Dielectric resonator antenna with wide bandwidth

• US 5,453,754 A
• Filed: 09/08/1993
• Issued: 09/26/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qinetiq Limited (QinetiQ Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: The secretary of state for defence in her Britannic Majesty's Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain And Northern Ireland
• Inventors: Fray, Adrian F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wimer, Michael C.
• Application Number:
  US08/117,676
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• Field of Search: 343/700 MS, 343/ 789, 343/785, 343/873
• US Class Current: 343/789
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/09 wherein the primary active element is coated with or embedded in a dielectric or magnetic material protective material H01Q1/40, varying the electric or magnetic characteristics of refracting or diffracting devices H01Q3/44
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0485 Dielectric resonator antennas

Abstract

The invention relates to a dielectric resonator antenna system which exhibits an unusually wide bandwidth. This is achieved by chosing a patch antenna/dielectric resonator combination with shape and dimensions such that resonance modes over a continuous range wavelengths can be established therein. The bandwidth and transmission properties of the device are further improved by including a dielectric coupling element (between the dielectric resonator and air) whose antireflection characteristics are optimized for a wavelength which is slightly different from the maximum wavelength of the patch antenna.

Claims

1. A dielectric resonator antenna system comprising:

a dielectric substrate sheet having opposite first and second surfaces;

a patch of electrically conducting material having a center frequency formed on said first surface, the patch having a length that varies across the width of the patch;

a ground plane formed on said second surface;

means for feeding signals to and from the patch; and

a dielectric resonating element, adjacent to said first surface and said patch, said resonating element having a dielectric constant, a thickness and a size, wherein said dielectric constant, said thickness and said size of said dielectric resonating element comprises a means for resonating at frequencies including said center frequency, said substrate, patch and resonating element comprising a stack.

2. The dielectric resonator antenna system of claim 1 where the patch is square and fed to and from a corner of said patch.

3. The dielectric resonator antenna system of claim 1 with the addition of a second means for feeding signals to and from the patch.

4. The dielectric resonator antenna system of claim 1 where the means for feeding signals to and from the patch comprises a coaxial cable.

5. The dielectric resonator antenna system of claim 1 further including a dielectric matching element having a thickness different from one quarter of the maximum operating wavelength of the patch.

6. The dielectric resonator antenna system of claim 1 wherein said dielectric substrate sheet, said patch, said ground plane and said means for feeding are enclosed in an open-ended metal cavity having walls.

7. The dielectric resonator antenna system of claim 6 where an air gap is included between the dielectric resonating element and at least one of the cavity walls.

8. An array of antenna systems, each of said systems comprising a dielectric resonator antenna system as claimed in claim 1.

9. The dielectric resonator antenna system of claim 1 wherein said dielectric resonating element has a thickness of approximately one quarter of the wavelength of said center frequency.