| In the
field of radio telecommunication a ground plane structure or
relationship exists between the antenna and another
conductive (reflective) surface which permits the antenna to function
as such (e.g., forms a reflector or director for an antenna). This sometimes
serves as the near-field reflection point or as a
reference ground in a antenna circuit.
There are a variety of ground planes,
including drooping ground planes, and flat circular ground plane antennas. A
ground plane may consist of a natural surface, such as the
earth or an artificial surface of opportunity
(such as the roof of a motor vehicle). A ground plane can also be a
specially designed artificial surface (such as the radial elements of a
quarter-wave ground plane antenna).
Commercially pure copper wire cloth (mesh) being highly conductive provides
a highly reflective
substitute
grounding structure for the antenna.
Elevated installations such as roof tops and nautical applications (boats,
ships, floating platforms or objects) typically rely on copper mesh for
ground reference. |
