Sensor device with helical antenna and related system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9437933-B2
Application number	US-75512310-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 6, 2010
Priority date	Apr 6, 2010
Publication date	Sep 6, 2016
Grant date	Sep 6, 2016

Abstract

An apparatus includes a sensor that receives a first electrical signal and provides a second electrical signal in response to the first electrical signal. The second electrical signal is based on at least one parameter monitored by the sensor. The apparatus also includes an antenna that converts first wireless signals into the first electrical signal and that converts the second electrical signal into second wireless signals. The antenna includes a substrate, conductive traces, and conductive interconnects. The conductive traces are formed on first and second surfaces of the substrate. The conductive interconnects couple the conductive traces, and the conductive interconnects and the conductive traces form at least one helical arm of the antenna. The conductive traces could be formed in various ways, such as by etching or direct printing. The conductive interconnects could also be formed in various ways, such as by filling vias in the substrate or direct printing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a sensor configured to receive a first electrical signal and to provide a second electrical signal in response to the first electrical signal, the second electrical signal based on at least one parameter monitored by the sensor; and
an antenna configured to convert first wireless signals into the first electrical signal and to convert the second electrical signal into second wireless signals, the antenna comprising:
a single substrate comprising a first half and a second half;
a plurality of conductive traces on first and second surfaces of the first half of the single substrate, the first and second surfaces being opposite and external surfaces of the single substrate;
a plurality of conductive interconnects coupling the conductive traces, the conductive interconnects and the conductive traces forming at least one helical arm of the antenna; and
first and second ground plates, the first ground plate on a first surface of the second half of the single substrate and the second ground plate on a second surface of the second half of the single substrate;

wherein, on each of the opposite and external surfaces of the single substrate, all surface area defined between the conductive traces on the first half of the single substrate substantially equals a surface area of one of the ground plates on the second half of the single substrate.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the conductive traces and the conductive interconnects form one helical arm of a monopole antenna.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the antenna further comprises at least one additional conductive interconnect coupling the first and second ground plates.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the conductive interconnects comprise conductive material in vias through the single substrate.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the conductive interconnects comprise conductive material on sides of the single substrate, the sides between the first and second surfaces of the first half of the single substrate.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensor.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is directly connected to at least one of the first and second ground plates.

8. A system comprising:
a sensor device configured to receive first wireless signals and to transmit second wireless signals in response to the first wireless signals, the sensor device comprising an antenna, the antenna comprising:
a single substrate comprising a first half and a second half;
a plurality of conductive traces on first and second surfaces of the first half of the single substrate, the first and second surfaces being opposite and external surfaces of the single substrate;
a plurality of conductive interconnects coupling the conductive traces, the conductive interconnects and the conductive traces forming at least one helical arm of the antenna; and
first and second ground plates, the first ground plate on a first surface of the second half of the single substrate and the second ground plate on a second surface of the second half of the single substrate; and

a sensor monitor configured to transmit the first wireless signals to the sensor and to receive the second wireless signals from the sensor;
wherein, on each of the opposite and external surfaces of the single substrate, all surface area defined between the conductive traces on the first half of the single substrate substantially equals a surface area of one of the ground plates on the second half of the single substrate.

9. The system of claim 8 , further comprising:
a controller configured to analyze data associated with the second wireless signals and to control a process system based on the analysis.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the conductive traces and the conductive interconnects form one helical arm of a monopole antenna.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the antenna further comprises at least one additional conductive interconnect coupling the first and second ground plates.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the conductive interconnects comprise conductive material in vias through the single substrate.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the conductive interconnects comprise conductive material on sides of the single substrate, the sides between the first and second surfaces of the first half of the single substrate.

14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the sensor comprises a surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensor.

15. The system of claim 8 , wherein the sensor is directly connected to at least one of the first and second ground plates.

16. A method comprising:
receiving first wireless signals at a sensor device; and
responsive to receiving the first wireless signals, transmitting second wireless signals from the sensor device;
wherein the sensor device comprises an antenna, the antenna comprising:
a single substrate comprising a first half and a second half;
a plurality of conductive traces on first and second surfaces of the first half of the single substrate, the first and second surfaces being opposite and external surfaces of the single substrate;
a plurality of conductive interconnects coupling the conductive traces, the conductive interconnects and the conductive traces forming at least one helical arm of the antenna; and
first and second ground plates, the first ground plate on a first surface of the second half of the single substrate and the second ground plate on a second surface of the second half of the single substrate;

wherein, on each of the opposite and external surfaces of the single substrate, all surface area defined between the conductive traces on the first half of the single substrate substantially equals a surface area of one of the ground plates on the second half of the single substrate.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the conductive traces and the conductive interconnects form one helical arm of a monopole antenna.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the antenna further comprises at least one additional conductive interconnect coupling the first and second ground plates.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the sensor is directly connected to at least one of the first and second ground plates.

Assignees

• Georgescu Ion
• Guran Dana E
• Pavelescu Ioan
• Cobianu Cornel
• Honeywell Int Inc

Inventors

• Georgescu Ion
• Guran Dana E
• Pavelescu Ioan
• Cobianu Cornel

Classifications

• H01Q1/3233

  particular used as part of a sensor or in a security system, e.g. for automotive radar, navigation systems · CPC title

• H01Q1/38

  formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support {(patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface  H01Q15/142)} · CPC title

• H01Q11/08 Primary

  Helical antennas · CPC title