High efficiency slot fed microstrip patch antenna

• US 6,842,140 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2002
• Issued: 01/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harris Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Harris Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Pike, Randy T., Killen, William D., Delgado, Heriberto Jose
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, THO GIA
• Application Number:
  US10/308,500
• Publication Number:
  US 20040104847A1
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 343/700.MS, 343/787
• 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 9/0414 in a stacked or folded configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0442 with particular tuning means
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0457 electromagnetically coupled to the feed line

Abstract

A slot fed microstrip patch antenna (200) includes an electrically conducting ground plane (208), the ground plane (208) having at least one coupling slot (206) and at least a first patch radiator (209). An antenna dielectric substrate material (205) is disposed between the ground plane (208) and the first patch radiator (209), wherein at least a portion of the antenna dielectric (210) includes magnetic particles (214). A feed dielectric substrate (212) is disposed between a feed line (217) and the ground plane (208). Magnetic particles can also be used in the feed line (217) dielectric. Patch antennas according to the invention can be of a reduced size through use of high relative permittivity dielectric substrate portions, yet still be efficient through use of dielectrics including magnetic particles which permit impedance matching of dielectric medium interfaces, such as the feed line (217) into the slot (206).

Claims

1. A slot fed microstrip patch antenna, comprising:

an electrically conducting ground plane, said ground plane having at least one slot;

at least a first patch radiator;

an antenna dielectric substrate material disposed between said ground plane and said first patch radiator, wherein at least a portion of said antenna dielectric includes magnetic particles;

a feed line for providing signal energy to or from said first patch radiator through said slot, and

a feed dielectric substrate disposed between said feed line and said ground plane.

2. The antenna of claim 1, wherein said portion of said antenna dielectric is disposed between said slot and said patch.

3. The antenna of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said feed dielectric substrate includes magnetic particles.

4. The antenna of claim 3, wherein said portion of said feed dielectric substrate is disposed between said slot and said feed line.

5. The antenna of claim 3, wherein said feed dielectric substrate provides a quarter wavelength matching section proximate to said slot to match said feed line into said slot.

6. A slot fed microstrip patch antenna, comprising:

an electrically conducting ground plane, said ground plane having at least one slot;

at least a first patch radiator;

an antenna dielectric substrate material disposed between said ground plane and said first patch radiator, wherein at least a portion of said antenna dielectric includes magnetic particles, and wherein said magnetic particles comprise metamaterials;

a feed line for providing signal energy to or from said first patch radiator through said slot, and

a feed dielectric substrate disposed between said feed line and said ground plane.

7. A slot fed microstrip patch antenna, comprising:

an electrically conducting ground plane, said ground plane having at least one slot;

at least a first patch radiator;

an antenna dielectric substrate material disposed between said ground plane and said first patch radiator, wherein at least a portion of said antenna dielectric includes magnetic particles;

a feed line for providing signal energy to or from said first patch radiator through said slot, and

a feed dielectric substrate disposed between said feed line and said ground plane, wherein at least a portion of said feed dielectric substrate includes magnetic particles, wherein said feed dielectric substrate provides a quarter wavelength matching section proximate to said slot to match said feed line into said slot, and wherein said quarter wave matching section includes magnetic particles.

8. A slot fed microstrip patch antenna, comprising:

an electrically conducting ground plane, said ground plane having at least one slot;

at least a first patch radiator, wherein said at least a first patch radiator comprises a first and a second patch radiator, said first and said second patch radiators separated by an inter-patch dielectric;

an antenna dielectric substrate material disposed between said ground plane and said first patch radiator, wherein at least a portion of said antenna dielectric includes magnetic particles;

a feed line for providing signal energy to or from said first patch radiator through said slot, and

a feed dielectric substrate disposed between said feed line and said ground plane.

9. The antenna of claim 8, wherein said inter-patch dielectric includes magnetic particles.

10. The antenna of claim 9, wherein said magnetic particles comprise metamaterials.