Tunable microstrip patch antenna and feed network therefor
First Claim
1. An antenna including:
- a ground plane that is electrically conductive having a first side surface;
a first patch that is electrically conducting having;
at least one edge; and
a first side surface;
a dielectric layer positioned between said first patch and said ground plane, said dielectric layer including;
a first side surface in contact with said first side surface of said first patch; and
a second side surface in contact with said first side surface of said ground plane;
at least one turning strip that is electrically conductive spaced from said at least one edge of said first patch and spaced from said ground plane by said dielectric layer;
an RF feed connected to said first patch;
switch means to electrically connect and disconnect RF energy between said at least one tuning strip and said first patch;
a hybrid coupler network connected to said RF feed, said hybrid coupler network including;
a first hybrid coupler connected between said RF feed and an RF power source, said first hybrid coupler having a portion adapted to be connected to a power termination, anda second hybrid coupler connected to said portion of said first hybrid coupler, said second hybrid coupler being adapted to distribute power reflected from said RF feed.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A patch antenna is provided with one or more tuning strips spaced therefrom and RF switches to connect or block RF currents therebetween. When a conducting path for RF current is connected between the tuning strips and the patch, the tuning strips increase the effective length of the patch and lower the antenna'"'"'s resonant frequency, thereby allowing the antenna to be frequency tuned electrically over a relatively broadband of frequencies. If the tuning strips are connected to the patch in other than a symmetrical pattern, the antenna pattern of the antenna can be changed. A feed network couples RF to the antenna and includes two hybrid couplers, one for providing the correct amplitude and phase of excitation at the feed probes, and the second for effectively dissipating reflected power due to antenna impedance mismatch.
122 Citations
24 Claims
-
1. An antenna including:
-
a ground plane that is electrically conductive having a first side surface; a first patch that is electrically conducting having; at least one edge; and a first side surface; a dielectric layer positioned between said first patch and said ground plane, said dielectric layer including; a first side surface in contact with said first side surface of said first patch; and a second side surface in contact with said first side surface of said ground plane; at least one turning strip that is electrically conductive spaced from said at least one edge of said first patch and spaced from said ground plane by said dielectric layer; an RF feed connected to said first patch; switch means to electrically connect and disconnect RF energy between said at least one tuning strip and said first patch; a hybrid coupler network connected to said RF feed, said hybrid coupler network including; a first hybrid coupler connected between said RF feed and an RF power source, said first hybrid coupler having a portion adapted to be connected to a power termination, and a second hybrid coupler connected to said portion of said first hybrid coupler, said second hybrid coupler being adapted to distribute power reflected from said RF feed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 19, 22)
-
-
7. An antenna device including:
-
an antenna having; a first patch that is electrically conductive and that is dimensioned such that it has a resonant frequency when RF energy is fed thereto, a tuning strip that, when it is electrically connected to said first patch, changes said resonant frequency thereof, and a switch that electrically connects and disconnects RF energy between said first patch and said tuning strip; an RF feed that feeds RF energy to said first patch; and a hybrid coupler network connected to said RF feed, said hybrid coupler network having; a first hybrid coupler connected between said RF feed and an RF power source, said first hybrid coupler having a portion adapted to be connected to a power termination, and a second hybrid coupler connected to said portion of said first hybrid coupler, said second hybrid coupler being adapted to distribute power reflected from said RF feed. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 20, 23)
-
-
13. A hybrid coupler network for matching a power source to a feed including:
-
a first hybrid coupler connected between said feed and said power source, said first hybrid coupler having a portion adapted to be connected to a power termination, and a second hybrid coupler connected to said portion of said first hybrid coupler, said second hybrid coupler being adapted to distribute power reflected from said feed. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 24)
-
Specification