Adaptive variable impedance transmission line loaded antenna
First Claim
1. An antenna having adaptable characteristics in response to a voltage provided by a voltage source, comprising:
- a ground plane;
a first meanderline coupler including a first terminal responsive to a signal when said antenna is operative in a transmitting mode and for receiving a signal when said antenna is operative in a receiving mode, and further including a second terminal;
a second meanderline coupler including having a first terminal in electrical connection with said ground plane and further including a second terminal;
a horizontal conductor substantially parallel to and spaced apart from said ground plane and in electrical connection with the second terminal of said first meanderline coupler at a first region of said horizontal conductor, and in electrical-connection with said second terminal of said second meanderline at a second region of said horizontal conductor; and
a deformable member located so as to alter the distance between said horizontal conductor and said ground plane in response to the voltage, such that the antenna dimensional change effected by the deformable member alters the antenna radiating characteristics.
10 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
There is disclosed a meanderline-loaded antenna comprising a ground plane, a non-driven element affixed substantially perpendicular to the ground plane, a driven element affixed substantially perpendicular to the ground plane and a horizontal conductor or radiating element electrically connected between the driven and the non-driven elements and disposed substantially parallel to the ground plane. The non-driven and the driven elements comprise meanderline-loaded couplers that are electrically connected between to the radiating element. A mechanically deformable material is disposed between the radiating element and the ground plane such that in response to an externally generated voltage the mechanically deformable material alters the distance between the ground plane and the radiating element to allow the antenna to adapt to changes in its environment.
-
Citations
22 Claims
-
1. An antenna having adaptable characteristics in response to a voltage provided by a voltage source, comprising:
-
a ground plane;
a first meanderline coupler including a first terminal responsive to a signal when said antenna is operative in a transmitting mode and for receiving a signal when said antenna is operative in a receiving mode, and further including a second terminal;
a second meanderline coupler including having a first terminal in electrical connection with said ground plane and further including a second terminal;
a horizontal conductor substantially parallel to and spaced apart from said ground plane and in electrical connection with the second terminal of said first meanderline coupler at a first region of said horizontal conductor, and in electrical-connection with said second terminal of said second meanderline at a second region of said horizontal conductor; and
a deformable member located so as to alter the distance between said horizontal conductor and said ground plane in response to the voltage, such that the antenna dimensional change effected by the deformable member alters the antenna radiating characteristics. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. An antenna having adaptable characteristics in response to a voltage provided by a voltage source, comprising:
-
a ground plane;
a first meanderline coupler including a first terminal responsive to a signal when said antenna is operative in a transmitting mode and for receiving a signal when said antenna is operative in a receiving mode, and further including a second terminal;
a second meanderline coupler including a first terminal conductively connected to said ground plane and further including a second terminal;
a horizontal conductor substantially parallel to and spaced apart from said ground plane and in electrical connection with the second terminal of said first meanderline coupler at a first region of said horizontal conductor, and in electrical connection with the second terminal of said second meanderline at a second region of said horizontal conductor;
wherein said first and said second meanderline couplers each have a top surface proximate said horizontal conductor; and
a mechanically deformable material disposed between said horizontal conductor and said top surface of said first meanderline coupler, or disposed between said horizontal conductor and said top surface of said second meanderline coupler, or disposed between said horizontal conductor, and said top surface of each of said first and said second meanderline couplers, wherein said mechanically deformable material is responsive to the voltage for changing the dimensions thereof along an axis perpendicular to said horizontal conductor, such that the distance between said ground plane and said horizontal conductor changes in response thereto, such that the antenna dimensional change effected by the deformable member alters the antenna radiating characteristics. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. An antenna having adaptable characteristics in response to a voltage provided by a voltage source comprising:
-
a ground plane;
a first meanderline coupler including a first terminal responsive to a signal when said antenna is operative in a transmitting mode and for receiving a signal when said antenna is operative in a receiving mode, and further including a second terminal;
a second meanderline coupler including a first terminal in electrical connection with said ground plane and further including a second terminal;
a horizontal conductor spaced apart from and substantially parallel to said ground plane and in electrical connection with the second terminal of said first meanderline coupler at a first region of said horizontal conductor, and in electrical connection with the second terminal of said second meanderline coupler at a second region of said horizontal conductor; and
a mechanically deformable material disposed between said ground plane and a bottom surface of at least one of said first meanderline coupler and said second meanderline coupler, wherein said mechanically deformable material is responsive to the voltage for changing the dimensions of said mechanically deformable material along an axis perpendicular to said ground plane, such that the distance between said ground plane and said horizontal conductor changes in response thereto, such that the antenna dimensional change effected by the deformable member alters the antenna radiating characteristics.
-
-
20. An antenna having adaptable characteristics in response to a voltage provided by a voltage source, comprising:
-
a ground plane;
a first meanderline coupler including a first terminal responsive to a signal when said antenna is operative in a transmitting mode and for receiving a signal when said antenna is operative in a receiving mode, and further including a second terminal;
a second meanderline coupler including having a first terminal in electrical connection with said ground plane and further including a second terminal;
a horizontal conductor substantially parallel to and spaced apart from said ground plane and in electrical connection with the second terminal of said first meanderline coupler at a first region of said horizontal conductor, and in electrical connection with said second terminal of said second meanderline at a second region of said horizontal conductor; and
wherein at least one of said first and said second meanderline couplers comprises a transmission line proximate a dielectric substrate, and wherein said dielectric substrate comprises piezoelectric material deformable in response to a voltage supplied thereto for changing the effective electrical length of at least one of said first and said second meanderline couplers, such that the antenna operational characteristics are changed in response thereto.
-
-
21. An antenna having adaptable characteristics in response to a voltage provided by a voltage source, comprising:
-
a ground plane;
a first meanderline coupler including a first terminal responsive to a signal when said antenna is operative in a transmitting mode and for receiving a signal when said antenna is operative in a receiving mode, and further including a second terminal;
a second meanderline coupler including having a first terminal in electrical connection with said ground plane and further including a second terminal;
a horizontal conductor substantially parallel to and spaced apart from said ground plane and in electrical connection with the second terminal of said first meanderline coupler at a first region of said horizontal conductor, and in electrical connection with said second terminal of said second meanderline at a second region of said horizontal conductor; and
wherein at least one of said first and said second meanderline couplers comprises a folded transmission line disposed between a plurality of dielectric substrate layers and further comprising a piezoelectric material disposed between two of said plurality of dielectric substrate layers, wherein said piezoelectric material is responsive to a voltage for altering the effective electrical length of the at least one of said first and said second meanderline couplers.
-
-
22. An antenna having adaptable characteristics in response to a voltage provided by a voltage source, comprising:
-
a ground plane;
a first meanderline coupler including a first terminal responsive to a signal when said antenna is operative in a transmitting mode and for receiving a signal when said antenna is operative in a receiving mode, and further including a second terminal;
a second meanderline coupler including a first terminal in electrical connection with said ground plane and further including a second terminal;
a horizontal conductor substantially parallel to and spaced apart from said ground plane and in electrical connection with the second terminal of said first meanderline coupler at a first region of said horizontal conductor, and in electrical connection with said second terminal of said second meanderline at a second region of said horizontal conductor; and
a varactor electrically connected to said ground plane and said horizontal conductor for changing the capacitive coupling between said ground plane and said horizontal conductor.
-
Specification