Microstrip antenna

• US 4,697,189 A
• Filed: 04/24/1986
• Issued: 09/29/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: University of Queensland and The Commonwealth of Australia Both C/-Microwave Technology Development Centre University of Queensland
• Original Assignee: Commonwealth of Australia, The University of Queensland
• Inventors: Ness, John B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wise, Robert E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/855,488
• Time in Patent Office: 523 Days
• Field of Search: 343/700 MS, 343/872
• US Class Current: 343/700.0MS
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0407 Substantially flat resonant element parallel to ground plane, e.g. patch antenna dipole H01Q9/285; monopole H01Q9/40

Abstract

A microwave antenna formed with a conductive patch supported over and facing a ground plate beneath a support sheet overlapping the ground plate and spaced therefrom. An electrical lead to the patch is passed up through the ground plate to a hole through the patch and support sheet through which a solder joint is formed.

Claims

1. A microwave antenna including:

a ground plate;

a substanially planar support means spaced from the ground plate to provide an air gap therebetween;

a metal patch on the support means, said metal patch being provided on a face of the support means which is directed towards the ground plate;

an electrical conductor means connected to the metal patch and ground plate; and

the support means and the ground plate being provided with complementary peripheral flanges which are adjustably slidably engaged together to hold the support means over the ground plate at a selected spacing therefrom, with the variation of the spacing effecting adjustment of the thickness of the air gap.

2. A microwave antenna as claimed in claim 1, wherein a layer of dielectric material is inserted into the air gap.

3. A microwave antenna as claimed in claim 2, wherein the effective dielectric constant of the air gap and the dielectric material is in the range of 1.2 to 1.4.

4. A microwave antenna as claimed in claim 1, wherein said support means and ground plate have a generally circular geometry and are generally coaxial with and metal patch disposed coaxially.

5. A microwave antenna as claimed in claim 4, wherein the metal patch is also circular.