FOAM FILLED DIELECTRIC ROD ANTENNA
First Claim
1. An antenna combination, comprising:
- a feed-through having an input side including a connector for coupling to a transmission line connector and an output side attaching to an aperture in a top surface or a nozzle of a storage tank, said output side including an inner cavity;
a foam filled dielectric rod antenna (foam filled antenna) coupled to said output side of said feed-through configured for launching electromagnetic waves into said storage tank and receiving reflected electromagnetic waves from a product material in said storage tank, said foam filled antenna including;
a nose portion including a sub-portion positioned within said inner cavity;
a rod-shaped portion extending from beyond said inner cavity to an antenna launch end opposite said nose portion,wherein said rod-shaped portion includes an outer solid dielectric material including a thickness transition region,wherein a thickness of said outer solid dielectric material decreases toward said antenna launch end to a constant minimum thickness shell region that extends to said antenna launch end, said outer solid dielectric material defining an inner hollow region, anda dielectric foam fill material filling said inner hollow region.
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Abstract
An antenna combination includes a feed-through having an input side including a connector for coupling to a transmission line connector and an output side including an inner cavity attaching to an aperture in a top surface or a nozzle of a tank. A foam filled dielectric rod antenna is coupled to the output side of the feed-through having a nose portion including a sub-portion within the inner cavity and a rod-shaped portion from beyond the inner cavity to an antenna launch end. The rod-shaped portion includes an outer solid dielectric material including a thickness transition region, wherein a thickness of the solid dielectric material decreases toward the antenna launch end to a constant minimum thickness shell region that extends to the antenna launch end. The outer solid dielectric material defines an inner hollow region. A dielectric foam fill material fills the inner hollow region.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An antenna combination, comprising:
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a feed-through having an input side including a connector for coupling to a transmission line connector and an output side attaching to an aperture in a top surface or a nozzle of a storage tank, said output side including an inner cavity; a foam filled dielectric rod antenna (foam filled antenna) coupled to said output side of said feed-through configured for launching electromagnetic waves into said storage tank and receiving reflected electromagnetic waves from a product material in said storage tank, said foam filled antenna including; a nose portion including a sub-portion positioned within said inner cavity; a rod-shaped portion extending from beyond said inner cavity to an antenna launch end opposite said nose portion, wherein said rod-shaped portion includes an outer solid dielectric material including a thickness transition region, wherein a thickness of said outer solid dielectric material decreases toward said antenna launch end to a constant minimum thickness shell region that extends to said antenna launch end, said outer solid dielectric material defining an inner hollow region, and a dielectric foam fill material filling said inner hollow region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for forming a foam filled dielectric rod antenna (foam filled antenna), comprising:
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providing a dielectric rod having an outer solid dielectric material including a thickness transition region, said outer solid dielectric material defining a tapered inner hollow region; filling said tapered inner hollow region with a solid foam material, and adding a dielectric end cover that together with said outer solid dielectric material encloses said dielectric foam material. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A non-contact radar system for level sensing of a product material in a storage tank, comprising
an antenna combination positioned at a top surface or a nozzle of said storage tank, including: -
a feed-through having an input side including a connector for coupling to a transmission line connector and an output side attaching to an aperture in said top surface or said nozzle of said storage tank, said output side including an inner cavity; a foam filled dielectric rod antenna (foam filled antenna) coupled to said output side of said feed-through configured for launching electromagnetic waves into said storage tank and receiving reflected electromagnetic waves from a product material in said storage tank, said foam filled antenna including; a nose portion including a sub-portion positioned within said inner cavity; a rod-shaped portion extending from beyond said inner cavity to an antenna launch end opposite said nose portion, wherein said rod-shaped portion includes an outer solid dielectric material including a thickness transition region, wherein a thickness of said outer solid dielectric material decreases toward said antenna launch end to a constant minimum thickness shell region that extends to said antenna launch end, said outer solid dielectric material defining an inner hollow region, and a dielectric foam fill material filling said inner hollow region; a processor coupled to a transceiver coupled by said transmission line connector to said connector of said feed through for transmitting electromagnetic pulses and receiving reflected electromagnetic pulses after reflecting from said product material in said storage tank. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification