Broadband starfish antenna and array thereof

• US 6,828,948 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2002
• Issued: 12/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Talley, Eric, Volman, Vladimir
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Tan
• Application Number:
  US10/284,267
• Publication Number:
  US 20040032378A1
• Time in Patent Office: 768 Days
• Field of Search: 343/700.MS, 343/741, 343/742, 343/866, 343/867, 343/795, 343/846, 343/848, 343/897
• US Class Current: 343/897
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/36 Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; Particular materials used therewithH01Q1/08, H01Q1/14 take precedence
• 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 5/25 Ultra-wideband [UWB] systems, e.g. multiple resonance systems; Pulse systems
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0407 Substantially flat resonant element parallel to ground plane, e.g. patch antenna dipole H01Q9/285; monopole H01Q9/40
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/30 with feed to end of elongated active element, e.g. unipole H01Q9/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/40 Element having extended radiating surface

Abstract

A broadband mesh antenna and a phased array broadband mesh antenna are provided. The antenna of the present invention is a mesh antenna system that may be implemented with printed circuit board technology and wired technology that operates with increased bandwidth. The mesh antenna system provides for a single mesh antenna to operate at a wide range of frequencies. The antenna may be employed as a high efficient broadband antenna for rockets, space vehicles and ships when placed inside a metallic open box.

Claims

1. A broadband mesh antenna, comprising:

an antenna element including a conductive surface, comprising;

a symmetrically shaped conductive surface including a center point;

a set of first linear conductive surfaces extending away from the center point; and

a set of second linear conductive surfaces, each of the second linear conductive surfaces extending away from one or more points on the first linear conductive surfaces;

wherein the sets of first and second linear conductive surfaces enable the broadband mesh antenna to operate at a set of octaves.

2. The broadband mesh antenna of claim 1, wherein a length S for each side of the symmetrically shaped conductive surface is proportional to at least one of wavelength and frequency.

3. The broadband mesh antenna of claim 1, wherein each of the first linear conductive surfaces are perpendicular to at least one of the other first linear conductive surfaces.

4. The broadband mesh antenna of claim 3, wherein each of the first linear conductive surfaces couples to a point corresponding to a midpoint of a side of the symmetrically shaped conductive surface.

5. The broadband mesh antenna of claim 4, wherein each of the second linear conductive surfaces couples to a point corresponding to a corner of the symmetrically shaped conductive surface.

6. The broadband mesh antenna of claim 1, wherein each of the second linear conductive surfaces couples to a point corresponding to a corner of the symmetrically shaped conductive surface.

7. The broadband mesh antenna of claim 1, wherein the set of second linear conductive surfaces enables the broadband mesh antenna to operate on a plurality of frequencies.

8. The broadband mesh antenna of claim 1, further comprising a set of feed ports coupled to the antenna element at approximately the center point.

9. The broadband mesh antenna of claim 8, further comprising a ground screen coupled to the set of feed ports.

10. The broadband mesh antenna of claim 9, wherein the ground screen is a distance H away from the antenna element.

11. The broadband mesh antenna of claim 8, further comprising an open metallic box coupled to the set of feed ports.

12. A phased broadband mesh array antenna, comprising:

a set of antenna elements, each of the antenna elements including a conductive surface comprising;

a symmetrically shaped conductive surface around a center point corresponding to the center of the symmetrically shaped conductive surface;

a set of first linear conductive surfaces extending away from the center point; and

a set of second linear conductive surfaces, each of the second linear conductive surfaces extending away from one or more points on a the first linear conductive surfaces;

wherein at least the set of second linear conductive surfaces enables the phased broadband mesh array antenna to operate at a set of octaves.

13. The phased broadband mesh array antenna of claim 12, further comprising a set of feed ports coupled to each of the antenna elements at approximately the center point.

14. The phased broadband mesh array antenna of claim 13, further comprising a ground screen coupled to each set of feed ports.

15. The phased broadband mesh array antenna of claim 12, further comprising an open metallic box coupled to each set of feed ports.

16. A broadband mesh antenna, comprising:

an element including a conductive surface comprising;

a symmetrically shaped conductive surface around a center point corresponding to the center of the symmetrically shaped conductive surface;

a first starfish loop centered around the center point; and

a set of linear conductive surfaces extending away from the center point.

17. The broadband mesh antenna of claim 16, wherein the first starfish loop enables the broadband mesh antenna to operate at a first set of octaves.

18. The broadband mesh antenna of claim 16, further comprising a second starfish loop centered around the center point.

19. The broadband mesh antenna of claim 18, wherein the second starfish loop circumscribes the first starfish loop.

20. The broadband mesh antenna of claim 19, wherein the first starfish loop and the second starfish loop enables the broadband mesh antenna operates at a second set of octaves.

21. The broadband mesh antenna of claim 16, further comprising a set of feed ports coupled to the antenna element approximately at the center point.

22. The broadband mesh antenna of claim 21, further comprising a ground screen couple to the set of feed ports.

23. The broadband mesh antenna of claim 22, wherein the ground screen is a distance H away from the antenna element.

24. The broadband mesh antenna of claim 21, further comprising an open metallic box coupled to the set of feed ports.

25. A phased broadband mesh array antenna, comprising:

a set of antenna elements, each of the antenna elements including a conductive surface comprising;

a symmetrically shaped conductive surface around a center point corresponding to the center of the symmetrically shaped conductive surface;

a first starfish loop centered around the center point; and

a set of linear conductive surfaces extending away from the center.

26. The phased broadband mesh array antenna of claim 25, wherein the first starfish loop enables the broadband mesh antenna to operate at a first set of octaves.

27. The phased broadband mesh array antenna of claim 25, further comprising a second starfish loop centered around the center point.

28. The phased broadband mesh array antenna of claim 27, wherein the second starfish loop circumscribes the first starfish loop.

29. The phased broadband mesh array antenna of claim 28, wherein the first starfish loop and the second starfish loop enables the broadband mesh antenna to operate at a second set of octaves.

30. The phased broadband mesh array antenna of claim 25, further comprising a set of feed ports coupled to each of the elements at approximately the center point.

31. The phased broadband mesh array antenna of claim 30, further comprising a ground screen coupled to the sets of feed ports.

32. The phased broadband mesh array antenna of claim 31, wherein the ground screen is a distance H away from the antenna elements.

33. The phased broadband mesh array antenna of claim 30, further comprising an open metallic box coupled to the sets of feed ports.

34. The phased broadband mesh array antenna of claim 25, wherein the conductive surface is one of wire or etched copper.

35. The phased broadband mesh array antenna of claim 34, wherein the antenna element includes a substrate constructed from one of a strong lightweight compound, fiberglass, a honeycomb panel, or a foam core.

36. A method of creating a broadband mesh antenna including an antenna element, comprising:

configuring a symmetrically shaped conductive surface around a center point corresponding to the center of the symmetrically shaped conductive surface;

configuring a set of first linear conductive surfaces extending away from the center; and

configuring a set of second linear conductive surfaces, each of the second linear conductive surfaces extending away from one or more points on the first linear conductive surfaces in the first set of linear conductive surfaces;

wherein the symmetrically shaped conductive surface, and the sets of first and second linear conductive surfaces form a conductive surface of the antenna element; and

wherein at least the set of second linear conductive surfaces enables the broadband mesh antenna to operate at a set of octaves.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein a length S for each side of the symmetrically shaped conductive surface is proportional to at lease one of wavelength and frequency.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein each of the first linear conductive surfaces are perpendicular to at least one of the other first linear conductive surfaces.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein each of the first linear conductive surfaces couples to a point corresponding to a midpoint of a side of the symmetrically shaped conductive surface.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein each of the second linear conductive surfaces couples to a point corresponding to a corner of the symmetrically shaped conductive surface.

41. The method of claim 36, wherein each of the second linear conductive surfaces couples to a point corresponding to a corner of the symmetrically shaped conductive surface.

42. The method of claim 36, wherein the set of second linear conductive surfaces enables the broadband mesh antenna to operate on a plurality of frequencies.

43. The method of claim 36, further comprising coupling a set of feed ports to the antenna element at approximately the center point.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising coupling a ground screen to the set of feed ports.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the ground screen is a distance H away from the element.

46. The method of claim 43, further comprising coupling an open metallic box to the set of feed ports.

47. A method of creating a phased broadband mesh array antenna, including a set of antenna elements, the method comprising:

configuring each antenna element of the set of antenna elements by;

configuring a symmetrically shaped conductive surface around a center point corresponding to the center of the symmetrically shaped conductive surface;

configuring a set of first linear conductive surfaces extending away from the center point; and

configuring a set of second linear conductive surfaces, each of the second linear conductive surfaces extending away from one or more points on the first linear conductive surfaces;

wherein the symmetrically shaped conductive surface, and the sets of first and second linear conductive surfaces form a conductive surface of the antenna element; and

wherein at least the set of second linear conductive surfaces of each of the antenna elements enable the phased broadband mesh array antenna to operate at a set of octaves.

48. The method of claim 47, further comprising coupling a set of feed ports to each of the antenna elements at approximately the center point.

49. The method of claim 48, further comprising coupling a ground screen to each of the set of feed ports.

50. The method of claim 47, further comprising coupling an open metallic box to each of the set of feed ports.

51. A method of providing a broadband mesh antenna, including an antenna element comprising:

configuring a symmetrically shaped conductive surface around a center point corresponding to the center of the symmetrically shaped conductive surface;

configuring a first starfish loop centered around the center point; and

configuring a set of linear conductive surfaces extending away from the center point;

wherein the symmetrically shaped conductive surface, the first starfish loop, and the set of linear conductive surfaces form a conductive surface of the antenna element.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein the first starfish loop enables the broadband mesh antenna to operate at a first set of octaves.

53. The method of claim 51, further comprising coupling a second starfish loop centered around the center point.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein the second starfish loop circumscribes the first starfish loop.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein the first starfish loop and the second starfish loop enable the broadband mesh antenna to operate at a second set of octaves.

56. The method of claim 51, further comprising coupling a set of feed ports to the antenna element at approximately the center point.

57. The method of claim 56, further comprising coupling a ground screen to the set of feed ports.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein the ground screen is a distance H away from the antenna element.

59. The method of claim 56, further comprising coupling an open metallic box to the set of feed ports.

60. A method of providing a phased array of broadband mesh antenna, including a set of antenna elements, the method comprising:

configuring each antenna element of the set of antenna elements by;

configuring a symmetrically shaped conductive surface around a center point corresponding to the center of the symmetrically shaped conductive surface;

configuring a first starfish loop centered around the center point; and

configuring a set of linear conductive surfaces extending away from the center point;

wherein the symmetrically shaped conductive surface, the first starfish loop, and the set of linear conductive surfaces form a conductive surface of the antenna element.

61. The method of claim of 60, wherein the first starfish loop enables the broadband mesh antenna to operate at a first set of octaves.

62. The method of claim 60, further comprising a second starfish loop centered around the center point.

63. The method of claim 62, wherein the second starfish loop circumscribes the first starfish loop.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein the first starfish loop and the second starfish loop enables the broadband mesh antenna to operate at a second set of octaves.

65. The method of claim 60, further comprising coupling a set of feed ports to each of the antenna elements at approximately the center point.

66. The method of claim 65, further comprising a coupling ground screen to each of the set of feed ports.

67. The method of claim 66, wherein the ground screen is a distance H away form each of the antenna elements.

68. The method of claim 65, further comprising coupling an open metallic box to each of the set of feed ports.

69. The method of claim 60, wherein the conductive surface is one of wire or etched copper.

70. The method of claim 69, wherein each of the antenna elements includes a substrate constructed from one of a strong lightweight compound, fiberglass, honeycomb panel, or a foam core.