ANTENNA

• US 20150349415A1
• Filed: 12/03/2013
• Published: 12/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: IWANAKA, Daisuke
• Granted Patent: US 9,692,117 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/36 Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; Particular materials used therewithH01Q1/08, H01Q1/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/50 Structural association of antennas with earthing switches, lead-in devices or lightning protectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/02 Waveguide horns
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/0006 Particular feeding systems
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/0087 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing antenna arrays manufacturing waveguides H01P11/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/064 using horn or slot aerials slotted waveguides arrays H01Q21/005

Abstract

An antenna includes an antenna layer, a coupling layer, and a feeder circuit layer. The antenna layer includes antennas elements. First and second antennas elements are arranged in such a manner that the centers thereof are aligned in a first direction. A third antenna element is arranged in such a manner that the third antenna element is separated from the first antenna element in a second direction and centers of the antennas elements are not aligned in the second direction. A waveguide is formed in the coupling layer.

Claims

1. An antenna comprising:

a feeder circuit layer in which a waveguide entrance and a first waveguide through which a radio wave is propagated are formed;

an antenna layer in which a plurality of antenna elements are formed; and

a coupling layer that is formed between the feeder circuit layer and the antenna layer and couples the first waveguide to the plurality of antenna elements with a waveguide, wherein

the plurality of antenna elements include a first antenna element, a second antenna element, and a third antenna element, the second and third antenna elements being adjacent to the first antenna element,

the first and second antenna elements are arranged in such a manner that centers of the first and second antenna elements are aligned in a first direction parallel to a principal surface of the antenna layer, and

the third antenna element is arranged in such a manner that the third antenna element is separated from the first antenna element in a second direction and centers of the first and third antenna elements are not aligned in the second direction, the second direction being parallel to the principal surface of the antenna layer and perpendicular to the first direction.

2. The antenna according to claim 1, wherein

in the coupling layer, a second waveguide that connects the first antenna element and the first waveguide to each other and a third waveguide that connects the third antenna element and the first waveguide to each other are formed,

a distance between a first connection end that connects the first waveguide and the second waveguide to each other and the waveguide entrance formed in the feeder circuit layer is equal to a distance between a second connection end that connects the first waveguide and the third waveguide to each other and the waveguide entrance formed in the feeder circuit layer,

a center of the first connection end and a center of a third connection end that connects the first antenna element and the second waveguide to each other are separated from each other in the first direction by a first value, and

a center of the second connection end and a center of a fourth connection end that connects the third antenna element and the third waveguide to each other are separated from each other in a direction opposite to the first direction by the first value.

3. The antenna according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of antenna elements are formed in a size equal to or greater than a wavelength of a radiated wave.

4. The antenna according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of antenna elements each have a pyramidal shape with a vertex facing the coupling layer.

5. The antenna according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of antenna elements each have a quadrangular pyramid shape with a vertex facing the coupling layer.

6. The antenna according to claim 5, wherein

openings of the plurality of antenna elements that are located at a side opposite to the coupling layer have a square shape, and

a length of a side of the square shape is equal to or more than a wavelength of a radiated wave.

7. The antenna according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of antenna elements are arranged in a staggered manner.

8. The antenna according to claim 1, wherein the second and third waveguides are formed in a multi-stage crank shape.