Dipole antenna array

• US 10,186,768 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2014
• Issued: 01/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BAE Systems Plc
• Original Assignee: BAE Systems Plc
• Inventors: Lewis, Gareth Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hoang
• Assistant Examiner(s): Salih, Awat
• Application Number:
  US14/762,693
• Publication Number:
  US 20150372377A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,826 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/48 Earthing means; Earth screens; Counterpoises
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/50 Structural association of antennas with earthing switches, lead-in devices or lightning protectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/523 between antennas of an array
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/00 Antenna arrays or systems arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system H01Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/062 using dipole aerials; H01Q21/067, H01Q21/068 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/16 with feed intermediate between the extremities of the antenna, e.g. centre-fed dipole H01Q9/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/285 Planar dipole H01Q9/065 takes precedence; patch antenna H01Q9/0407

Abstract

According to the invention there is provided a dipole antenna array including at least one dipole antenna sub-array, wherein the dipole antenna sub-array includes a plurality of co-planar antenna units, each antenna unit including a pair of dipole radiating elements and a balun having an output line for providing output electrical signals to the pair of dipole radiating elements.

Claims

1. A dipole antenna array including at least one dipole antenna sub-array, wherein the dipole antenna sub-array includes a plurality of co-planar antenna units, each antenna unit including a pair of dipole radiating elements and a balun having a slotline in communication with an input line and an output line, the output line comprising a first output arm and a second output arm for providing output electrical signals to the pair of dipole radiating elements, wherein the first output arm and the second output arm each have an output port which is in direct communication with at least one of the pair of dipole radiating elements, wherein each antenna unit has a slot extending between its dipole radiating elements, and wherein the first output arm and the second output arm are inclined with respect to the slot to form a substantially straight line that is oblique to the slot.

2. The dipole antenna array according to claim 1 in which the dipole antenna sub-array has a first face and a second face, and at least two consecutive antenna units each having a dipole radiating element on both the first and second faces.

3. The dipole antenna array according to claim 2 in which consecutive antenna units are arranged so that a dipole radiating element on the first face of one of said consecutive antenna units is adjacent a dipole radiating element on the second face of the next one of said consecutive antenna units.

4. The dipole antenna array according to claim 3 in which the consecutive antenna units are arranged so that a dipole radiating element on the first face of one of said consecutive antenna units overlaps the adjacent dipole radiating element on the second face of the next one of said consecutive antenna units.

5. The dipole antenna array according to claim 1 further including a ground plane having at least one slot formed therein, wherein a dipole antenna sub-array extends through the slot.

6. The dipole antenna array according to claim 5 including a plurality of dipole antenna sub-arrays in which the ground plane includes a plurality of parallel slots formed therein, and the dipole antenna sub-arrays extend through the slots so that the dipole antenna sub-arrays are in a parallel arrangement.

7. The dipole antenna array according to claim 1 in which at least one of the input line and the output line is a microstrip or a stripline.

8. The dipole antenna array according to claim 1 in the form of a printed circuit board (PCB).

9. The dipole antenna array according to claim 8 in the form of a microwave laminate structure.

10. The dipole antenna array according to claim 1, wherein the slot extends into the antenna unit from a lower portion of the sub-array.

11. The dipole antenna array according to claim 1, wherein the first output arm and the second output arm are arranged on a same side of the slot.

12. A dual polarised dipole antenna array including at least first and second dipole antenna sub-arrays, wherein each dipole antenna sub-array includes a plurality of co-planar antenna units, each antenna unit including a pair of dipole radiating elements and a balun having a slotline in communication with an input line and an output line, the output line comprising a first output arm and a second output arm for providing output electrical signals to the pair of dipole radiating elements, and wherein the at least first and second dipole antenna sub-arrays are in a mutually orthogonal arrangement, wherein the first output arm and the second output arm each have an output port which is in direct communication with at least one of the pair of dipole radiating elements, wherein each antenna unit has a slot extending between its dipole radiating elements, and wherein the first output arm and the second output arm are inclined with respect to the slot to form a substantially straight line that is oblique to the slot.

13. The dipole antenna array according to claim 12 in which the first and second dipole antenna sub-arrays are separate elements conjoined together in the mutually orthogonal arrangement.

14. The dipole antenna array according to claim 13 in which the first and second dipole antenna sub-arrays are slotted together in the mutually orthogonal arrangement using a plurality of slots formed in at least one of the first and second dipole antenna sub-arrays.

15. The dipole antenna array according to claim 14 in which the first dipole antenna sub-array has slots formed therein, in which each slot extends between the dipole radiating elements of an antenna unit.

16. The dipole antenna array according to claim 15 in which each antenna unit which has a slot extending between its dipole radiating elements has its balun arranged so that at least the first output arm and the second output arm of the output line are inclined with respect to the slot.

17. The dipole antenna array according to claim 12, wherein the first output arm and the second output arm are arranged on a same side of the slot.

18. A dipole antenna sub-array for a dual polarised dipole antenna array, the sub-array including a plurality of co-planar antenna units, each antenna unit including a pair of dipole radiating elements and a balun having a slotline in communication with an input line and an output line, the output line comprising a first output arm and a second output arm for providing output electrical signals to the pair of dipole radiating elements, and wherein the dipole antenna sub-array has slots formed therein, in which each slot extends between the dipole radiating elements of an antenna unit, and wherein the first output arm and the second output arm are inclined with respect to the slot to form a substantially straight line that is oblique to the slot.

19. The dipole antenna sub-array according to claim 18 in which the baluns each include a slotline which is coupled to an input line and the output line.

20. The dipole antenna sub-array according to claim 18 in which at least one of the input line and the output line is a microstrip or a stripline.

21. The dipole antenna sub-array according to claim 18 in the form of a printed circuit board (PCB).

22. The dipole antenna sub-array according to claim 21 in the form of a microwave laminate structure.