Patch dipole array antenna and associated methods

• US 6,307,510 B1
• Filed: 10/31/2000
• Issued: 10/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: North South Holdings Incorporated (Spherix Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Harris Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Taylor, Robert Charles, Rawnick, James J.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, THO GIA
• Application Number:
  US09/702,712
• Time in Patent Office: 357 Days
• Field of Search: H01/Q.126, 343/700.MS, 343/790, 343/792, 343/793, 343/794, 343/795, 343/799, 343/829, 343/830, 343/846, 343/850, 343/853
• US Class Current: 343/700.0MS
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/061 Two dimensional planar arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/062 using dipole aerials; H01Q21/067, H01Q21/068 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/065 Patch antenna array
• 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 9/16 with feed intermediate between the extremities of the antenna, e.g. centre-fed dipole H01Q9/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/285 Planar dipole H01Q9/065 takes precedence; patch antenna H01Q9/0407

Abstract

The dual polarization antenna includes a substrate having a ground plane and a dielectric layer adjacent thereto, and at least one antenna unit carried by the substrate. The antenna unit includes four adjacent antenna elements arranged in spaced apart relation from one another about a central feed position on the dielectric layer opposite the ground plane. Preferably, diagonal pairs of antenna elements define respective antenna dipoles thereby providing dual polarization. The antenna unit also includes an antenna feed structure having four coaxial feed lines, each coaxial feed line including an inner conductor and a tubular outer conductor in surrounding relation thereto. The outer conductors have parallel adjacent ends joined together about an axis and are connected to the ground plane. The ends of the outer conductors are tapered and arranged so that portions thereof adjacent the axis extend further beyond the ground plane in the dielectric layer and toward the antenna elements. The inner conductors preferably extend outwardly from ends of respective outer conductors, through the dielectric layer and are connected to respective antenna elements adjacent the central feed position.

Claims

1. A dual polarization antenna comprising:

a substrate comprising a ground plane and a dielectric layer adjacent thereto;

at least one antenna unit carried by said substrate and comprising

four adjacent antenna elements arranged in spaced apart relation from one another about a central feed position on said dielectric layer opposite said ground plane, diagonal pairs of antenna elements defining respective antenna dipoles thereby providing dual polarization, and

an antenna feed structure comprising four coaxial feed lines, each coaxial feed line comprising an inner conductor and a tubular outer conductor in surrounding relation thereto, said outer conductors having parallel adjacent ends joined together about an axis and connected to said ground plane, the ends of said outer conductors being tapered and arranged so that portions thereof adjacent the axis extend further beyond said ground plane in said dielectric layer and toward said antenna elements, said inner conductors extending outwardly from ends of respective outer conductors, through said dielectric layer and being connected to respective antenna elements adjacent the central feed position.

2. A dual polarization antenna according to claim 1 wherein the ends of said outer conductors are symmetrically angled.

3. A dual polarization antenna according to claim 1 wherein all of said antenna elements have a same shape.

4. A dual polarization antenna according to claim 1 wherein said ground plane extends laterally outwardly beyond a periphery of said at least one antenna unit.

5. A dual polarization antenna according to claim 1 wherein said coaxial feed lines diverge outwardly from contact with one another upstream from said central feed position.

6. A dual polarization antenna according to claim 1 further comprising at least one hybrid circuit carried by said substrate and connected to said antenna feed structure.

7. A dual polarization antenna according to claim 1 wherein each antenna element has a generally rectangular shape.

8. A dual polarization antenna according to claim 1 wherein each antenna element has a generally square shape.

9. A dual polarization antenna according to claim 1 wherein said at least one antenna unit comprises plurality of antenna units arranged in an array.

10. A dual polarization antenna according to claim 1 wherein said dielectric layer has a thickness in a range of about ½

an operating wavelength of the antenna.

11. A dual polarization antenna according to claim 1 at least one impedance matching dielectric layer on said at least one antenna unit.

12. A dual polarization antenna according to claim 11 wherein said at least one impedance matching dielectric layer extends laterally outwardly beyond a periphery of said at least one antenna unit.

13. A dual polarization antenna according to claim 1 wherein said substrate is flexible.

14. An antenna comprising:

a substrate comprising a ground plane and a dielectric layer adjacent thereto;

at least one antenna unit carried by said substrate and comprising

four adjacent antenna elements arranged in spaced apart relation from one another about a central feed position on said dielectric layer opposite said ground plane, and

an antenna feed structure comprising four coaxial feed lines, each coaxial feed line comprising an inner conductor and a tubular outer conductor in surrounding relation thereto, said outer conductors having parallel adjacent ends joined together about an axis and connected to said ground plane, the ends of said outer conductors being tapered and arranged so that portions thereof adjacent the axis extend further beyond said ground plane in said dielectric layer and toward said antenna elements, said inner conductors extending outwardly from ends of respective outer conductors and being connected to respective antenna elements adjacent the central feed position.

15. A dual polarization antenna according to claim 14 wherein the ends of said outer conductors are symmetrically angled.

16. A dual polarization antenna according to claim 14 wherein all of said antenna elements have a same shape.

17. A dual polarization antenna according to claim 14 wherein said ground plane extends laterally outwardly beyond a periphery of said at least one antenna unit.

18. A dual polarization antenna according to claim 14 wherein said coaxial feed lines diverge outwardly from contact with one another upstream from said central feed position.

19. A dual polarization antenna according to claim 14 further comprising at least one hybrid circuit carried by said substrate and connected to said antenna feed structure.

20. A dual polarization antenna according to claim 14 wherein each antenna element has a generally rectangular shape.

21. A dual polarization antenna according to claim 14 wherein each antenna element has a generally square shape.

22. A dual polarization antenna according to claim 14 wherein said at least one antenna unit comprises a plurality of antenna units arranged in an array.

23. A dual polarization antenna according to claim 14 wherein said dielectric layer has a thickness in a range of about ½

an operating wavelength of the antenna.

24. A dual polarization antenna according to claim 14 further comprising at least one impedance matching dielectric layer on said at least one antenna unit.

25. A dual polarization antenna according to claim 24 wherein said at least one impedance matching dielectric layer extends laterally outwardly beyond a periphery of said at least one antenna unit.

26. A dual polarization antenna according to claim 14 wherein said substrate is flexible.

27. A method of making an antenna comprising:

forming a substrate comprising a ground plane and a dielectric layer adjacent thereto;

providing at least one antenna unit on the substrate by

arranging four adjacent antenna elements in spaced apart relation from one another about a central feed position on the dielectric layer opposite the ground plane, and

forming an antenna feed structure comprising four coaxial feed lines, each coaxial feed line comprising an inner conductor and a tubular outer conductor in surrounding relation thereto, the outer conductors having parallel adjacent ends, wherein forming the antenna feed structure further comprises

joining together the parallel adjacent ends of the outer conductors about an axis,

connecting the parallel adjacent ends of the outer conductors to the ground plane,

tapering and arranging the parallel adjacent ends of the outer conductors so that portions thereof adjacent the axis extend further beyond the ground plane in the dielectric layer and toward the antenna elements, and

connecting the inner conductors to respective antenna elements adjacent the central feed position, the inner conductors extending outwardly from the parallel adjacent ends of respective outer conductors.

28. A method according to claim 27 wherein the ends of the outer conductors are symmetrically angled.

29. A method according to claim 27 wherein all of the antenna elements have a same shape.

30. A method according to claim 27 wherein the ground plane extends laterally outwardly beyond a periphery of the at least one antenna unit.

31. A method according to claim 27 wherein said coaxial feed lines diverge outwardly from contact with one another upstream from the central feed position.

32. A method according to claim 27 further comprising providing at least one hybrid circuit on the substrate and connected to the antenna feed structure.

33. A method according to claim 27 wherein each antenna element has a generally rectangular shape.

34. A method according to claim 27 wherein each antenna element has a generally square shape.

35. A method according to claim 27 wherein providing the at least one antenna unit comprises arranging a plurality of antenna units in an array.

36. A method according to claim 27 wherein the dielectric layer has a thickness in a range of about ½

an operating wavelength of the antenna.

37. A method according to claim 27 further comprising providing at least one impedance matching dielectric layer on the at least one antenna unit.

38. A method according to claim 37 wherein the at least one impedance matching dielectric layer extends laterally outwardly beyond a periphery of the at least one antenna unit.

39. A method according to claim 27 wherein the substrate is flexible.