Dielectric lens assembly for a feed antenna
First Claim
1. A dielectric lens for an antenna comprising:
- a hemispherical lens portion comprised of a dielectric material formed in a generally hemispherical shape; and
an extension portion comprising a dielectric substrate having at least one surface, said surface providing a location on which to position one or more antennas such that said one or more antennas are within a predetermined range of extension lengths from a center of a sphere described by the hemispherical lens wherein said extension portion comprises a plurality of dielectric substrates.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A novel and improved dielectric lens assembly (100) includes a dielectric extension (108) on a hemispherical dielectric lens (104), to provide a dielectric lens which exhibits properties of an elliptical lens. The extended dielectric lens can be implemented with a feed antenna (112) to improve the directivity of the antenna. The extension portion (108) of the lens assembly (100) is fabricated using a plurality of dielectric wafers disposed on the bottom surface of the hemisphere, an angled extension (516), or a cylindrical extension. The entire hemispherical lens and extension assembly (508) can be a single piece of dielectric material formed into the desired shape, or the assembly can be fabricated using a plurality of dielectric components (512, 516) coupled together to form the lens assembly.
-
Citations
25 Claims
-
1. A dielectric lens for an antenna comprising:
-
a hemispherical lens portion comprised of a dielectric material formed in a generally hemispherical shape; and
an extension portion comprising a dielectric substrate having at least one surface, said surface providing a location on which to position one or more antennas such that said one or more antennas are within a predetermined range of extension lengths from a center of a sphere described by the hemispherical lens wherein said extension portion comprises a plurality of dielectric substrates. - 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)
a first dielectric hemispherical lens; and
a second dielectric hemispherical lens coupled with the first dielectric hemisphere lens to provide a constant extension length throughout a broad range of azimuth and elevation angles.
-
-
24. The vehicle communication system of claim 23 further comprising:
-
a shaft coupled to said extension portion; and
a motor coupled to said shaft which can rotate the extension thereby changing the lens directivity as desired.
-
-
25. A vehicle communication system comprising:
-
a dielectric lens for an antenna, comprising;
a hemispherical lens comprised of a dielectric material formed in a generally hemispherical shape;
an extension portion formed from one or more dielectric substrates;
a routable dielectric element having at least one surface on which to position one ore more antenna feeds within a predetermined range of extension lengths from a center of a sphere described by the hemispherical lens; and
a vehicle support means for securing the dielectric lens to a surface of a vehicle.
-
Specification