary embodiment of the cellular antenna is a ¾ wave monopole antenna.
According to the present invention, another exemplary embodiment of an apparatus for receiving global positioning satellite system signals and transmitting and receiving cellular signals includes a global positioning satellite system antenna, a cellular antenna, a diplexer, and a radome. The global positioning satellite system antenna receives the global positioning satellite system signals. The cellular antenna receives and transmits the cellular signals. The diplexer couples to a cellular radio, directs cellular signals to the cellular antenna and directs global positioning satellite system signals to the global positioning satellite system antenna. The radome houses both the global positioning satellite system antenna and the cellular antenna.
One particularly advantageous embodiment of the above apparatus includes a low noise amplifier coupled to the diplexer and the global positioning satellite system antenna.
Another particularly advantageous embodiment of the above apparatus includes a matching network coupled to the diplexer and the cellular antenna.
Yet another particularly advantageous embodiment of the above apparatus includes a magnetic base on which the diplexer, matching network, and radome are mounted.
One particularly advantageous embodiment of the diplexer in the above apparatus is two bandpass filters, which combine received global positioning satellite system signals and received cellular signals for transmission to the cellular radio. Moreover, the diplexer couples cellular signals to be transmitted only to the cellular antenna.
One particularly advantageous embodiment of the matching network in the above apparatus is a passive inductive/capacitive network, which provides a conjugative impedance match to the global positioning satellite system antenna.
One particularly advantageous embodiment of the cellular antenna in the above apparatus is a cellular monopole antenna. In this case, the cellular monopole antenna includes an approximately 0.062 diameter spring steel wire between approximately 9-10 inches in length.
According to the present invention, an exemplary embodiment of a method for receiving and transmitting cellular signals and receiving signals from a global positioning system, includes the steps of: a) providing a common housing for a global positioning satellite system antenna receiving the global positioning satellite system signals and a cellular antenna receiving and transmitting the cellular signals; b) directing received cellular signals to a cellular receiver; c) directing cellular signals to be transmitted to a cellular antenna; and d) directing received global positioning system signals to a global positioning system receiver.
Furthermore, the above method can also include the step of coupling a low noise amplifier to a diplexer directing the cellular and global positioning signals and a global positioning satellite system antenna. In addition, the above method can include the steps of: matching the impedance of the diplexer and the cellular antenna; mounting the common housing on a magnetic base; or mounting the diplexer and a matching network on the magnetic base.
According to the present invention, a device for receiving and transmitting cellular signals and receiving signals from a global positioning system, includes a cellular antenna receiving and transmitting the cellular signal, a global positioning satellite system antenna receiving the global positioning satellite system signal, and a means for housing the global positioning satellite system antenna and the cellular antenna. The device further includes first means for directing received cellular signals to a cellular receiver, second means for directing cellular signals to be transmitted to the cellular antenna, and third means for directing received global positioning system signals to a global positioning system receiver and for preventing cellular signals from reaching the global positioning satellite system antenna. In addition, the device can include a low noise amplifier coupled to the third means for directing and the global positioning satellite system antenna, a matching network matching the impedance of first, and second for directing and the cellular antenna, or a magnetic base on which the means for housing, the first, second and third means for directing and the matching network is mounted.
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Fortkort, Es Michael P.
Geo-Com, Incorporated
Maung Nay
Mayer Fortkort & Williams PC
Vuong Quochien B.
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