DIPOLE ANTENNA ARRAY

• US 20150372377A1
• Filed: 01/22/2014
• Published: 12/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BAE Systems Plc
• Original Assignee: BAE Systems Plc
• Inventors: LEWIS, GARETH MICHAEL
• Granted Patent: US 10,186,768 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/48 Earthing means; Earth screens; Counterpoises
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/50 Structural association of antennas with earthing switches, lead-in devices or lightning protectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/523 between antennas of an array
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/00 Antenna arrays or systems arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system H01Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/062 using dipole aerials; H01Q21/067, H01Q21/068 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/16 with feed intermediate between the extremities of the antenna, e.g. centre-fed dipole H01Q9/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/285 Planar dipole H01Q9/065 takes precedence; patch antenna H01Q9/0407

Abstract

According to the invention there is provided a dipole antenna array including at least one dipole antenna sub-array, wherein the dipole antenna sub-array includes a plurality of co-planar antenna units, each antenna unit including a pair of dipole radiating elements and a balun having an output line for providing output electrical signals to the pair of dipole radiating elements.

Claims

1. A dipole antenna array including at least one dipole antenna sub-array, wherein the dipole antenna sub-array includes a plurality of co-planar antenna units, each antenna unit including a pair of dipole radiating elements and a balun having an output line for providing output electrical signals to the pair of dipole radiating elements.

2. A dipole antenna array according to claim 1 in which the dipole antenna sub-array has a first face and a second face, and at least two consecutive antenna units each having a dipole radiating element on both the first and second faces.

3. A dipole antenna array according to claim 2 in which consecutive antenna units are arranged so that a dipole radiating element on the first face of one of said consecutive antenna units is adjacent a dipole radiating element on the second face of the next one of said consecutive antenna units.

4. A dipole antenna array according to claim 3 in which the consecutive antenna units are arranged so that a dipole radiating element on the first face of one of said consecutive antenna units overlaps the adjacent dipole radiating element on the second face of the next one of said consecutive antenna units.

5. A dipole antenna array according to claim 1 further including a ground plane having at least one slot formed therein, wherein a dipole antenna sub-array extends through the slot.

6. A linearly polarised dipole antenna array according to claim 5 including a plurality of dipole antenna sub-arrays in which the ground plane includes a plurality of parallel slots formed therein, and the dipole antenna sub-arrays extend through the slots so that the dipole antenna sub-arrays are in a parallel arrangement.

12. A dipole antenna array according to claim 1 in which the baluns each include a slotline which is coupled to an input line and the outline line.

13. A dipole antenna array according to claim 1 in which at least one of the input line and the output line is a microstrip or a stripline.

14. A dipole antenna array according to claim 1 in the form of a printed circuit board (PCB).

15. A dipole antenna array according to claim 14 in the form of a microwave laminate structure.

7. A dual polarised dipole antenna array including at least first and second dipole antenna sub-arrays, wherein each dipole antenna sub-array includes a plurality of co-planar antenna units, each antenna unit including a pair of dipole radiating elements and a balun having an output line for providing output electrical signals to the pair of dipole radiating elements, and wherein the at least first and second dipole antenna sub-arrays are in a mutually orthogonal arrangement.

8. A dipole antenna array according to claim 7 in which the first and second dipole antenna sub-arrays are separate elements conjoined together in the mutually orthogonal arrangement.

9. A dipole antenna array according to claim 8 in which the first and second dipole antenna sub-arrays are slotted together in the mutually orthogonal arrangement using a plurality of slots formed in at least one of the first and second dipole antenna sub-arrays.

10. A dipole antenna array according to claim 9 in which the first dipole antenna sub-array has slots formed therein, in which each slot extends between the dipole radiating elements of an antenna unit.

11. A dipole antenna array according to claim 10 in which each antenna unit which has a slot extending between its dipole radiating elements has its balun arranged so that at least the output line is inclined with respect to the slot.

16. A dipole antenna sub-array for a dual polarised dipole antenna array, the sub-array including a plurality of co-planar antenna units, each antenna unit including a pair of dipole radiating elements and a balun having an output line for providing output electrical signals to the pair of dipole radiating elements, and wherein the dipole antenna sub-array has slots formed therein, in which each slot extends between the dipole radiating elements of an antenna unit, and wherein each pair of dipole radiating elements has its balun arranged so that at least the output line is inclined with respect to the slot.

17. A dipole antenna sub-array according to claim 16 in which the baluns each include a slotline which is coupled to an input line and the outline line.

18. A dipole antenna sub-array according to claim 16 in which at least one of the input line and the output line is a microstrip or a stripline.

19. A dipole antenna sub-array according to claim 16 in the form of a printed circuit board (PCB).

20. A dipole antenna sub-array according to claim 19 in the form of a microwave laminate structure.