Miniature multi-branch patch antenna
First Claim
1. A miniature, multi-branch patch antenna having reduced coupling between antenna elements, comprising:
- a planar dielectric substrate having a first and a second surface;
a plurality of conducting antenna elements disposed on the first surface of the dielectric substrate;
a plurality of feed ports for delivering a first signal to, or receiving a second signal from, the plurality of conducting antenna elements, wherein each conducting antenna element is electrically connected to a feed port of the plurality, wherein a different feed port is connected to each of the conducting antenna elements;
a ground plane disposed on the second surface of the planar dielectric substrate; and
a septum disposed on the first surface of the dielectric substrate between the plurality of conducting antenna elements and in electrical contact with the ground plane, the septum traversing the first surface of the planar dielectric so that each conducting antenna element of the plurality is separated from all other such conducting antenna elements by the septum and wherein none of the conducting antenna elements is surrounded on four sides by the septum.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A miniature, multi-branch patch antenna suitable for operating in the 1 GHz to 100 GHz frequency range, a method for making same and a communication system using the same is disclosed. In one embodiment, the antenna comprises a planar dielectric substrate, a plurality of conducting antenna elements each having a feed port, a ground plane and a septum located between each conducting antenna element. In a second embodiment, the antenna comprises a planar dielectric substrate, a plurality of conducting antenna elements each having a feed port, a ground plane and a superstrate that is disposed on the plurality of conducting antenna elements and at least a portion of the dielectric substrate. The septum and the superstrate suppress undesirable coupling mechanisms. In a communication system according to the present invention, the miniature, multi-branch patch antenna is coupled to a transmitter and/or receiver.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A miniature, multi-branch patch antenna having reduced coupling between antenna elements, comprising:
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a planar dielectric substrate having a first and a second surface;
a plurality of conducting antenna elements disposed on the first surface of the dielectric substrate;
a plurality of feed ports for delivering a first signal to, or receiving a second signal from, the plurality of conducting antenna elements, wherein each conducting antenna element is electrically connected to a feed port of the plurality, wherein a different feed port is connected to each of the conducting antenna elements;
a ground plane disposed on the second surface of the planar dielectric substrate; and
a septum disposed on the first surface of the dielectric substrate between the plurality of conducting antenna elements and in electrical contact with the ground plane, the septum traversing the first surface of the planar dielectric so that each conducting antenna element of the plurality is separated from all other such conducting antenna elements by the septum and wherein none of the conducting antenna elements is surrounded on four sides by the septum. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A patch antenna comprising:
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a planar dielectric substrate having a first and a second surface;
a plurality of conducting antenna elements, wherein each conducting antenna element of the plurality is electrically isolated from all other conducting elements and is disposed on the first surface of the dielectric substrate;
a plurality of feed ports for delivering a first signal to, or receiving a second signal from, the plurality of conducting antenna elements, wherein each conducting antenna element is electrically connected to a feed port of the plurality, wherein a different feed port is connected to each of the conducting antenna elements;
a ground plane disposed on the second surface of the planar dielectric substrate;
a septum for blocking surface waves from propagating from one conducting antenna element to another along the first surface of the dielectric substrate, wherein the septum is disposed on the first surface of the dielectric substrate between the plurality of conducting antenna elements, and further wherein the septum is in electrical contact with the ground plane; and
a dielectric superstrate disposed on the plurality of conducting antenna elements and on at least a portion of the first surface of the dielectric substrate. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A communications system comprising:
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a receiver operative to receive and demodulate a first carrier signal to provide a base band output signal;
a transmitter operative to transmit a second carrier signal modulated by a base band input signal;
at least one patch antenna comprising a planar dielectric substrate having a first and a second surface;
a plurality of conducting antenna elements disposed on the first surface of the dielectric substrate;
a plurality of feed ports for delivering the second carrier signal to, or receiving the first carrier signal from, the plurality of conducting antenna elements, wherein each conducting antenna element is electrically connected to a feed port of the plurality, wherein a different feed port is connected to each of the conducting antenna elements;
a ground plane disposed on the second surface of the planar dielectric substrate; and
a septum disposed on the first surface of the dielectric substrate between the plurality of conducting antenna elements and in electrical contact with the ground plane, the septum traversing the first surface of the planar dielectric so that each conducting antenna element of the plurality is separated from all other such conducting antenna elements by the septum and wherein none of the conducting antenna elements is surrounded on four sides by the septum;
wherein at least one of the receiver and the transmitter is electrically connected to at least two of the feed ports of the at least one patch antenna. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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28. A method of making a miniature, multi-branch patch antenna comprising the steps of:
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(a) disposing a layer of metal on a first and a second surface of a dielectric substrate characterized by a high dielectric constant;
(b) patterning at least two conducting antenna elements in the layer of metal on the first surface of the dielectric substrate;
(c) forming a feed port in each of the at least two conducting antenna elements. (d) forming at least two superstrates, one for each conducting antenna element, wherein each superstrate is characterized as having four sides and an upper surface;
(e) metallizing no more than three sides of each superstrate; and
(f) disposing the superstrates on the dielectric substrate so that one of the at least two superstrates covers one of the at least two conducting antenna elements and the other of the at least two superstrates covers the other of the at least two conducting antenna elements;
whereinthe superstrates are sized so that when disposed on the dielectric substrate, there is no physical contact between any one superstrate and any other superstrate, and wherein each conducting antenna element is separated from all other such conducting antenna elements by at least one metallized side of the superstrate covering the antenna element.
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Specification