Broadband multiple layer dielectric resonator antenna and method of making the same

• US 10,374,315 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2016
• Issued: 08/06/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rogers Corporation (Rogers Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rogers Corporation (Rogers Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Pance, Kristi, Sprentall, Karl, Williams, Shawn P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Tho G
• Application Number:
  US15/334,669
• Publication Number:
  US 20170125908A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,014 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/10 Processes of additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/112 using individual droplets, e.g. from jetting heads
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/118 using filamentary material being melted, e.g. fused deposition modelling [FDM]
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/147 using sheet material, e.g. laminated object manufacturing [LOM] or laminating sheet material precut to local cross sections of the 3D object
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/153 using layers of powder being selectively joined, e.g. by selective laser sintering or melting
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 10/00 Processes of additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/36 Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; Particular materials used therewithH01Q1/08, H01Q1/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 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 Class Codes: H01Q 1/40 Radiating elements coated with or embedded in protective material
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/422 comprising two or more layers of dielectric material H01Q1/425 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/48 Earthing means; Earth screens; Counterpoises
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/523 between antennas of an array
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/061 Two dimensional planar arrays
• 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 5/364 Creating multiple current paths
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/50 Feeding or matching arrangements for broad-band or multi-band operation
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0457 electromagnetically coupled to the feed line
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0485 Dielectric resonator antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0492 circularly polarised

Abstract

A dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) includes: an electrically conductive ground structure; a plurality of volumes of dielectric materials disposed on the ground structure comprising N volumes, N being an integer equal to or greater than 3, disposed to form successive and sequential layered volumes V(i), i being an integer from 1 to N, wherein volume V(1) forms an innermost volume, wherein a successive volume V(i+1) forms a layered shell disposed over and at least partially embedding volume V(i), wherein volume V(N) at least partially embeds all volumes V(1) to V(N−1); and a signal feed disposed and structured to be electromagnetically coupled to one or more of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials.

Claims

1. A dielectric resonator antenna (DRA), comprising:

an electrically conductive ground structure;

a plurality of volumes of dielectric materials disposed on the ground structure comprising N volumes, N being an integer equal to or greater than 3, disposed to form successive and sequential layered volumes V(i), i being an integer from 1 to N, wherein volume V(1) forms an innermost volume, wherein a successive volume V(i+1) forms a layered shell disposed over and at least partially embedding volume V(i), wherein volume V(N) at least partially embeds all volumes V(1) to V(N−

1);

a signal feed disposed and structured to be electromagnetically coupled to one or more of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials; and

an electrically conductive fence disposed circumferentially around the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials, and electrically connected with and forming part of the ground structure.

2. The DRA of claim 1, wherein each successive volume V(i+1) forms a layered shell disposed over and completely 100% embedding volume V(i).

3. The DRA according to claim 1, wherein volume V(N) completely 100% embeds all volumes V(1) to V(N−

1).

4. The DRA according to claim 1, wherein the signal feed is disposed within an opening of the ground structure in non-electrical contact with the ground structure, and is disposed within one of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials.

5. The DRA of claim 1, wherein:

the signal feed is disposed within and electromagnetically coupled to the first volume V(1) of dielectric material; and

each volume of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials has a central longitudinal axis that is parallel to and centrally disposed relative to a longitudinal axis of the signal feed, the longitudinal axis of the signal feed being perpendicular to the ground structure.

6. The DRA of claim 5, wherein:

each volume of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials has a cylindrical shaped cross section axially centered on each other and axially centered on the signal feed.

7. The DRA of claim 5, wherein:

each volume of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials has an elliptical shaped cross section axially centered on each other and axially centered on the signal feed.

8. The DRA of claim 5, wherein:

the each volume of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials and the embedded signal feed form an arch, each arched volume of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials having both ends of the respective arched volume disposed on the ground structure.

9. The DRA of claim 1, wherein:

the signal feed is disposed within and electromagnetically coupled to one of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials that is other than the first volume V(1) of dielectric material.

10. The DRA of claim 9, wherein:

each volume of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials has a central longitudinal axis that is parallel to and centrally disposed relative to each other, each central longitudinal axis being perpendicular to the ground structure.

11. The DRA of claim 9, wherein:

each volume of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials has a central longitudinal axis that is parallel to and sideways shifted in a same sideways direction relative to each other, each central longitudinal axis being perpendicular to the ground structure.

12. The DRA of claim 11, wherein:

each volume of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials has a cylindrical shape.

13. The DRA of claim 11, wherein:

each volume of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials has an elliptical shape.

14. The DRA of claim 11, wherein:

each volume of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials has an elongated dome shape oriented lengthwise to its respective central longitudinal axis; and

further comprising an electrically conductive fence disposed circumferentially around the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials, and electrically connected with and forming part of the ground structure.

15. The DRA of claim 14, wherein:

the first volume V(1) of dielectric material is centrally disposed relative to a center of the circumference of the electrically conductive fence.

16. The DRA of claim 9, further comprising:

a container disposed on the ground structure comprising a material having a dielectric constant between 1 and 3;

wherein the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials are embedded within the container;

wherein each volume of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials has a central longitudinal axis that is parallel to and centrally disposed relative to each other, and the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials is centrally shifted in a sideways direction relative to a central longitudinal axis of the container, each central longitudinal axis being perpendicular to the ground structure.

17. The DRA of claim 9, further comprising:

a container disposed on the ground structure comprising a material having a dielectric constant between 1 and 3;

wherein the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials are embedded within the container;

wherein each volume of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials has a central longitudinal axis that is centrally disposed relative to each other, and relative to a longitudinal axis of the container, each longitudinal axis being perpendicular to the ground structure;

wherein the outer volume V(N) of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials has an asymmetrical shape.

18. The DRA of claim 9, wherein:

the signal feed is disposed within and electromagnetically coupled to the second volume V(2) of dielectric material.

19. The DRA of claim 1, wherein:

directly adjacent volumes of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials have different dielectric constant values that range from a first relative minimum value at volume V(1) to a relative maximum value at one of volumes V(2) to V(N−

1), back to a second relative minimum value at volume V(N).

20. The DRA of claim 19, wherein the first relative minimum value is equal to the second relative minimum value.

21. The DRA of claim 1, wherein:

directly adjacent volumes of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials have different dielectric constant values that range from a first relative minimum value at volume V(1) to a relative maximum value at V((N+1)/2), where N is an odd integer, back to a second relative minimum value at V(N).

22. The DRA of claim 21, wherein the first relative minimum value is equal to the second relative minimum value.

23. The DRA of claim 1, wherein:

the signal feed is disposed within and electromagnetically coupled to the first volume V(1) of dielectric material;

each volume of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials has an hemispherical shape; and

further comprising a container disposed on the ground structure comprising a material having a dielectric constant between 1 and 3, the container having an hemispherical shape;

wherein the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials is embedded within the container;

wherein each volume of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials has a zenith axis that is centrally disposed relative to each other, and the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials are centrally shifted in a sideways direction relative to a zenith axis of the container; and

wherein the signal feed is arched within the first volume V(1) of dielectric material and enters the first volume V(1) off center from the zenith axis of the first volume V(1).

24. The DRA of claim 1, wherein:

each volume of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials is in direct intimate contact with adjacent ones of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials.

25. The DRA of claim 1, wherein:

the signal feed comprises a copper wire, a coaxial cable, a microstrip, a waveguide, a surface integrated waveguide, or a conductive ink.

26. The DRA of claim 1, wherein:

N is equal to 5.

27. A DRA array, comprising:

a plurality of DRAs according to claim 1 arranged in an x by y array pattern, where x and y are integers.

28. The DRA array of claim 27, wherein:

x is equal to y.

29. A method for manufacture of the DRA of claim 1, the method comprising molding at least one volume of the plurality of volumes of the dielectric materials, or all of the volumes of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials.