NOTCH ANTENNA HAVING A LOW PROFILE STRIPLINE FEED

• US 20090322636A1
• Filed: 05/23/2008
• Published: 12/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Duffy, Sean M., Brigham, Glenn A., Davidovitz, Marat, Davidovitz, Zhanna, Herd, Jeffrey
• Granted Patent: US 8,350,767 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/770
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/106 Microstrip slot antennas patch antenna elements H01Q9/0407
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/0025 Modular arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/0081 using suspended striplines
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/064 using horn or slot aerials slotted waveguides arrays H01Q21/005

Abstract

Described are a notch antenna and an array antenna based on a low profile stripline feed. The notch antenna includes a planar dielectric substrate having upper and lower surfaces. Each surface has a conductive layer with an opening therein. A notch antenna element is disposed on the conductive layer of the upper surface at the opening. A stripline embedded in the planar dielectric substrate extends under the notch antenna element. The stripline is adapted to couple an RF signal between the stripline and the notch antenna element. A conductive via is electrically coupled to the stripline and extends from the stripline to the opening in the conductive layer on the lower surface so that the RF signal is accessible at the lower surface.

Claims

1. A notch antenna comprising:

a planar dielectric substrate having an upper surface and a lower surface opposite the upper surface, the upper surface having a first conductive layer disposed thereon with a first opening therein and the lower surface having a second conductive layer disposed thereon with a second opening therein;

a notch antenna element disposed on the first conductive layer at the first opening;

a stripline embedded in the planar dielectric substrate and having a length extending under the notch antenna element, the stripline adapted to couple a radio frequency (RF) signal between the stripline and the notch antenna element; and

a conductive via electrically coupled to the stripline and extending from the stripline to the second opening in the second conductive layer wherein the RF signal is accessible at the lower surface of the planar dielectric substrate.

2. The notch antenna of claim 1 further comprising a distribution stripline electrically coupled to the conductive via and extending from the conductive via in the second opening in the second conductive layer.

3. The notch antenna of claim 1 further comprising a third conductive layer embedded in the planar dielectric substrate proximate to the second conductive layer and having a third opening to pass the conductive via.

4. The notch antenna of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of conductive vias each having a first end disposed on a perimeter surrounding the first opening in the first conductive layer and having a second end disposed on a perimeter surrounding the second opening in the second conductive layer.

5. The notch antenna of claim 1 further comprising at least one thermal via extending between and thermally coupled to the first and second conductive layers.

6. The notch antenna of claim 1 wherein the notch antenna element comprises a solid electrically conductive material.

7. The notch antenna of claim 1 wherein the notch antenna element comprises a non-conductive material coated with an electrically conductive material.

8. The notch antenna element of claim 1 further comprising at least one conductive layer disposed between the first and second conductive layers.

9. The notch antenna element of claim 1 wherein the notch antenna element has a notch that extends substantially perpendicular to the planar dielectric substrate.

10. An array antenna comprising:

a planar dielectric substrate having an upper surface and a lower surface opposite the upper surface, the upper surface having a first conductive layer disposed thereon with a plurality of first openings therein and the lower surface having a second conductive layer disposed thereon with a plurality of second openings therein;

an array of notch antenna elements, each notch antenna element disposed on the first conductive layer at a respective one of the first openings;

a plurality of striplines embedded in the planar dielectric substrate, each stripline having a length extending under a respective one of the notch antenna elements and adapted to couple a radio frequency (RF) signal between the stripline and the respective notch antenna element; and

a plurality of conductive vias each electrically coupled to a respective one of the striplines and extending from the respective stripline to a respective one of the second openings in the second conductive layer wherein a respective one of the RF signals is accessible at the lower surface of the planar dielectric substrate.

11. The array antenna of claim 10 further comprising a plurality of distribution striplines each in electrical communication with a respective one of the conductive vias and extending from the respective conductive via in a respective one of the second openings in the second conductive layer.

12. The antenna array of claim 10 further comprising a third conductive layer embedded in the planar dielectric substrate proximate to the second conductive layer and having a plurality of third openings to pass the conductive vias.

13. The antenna array of claim 10 further comprising at least one thermal via extending between and thermally coupled to the first and second conductive layers.

14. The antenna array of claim 10 wherein each of the notch antenna elements comprises a solid electrically conductive material.

15. The antenna array of claim 10 wherein each of the notch antenna elements comprises a non-conductive material coated with an electrically conductive material.

16. The antenna array of claim 10 further comprising at least one conductive layer disposed between the first and second conductive layers.

17. The antenna array of claim 10 wherein each of the notch antenna elements has a notch that extends substantially perpendicular to the planar dielectric substrate.