DIRECTIONAL SLOT ANTENNA WITH A DIELECTRIC INSERT

• US 20130113670A1
• Filed: 11/07/2011
• Published: 05/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Novatel Incorporated (Hexagon AB)
• Original Assignee: Novatel Incorporated (Hexagon AB)
• Inventors: Chamseddine, Ahmad
• Granted Patent: US 8,797,222 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/767
• 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 13/106 Microstrip slot antennas patch antenna elements H01Q9/0407
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/18 the slot being backed by, or formed in boundary wall of, a resonant cavity longitudinally slotted cylinder H01Q13/12 ; Open cavity antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/10 using reflecting surfaces
• 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

Abstract

A directional slot antenna comprises a radiating component coupled to a reflector. A reflector spacing gap or cavity between the radiating component and the reflector has a height which is less than a predetermined height of a free-space reflector spacing cavity associated with desired gains for frequencies of interest. A dielectric material insert is positioned within the reflector spacing cavity and fills or partially fills the cavity. The reduced-height cavity including the dielectric material insert provides an increased electrical separation between the radiating component and the reflector that corresponds to the predetermined height of the free-space reflector spacing cavity.

Claims

1. A directional slot antenna, comprising:

a radiating component;

a reflector coupled to the radiating component;

a reflector spacing cavity between the radiating component and the reflector, the reflector spacing cavity having a height which is less than a predetermined height of a free-space reflector spacing cavity associated with desired gains for frequencies of interest;

a dielectric material insert positioned within the reflector spacing cavity; and

the reflector spacing cavity including the dielectric material insert providing an electrical separation between the radiating component and the reflector that corresponds to the predetermined height of the free-space reflector spacing cavity.

2. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the dielectric material insert comprises a high permittivity dielectric material.

3. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the dielectric material insert is on top of the reflector.

4. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the dielectric material insert extends beneath an active radiating portion of the radiating component.

5. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the frequencies of interest are GNSS frequencies that comprise at least one of L1, L2, and L5.

6. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the frequencies of interest are GNSS frequencies that comprise at least one of E1, E2 and L5.

7. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the frequencies of interest are GNSS frequencies that comprise at least one of Glonass G1 and G2.

8. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the height of the reflector spacing cavity is at least 50% less than the predetermined height of the free-space reflector spacing cavity.

9. The antenna of claim 4 wherein the dielectric material insert is ring shaped, with a center hole corresponding to a location of a transmission line.

10. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the dielectric material partially fills the reflector spacing cavity vertically.

11. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the dielectric material completely fills the separation between the radiating component and the reflector vertically.

12. A directional pin wheel antenna, comprising:

a radiating component including a spiral transmission line;

a reflector coupled to the radiating component;

an reflector spacing cavity between the radiating component and the reflector, the reflector spacing cavity having a height which is less than a predetermined height of a free-space reflector spacing cavity associated with desired gains for frequencies of interest;

a dielectric material insert positioned within the reflector spacing cavity;

the reflector spacing cavity including the dielectric material providing an electrical separation between the radiating component and the reflector that corresponds to the predetermined height of the free-space reflector spacing cavity.

13. The antenna of claim 12 wherein the dielectric material insert comprises a high permittivity dielectric material.

14. The antenna of claim 12 wherein the dielectric material insert is located on top of the reflector.

15. The antenna of claim 12 wherein the dielectric material insert extends beneath an active radiating portion of the radiating component.

16. The antenna of claim 13 wherein the frequencies of interest comprise at least one of L1, L2, and L5.

17. The antenna of claim 13 wherein the frequencies of interest are GNSS frequencies that comprise at least one of E1, E2 and L5.

18. The antenna of claim 13 wherein the frequencies of interest are GNSS frequencies that comprise at least one of Glonass G1 and G2.

19. The antenna of claim 12 wherein the height of the reflector spacing cavity is at least 50% less than the predetermined height of the free-space reflector spacing cavity.

20. The antenna of claim 15 wherein the dielectric material insert is ring shaped with a center hole corresponding to a location of the spiral transmission line.

21. The antenna of claim 12 wherein the dielectric material partially fills the reflector spacing cavity vertically.

22. The antenna of claim 12 wherein the dielectric material completely fills the separation between the radiating component and the reflector vertically.