Pulse-responsive dipole antenna

• US 6,606,051 B1
• Filed: 10/18/1999
• Issued: 08/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Time Domain Corporation (Humatics Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Time Domain Corporation (Humatics Corporation)
• Inventors: Fullerton, Larry W., Barnes, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gregory, Bernarr E.
• Application Number:
  US09/419,806
• Time in Patent Office: 1,394 Days
• Field of Search: 343/719, 343/793-823, 343/753, 725/151, 342/21, 342/22, 342/27, 342/28, 375/130-153
• US Class Current: 342/27
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/0209 Systems with very large relative bandwidth, i.e. larger than 10 %, e.g. baseband, pulse, carrier-free, ultrawideband
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/18 wherein range gates are used
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/282 Transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/292 Extracting wanted echo-signals
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/061 Two dimensional planar arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/28 Conical, cylindrical, cage, strip, gauze, or like elements having an extended radiating surface; Elements comprising two conical surfaces having collinear axes and adjacent apices and fed by two-conductor transmission lines waveguide horns or mouths H01Q13/00; slot antennas H01Q13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/40 Element having extended radiating surface
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7174 Pulse generation in general H04L25/03834
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 14/026 using pulse time characteristics modulation, e.g. width, position, interval
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/103 Chirp modulation for spread spectrum techniques H04B1/69

Abstract

A time domain communications system wherein a broadband of time-spaced signals, essentially monocycle-like signals, are derived from applying stepped-in-amplitude signals to a broadband antenna, for example, a reverse bicone antenna or a pulse-responsive dipole antenna. When received, the thus transmitted signals are multiplied by a D.C. replica of each transmitted signal and thereafter are successively short time and long time integrated to achieve detection.

Claims

1. A pulse-responsive dipole antenna, comprising:

a first triangular element having a first base and a first apex opposite the first base; and

a second triangular element having a second base and a second apex opposite the second base;

wherein said first and second triangular elements are arranged with said first base generally adjacent and parallel to said second base, and with said first apex directed generally away from said second apex.

2. The antenna of claim 1, wherein said first and second triangular elements are driven at adjacent points on their respective first and second bases, each respective adjacent point being located along said respective base at a location bisected by a line connecting the respective apexes of the first and second triangular elements.

3. The antenna of claim 2, wherein each respective first and second base of said first and second triangular elements has a width of approximately four inches.

4. The antenna of claim 2, wherein respective heights of each of said first and second triangular elements is approximately the same as the width of each of said respective first and second bases.

5. The antenna of claim 1, wherein said first and second triangular elements are driven at adjacent points located at an end of each of their respective first and second bases.

6. The antenna of claim 5, wherein each respective first and second base of said first and second triangular elements has a width of approximately two inches.

7. The antenna of claim 5, wherein said first and second triangular elements each comprise a right-triangle having respective first and second bases of approximately two inches, said first and second triangular elements arranged such that said respective first and second bases lie along respective parallel lines, and a respective side of each of said first and second triangular elements lies along a common line.

8. The antenna of claim 1, wherein said first and second triangular elements are coupled with a switch.

9. The antenna of claim 8, wherein said switch is capable of switching in a period of one nanosecond or less.

10. The antenna of claim 1, wherein said first and second triangular elements are continuous, lacking internal edges.

11. The antenna of claim 10, wherein said first and second triangular elements are planar.

12. A pulse-responsive monopole antenna comprising:

an antenna element including at least one triangular region; and

at least one ground plane;

wherein said antenna element is fed through an opening in said ground plane.

13. The antenna of claim 12, wherein said triangular region of said antenna element is separated from said at least one ground plane by a distance of about one millimeter.

14. The antenna of claim 12, wherein said at least one triangular region comprises two triangular regions sharing a common side, said common side being normal to said at least one ground plane.

15. The antenna of claim 14, wherein each of said two triangular regions comprise a base, each respective base sloping upward at an angle of about 15 degrees from said at least one ground plane.

16. The antenna of claim 15, wherein said antenna element is folded in a direction parallel to said at least one ground plane.

17. The antenna of claim 14, wherein said antenna element is folded in a direction parallel to said at least one ground plane.

18. The antenna of claim 12, wherein said at least one ground plane further comprises two parallel ground planes.

19. The antenna of claim 18, wherein a second of said two parallel ground planes is located approximately one inch below a first of said two parallel ground planes.

20. The antenna of claim 18, wherein said at least one triangular region is continuous, lacking internal edges.

21. The antenna of claim 20, wherein said at least on triangular region is planar.

22. The antenna of claim 18, wherein said antenna element has a height of approximately one and one-half inch.

23. A directional antenna comprising:

a plurality of antenna element sets, each antenna element set comprising two triangular antenna elements arranged such that respective bases of said two triangular antenna elements are adjacent to one another; and

a reflector;

wherein said plurality of antenna element sets are arranged in an array above said reflector.

24. The antenna of claim 23, wherein said plurality of antenna element sets comprises twelve element sets.

25. The antenna of claim 23, wherein a distance between opposite tips of said two triangular elements in each of said plurality of antenna element sets is nine inches.

26. The antenna of claim 23, wherein each of said plurality of antenna element sets is spaced above said reflector by a distance of approximately three inches.

27. The antenna of claim 23, wherein said reflector comprises metal.

28. The antenna of claim 23, wherein said antenna element sets are supported above said reflector with insulating standoffs.

29. The antenna of claim 28, further comprising triggering sources located on a back side of said reflector, said triggering sources coupled to respective switches, each of said switches being coupled between antenna elements of a respective one of said plurality of antenna element sets.

30. The antenna of claim 23, wherein said two triangular elements are continuous, lacking internal edges.

31. The antenna of claim 30, wherein said two triangular elements are planar.

32. A directional antenna, comprising:

an array of end-fire units, wherein each of said end-fire units includes a plurality of antenna element sets, each of said antenna element sets including two triangular antenna elements arranged such that respective bases of said two triangular antenna elements are adjacent to one another;

wherein each antenna element set within each of said end-fire units is arranged in parallel to, and in line with, the other of said antenna element sets within said end-fire unit.

33. The antenna of claim 32, wherein each end-fire unit within said array of end-fire units includes four antenna element sets.

34. The antenna of claim 32, wherein said array of end-fire units comprises two end-fire units.

35. The antenna of claim 32, wherein said array of end-fire units comprises four end-fire units.

36. The antenna of claim 32, wherein said array of end-fire units is arranged in front a common reflector.

37. The antenna of claim 32, wherein an absorber is positioned behind said array of end-fire units.

38. The antenna of claim 32, wherein said two triangular antenna elements are continuous, lacking internal edges.

39. The antenna of claim 38, wherein said two triangular antenna elements are planar.

40. A pulse-responsive dipole antenna, comprising:

a first triangular element having a base and an apex; and

a second triangular element having a base and an apex;

wherein said first and second triangular elements are arranged with their respective bases generally adjacent to one another and with their respective apexes directed generally away from each other;

wherein said first and second triangular elements are driven at adjacent points on their respective bases, each respective adjacent point being located along said respective base at a location bisected by a line connecting the respective apexes of the first and second triangular elements.

41. The antenna of claim 40, wherein each respective base of said first and second triangular elements has a width of approximately four inches.

42. The antenna of claim 41, wherein respective heights of each of said first and second triangular elements is approximately the same as the width of each of said respective bases.

43. A pulse-responsive dipole antenna, comprising:

a first triangular element having a base and an apex; and

a second triangular element having a base and an apex;

wherein said first and second triangular elements are arranged with their respective bases generally adjacent to one another and with their respective apexes directed generally away from each other;

wherein said first and second triangular elements are driven at adjacent points located at an end of each of their respective bases;

wherein said first and second triangular elements each comprise a right-triangle having a base of approximately two inches, said first and second triangular elements arranged such that said respective bases lie along respective parallel lines, and a respective side of each of said first and second triangular elements lies along a common line.