Wideband dual-polarized tilted dipole antenna

• US 5,523,767 A
• Filed: 02/17/1993
• Issued: 06/04/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army
• Original Assignee: The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army
• Inventors: McCorkle, John W.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, HOANGANH T
• Application Number:
  US08/018,592
• Time in Patent Office: 1,203 Days
• Field of Search: 343/810, 343/811, 343/812, 343/813, 343/814, 343/816, 343/820, 343/829, 343/830, 343/846, 343/848
• US Class Current: 343/810
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/24 Combinations of antenna units polarised in different directions for transmitting or receiving circularly and elliptically polarised waves or waves linearly polarised in any direction circularly polarised patch antennas H01Q9/0428; circularly polarised horns H01Q13/0241; cross-polarised horns H01Q13/0258; polarisation converters H01Q15/242; cross-polarised rear feeds H01Q19/136; crossed polarisation dual antenna H01Q25/001
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/28 Conical, cylindrical, cage, strip, gauze, or like elements having an extended radiating surface; Elements comprising two conical surfaces having collinear axes and adjacent apices and fed by two-conductor transmission lines waveguide horns or mouths H01Q13/00; slot antennas H01Q13/00

Abstract

A fully polarimetric broadband antenna for emitting and receiving non-dissive EMP signals has dipole elements orthogonally mounted on a ground plane which tilts the elements relative to the direction of wave propagation. The ground plane can be shaped into either a pyramid or cone, and the elements may be truncated cones or substantially discus-shaped. A single-pole-single-throw reed relay is mounted between dipole elements which are independently driven to provide horizontal and vertical polarizations. The antenna provides a response and pattern suitable for transmitting short EMP signals useful in radar and communications applications.

Claims

1. A fully polarimetric, non-dispersive, broadband antenna comprising a plurality of dipoles, wherein each dipole comprises independently driven conductor elements;

and ground plane means comprising at least one inclined surface disposed symmetrically about a central axis in a conical fashion;

wherein said independently driven conductor elements are mounted upon said at least one inclined surface and in at least two orthogonal plates which contain the central axis of said ground plane means wherein said ground plane means comprises a conical surface and said independently driven conductor elements are orthogonal to said surface and tilted toward a common point on the central axis of said ground plane means.

2. The antenna of claim 1 wherein said ground plane means comprises a pyramidal surface and each independently driven conductor element is orthogonal to a side of said pyramidal surface and tilted toward a common point on the central axis of said ground plane means.

3. The antenna of claim 1 or 2 wherein each of said independently driven conductor elements comprises a plurality of wires in a substantially conical formation.

4. The antenna of claim 1 or 2 wherein each of said independently driven conductor elements comprises a continuous and substantially conical surface.

5. The antenna of claim 1 or 2 wherein each of said independently driven conductor elements comprises a continuous and substantially conical surface having a wall thickness which varies along its length to create a resistive taper.

6. The antenna of claim 1 or 2 wherein each of said independently driven conductor elements comprises a substantially discus shaped surface provided with a substantially semielliptical cut-out adjacent to the surface of said ground plane means.

7. A fully polarimetric, non-dispersive, broadband antenna comprising;

a plurality of dipoles, wherein each dipole comprises independently driven conductor elements;

ground plane means comprising at least one inclined surface disposed symmetrically about a central axis in a pyramidal fashion, wherein said independently driven conductor elements are mounted upon said at least one inclined surface and in at least two orthogonal planes which contain the central axis of of said ground plane means;

a plurality of coaxial feed-lines, each comprising an inner and an outer conductor, wherein said inner conductor extends from one of said independently driven conductor elements and said outer conductor is attached to said ground plane means in the vicinity of said one of said independently driven conductor elements;

and switching means disposed within the region bounded by said at least one inclined surface and attached to said plurality of coaxial feed-lines;

whereby closure of said switching means causes short electromagnetic pulse signals having at least two different polarizations to be transmitted by the antenna, and

wherein said ground plane means comprises a conical surface and said independently driven conductor elements are orthogonal to said surface and tilted toward a common point on the central axis of said ground plane means.

8. The antenna of claim 7 wherein said ground plane means comprises a pyramidal surface and each independently driven conductor element is orthogonal to a side of said pyramidal surface and tilted toward a common point on the central axis of said ground plane means.

9. The antenna of claim 7 or 8 wherein each of said independently driven conductor elements comprises a plurality of wires in a substantially conical formation.

10. The antenna of claim 7 or 8 wherein each of said independently driven conductor elements comprises a continuous and substantially conical surface.

11. The antenna of claim 7 or 8 wherein each of said independently driven conductor elements comprises a continuous and substantially conical surface having a wall thickness which varies along its length to create a resistive taper.

12. The antenna of claim 7 or 8 wherein each of said independently driven conductor elements comprises a substantially ,discus shaped surface provided with a substantially semielliptical cut-out adjacent to the surface of said ground plane means.