1. An antenna, comprising:
a ground plane conductor;
a resonator having a conducting plate portion closely spaced from the ground plane, the resonator electrically coupled to the ground plane conductor;
a first discrete capacitance electrically coupled between the ground plane conductor and the resonator and spaced from an feed connection point on the resonator by a first distance; and
a second discrete capacitance electrically coupled between the ground plane conductor and the resonator and spaced from the feed connection point on the resonator by a second distance, the second distance being different than the first distance.
2. The antenna of claim 1 wherein a portion of a periphery of the resonator is proximate an edge of the ground plane conductor.
3. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the resonator has an opposed pair of conducting side portions extending from a periphery of the conducting plate portion of the resonator towards the ground plane conductor and an opposed pair of conducting end portions extending from the periphery of the conducting plate portion between towards the ground plane conductor, each of the conducting end portions positioned between the conducting side portions.
4. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the resonator has an opposed pair of conducting side portions extending from a periphery of the conducting plate portion of the resonator towards the ground plane conductor and an opposed pair of conducting end portions extending from the periphery of the conducting plate portion towards the ground plane conductor, each of the conducting end portions positioned between the conducting side portions, where a transition between the conducting plate portion and one of the conducting end portions forms a smooth curve.
5. The antenna of claim 1 wherein a periphery of the conducting plate portion of the resonator has a pair of opposing sides edges, a top edge between the side edges and a bottom edge opposing the top edge, the resonator having an opposed pair of conducting side portions, each of the side portions extending from a respective one of the side edges towards the ground plane conductor, a conducting top end portion extending from the top edge towards the ground plane conductor, and at least one bottom end conducting portion extending from the bottom edge towards the ground plane conductor.
6. The antenna of claim 1 wherein a periphery of the conducting plate portion of the resonator has a pair of opposing sides edges, a top edge between the side edges and a bottom edge opposing the top edge, the resonator having an opposed pair of conducting side portions, each of the side portions extending from a respective one of the side edges towards the ground plane conductor, a conducting top end portion extending from the top edge towards the ground plane conductor, and at least two bottom end conducting portions extending from the bottom edge towards the ground plane conductor, the bottom edge of the conducting plate portion frowning a curved recess between the two bottom end conducting portions.
7. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the resonator is formed as a single stamped metal plate.
8. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the resonator is formed by at least one conductive layers carried by a single non-conductive injection molded support structure.
9. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the ground plane is formed by at least one of a conductive trace carried by a circuit board.
10. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the ground plane is formed by a conductive pad carried on a surface of a circuit board.
11. The antenna of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and the second discrete capacitances are variable capacitances.
12. The antenna of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and the second discrete capacitances comprises at least two fixed capacitors switched by way of a number of pin diodes.
13. The antenna of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and the second discrete capacitances is a varactor.
14. A resonator for an antenna structure, comprising:
a conducting plate portion;
a pair of opposed side portions extending from the conducting plate portion at an approximately right angle in a first direction;
a conducting top end portion extending from the conducting plate portion in the first direction and positioned between the pair of opposed side portions; and
a conducting bottom end portion extending from the conducting plate portion in the first direction and positioned between the pair of opposed side portions and opposed from the top end portion.
15. The resonator of claim 14 wherein a transition between the conducting plate portion and the top end portion forms a smooth radius.
16. The resonator of claim 14 wherein the bottom end portion forms two legs and the conducting plate portion forms a curved recess between the two legs of the bottom end portion.
17. The resonator of claim 14 wherein the conducting plate portion, side portions, top end portion and bottom end portions are formed as a single stamped metal plate.
18. The resonator of claim 14 wherein the conducting plate portion, side portions, top end portion and bottom end portions are formed as at least one conductive material layer over a single non-conductive injection molded support structure.
19. An antenna structure for installation in a wireless communications device, comprising:
a ground plane conductor;
a resonator having a conducting plate portion spaced from the ground plane, a pair of opposed side portions extending from the conducting plate portion toward the ground plane, a top end portion extending from the conducting plate portion toward the ground plane between the pair of opposed side portions, and a bottom end portion extending from the conducting plate portion toward the ground plane between the pair of opposed side portions and opposed to the top end portion, the resonator electrically coupled to the ground plane;
a first discrete capacitance electrically coupled between the ground plane conductor and the resonator; and
a second discrete capacitance electrically coupled between the ground plane conductor and the resonator, wherein at least one of the first and the second discrete capacitances is adjustable.
20. The antenna structure of claim 19 wherein the first discrete capacitance is spaced from a feed connection point on the resonator by a distance greater than the spacing of the second discrete capacitance from the feed connection point on the resonator.
21. The antenna structure of claim 19 wherein the bottom end portion forms a first leg and a second leg.
22. The antenna structure of claim 19 wherein the bottom end portion forms a first leg and a second leg and the conducting plate portion forms a curved recess positioned between the first and the second legs.
23. The antenna structure of claim 19 wherein the a portion of the resonator at a junction of the conducting plate portion and the top end portion forms a smooth bend to conform to a portion of the wireless communications device.
24. A wireless communications device, comprising:
a ground plane conductor;
a resonator having a conducting plate portion spaced from the ground plane, a pair of opposed side portions extending from the conducting plate portion toward the ground plane, a top end portion extending from the conducting plate portion toward the ground plane between the pair of opposed side portions, and a bottom end portion extending from the conducting plate portion toward the ground plane between the pair of opposed side portions and opposed to the top end portion, the resonator electrically coupled to the ground plane;
a first discrete capacitance electrically coupled between the ground plane conductor and the resonator; and
a second discrete capacitance electrically coupled between the ground plane conductor and the resonator, wherein at least one of the first and the second discrete capacitances is adjustable;
a transmitter; and
a signal line electrically coupling the transmitter to the ground plane and the resonator.
25. The wireless communications device of claim 24 wherein the signal line is a coaxial feed line.
26. The wireless communications device of claim 24 wherein the signal line is a microstrip feed line.
27. The wireless communications device of claim 24, further comprising:
a voltage controller coupled to at least one of the capacitances to selectively adjust a voltage to vary the capacitance.
28. The wireless communications device of claim 24, further comprising:
a wireless receiver for receiving external wireless communications;
a voltage controller coupled the wireless receiver and to at least one of the capacitances to selectively adjust a voltage to vary the capacitance in response to an external command received by the wireless receiver.
29. The wireless communications device of claim 24 wherein the resonator is proximate a top, rear of the wireless communications device.
30. The wireless communications device of claim 24 wherein the ground plane conductor is positioned toward a front of the wireless communications device with respect to the resonator.
31. The wireless communications device of claim 24 wherein the ground plane conductor is positioned between a user’s head and the resonator when the wireless communications device is configured for use.
32. A method of producing a resonator for an antenna structure, comprising:
forming a conducting plate portion;
forming a pair of opposed conducting side portions extending from the conducting plate portion at an approximately right angle in a first direction;
forming a conducting top end portion extending from the conducting plate portion in the first direction and positioned between the pair of side portions; and
forming a conducting bottom end portion extending from the conducting plate portion in the first direction and positioned between the pair of side portions and opposed from the top end portion.
33. The method of claim 32 wherein forming the conducting plate portion, the pair of side portions, the top end portion, and the bottom end portion comprises a single step metal stamping operation.
34. The method of claim 32 wherein forming the conducting plate portion, the pair of side portions, the top end portion, and the bottom end portion comprises a single step injection molding operation followed by one or more conductor depositing operations.
35. A method of producing an antenna structure, comprising:
forming a resonator having a conducting plate portion;
closely spacing the conducting plate portion of the resonator from a conductive ground plane;
electrically coupling a first discrete capacitance between the resonator and the ground plane at a first distance from a feed connection point on the resonator; and
electrically coupling a second discrete capacitance between the resonator and the ground plane at a second distance from a feed connection point on the resonator, different than the first distance.
36. A method of operating a multi-band antenna structure in a wireless communications device, comprising:
receiving an externally originated wireless signal at the wireless communications device; and
automatically adjusting a discrete variable capacitance between a resonator and a ground plane based on the received wireless signal to adjust the operational band of the antenna structure.
37. The method of claim 36 wherein adjusting a capacitance includes modifying a voltage applied to a varacator.
38. The method of claim 36 wherein adjusting a capacitance includes modifying a voltage applied to a pin diode to select at least one of a number of capacitors.
39. A method of operating a multi-band antenna structure in a wireless communications device, comprising:
receiving a user originated signal; and
automatically adjusting a discrete variable capacitance between a resonator and a ground plane based on the received user originated signal to adjust the operational band of the antenna structure.
40. The method of claim 39 wherein adjusting a capacitance includes modifying a voltage applied to a varacator.
41. The method of claim 39 wherein adjusting a capacitance includes modifying a voltage applied to a pin diode to select at least one of a number of capacitors.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A polyol prepolymer chain extender for a silicone modified polyurea comprising:
at least one secondary polyether amine;
at least one epoxy functional silicone; and
a caprolactone monomer.
2. The polyol prepolymer chain extender of claim 1 wherein said at least one secondary polyether amine is selected from the group consisting of secondary aliphatic amines, secondary aromatic amines, and mixtures thereof.
3. The polyol prepolymer chain extender of claim 1 wherein said epoxy functional silicone is a silicone modified epoxy resin that has the general formula:
wherein x is an integer from about 1 to about 20, y is an integer from about 1 to about 20, and z is an integer from about 1 to about 20.
4. The polyol prepolymer chain extender of claim 1 wherein said at least one amine is present in the range of from about 20 to about 95 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the total polyol prepolymer chain extender.
5. The polyol prepolymer chain extender of claim 1 wherein said at least one epoxy functional silicone is present in the range of from about 5 to about 80 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the total polyol prepolymer chain extender.
6. A silicone modified polyurea comprising:
a B-component which includes at least one polyol prepolymer chain extender which comprises:
at least one secondary polyether amine;
at least one epoxy functional silicone;
a caprolactone monomer; and
an A-component which comprises at least one polyisocyanate.
7. The silicone modified polyurea of claim 6 wherein said at least one amine is selected from the group consisting of secondary aliphatic amines, and secondary aromatic amines, or a combination of said amines.
8. The polyol prepolymer chain extender of claim 6 wherein said epoxy functional silicone is a silicone modified epoxy resin that has the general formula:
wherein x is an integer from about 1 to about 20, y is an integer from about 1 to about 20, and z is an integer from about 1 to about 20.
9. The silicone modified polyurea of claim 6 wherein said polyisocyanate is selected from the group consisting of
aliphatic isocyanates selected from the group consisting of hexamethylene diisocyanate (HMDI); a bifunctional monomer of tetraalkyl xylene diisocyanate; cyclohexane diisocyanate; 1,12-dodecane diisocyanate; 1,4-tetramethylene diisocyanate; isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI); and dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate;
aromatic isocyanates selected from the group consisting of m-phenylene diisocyanate; p-phenylene diisocyanate; polymethylene polyphenylene diisocyanate; 2,4-toluene diisocyanate; 2,6-toluene diisocyanate; dianisidine diisocyanate; bitolylene diisocyanate; naphthalene-1,4-diisocyanate; and diphenylene 4,4\u2032-diisocyanate; and
aliphaticaromatic diisocyanates, selected from the group consisting of xylylene-1,3-diisocyanate; bis(4-isocyanatophenyl)methane; bis(3-methyl-4-isocyanatophenyl)methane; and 4,4\u2032-diphenylpropane diisocyanate; tetramethyl xylene diisocyanate (TMXDI); and mixtures thereof.
10. The silicone modified polyurea of claim 6 wherein said B-component further comprises UV stabilizers.
11. The silicone modified polyurea of claim 10 wherein said UV stabilizers are selected from the group consisting of Tinuvin\xae 328, Tinuvin\xae 765, Tinuvin\xae 292, and Tinuvin\xae 1130.
12. The silicone modified polyurea of claim 6 wherein said B-component further comprises color pigments.
13. A ballistic protection panel comprising:
a first silicone modified polyurea layer defining a plane comprising:
a B-component which includes at least one polyol prepolymer chain extender which comprises:
at least one secondary polyether amine;
at least one epoxy functional silicone;
a caprolactone monomer; and
an A-component which comprises at least one polyisocyanate;
a second silicone modified polyurea layer substantially parallel to said plane of said first silicone modified polyurea layer comprising:
a B-component which includes at least one polyol prepolymer chain extender which comprises:
at least one secondary polyether amine;
at least one epoxy functional silicone;
a caprolactone monomer; and
an A-component which comprises at least one polyisocyanate; and
a first layer of a plurality barrels interposed between said first silicone modified polyurea layer and said second silicone modified polyurea layer, said barrels having a substantially curved side substantially adjacent to said first silicone modified polyurea layer and said second silicone modified polyurea layer.
14. The ballistic protection panel claim 13 wherein said at least one amine is selected from the group consisting of secondary aliphatic amines, and secondary aromatic amines, or a combination of said amines.
15. The ballistic protection panel of claim 13 wherein said polyisocyanate is selected from the group consisting of
aliphatic isocyanates selected from the group consisting of hexamethylene diisocyanate (HMDI); a bifunctional monomer of tetraalkyl xylene diisocyanate; cyclohexane diisocyanate; 1,12-dodecane diisocyanate; 1,4-tetramethylene diisocyanate; isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI); and dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate;
aromatic isocyanates selected from the group consisting of m-phenylene diisocyanate; p-phenylene diisocyanate; polymethylene polyphenylene diisocyanate; 2,4-toluene diisocyanate; 2,6-toluene diisocyanate; dianisidine diisocyanate; bitolylene diisocyanate; naphthalene-1,4-diisocyanate; and diphenylene 4,4\u2032-diisocyanate; and
aliphaticaromatic diisocyanates, selected from the group consisting of xylylene-1,3-diisocyanate; bis(4-isocyanatophenyl)methane; bis(3-methyl-4-isocyanatophenyl)methane; and 4,4\u2032-diphenylpropane diisocyanate; tetramethyl xylene diisocyanate (TMXDI); and mixtures thereof.
16. The ballistic protection panel of claim 13 wherein said plurality of barrels have a cross-section shape selected from the group consisting of a cylinder, a pentagon, a heptagon, a octagon, and a hexagon.
17. The ballistic protection panel of claim 13 wherein said first silicone modified polyurea layer and said second silicone modified polyurea layer have a thickness of about \u215b\u2033 to about 4\u2033.
18. The ballistic protection panel of claim 13 further comprising:
a second layer of a plurality of substantially rod-shaped pieces interposed between either said first silicone modified polyurea layer and said first layer of a plurality of barrels or between said second silicone modified polyurea layer and said first layer of a plurality of barrels, said second layer of plurality of barrels having a substantially curved side substantially adjacent to either said first silicone modified polyurea layer or said second silicone modified polyurea layer.
19. The ballistic protection panel of claim 13 wherein said first layer of a plurality of barrels comprises a metal alloy.
20. The ballistic protection panel of claim 18 where said second layer of a plurality of barrels comprises a metal alloy.
21. The ballistic protection panel of claim 13 wherein said first layer of a plurality of barrels is selected from the group consisting of silicone carbide and a ceramic having an aluminum oxide content of equal to or greater than 95%.
22. A polyol prepolymer chain extender for a silicone modified polyurea comprising:
at least one secondary polyether amine; and
a caprolactone monomer.
23. The polyol prepolymer chain extender of claim 22 wherein said at least one secondary polyether amine is selected from the group consisting of secondary aliphatic amines, secondary aromatic amines, and mixtures thereof.
24. The polyol prepolymer chain extender of claim 22 wherein said at least one amine is present in the range of from about 20 to about 95 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the total polyol prepolymer chain extender.
25. A method of making a ballistic protection panel comprising:
combining an adduct of at least one amine selected from the group consisting of secondary polyether amines, secondary aliphatic amines, and mixtures thereof, with at least one epoxy functional silicone to form a solution;
reacting said solution to form a polyol prepolymer chain extender, wherein said reacting comprises heating said solution at a temperature in the range of from 130\xb0 F. to 210\xb0 F. for a time period of from 1 hour to 24 hours;
mixing said polyol prepolymer chain extender with at least one polyisocyanate to form a silicone modified polyurea;
forming a first silicone modified polyurea layer from said silicone modified polyurea;
forming a first layer of a plurality of substantially rod-shaped pieces interposed adjacent to said first silicone modified polyurea layer; and
forming a second silicone modified polyurea layer adjacent to said first layer of a plurality of substantially rod-shaped pieces.
26. The method of claim 25 wherein said combining an adduct of at least one amine further comprises a diluent.
27. The method of claim 25 wherein said diluent is caprolactone.
28. The method of claim 25 wherein said forming a first layer further comprises forming a second layer of a plurality of substantially rod-shaped pieces adjacent to said first layer of a plurality of substantially rod-shaped pieces.
29. A silicone modified polyurea comprising:
a B-component which includes at least one polyol prepolymer chain extender which comprises:
at least one secondary polyether amine; and
a caprolactone monomer; and
an A-component which comprises at least one polyisocyanate.
30. The silicone modified polyurea of claim 29 wherein said at least one amine is selected from the group consisting of secondary aliphatic amines, and secondary aromatic amines, or a combination of said amines.
31. The silicone modified polyurea of claim 29 wherein said polyisocyanate is selected from the group consisting of
aliphatic isocyanates selected from the group consisting of hexamethylene diisocyanate (HMDI); a bifunctional monomer of tetraalkyl xylene diisocyanate; cyclohexane diisocyanate; 1,12-dodecane diisocyanate; 1,4-tetramethylene diisocyanate; isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI); and dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate;
aromatic isocyanates selected from the group consisting of m-phenylene diisocyanate; p-phenylene diisocyanate; polymethylene polyphenylene diisocyanate; 2,4-toluene diisocyanate; 2,6-toluene diisocyanate; dianisidine diisocyanate; bitolylene diisocyanate; naphthalene-1,4-diisocyanate; and diphenylene 4,4\u2032-diisocyanate; and
aliphaticaromatic diisocyanates, selected from the group consisting of xylylene-1,3-diisocyanate; bis(4-isocyanatophenyl)methane; bis(3-methyl-4-isocyanatophenyl)methane; and 4,4\u2032-diphenylpropane diisocyanate; tetramethyl xylene diisocyanate (TMXDI); and mixtures thereof.
32. The silicone modified polyurea of claim 29 wherein said B-component further comprises UV stabilizers.
33. The silicone modified polyurea of claim 32 wherein said UV stabilizers are selected from the group consisting of Tinuvin\xae 328, Tinuvin\xae 765, Tinuvin\xae 292, and Tinuvin\xae 1130.
34. The silicone modified polyurea of claim 29 wherein said B-component further comprises color pigments.