Apparatus for coupling electromagnetic signals

• US 6,642,890 B1
• Filed: 07/19/2002
• Issued: 11/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NXP USA, Inc. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Original Assignee: Paratek Microwave Incorporated (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Chen, Shuguang
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hoang
• Application Number:
  US10/199,266
• Time in Patent Office: 473 Days
• Field of Search: 343/700.MS, 343/771, 343/768, 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 21/0031 Parallel-plate fed arrays; Lens-fed arrays multibeam arrays H01Q25/008
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/005 Slotted waveguides arrays

Abstract

An apparatus for coupling electromagnetic signals from a signal transfer locus for electromagnetic transfer with a proximal medium includes: (a) An antenna element presenting elements in a spaced parallel relation with an antenna plane on a first dielectric substrate. (b) A transmission structure including a second dielectric substrate parallel with a transmission plane perpendicular with the antenna plane and including a slot line structure and a ground plane. The slot line structure has a first end proximal with the signal transfer locus and a second end within electromagnetic coupling range of the antenna element. The ground plane cooperates with the slot line structure and the second dielectric substrate to effect transmission of electromagnetic signals between the first end and the second end. (c) A coupling aperture traverses a respective antenna element adjacent each respective second end in register with the respective second end.

Claims

1. An apparatus for coupling electromagnetic signals for electromagnetic transfer with a medium proximal with the apparatus;

said electromagnetic signals being presented at a signal transfer locus;

the apparatus comprising;

(a) an electromagnetic antenna element proximally situated with respect to said medium;

said antenna element presenting at least two generally planar antenna elements in a spaced substantially parallel relation with an antenna plane on a generally planar first dielectric substrate;

(b) a transmission structure;

said transmission structure including a generally planar second dielectric substrate substantially parallel relation with a transmission plane;

said transmission plane being substantially perpendicular with said antenna plane;

said second dielectric substrate bearing a slot line transmission structure on a first face and bearing a ground plane structure on a second face;

said slot line transmission structure having a first signal coupling end proximal with said signal transfer locus and a second signal coupling end proximal with said antenna element;

said second signal coupling end being within electromagnetic coupling range of said antenna element;

said ground plane cooperating with said slot line structure and said dielectric substrate to effect electromagnetic transmission of said electromagnetic signals between said first signal coupling end and said second signal coupling end; and

(c) a coupling structure;

said coupling structure presenting a coupling aperture traversing a respective said antenna element of said at least two antenna elements adjacent said second coupling end;

said coupling aperture being substantially in register with said second coupling end.

2. An apparatus for coupling electromagnetic signals for electromagnetic transfer with a medium proximal with the apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said at least two antenna elements include a first antenna element on a first face of said first dielectric substrate and a second antenna element on a second face of said first dielectric substrate.

3. An apparatus for coupling electromagnetic signals for electromagnetic transfer with a medium proximal with the apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein said first antenna element and said second antenna element are substantially circular and substantially oriented about a common axis perpendicular with said first dielectric substrate.

4. An apparatus for coupling electromagnetic signals for electromagnetic transfer with a medium proximal with the apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein said common axis passes through said coupling aperture.

5. An apparatus for coupling electromagnetic signals for electromagnetic transfer with a medium proximal with the apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said aperture is substantially rectangular in shape and wherein the apparatus is configured for operation at an operating frequency;

dimensions of said aperture determining efficiency of electromagnetic coupling by said aperture;

said dimensions being a function of said operating frequency.

6. An apparatus for coupling electromagnetic signals for electromagnetic transfer with a medium proximal with the apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said transmission structure abuts said electromagnetic antenna element.

7. An apparatus for coupling electromagnetic signals for electromagnetic transfer with a medium proximal with the apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein said transmission structure abuts said electromagnetic antenna element.

8. An apparatus for coupling electromagnetic signals for electromagnetic transfer with a medium proximal with the apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said aperture is substantially rectangular in shape and wherein the apparatus is configured for operation at an operating frequency;

dimensions of said aperture determining efficiency of electromagnetic coupling by said aperture;

said dimensions being a function of said operating frequency.

9. An antenna apparatus for effecting electromagnetic signal transfers between a host unit and a medium adjacent the antenna apparatus;

the apparatus comprising;

(a) a first signal transfer element;

said first signal transfer element being oriented substantially parallel with an antenna plane;

said signal transfer element including a first generally planar antenna element on a first face of a generally planar first dielectric substrate and a second generally planar antenna element on a second face of said first substrate;

said first face being in opposing relation with said second face;

said first signal transfer element being adjacent said medium;

(b) a second signal transfer element;

said second signal transfer element including a pair of first metal lands separated by a substantially linear metal-free slot line zone;

said pair of first metal lands and said slot line zone substantially occupying a first area on a first side of a generally planar second dielectric substrate;

said second signal transfer element further including a second metal land substantially occupying a second area on a second side of said second substrate;

said first side and said second side being in opposing relation;

said first area and said second area being substantially in register;

said second signal transfer element presenting a first coupling locus and a second coupling locus at opposing ends of said slot line zone;

said first coupling locus being proximal with said first antenna element;

said second coupling locus being configured for coupling with said host unit; and

(c) a coupling structure;

said coupling structure effecting electromagnetic coupling between said first signal transfer element and said second signal transfer element;

said coupling structure presenting an aperture traversing said first antenna element;

said aperture being substantially in register with said first coupling locus;

said first signal transfer element, said coupling structure and said second signal transfer element cooperating to transfer electromagnetic signals between said host unit and said medium when said host unit is coupled with said second coupling locus.

10. An antenna apparatus for effecting electromagnetic signal transfers between a host unit and a medium adjacent the antenna apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein said first antenna element and said second antenna element are substantially congruent polygons substantially in register about a common axis perpendicular with said first dielectric substrate.

11. An antenna apparatus for effecting electromagnetic signal transfers between a host unit and a medium adjacent the antenna apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein said coupling structure is substantially symmetrically oriented about said common axis.

12. An antenna apparatus for effecting electromagnetic signal transfers between a host unit and a medium adjacent the antenna apparatus as recited in claim 11 wherein said aperture is substantially rectangular in shape and wherein the apparatus is configured for operation at an operating frequency;

dimensions of said aperture determining efficiency of electromagnetic coupling by said aperture;

said dimensions being a function of said operating frequency.