Antenna system

• US 10,001,517 B2
• Filed: 07/07/2016
• Issued: 06/19/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Future PLC, L'Avenir d'Or BV
• Original Assignee: Future PLC, L'Avenir d'Or BV
• Inventors: Dijkstra, Patrick Walter Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Karacsony, Robert
• Application Number:
  US15/204,385
• Publication Number:
  US 20160320440A1
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/064 using horn or slot aerials slotted waveguides arrays H01Q21/005
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/065 Patch antenna array
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/08 the units being spaced along or adjacent to a rectilinear path waveguide fed H01Q21/0037
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/29 Combinations of different interacting antenna units for giving a desired directional characteristic H01Q25/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/30 Combinations of separate antenna units operating in different wavebands and connected to a common feeder system
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 23/00 Antennas with active circuits or circuit elements integrated within them or attached to them
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/00 Antennas or antenna systems providing at least two radiating patterns arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern H01Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/28 varying the amplitude
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/30 varying the relative phase between the radiating elements of an array H01Q3/2605, H01Q3/2658, H01Q3/2682, H01Q3/44 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/20 characterised by the operating wavebands
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/42 using two or more imbricated arrays H01Q5/49 takes precedence

Abstract

Broadband antenna system comprising a plurality of antenna elements and a plurality of amplifiers; wherein every antenna element of said plurality of antenna elements is configured for operating in a predetermined frequency range and is associated with an amplifier of said plurality of amplifiers which is configured for said predetermined frequency range; said plurality of antenna elements covering a broadband range.

Claims

1. Electromagnetic compatibility immunity testing system comprising an electromagnetic compatibility room, wherein a broadband antenna system is arranged in the electromagnetic compatibility room;

said broadband antenna system comprising a plurality of antenna elements and a plurality of amplifiers;

wherein every antenna element of said plurality of antenna elements is configured for operating in a predetermined frequency range and is associated with an amplifier of said plurality of amplifiers which is configured for said predetermined frequency range;

said plurality of antenna elements covering a broadband range;

wherein the broadband range is an operable range covering at least one octave.

2. The broadband antenna system according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of antenna elements are broadband antenna elements.

3. A broadband antenna system for electromagnetic compatibility immunity testing applications, said broadband antenna system comprising a plurality of antenna elements and a plurality of amplifiers;

wherein every antenna element of said plurality of antenna elements is configured for operating in a predetermined frequency range and is associated with an amplifier of said plurality of amplifiers which is configured for said predetermined frequency range;

said plurality of antenna elements covering a broadband range;

wherein the broadband range is an operable range covering at least one octave;

said broadband antenna system being for use at an emitting side, said broadband antenna system further comprising a plurality of phase shifters;

wherein every antenna element of said plurality of antenna elements is associated with a phase shifter of said plurality of phase shifters; and

wherein the plurality of phase shifters is configured for obtaining an emitted field with a uniform field area as defined in the standard IEC61000-4-3.

4. The broadband antenna system of claim 3 for use at an emitting side, wherein each phase shifter is arranged before the associated amplifier so that a generated power signal is first shifted in phase, then amplified and then emitted by the corresponding antenna element.

5. The broadband antenna system of claim 3, wherein the field area is preferably at least 0.5 m by 0.5 m.

6. The broadband antenna system of claim 3, wherein the plurality of amplifiers and phase shifters are configured in such a way that the uniform field area is located at a distance between 1 m and 10 m from the plurality of antenna elements.

7. The broadband antenna system of claim 3, further comprising a plurality of attenuators, wherein for each amplifier of the plurality of amplifiers, there is arranged an attenuator of the plurality of attenuators.

8. The Broadband antenna system of claim 7, for use at an emitting side, wherein each attenuator is connected between the associated amplifier and the associated phase shifter so that a signal of the signal generator is first shifted in phase, next attenuated, then amplified and finally emitted by the corresponding antenna element.

9. The broadband antenna system of claim 8, wherein the controller is configured for controlling the plurality of phase shifters and the plurality of attenuators in order to obtain a uniform field area as defined in the standard IEC61000-4-3 at a predetermined distance of the plurality of antenna elements.

10. The broadband antenna system of claim 8, wherein the controller is configured for controlling the plurality of phase shifters and the plurality of attenuators in order to move the emitted beam over a predetermined surface according to any one of the following techniques:

moving the beam according to a random pattern across the surface;

allowing to beam to scan the surface in a predefined continuous movement;

allowing the beam to step across the surface, wherein parts of the surface are subsequently radiated on for a predetermined amount of time.

11. The broadband antenna system according to claim 3, wherein said plurality of antenna elements comprises a first antenna element configured for operating in a first frequency range and a second antenna element configured for operating in a second frequency range different from the first frequency range.

12. The broadband antenna system according to claim 3, wherein said plurality of antenna elements comprises any one or more of the following types:

patch antenna, dipole antenna, log per antenna, Vivaldi antenna, “

bunny ear”

antenna, or horn antenna.

13. The broadband antenna system according to claim 3, configured for receiving an emitted field, further comprising a plurality of band pass filters, wherein each antenna element in connected to an input of an associated amplifier of the plurality of amplifiers, and an output of the associated amplifier is connected to a series connection of the associated phase shifter and the associated band pass filter.

14. The broadband antenna system according to claim 13, wherein a further band pass filter is arranged in between each antenna element and the input of the associated amplifier.

15. The broadband antenna system according to claim 3, wherein said plurality of antenna elements are broadband antenna elements.

16. Electromagnetic compatibility immunity testing system comprising an electromagnetic compatibility room, wherein the broadband antenna system according to claim 3 is arranged in the electromagnetic compatibility room.

17. A broadband antenna system for electromagnetic compatibility immunity testing applications, said broadband antenna system comprising a plurality of antenna elements and a plurality of amplifiers;

wherein every antenna element of said plurality of antenna elements is configured for operating in a predetermined frequency range and is associated with an amplifier of said plurality of amplifiers which is configured for said predetermined frequency range;

said plurality of antenna elements covering a broadband range;

wherein the broadband range is an operable range covering at least one octave;

said broadband antenna system being for use at an emitting side, said antenna system further comprising;

a plurality of phase shifters;

wherein every antenna element of said plurality of antenna elements is associated with a phase shifter of said plurality of phase shifters; and

a controller configured for controlling the plurality of phase shifters;

wherein the controller is configured for controlling the plurality of phase shifters in order to obtain a uniform field area as defined in the standard IEC61000-4-3 at a predetermined distance of the plurality of antenna elements.

18. The broadband antenna system of claim 17, wherein the controller is configured for controlling the plurality of phase shifters in order to move the emitted beam over a predetermined surface according to any one of the following techniques:

moving the beam according to a random pattern across the surface;

allowing to beam to scan the surface in a predefined continuous movement;

allowing the beam to step across the surface, wherein parts of the surface are subsequently radiated on for a predetermined amount of time.