Antenna radiation collimator structure

• US 20070164908A1
• Filed: 01/17/2006
• Published: 07/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Air Force Government of The United States of America As Represented By The Secretary
• Original Assignee: Air Force Government of The United States of America As Represented By The Secretary
• Inventors: Crisman, Everett, Derov, John, Turchinetz, Beverly
• Granted Patent: US 7,324,065 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/700.MS
• 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 15/0086 said selective devices having materials with a synthesized negative refractive index, e.g. metamaterials or left-handed materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/10 comprising three-dimensional array of impedance discontinuities, e.g. holes in conductive surfaces or conductive discs forming artificial dielectric
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/005 providing two patterns of opposite direction; back to back antennas H01Q25/004 takes precedence

Abstract

An antenna radiation collimator structure is provided as including a number of resonator circuit boards oriented to form a block structure. A sheet of dielectric material is disposed between each of the number of resonator circuit boards to maintain a substantially uniform spacing between each of the resonator circuit boards. A plurality of conductive unit resonator cells may be disposed on first planar surfaces of each of the number of resonator circuit boards and a plurality of conductive strip lines may also be disposed on second planar surfaces of each of the number of resonator circuit boards. In this arrangement, radiation applied to a substantially central location of the block structure interacts with the plurality of conductive unit resonator cells and the plurality of conductive strip lines for redirecting the radiation out of front and rear facing surfaces of the block structure as respective first and second substantially collimated beams.

Claims

1. An antenna radiation collimator structure, comprising:

a number of resonator circuit boards constructed and arranged to substantially form a block structure;

a sheet of dielectric material disposed between each of the number of resonator circuit boards and being operative to maintain a substantially uniform spacing between each of the resonator circuit boards;

a plurality of conductive unit resonator cells disposed on first planar surfaces of each of the number of resonator circuit boards; and

a plurality of conductive strip lines disposed on second planar surfaces of each of the number of resonator circuit boards, wherein radiation applied to a substantially central location of the block structure interacts with the plurality of conductive unit resonator cells and the plurality of conductive strip lines for redirecting the radiation out of front and rear facing surfaces of the block structure as respective first and second substantially collimated beams having substantially equal and oppositely directed magnitudes.

2. The antenna radiation collimator structure of claim 1, further including a dielectric wrapping material disposed on exterior surfaces of the block structure and being operative to securely retain the number of resonator circuit boards in predetermined alignment.

3. The antenna radiation collimator structure of claim 1, wherein the plurality of conductive unit resonator cells are disposed on the first planar surfaces of each of the number of resonator circuit boards to form an array of conductive unit resonator cells having a predetermined number of rows and a predetermined number of columns.

4. The antenna radiation collimator structure of claim 3, wherein the array of conductive unit resonator cells includes approximately six cells to approximately sixty nine cells in each of the predetermined number of rows.

5. The antenna radiation collimator structure of claim 4, wherein the array of conductive unit resonator cells includes approximately three to approximately sixteen cells in each of the predetermined number of columns.

6. The antenna radiation collimator structure of claim 1, wherein each unit cell of the plurality of conductive unit resonator cells includes a pair of concentric split ring structures.

7. The antenna radiation collimator structure claim 1, wherein the plurality of conductive unit resonator cells are disposed on the first planar surfaces of each of the number of resonator circuit boards to include a spacing of approximately 146 millimeters center to center.

8. The antenna radiation collimator structure of claim 1, wherein each unit cell of the plurality of conductive unit resonator cells includes an outer split ring and an inner split ring.

9. The antenna radiation collimator structure of claim 8, wherein the outer split ring includes a first gap and the inner slit ring includes a second gap whereby the first and second gaps are oriented approximately 180-degrees with respect to each other.

10. The antenna radiation collimator structure of claim 1, wherein the plurality of conductive unit resonator cells include at least one of copper, aluminum, gold and tungsten.

11. The antenna radiation collimator structure of claim 2, wherein the dielectric wrapping material includes at least one of plastic shrink wrap, plastic wrap and Top Flight MonoKote.

12. The antenna radiation collimator structure of claim 1, wherein the sheet of dielectric material disposed between each of the number of resonator circuit boards includes a material selected to be substantially transparent at microwave frequencies.

13. The antenna radiation collimator structure of claim 8, wherein the sheet of dielectric material disposed between each of the number of resonator circuit boards includes at least one of foam, air and Eccosorb PP-2 foam.

14. An antenna beam steering structure, comprising:

a number of circuit boards interleaved with a number of dielectric sheet spacers to substantially form a block structure;

an array of resonator cells disposed on top planar surfaces of each of the number of circuit boards;

a number of conductive strip lines disposed on bottom planar surfaces of each of the number of circuit boards; and

a slot formed on a central portion of the block structure and being dimensioned to accept an antenna, wherein the antenna is inserted into the slot for providing radiation to a substantially central location of the block structure and wherein the radiation interacts with the array of resonator cells and the number of conductive strip lines for redirecting the radiation out of front and rear facing surfaces of the block structure as respective first and second substantially collimated beams having substantially equal and oppositely directed magnitudes.

15. An antenna beam steering structure, comprising:

a number of circuit boards interleaved with a number of dielectric sheet spacers to substantially form a block structure;

an array of resonator cells disposed on top planar surfaces of each of the number of circuit boards;

a number of conductive strip lines disposed on bottom planar surfaces of each of the number of circuit boards;

a metallic sheet disposed on a rear facing surface of the block structure and being adapted to reflect radiation towards a front facing surface of the block structure;

a slot formed on a central portion of the block structure and being dimensioned to accept an antenna, wherein the antenna is inserted into the slot for providing radiation to a substantially central location of the block structure and wherein the radiation interacts with the array of resonator cells, the number of conductive strip lines and the metallic sheet for redirecting the radiation out of the front facing surface of the block structure as a first substantially collimated beams having a relatively increased beam intensity.