Antenna arrangements

• US 5,757,323 A
• Filed: 07/16/1996
• Issued: 05/26/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: E2V Technologies PLC
• Original Assignee: Plessey Semiconductors Limited (Plessey Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Spencer, David G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hajec, Donald T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ho, Tan
• Application Number:
  US08/682,990
• Time in Patent Office: 679 Days
• Field of Search: 363/700 MS, 363/767, 363/770, 363/785, 363/909, 363/911 R, 363/781 CA, 363/781 R
• US Class Current: 343/700.0MS
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/24 constituted by a dielectric or ferromagnetic rod or pipe H01Q13/28 takes precedence
• 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 21/061 Two dimensional planar arrays

Abstract

A microstrip patch or slot radiating element is coupled to a dielectric rod antenna by way of a tapered tubular dielectric guide formed integrally with the rod. An array of radiating elements may be formed on a common substrate, and the dielectric guide/rod antennae may be arranged to direct the energy radiated from these elements to a secondary antenna element such as a lens or a dish.

Claims

1. An antenna arrangement comprising a dielectric rod, and a radiating element coupled to said dielectric rod by means of a tapered tubular dielectric guide.

2. An antenna arrangement in accordance with claim 1 wherein the dielectric guide is formed integrally with the dielectric rod.

3. An antenna arrangement in accordance with claim 2 wherein the integrally formed dielectric guide and dielectric rod is arranged to be supported over the radiating element by means of a screen panel.

4. An antenna arrangement in accordance with claim 3 wherein the screen panel is constructed as a microwave absorbing panel.

5. An antenna arrangement in accordance with claim 3 wherein the screen panel comprises two quarter wavelength thick dielectric panels separated by a thin conducting sheet.

6. An antenna arrangement in accordance with claim 3 wherein the screen panel incorporates a half-wave radio-transparent radome panel centered around the integrally formed dielectric guide and dielectric rod.

7. An antenna arrangement in accordance with claim 3 wherein the screen panel is formed as a meniscus lens.

8. An antenna arrangement in accordance with claim 3 wherein the screen panel is spaced from the radiating element by half a wavelength at the center frequency of operation.

9. An antenna arrangement in accordance with claim 3 wherein the integrally formed dielectric guide and dielectric rod is provided along part of its length with an external thread by means of which it is adjustably located with respect to the screen panel such that a gap between a tubular guide end of the integrally formed dielectric guide and dielectric rod and the radiating element is adjusted.

10. An antenna arrangement in accordance with claim 9 wherein the gap is of the order of 3% of a wavelength at the center frequency of operation.

11. An antenna arrangement in accordance with claim 3 wherein the screen panel comprises dual dielectric panels separated by a half wavelength and each less than a half wavelength thick.

12. An antenna arrangement in accordance with claim 1 wherein the radiating element is a patch radiating element.

13. An antenna arrangement in accordance with claim 1 wherein the radiating element is a slot radiating element.

14. An antenna arrangement utilizing dielectric rods, comprising an array of patch radiating elements formed on a common substrate, each patch radiating element being coupled to a respective dielectric rod by means of a respective tapered tubular dielectric guide.

15. An antenna arrangement in accordance with claim 14 wherein each dielectric guide is formed integrally with its respective dielectric rod.