Circularly-Polarized Antenna

• US 20110134008A1
• Filed: 06/03/2010
• Published: 06/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Inventors: Skalina, Andre, Schadler, John L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,339,327 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/833
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/065 Patch antenna array
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/08 the units being spaced along or adjacent to a rectilinear path waveguide fed H01Q21/0037
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/24 Combinations of antenna units polarised in different directions for transmitting or receiving circularly and elliptically polarised waves or waves linearly polarised in any direction circularly polarised patch antennas H01Q9/0428; circularly polarised horns H01Q13/0241; cross-polarised horns H01Q13/0258; polarisation converters H01Q15/242; cross-polarised rear feeds H01Q19/136; crossed polarisation dual antenna H01Q25/001
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0428 radiating a circular polarised wave
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0435 using two feed points

Abstract

A circularly-polarized antenna is provided, and includes a conductive backplane with a plurality of panels, a vertical array of patch radiators disposed on one of the backplane panels, and a feed stripline disposed on the backplane panel. The backplane panels are vertical, planar, rectangular and form a right prism. The vertical array has a radiator spacing of one wavelength, each radiator has a face and four edges, and each edge has a length of approximately one half wavelength. The feed stripline includes an input coupled to a coaxial feed cable, and a pair of outputs, orthogonal in position and phase, coupled to each of the radiators.

Claims

1. A circularly-polarized antenna, comprising:

a conductive backplane including a plurality of vertical, planar, rectangular panels forming a right prism;

a vertical array of equally-sized, planar patch radiators, disposed on one of the backplane panels and having a radiator spacing of one wavelength, each radiator having a face and four edges, each edge having a length of approximately one half wavelength; and

a feed stripline, disposed on the backplane panel, having an input coupled to a coaxial feed cable, and a pair of outputs, orthogonal in position and phase, coupled to each of the radiators.

2. The antenna of claim 1, further comprising:

a second vertical array of equally-sized, planar patch radiators, disposed on one of the backplane panels and having a radiator spacing of one wavelength, each radiator having a face and four edges, each edge having a length of approximately one half wavelength; and

a second feed stripline, disposed on the backplane panel, having an input coupled to a coaxial feed cable, and a pair of outputs, orthogonal in position and phase, coupled to each of the radiators.

3. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the conductive backplane has a square cross section.

4. The antenna of claim 2, wherein the number of radiators in each array is the same.

5. The antenna of claim 2, wherein the vertical arrays are disposed on the same backplane panel.

6. The antenna of claim 2, wherein the vertical arrays are disposed on adjacent backplane panels.

7. The antenna of claim 2, wherein the vertical arrays are disposed on opposite backplane panels.

8. The antenna of claim 2, further comprising a power splitter including a single input and a plurality of outputs, each coupled to an input of the feed striplines.

9. The antenna of claim 8, wherein the power splitter provides an unequal power distribution to the feed striplines.

10. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the backplane includes a pair of parallel directing fins extending orthogonal to the backplane panel, on opposite sides of, and equidistant from, the vertical array.

11. The antenna of claim 2, wherein each backplane panel includes at least one pair of parallel, directing fins extending orthogonal thereto.

12. The antenna of claim 11, wherein adjacent directing fins are disposed along a common edge and bridged by an inductive stub termination.

13. The antenna of claim 1, further comprising a parasitic radiator, having a diameter of approximately one half wavelength, disposed above each patch radiator by one quarter wavelength or less.

14. The antenna of claim 2, further comprising a parasitic radiator, having a diameter of approximately one half wavelength, disposed above each patch radiator by one quarter wavelength or less.

15. The antenna of claim 1, further comprising a radome enclosing the backplane, radiators, and feed stripline.