Microstrip array antenna

• US 20100026584A1
• Filed: 07/29/2009
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation, Nagoya Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation, Nagoya Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Nakabayashi, Kento, Sakakibara, Kunio
• Granted Patent: US 8,193,990 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/700.MS
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/206 Microstrip transmission line antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/0075 Stripline fed arrays H01Q21/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/065 Patch antenna array

Abstract

The microstrip array antenna includes a dielectric substrate formed with a conductive ground plate at a back surface thereof, and strip conductors formed on a front surface of the dielectric substrate. The strip conductors includes a linear main feeding strip line, and a plurality of array elements connected to the main feeding strip line, the array elements being disposed at least one of both sides of the main feeding strip line at a predetermined interval along a longitudinal direction of the main feeding strip line. Each of the array elements includes a sub-feeding strip line connected to the main feeding strip line, a rectangular radiating antenna element connected to a terminal end of the sub-feeding strip line, and a stub connected to the sub-feeding strip line. The stub is disposed between the main feeding strip line and the radiating antenna element.

Claims

1. A microstrip array antenna comprising:

a dielectric substrate formed with a conductive ground plate at a back surface thereof; and

strip conductors formed on a front surface of said dielectric substrate;

said strip conductors including a linear main feeding strip line, and a plurality of array elements connected to said main feeding strip line, said array elements being disposed at least one of both sides of said main feeding strip line at a predetermined interval along a longitudinal direction of said main feeding strip line,

each of said array elements including a sub-feeding strip line connected to said main feeding strip line, a rectangular radiating antenna element connected to a terminal end of said sub-feeding strip line, and a stub connected to said sub-feeding strip line,

said stub being disposed between a connecting position between said main feeding strip line and said sub-feeding strip line and a connecting position between said sub-feeding strip line and said radiating antenna element.

2. The microstrip array antenna according to claim 1, wherein said array elements are disposed at both sides of said main feeding strip line, each of said array elements being connected to one of both side edges of said main feeding strip line.

3. The microstrip array antenna according to claim 1, wherein said sub-feeding strip line is connected to a longer side edge of said radiating antenna element.

4. The microstrip array antenna according to claim 3, wherein said sub-feeding strip line is connected to a predetermined portion between a center and one end of said longer side edge of said radiating antenna element, excluding said center and said one end.

5. The microstrip array antenna according to claim 1, wherein said array element is formed such that a direction of electrical field radiated from said stub and a direction of electrical field radiated from said radiating antenna element are the same with each other.

6. The microstrip array antenna according to claim 5 wherein said array element is formed such that a longitudinal direction of said radiating antenna element and a longitudinal direction of said stub are parallel to each other.

7. The microstrip array antenna according to claim 5 wherein said array element is formed such that a field-emission edge line of said radiating antenna element and a field-emission edge line of said stub are on the same straight line.

8. The microstrip array antenna according to claim 1, wherein a length of said radiating antenna element is equal to n/2 (n being a positive integer) times an effective wavelength of a radio wave at a predetermined operating frequency propagating through said main feeding strip line and entering said radiating antenna element.

9. The microstrip array antenna according to claim 1, wherein said array element is formed such that a field-emission edge line of said radiating antenna element is inclined by an angle larger than 0 degrees and smaller than 90 degrees with respect to said longitudinal direction of said main feeding strip line.

10. The microstrip array antenna according to claim 1, wherein said sub-feeding strip line is constituted of a first line section extending from one of both side edges of said main feeding strip line at one end thereof, a second line section extending from the other end of said first line section while being bent by a predetermined angle, and said stub extends straight from the other end of said first line section.

11. The microstrip array antenna according to claim 1, wherein each of said radiating antenna elements has a width depending on an excitation amplitude required thereof determined in order that said microstrip array antenna exhibits a desired directivity.

12. A microstrip array antenna comprising:

a dielectric substrate formed with a conductive ground plate at a back surface thereof; and

strip conductors formed on a front surface of said dielectric substrate;

said strip conductors including a linear main feeding strip line, and at least one array element disposed at each of both sides of said main feeding strip line, said array element being connected to said main feeding strip line,

said array element including a sub-feeding strip line connected to said main feeding strip line, a rectangular radiating antenna element connected to a terminal end of said sub-feeding strip line, and a stub connected to said sub-feeding strip line,

said stub being disposed between a connecting position between said main feeding strip line and said sub-feeding strip line and a connecting position between said sub-feeding strip line and said radiating antenna element.

13. The microstrip array antenna according to claim 12, wherein said sub-feeding strip line is connected to a longer side edge of said radiating antenna element.

14. The microstrip array antenna according to claim 13, wherein said sub-feeding strip line is connected to a predetermined portion between a center and one end of said longer side edge of said radiating antenna element, excluding said center and said one end.

15. The microstrip array antenna according to claim 12, wherein said array element is formed such that a direction of electrical field radiated from said stub and a direction of electrical field radiated from said radiating antenna element are the same with each other.

16. The microstrip array antenna according to claim 15 wherein said array element is formed such that a longitudinal direction of said radiating antenna element and a longitudinal direction of said stub are parallel to each other.

17. The microstrip array antenna according to claim 15 wherein said array element is formed such that a field-emission edge line of said radiating antenna element and a field-emission edge line of said stub are on the same straight line.

18. The microstrip array antenna according to claim 12, wherein a length of said radiating antenna element is equal to n/2 (n being a positive integer) times an effective wavelength of a radio wave at a predetermined operating frequency propagating through said main feeding strip line and entering said radiating antenna element.

19. The microstrip array antenna according to claim 12, wherein said array element is formed such that a field-emission edge line of said radiating antenna element is inclined by an angle larger than 0 degrees and smaller than 90 degrees with respect to said longitudinal direction of said main feeding strip line.

20. The microstrip array antenna according to claim 12, wherein said sub-feeding strip line is constituted of a first line section extending from one of both side edges of said main feeding strip line at one end thereof, a second line section extending from the other end of said first line section while being bent by a predetermined angle, and said stub extends straight from the other end of said first line section.

21. The microstrip array antenna according to claim 12, wherein each of said radiating antenna elements has a width depending on an excitation amplitude required thereof determined in order that said microstrip array antenna exhibits a desired directivity.