Microstrip patch antenna structure
First Claim
1. An antenna structure, comprising:
- a support member, having;
a recess formed in an upper surface; and
an electrically conductive reference surface at the bottom of said recess;
radiating means for transmitting/receiving radio frequency signals, having;
a first microstrip patch element within said recess free from contact with said support member, positioned above and substantially parallel to said reference surface and separated therefrom by a first dielectric layer;
a second microstrip patch element positioned above said first patch element and separated therefrom by a second dielectric layer said second patch element being substantially flush with said upper surface of said support member and free from contact therewith and being substantially parallel to said first patch element; and
feed means for conducting radio frequency signals to/from said radiating means, said feed means including transmission means electrically connected to one of said first and second patch elements to permit electromagnetic coupling between said first and second patch elements.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A microstrip patch antenna structure is disclosed having increased bandwidth and reduced coupling while maintaining low profile capabilities. The structure includes a support member having an isolating recess in which an electromagnetically coupled patch pair of antenna elements is positioned, the upper element being substantially flush with the surface of the support member surrounding the recess. To enhance isolation of the elements, the recess walls and the support surface are preferably electrically conductive and connected to ground. Also preferably, the lower element is connected to a microstrip transmission line, coplanar with the lower element and suspended within an isolating channel through the support member. In one aspect of the invention, a transition means is interposed between the transmission line and a connector, which connects the support member to a transmitter/receiver, to permit relative rotation therebetween. The transition means can also include means for capacitively coupling the transmission line with the connector.
-
Citations
29 Claims
-
1. An antenna structure, comprising:
-
a support member, having; a recess formed in an upper surface; and an electrically conductive reference surface at the bottom of said recess; radiating means for transmitting/receiving radio frequency signals, having; a first microstrip patch element within said recess free from contact with said support member, positioned above and substantially parallel to said reference surface and separated therefrom by a first dielectric layer; a second microstrip patch element positioned above said first patch element and separated therefrom by a second dielectric layer said second patch element being substantially flush with said upper surface of said support member and free from contact therewith and being substantially parallel to said first patch element; and feed means for conducting radio frequency signals to/from said radiating means, said feed means including transmission means electrically connected to one of said first and second patch elements to permit electromagnetic coupling between said first and second patch elements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. An antenna structure, comprising:
-
a support member, having; a plurality of recesses formed in an upper surface; and a plurality of electrically conductive reference surfaces, each located at the bottom of one of said plurality of recesses; a plurality of electromagnetically coupled patch pairs for transmitting/receiving radio frequency signals, each of said patch pairs in a one-to-one corresponding relation with one of said plurality of recesses and one of said plurality of reference surfaces and having; a first microstrip patch element within said corresponding recess free from contact with said support member, positioned above and substantially parallel to said corresponding reference surface and separated therefrom by a first dielectric layer; a second microstrip patch element positioned above said first patch element and separated therefrom by a second dielectric layer, said second patch element being substantially flush with said upper surface of said support member and free from contact therewith and being substantially parallel to said first patch element; feed means for providing radio frequency signals to/from said patch pairs, including; interface means connected to said support member and adapted for electrical interconnection with transmitter/receiver means; and interconnect means for electrically coupling said radiating means with said interface means, said interconnect means including transmission means electrically connected to one of said first and second patch elements to permit electromagnetic coupling between said first and second patch elements; and transition means interposed between said interconnect means and said interface means for permitting relative rotation therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. A scanned array antenna structure, comprising:
-
an upper support member having a plurality of openings formed therethrough, each of said openings having electrically conductive walls and a flared upper aperture; a lower support member having; a plurality of recesses formed in a upper surface, each in substantial registration with one of said plurality of openings and having electrically conductive walls; and a plurality of electrically conductive reference surfaces, each located at the bottom of one of said plurality of recesses; a plurality of electromagnetically coupled patch pairs for transmitting/receiving radio frequency signals, each of said patch pairs in a one-to-one corresponding relation with one of said plurality of openings, one of said plurality of recesses and one of said plurality of reference surfaces and having; a first dielectric layer above said corresponding reference surface with said corresponding recess; a first insulating sheet positioned between said upper and lower support members and above said corresponding reference surface within said corresponding recess, said first insulating sheet being separated from said corresponding reference surface by said first dielectric layer; a driven element disposed on said first insulating sheet free from contact with said upper and lower support members and substantially parallel to said corresponding reference surface; a second insulating sheet positioned on an electrically conductive upper surface of said upper support member above an aperture of said corresponding opening, said second insulating sheet being separated from said first insulating sheet by a second dielectric layer; and an parasitic element disposed on said second insulating sheet substantially flush with said upper surface of said upper support member and free from contact therewith, said parasitic element being substantially parallel to said driven element; feed means for providing radio frequency signals to/from said plurality of patch pairs, comprising; interface means connected to said upper and lower support members and adapted for electrical interconnection with transmitter/receiver means; and interconnect means for electrically coupling said driven elements with said interface means, said interconnect means being electrically connected to said driven elements to permit electromagnetic coupling between said driven elements and said parasitic elements; and transition means interposed between said interconnect network and said interface means for permitting relative rotation therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
-
Specification