Microwave circuit module, such as an antenna, and method of making same
First Claim
1. An antenna array comprised of:
- a polyethylene foam substrate having a loss tangent less than 0.001 and a dielectric constant less than 1.3;
an array of n×
m radiator elements formed of electrically conductive material deposited on a first surface of said substrate;
a feed network formed of electrically conductive material deposited on said first surface of said substrate for electrically interconnecting said radiator elements in said array;
I/O means coupled to said feed network for supplying a signal to be transmitted by said antenna array or for receiving a signal received by said antenna array; and
a ground plane of conductive material deposited on a second surface of said substrate.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A microwave circuit module, more particularly an antenna, comprised of a polyethylene foam substrate having a loss tangent less 0.001 and a dielectric constant less than 1.3, a predetermined pattern of one or more elements, such as an array of n×m radiator elements, formed of electrically conductive material, deposited on a first surface of the substrate, and an electrically conductive ground plane secured to the opposite surface of the substrate. In the antenna embodiment, a feed network formed of electrically conductive material is deposited on said said first surface of the substrate for electrically interconnecting the radiator elements in the array; and I/O means are coupled to the feed network for supplying a signal to be transmitted by the antenna or for receiving a signal received by that antenna.
137 Citations
31 Claims
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1. An antenna array comprised of:
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a polyethylene foam substrate having a loss tangent less than 0.001 and a dielectric constant less than 1.3; an array of n×
m radiator elements formed of electrically conductive material deposited on a first surface of said substrate;a feed network formed of electrically conductive material deposited on said first surface of said substrate for electrically interconnecting said radiator elements in said array; I/O means coupled to said feed network for supplying a signal to be transmitted by said antenna array or for receiving a signal received by said antenna array; and a ground plane of conductive material deposited on a second surface of said substrate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An antenna array comprised of:
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a polyethylene foam substrate having a loss tangent less than 0.001 and a dielectric constant less than 1.3; an array of n×
m radiator elements formed of electrically conductive material deposited on a first surface of said substrate;a feed network formed of electrically conductive material deposited on said first surface of said substrate for electrically interconnecting said radiator elements in said array;
said feed network including respective column conductor means for electrically interconnecting said radiator elements in respective columns and respective row conductor means for electrically interconnecting said radiator elements in respective rows;said radiator elements including a diagonal slit therein at an angle approximately 45°
to said column conductor means and to said row conductor means for transmitting a circularly polarized signal when a signal to be transmitted is supplied thereto by said column conductor means or by said row conductor means;I/O means coupled to said feed network for supplying a signal to be transmitted by said antenna array or for receiving a signal received by said antenna array; and a ground plane of conductive material deposited on a second surface of said substrate. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. An antenna array comprised of:
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a polyethylene foam substrate having a loss tangent less than 0.001 and a dielectric constant less than 1.3; an array of n×
m radiator elements formed of electrically conductive material deposited on a first surface of said substrate;a feed network formed of electrically conductive material deposited on said first surface of said substrate for electrically interconnecting said radiator elements in said array, said feed network including respective column conductor means for electrically interconnecting said radiator elements in respective columns; and wherein adjacent radiator elements are separated from each other by a distance equal approximately to λ
/2;a feed network formed of electrically conductive material deposited on said first surface of said substrate for electrically interconnecting said radiator elements in said array; I/O means coupled to said feed network for supplying a signal to be transmitted by said antenna array or for receiving a signal received by said antenna array; and a ground plane of conductive material deposited on a second surface of said substrate. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. An antenna array comprised of:
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a polyethylene foam substrate having a loss tangent less than 0.001 and a dielectric constant less than 1.3; an array of n×
m radiator elements formed of electrically conductive material deposited on a first surface of said substrate, said radiator elements are all of substantially the same dimensions and are substantially square in shape, the length of the side of each radiator element being substantially equal to one-half the wavelength of the signal transmitted or received by said antenna array and wherein adjacent radiator elements are separated from each other by a distance equal approximately to λ
/2;a feed network formed of electrically conductive material deposited on said first surface of said substrate for electrically interconnecting said radiator elements in said array; I/O means coupled to said feed network for supplying a signal to be transmitted by said antenna array; and a ground plane of conductive material deposited on a second surface of said substrate. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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26. A microwave circuit module comprising:
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a polyethylene foam layer having a loss tangent less than 0.001 and a relative dielectric constant less than 1.3; a predetermined pattern formed of conductive material provided on one surface of said polyethylene foam layer; and an electrically conductive ground plane secured to the opposite layer of said polyethylene foam layer. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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29. A method of forming microwave components comprising the steps of:
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providing a predetermined conductive pattern on one surface of a polyethylene foam layer having a loss tangent less than 0.001 and a relative dielectric constant less than 1.3; and securing the other surface of said polyethylene foam layer to an electrically conductive ground plane. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
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Specification