Coaxial continuous transverse stub element device antenna array and filter
First Claim
1. An antenna array structure formed from a plurality of continuous transverse stub elements in a coaxial relationship, said array structure comprising:
- a plurality of cylindrical segments, wherein each of the plurality of cylindrical segments has a rim at a top end and at a bottom end, wherein each rim extends transversely away from the cylindrical segment relative to a longitudinal axis, wherein the plurality of cylindrical segments are longitudinally separated from each other, and wherein the plurality of cylindrical segments are comprised of at least a dielectric material;
a core element parallel to the longitudinal axis and around which the plurality of cylindrical segments are disposed to thereby form a coaxial relationship therewith;
wherein the plurality of cylindrical segments and the core element are coated with a thin and continuous conductive layer of material, and wherein a transverse stub element is formed from immediately adjacent cylindrical segments; and
a coupling end which is electrically coupled to a first cylindrical segment of the plurality of cylindrical segments, and to the core element, to thereby provide a feed for received and transmitted signals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A continuous transverse stub element array structure which forms a coaxial geometry formed from a plurality of cylindrical segments, wherein each of the cylindrical segments has a rim at a top end and a bottom end, wherein each rim extends transversely away from the cylindrical segment relative to a longitudinal axis thereof to thereby form a stub element, wherein the individual cylindrical transverse stub elements are aligned end-to-end to thereby form a coaxial cable structure which surrounds a central core material. The series of these stubs form reactive or radiating elements for microwave, millimeter-wave, and quasi-optical filters and antennas. Purely reactive elements are formed by leaving the conductive coating on the terminus of the stub elements, whereas radiating elements are formed when stub elements of moderate radius are opened to free space. For tunability, each of the plurality of cylindrical segments and the central axis materials are coated with a conductive material which is ferro-electrical or liquid crystal in nature. The individual stub elements are separated from each other by air gaps or an appropriate material.
24 Citations
36 Claims
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1. An antenna array structure formed from a plurality of continuous transverse stub elements in a coaxial relationship, said array structure comprising:
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a plurality of cylindrical segments, wherein each of the plurality of cylindrical segments has a rim at a top end and at a bottom end, wherein each rim extends transversely away from the cylindrical segment relative to a longitudinal axis, wherein the plurality of cylindrical segments are longitudinally separated from each other, and wherein the plurality of cylindrical segments are comprised of at least a dielectric material;
a core element parallel to the longitudinal axis and around which the plurality of cylindrical segments are disposed to thereby form a coaxial relationship therewith;
wherein the plurality of cylindrical segments and the core element are coated with a thin and continuous conductive layer of material, and wherein a transverse stub element is formed from immediately adjacent cylindrical segments; and
a coupling end which is electrically coupled to a first cylindrical segment of the plurality of cylindrical segments, and to the core element, to thereby provide a feed for received and transmitted signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An array structure formed from a single and continuous transverse stub element which is formed around a center conductor in a coaxial arrangement, said array structure comprising:
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at least two cylindrical segments, wherein the at least two cylindrical segments include at least two helical rims which extend transversely away from the at least two cylindrical segment relative to a longitudinal axis, wherein the at least two cylindrical segments are separated by a predetermined amount, wherein the at least two cylindrical segments are comprised of a dielectric material, and wherein the at least two cylindrical segments define a single array element;
a core element around which the at least two cylindrical segments are disposed to thereby form the coaxial relationship;
wherein the at least two cylindrical segments and the core element are coated with a thin and continuous conductive layer of material, and wherein the stub elements are formed from immediately adjacent rims of the at least two cylindrical segments; and
a coupling end which is electrically coupled to the at least two cylindrical segments and to the core element, to thereby provide a feed for received and transmitted signals.
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28. A method for providing an omnidirectional array structure formed from a plurality of continuous transverse stub elements in a coaxial relationship, said method comprising the steps of:
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(1) forming the plurality of continuous transverse stub elements, wherein a single transverse stub element is formed at a junction of two immediately adjacent but separate spool-shaped segments, wherein each of the plurality of continuous transverse stub elements is comprised of a dielectric material;
(2) forming a core element around which the plurality of continuous transverse stub elements are disposed to thereby form a coaxial relationship;
(3) coating the plurality of continuous transverse stub elements and the core element with a thin and continuous conductive layer of material; and
(4) providing a coupling end which is electrically coupled to a first transverse stub element and to the core element, to thereby provide a feed for receiving and transmitting signals. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
(1) coupling a radiating element together with a non-radiating element to thereby form a stub element matched couplet; and
(2) linking in series a plurality of the stub element matched couplets.
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32. The method as defined in claim 31 wherein the method further comprises suppressing coupler-radiator reflections through destructive interference of radiating and non-radiating stub element matched couplets.
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33. The method as defined in claim 31 wherein the method further comprises scanning broadside by using the radiating and non-radiating stub element matched couplets.
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34. The method as defined in claim 31 wherein the method further comprises the step of modifying bandwidth characteristics of the array structure by selectively modifying structural features of the continuous transverse stub elements.
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35. The method as defined in claim 34 wherein the method further comprises the step of modifying at least one rim of the continuous transverse stub elements, wherein the modifications include altering a slope, diameter, continuity, separation from an immediately adjacent rim, thickness, inclination of radiation surface, cross section, distribution of the transverse stub elements, shape of the rim in a plane which is transverse to the longitudinal axis, and the addition of other structures to the rims.
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36. The method as defined in claim 35 wherein the method further comprises the step of modifying a shape of the rim in a plane which is transverse to the longitudinal axis to thereby control an azimuth of a radiation pattern of each continuous transverse stub element.
Specification