STRIPLINE SLOTTED BALUN DIPOLE ANTENNA

• US 3,845,490 A
• Filed: 05/03/1973
• Issued: 10/29/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kenneth J. Scott, Thomas E. Manwarren
• Original Assignee: Kenneth J. Scott, Thomas E. Manwarren
• Inventors: Manwarren, Thomas E., Scott, Kenneth J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lawrence, James W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nussbaum, Marvin
• Application Number:
  US05/357,029
• Time in Patent Office: 544 Days
• Field of Search: 343/793-795,812-816,821,820,853,822 333/84M,26
• US Class Current: 343/821
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 5/1007 Microstrip transitions to Slotline or finline
• 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 9/065 Microstrip dipole antennas patch antenna H01Q9/0407
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/16 with feed intermediate between the extremities of the antenna, e.g. centre-fed dipole H01Q9/44 takes precedence

Abstract

A stripline slotted balun dipole antenna, suitable for use as a single antenna or as an array antenna element, is fabricated from two metal-clad dielectric sheets, from which metal has been removed in predetermined patterns, and then the sheets are sandwiched together to form both the slotted balun dipole antenna and its stripline feed. The metal remaining on the exterior of the laminated structure constitutes a slotted balun dipole and the metal remaining between the dielectric sheets constitutes the center conductor of the stripline feed. The structure obviates the need for metallic connections in the antenna area.

Claims

1. An integral antenna and transmission line structure comprising two sheets of dielectric material each partially covered with a skin of electrically conducting material arranged in predetermined pattern, said sheets being joined together in a laminated structure, said laminated structure having an antenna portion proximate one edge, the remainder of said structure constituting a transmission line portion, said skin on the sides of said sheets which form the exterior of said structure substantially covering said transmission line portion and on said antenna portion defining a T-shaped antenna dipole with the crossbar of the T adjacent an edge of said structure and the stem of the T extending from the center of the crossbar to said transmission line portion of the structure, each said T portion of skin being slotted from the center of the crossbar into the stem to divide the dipole defined thereby into two separate arms each having a separate pillar of the stem of the T, said skin on the sides of said sheets which have been joined interiorly of said laminated structure constituting the center conductor in the transmission line portion and a stripline antenna feed in the antenna portion.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said stripline antenna feed extends within one pillar of the stem of said T to its arm and has a leg extending from that point to the remote end of the opposite arm of the T whereby electrical connection of line and antenna is accomplished by means of a virtual short at the base of said other arm and whereby said structure constitutes a dipole antenna connected to an unbalanced line by means of a balun.

3. A dipole antenna and transmission line structure comprising:

a. two identically shaped exterior members of electrically conducting material placed in spaced parallel overlapping registering relationship;

said members being T-shaped and slotted from the exterior center of their cross bars to a point in their stems to separate each said cross bar into distinct dipoles and to cause both said members in cooperation to define a slotted balun dipole antenna;

the base of said stems beyond said slot constituting one conductor of a transmission line;

b. an L-shaped antenna feed line piece of electrically conducting material spaced intermediate said two members with its stem portion parallel to the stem portions of said members to one side of the slots and with its foot parallel to said cross bars extending from one side of said slots to the remote end of the dipoles on the opposite side of said slots, the base of said stem constituting a second conductor of said transmission line; and

c. a dielectric material separating said piece from said members whereby said piece and said members constitute an integral slotted balun dipole antenna and transmission line.

4. The dipole antenna and transmission line structure of claim 3 further comprising at least one additional set of members and piece in a common plane with the first set with their stems parallel to the first and with said foot and said cross bars in tandem with those of said first set and having the bases of said stems electrically connected in parallel to form an array of integral slotted balun dipole antennas.

5. An integral antenna and transmission line structure comprising a thin slab of dielectric material having two sides and a plurality of edges;

a sheet of electrically conducting material appliqued to each side of said slab substantially coextensive with said slab except for a border along one said edge, said sheets within said border only partially covering said slab and defining a T-shaped slotted balun dipole antenna with its radiator along said one edge and its stem extending across said border; and

a stratum of electrically conducting material embedded in said slab generally parallel with and electrically insulated from said sheets whereby said stratum and sheets form a transmissiOn line, said stratum inside said border comprising an L-shaped conductor extending into said antenna within one side of said stem and thence to the remote end of the crossbar of the T.

6. The structure of claim 5 wherein there are a plurality of said antennas and conductors within said border.

7. An integral antenna and transmission line structure comprising a slab of dielectric material of substantial length and width when compared with its thickness to cause said slab to have two sides and a plurality of edges;

a sheet of electrically conducting material adhered to each side of said slab substantially coextensive with said slab except for a border along one said edge, said border constituting the antenna portion and the remainder constituting the transmission line portion of said structure, said sheets within said border only partially covering said slab and defining a T-shaped slotted dipole antenna having a crossbar portion contiguous to said edge and a stem portion connecting between said crossbar and said sheet in said line portion, each said crossbar and stem being slotted centrally from said one edge toward the base of said stem to divide said T-shaped antenna into two identical but reversed L-shaped portions; and

an electrical conductor embedded in said slab, said conductor constituting the central conductor of the transmission line and extending into the antenna portion of said structure between the stem portions of the L portions on one side of said slot to near said edge and further extending parallel to said edge across said dipole slot and terminating at the remote end of the antenna whereby said structure constitutes a dipole antenna connected to an unbalanced line by means of a balun.

8. The structure of claim 7 wherein said central conductor within said antenna portion of said structure constitutes a stripline.

9. The structure of claim 8 wherein there are a plurality of T-shaped antennas in said antenna portion and wherein said stripline has a branch for each said antenna.