X, Ku, K BAND OMNI-DIRECTIONAL ANTENNA WITH DIELECTRIC LOADING

• US 20100134367A1
• Filed: 12/02/2008
• Published: 06/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Incorporated (BAE Systems Plc)
• Original Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Incorporated (BAE Systems Plc)
• Inventors: Perkins, Thomas O. III
• Granted Patent: US 8,063,848 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/749
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0485 Dielectric resonator antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/32 Vertical arrangement of element H01Q9/40 takes precedence

Abstract

An X, K_u, and K-band omni-directional antenna with dielectric loading is disclosed. It comprises a conductor with a loading dielectric resonator and a ground plane. Broad frequency coverage from 7.5 to 26 GHz includes uniform azimuthal coverage from +10 to +70 degrees. The antenna can be used generally in microwave communications including Digital Radio Frequency Tags (DRaFTs) communicating with airborne and satellite platforms.

Claims

1. A dielectrically loaded omnidirectional broadband antenna comprising:

a ground plane;

a conductor; and

a dielectric resonator whereby said antenna is loaded.

2. The antenna of claim 1, wherein radiation is in the X, K_u, and K-bands.

3. The antenna of claim 2, wherein resonant frequency is about approximately between 7.5 GHz and 26 GHz.

4. The antenna of claim 1, wherein said dielectric resonator is proximate said ground plane.

5. The antenna of claim 1, wherein said dielectric resonator is in contact with said ground plane.

6. The antenna of claim 1, wherein said dielectric resonator is a toroid with rectangular cross section of about approximately 99.5 percent pure alumina.

7. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the relative dielectric constant ε

_r of said dielectric resonator is about approximately 9.7.

8. The antenna of claim 1, wherein said length of said conductor is about approximately 0.387 inch.

9. The antenna of claim 1, wherein said ground plane comprises a copper disk.

10. The antenna of claim 1, wherein said ground plane diameter is about approximately six inches.

11. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the radiation polarization is about approximately vertical.

12. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the radiation pattern provides transmit and receive reciprocity.

13. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the radiation pattern is substantially omnidirectional in the plane of said ground plane.

14. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the radiation pattern azimuth coverage is uniform between about approximately plus ten and about approximately plus seventy degrees.

15. A dielectrically loaded omnidirectional microwave antenna comprising:

a ground plane;

a conductor having a length of 0.387 inch and a diameter of about approximately 0.050 inch; and

a dielectric resonator having an outer diameter of about approximately 0.290 inch, an inner diameter of about approximately 0.102 inch and height of about approximately 0.151 inch;

whereby said antenna is loaded.

16. A microwave frequency tag comprising:

at least one broadband microwave antenna comprising;

a ground plane;

a conductor;

a dielectric resonator whereby said antenna is loaded; and

circuitry in electrical communication with said antenna whereby said microwave frequency tag communicates with a transceiver.

17. The microwave frequency tag of claim 16, wherein said tag is associated with personnel.

18. The microwave frequency tag of claim 16, wherein said tag is associated with vehicles.

19. The microwave frequency tag of claim 16, wherein said tag is a digital radio frequency tag (DRaFT).

20. The microwave frequency tag of claim 16, comprising:

two said antennas in close proximity wherein there is less than 1 dB of gain pattern variation in azimuth.