Undersampled microstrip array using multilevel and space-filling shaped elements

• US 20050128148A1
• Filed: 01/12/2005
• Published: 06/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Fractus SA
• Inventors: Anguera Pros, Jaume, Rorja Borau, Maria-Carmen, Puente Baliarda, Carles
• Granted Patent: US 7,310,065 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/700.MS
• 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 1/40 Radiating elements coated with or embedded in protective material
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/062 using dipole aerials; H01Q21/067, H01Q21/068 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/065 Patch antenna array
• 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 5/357 using a single feed point
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0407 Substantially flat resonant element parallel to ground plane, e.g. patch antenna dipole H01Q9/285; monopole H01Q9/40
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/065 Microstrip dipole antennas patch antenna H01Q9/0407

Abstract

An undersampled microstrip array using multilevel and space-filling shaped patch elements based on a fractal geometry achieves within the same electrical area, the same directivity than can be obtained using conventional elements as square or circular-shaped patches. However, the number of elements for the fractal-based array is less, reducing the complexity of the feeding network and overall array. Mutual coupling can be reduced avoiding radiation pattern distortions. Higher gain than that obtained using classical patch elements within the same electrical can be achieved due to the less complexity in the feeding network.

Claims

1. Antenna array characterized by multilevel and/or spacefilling shaped patch antenna elements, said elements being larger than half of the wavelength (said wavelength being referenced inside the dielectric between said patch and its compounding groundplane), said multilevel and/or space-filling elements being spaced at a distance larger than 0.9λ

from closest neighbours, at least at one of its operating wavelengths.

2. Antenna array according to claim 1 where the patch elements are operating in a superior frequency mode than the fundamental one being the fundamental one the mode that presents the lowest resonant frequency.

3. Antenna patch array according to claims 1 or 2 where the elements are disposed along a line forming a linear array arrangement.

4. Antenna patch array according to claims 1 or 2 where the patch elements are arranged over a rectangular grid.

5. Antenna patch array according to claims 1 or 2 where the patch elements are arranged over a circular grid.

6. Antenna patch array according to claims 1,2,3,4 or 5 where spacing between elements is nonuniform.

7. Antenna patch array according to claims 1,2,3,4,5 or 6 wherein said array operates at several frequencies where the minimum separation between elements is larger than 0.9λ

at the lowest operating frequency, being λ

the wavelength defined at the said lowest operating frequency.

8. Antenna patch array according to claims 1,2,3,4,5,6 or 7 wherein the number of patch multilevel or spacefilling elements is smaller compared to prior art patch arrays using classical Euclidean patches (squares, circular, etc) yet featuring a similar directivity.

9. Antenna patch array according to claims 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 or 8 where the elements are a combination of at least two different multilevel or spacefilling shaped patch elements.

10. Antenna patch array according to claims 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 or 9 where at least one element is a stacked structure formed by one active patch and at least one parasitic patch using multilevel or spacefilling shaped geometries.

11. Antenna patch array according to claims 1,2,4,5,6,7,8,9 or 10 where elements spacing is larger than 0.9λ

in one direction but less than 0.9λ

in the perpendicular direction. Said array is formed by multilevel or spacefilling shaped patches.