Feed structure for antennas

• US 6,903,687 B1
• Filed: 05/29/2003
• Issued: 06/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: US Government As Represented By The Director National Security Agency
• Original Assignee: United States Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space Administration
• Inventors: Dobbins, Justin A., Chu, Andrew W., Lin, Greg Y., Fink, Patrick W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Tan
• Application Number:
  US10/449,905
• Time in Patent Office: 740 Days
• Field of Search: 343/700.MS, 343/830, 343/846, 343/853, 333/33, 333/260
• US Class Current: 343/700.0MS
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0407 Substantially flat resonant element parallel to ground plane, e.g. patch antenna dipole H01Q9/285; monopole H01Q9/40

Abstract

A novel feed structure, for an antenna having a resonant electric field structure, comprising a patch element, an integrated circuit attached to the patch element, at least one inner conductor electrically connected to and terminating at the integrated circuit on a first end of the at least one inner conductor, wherein the at least one inner conductor extends through and is not electrically connected to the patch element, and wherein the at least one inner conductor is available for electrical connectivity on a second end of the at least one inner conductor, and an outer conductor electrically connected to and terminating at the patch element on a first end of the outer conductor, wherein the outer conductor is available for electrical connectivity on a second end of the outer conductor, and wherein the outer conductor concentrically surrounds the at least one inner conductor from the second end of the at least one inner conductor available for electrical connectivity to the first end of the outer conductor terminating at the patch element.

Claims

1. A feed structure, for an antenna having a resonant electric field structure, comprising:

a patch element;

an integrated circuit attached to the patch element;

at least one inner conductor electrically connected to and terminating at the integrated circuit on a first end of the at least one inner conductor, wherein the at least one inner conductor extends through and is not electrically connected to the patch element, and wherein the at least one inner conductor is available for electrical connectivity on a second end of the at least one inner conductor; and

at least one outer conductor electrically connected to and terminating at the patch element on a first end of the at least one outer conductor, wherein the at least one outer conductor is available for electrical connectivity on a second end of the at least one outer conductor, and wherein the at least one outer conductor concentrically surrounds the at least one inner conductor from the second end of the at least one inner conductor to the first end of the at least one outer conductor.

2. The feed structure according to claim 1, wherein the at least one outer conductor and the at least one inner conductor are positioned where the magnitude of the antenna'"'"'s resonant electric field structure, in the absence of the at least one outer conductor and the at least one inner conductor, is about zero.

3. The feed structure according to claim 1, wherein the at least one outer conductor is positioned to establish a null in the resonant electric field structure by creating a short circuit between the patch element and a ground plane.

4. The feed structure according to claim 1, wherein the integrated circuit processes electrical energy to excite the patch element when transmitting or processes electrical energy excited in the integrated circuit by the patch element when receiving.

5. The feed structure according to claim 1, wherein the integrated circuit comprises a power divider for dividing power into two or more paths with each of the two or more paths imparting a predetermined phase shift and each of the two or more paths exciting the patch element at a different section of the patch element for the purpose of transmitting a circularly polarized elecromagnetic wave or for combining power from two more paths with each of the two or more paths having been excited from a different section of the patch element and each of the two or more paths imparting a pre-determined phase shift for the purpose of receiving a circularly polarized electromagnetic wave.

6. The feed structure according to claim 1, further comprising at least one dielectric spacer sandwiched between the at least one outer conductor and the at least one inner conductor from the second end of the at least one inner conductor to the first end of the outer conductor.

7. An antenna having a resonant electric field structure comprising:

a patch element;

a ground plane connected to the patch element wherein a gap exists between the patch element and ground plane;

an integrated circuit attached to the patch element;

an inner conductor electrically connected to and terminating at the integrated circuit on a first end of the inner conductor, wherein the inner conductor is available for electrical connectivity on a second end of the inner conductor, wherein the inner conductor extends through the ground plane and patch element but is not electrically connected to the ground plane and patch element; and

an outer conductor electrically connected to and terminating at the patch element on a first end of the outer conductor, wherein the outer conductor is electrically connected to the ground plane, wherein the outer conductor is available for electrical connectivity on a second end of the outer conductor, and wherein the outer conductor concentrically surrounds the inner conductor from the second end of the inner conductor to the patch element.

8. The antenna according to claim 7, wherein the inner conductor and the outer conductor are positioned where the magnitude of the resonant electric field structure, in the absence of the inner conductor and the outer conductor, is about zero.

9. The antenna according to claim 7, wherein the outer conductor is positioned to establish a null in the resonant electric field structure by creating a short circuit between the patch element and the ground plane.

10. The antenna according to claim 7, wherein the integrated circuit processes electrical energy to excite the patch element when transmitting or processes electrical energy excited in the integrated circuit by the patch element when receiving.

11. The antenna according to claim 7, wherein the integrated circuit comprises a power divider for dividing power into two or more paths with each of the two or more paths imparting a pre-determined phase shift and each of the two or more paths exciting the patch element at a different section of the patch element for the purpose of transmitting a circularly polarized elecromagnetic wave or for combining power from two more paths with each of the two or more paths having been excited from a different section of the patch element and each of the two or more paths imparting a pre-determined phase shift for the purpose of receiving a circularly polarized electromagnetic wave.

12. The antenna according to claim 7, wherein the ground plane is connected to the patch element by non-conductive fasteners in such a manner wherein the gap is defined by a predetermined distance between the patch element and ground plane.

13. An antenna having a resonant electric field structure comprising:

a patch element;

a ground plane connected to the patch element wherein a gap exists between the patch element and ground plane;

an integrated circuit attached to the patch element;

at least one inner conductor electrically connected to and terminating at the integrated circuit on a first end of the at least one inner conductor, wherein the at least one inner conductor is available for electrical connectivity on a second end of the at least one inner conductor, wherein the at least one inner conductor extends through the ground plane and patch element but is not electrically connected to the ground plane and patch element, and wherein the at least one inner conductor forms an electrical path from the second end of the at least one inner conductor to the integrated circuit; and

at least one outer conductor electrically connected to and terminating at the patch clement on a first end of the at least one outer conductor, wherein the at least one outer conductor is electrically connected to the ground plane, wherein the at least one outer conductor is available for electrical connectivity on a second end of the at least one outer conductor, wherein the at least one outer conductor concentrically surrounds the at least one inner conductor from the second end of the at least one inner conductor to the patch element, and wherein the at least one outer conductor forms an electrical path from the second end of the at least one outer conductor available for electrical connectivity to the patch element.

14. The antenna according to claim 13, wherein the at least one inner conductor and the at least one outer conductor are positioned where the magnitude of the resonant electric field structure, in the absence of the at least one inner conductor and the at least one outer conductor, is about zero.

15. The antenna according to claim 13, wherein the at least one outer conductor is positioned to establish a null in the resonant electric field structure by creating a short circuit between the patch element and the ground plane.

16. The antenna according to claim 13, wherein the ground plane is connected to the patch element by non-conductive fasteners in such a manner wherein the gap is defined by a predetermined distance between the patch element and ground plane.

17. The antenna according to claim 13, wherein the integrated circuit is formed of a laminate layer attached to the patch element and a circuit layer attached to the laminate layer, wherein the at least one inner conductor extends through the laminate layer and the first end of the at least one inner conductor terminates at and is electrically connected to the circuit layer.

18. The antenna according to claim 17, wherein the circuit layer processes electrical energy to excite the patch element when transmitting or processes electrical energy excited in the integrated circuit by the patch element when receiving.

19. The antenna according to claim 17, wherein the circuit layer comprises a power divider for dividing power into two or more paths with each of the two or more paths imparting a pre-determined phase shift and each of the two or more paths exciting the patch element at a different section of the patch element for the purpose of transmitting a circularly polarized elecromagnetic wave or for combining power from two more paths with each of the two or more paths having been excited from a different section of the patch element and each of the two or more paths imparting a pre-determined phase shift for the purpose of receiving a circularly polarized electromagnetic wave.

20. The antenna according to claim 17, further comprising at least one electrical connection means for electrically connecting the circuit layer to the ground plane, wherein the at least one electrical connection means extends through and is not electrically connected to the patch element, and wherein the at least one electrical connection means is positioned at a predetermined location on the antenna.

21. The antenna according to claim 20, wherein the at least one electrical connection means extends through the patch element by means of at least one clearance in the patch element.

22. The antenna according to claim 13, wherein the integrated circuit is formed of a ground layer attached and electrically connected to the patch element, a laminate layer attached to the ground layer, and a circuit layer attached to the laminate layer, wherein the at least one inner conductor extends through and is not electrically connected to the ground layer, wherein the at least one inner conductor extends through the laminate layer and the first end of the at least one inner conductor terminates at and is electrically connected to the circuit layer.

23. The antenna according to claim 22, further comprising at least one electrical connection means for electrically connecting the circuit layer to the ground plane, wherein the at least one electrical connection means extends through the laminate layer, wherein the at least one electrical connection means extends through and is not electrically connected to the patch element and ground layer, and wherein the at least one electrical connection means is positioned at a predetermined location on the antenna.

24. The antenna according to claim 23, wherein the at least one electrical connection means extends through the patch element and ground layer by means of at least one clearance in the patch element and ground layer.

25. The antenna according to claim 13, further comprising at least one dielectric spacer sandwiched between the at least one outer conductor and the at least one inner conductor from the second end of the at least one inner conductor to the patch element.

26. The antenna according to claim 25,

wherein the at least one outer conductor is formed of:

a first outer conductor attached and electrically connected to the ground plane on a first end of the first outer conductor, where the first outer conductor concentrically surrounds the at least one inner conductor from the second end of the at least one inner conductor available for electrical connectivity to the ground plane, and wherein the first outer conductor is available for electrical connectivity on a second end of the first outer conductor, and

a second outer conductor attached and electrically connected to the ground plane on a first end of the second outer conductor, wherein the second outer conductor is attached and electrically connected to the patch element on a second end of the second outer conductor, wherein the second outer conductor concentrically surrounds the at least one inner conductor from the ground plane to the patch element, and

wherein the at least one dielectric spacer is formed of;

a first dielectric spacer sandwiched between the first outer conductor and the at least one inner conductor, and

a second dielectric spacer sandwiched between the second outer conductor and the at least one inner conductor.

27. An antenna having a resonant electric field structure comprising:

a substrate having a top surface, a bottom surface, a predetermined thickness, and a predetermined dielectric constant;

a patch element attached to the top surface of the substrate wherein the patch element is comprised of a first conductive material;

a ground plane attached to the bottom surface of the substrate, wherein the ground plane is comprised of a second conductive material;

an integrated circuit attached to the patch element;

at least one inner conductor electrically connected to and terminating at the integrated circuit on a first end of the at least one inner conductor, wherein the at least one inner conductor is available for electrical connectivity on a second end of the at least one inner conductor, wherein the at least one inner conductor extends through the ground plane, substrate, and patch element but is not electrically connected to the ground plane and patch element; and

an outer conductor electrically connected to and terminating at the patch element on a first end of the outer conductor, wherein the outer conductor is electrically connected to and extends through the ground plane, wherein the outer conductor extends through the substrate, wherein the outer conductor is available for electrical connectivity on a second end of the outer conductor, and wherein the outer conductor concentrically surrounds the at least one inner conductor from the second end of the at least one inner conductor to the patch element.

28. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the at least one inner conductor and the outer conductor are positioned where the magnitude of the resonant electric field structure, in the absence of the at least one inner conductor and the outer conductor, is about zero.

29. The antenna according to claim 27, wherein the at least one outer conductor is positioned to establish a null in the resonant electric field structure by creating a short circuit between the patch element and the ground plane.

30. The antenna according to claim 27, further comprising at least one electrical connection means for electrically connecting the integrated circuit to the ground plane, wherein the at least one electrical connection means extends through the substrate and patch element, and wherein the at least one electrical connection means is not electrically connected to the patch element.

31. The antenna according to claim 27, wherein the predetermined dielectric constant is from about 1 to about 200.

32. The antenna according to claim 27, wherein the substrate has an ellipsoidal, rectilinear, arbitrary, or asymmetrical shape with a predetermined thickness.

33. The antenna according to claim 27, wherein the ground plane has an ellipsoidal, rectilinear, arbitrary, or asymmetrical shape with a predetermined thickness.

34. The antenna according to claim 27, wherein the patch element has an ellipsoidal, rectilinear, arbitrary, or asymmetrical shape with a predetermined thickness.

35. The antenna according to claim 27, wherein the ground plane is attached to the bottom surface of the substrate and the patch element is attached to the top surface of the substrate by diffusion bonding means, electro-deposition means, standard printed circuit means, etching means, adhesive means, mechanical attachment, or plating means.

36. An antenna having a resonant electric field structure comprising:

a substrate having a top surface, a bottom surface, a predetermined thickness, and a predetermined dielectric constant;

a patch element attached to the top surface of the substrate wherein the patch element is comprised of a first conductive material;

a ground plane attached the bottom surface of the substrate, wherein the ground plane is comprised of a second conductive material;

an integrated circuit attached to the patch element;

at least one inner conductor electrically connected to and terminating at the integrated circuit on a first end of the at least one inner conductor, wherein the at least one inner conductor is available for electrical connectivity on a second end of the at least one inner conductor, wherein the at least one inner conductor extends through the ground plane, substrate, and patch element but not electrically connected to the ground plane and patch element, and wherein the at least one inner conductor forms an electrical path from the second end of the at least one inner conductor available for electrical connectivity to the integrated circuit;

at least one outer conductor electrically connected to and terminating at the patch element on a first end of the at least one outer conductor, wherein the at least one outer conductor is available for electrical connectivity on a second end of the at least one outer conductor, wherein the at least one outer conductor is electrically connected to the ground plane, wherein the at least one outer conductor extends through the substrate, wherein the at least one outer conductor concentrically surrounds the at least one inner conductor from the second end of the at least one inner conductor available for electrical connectivity to the patch element, and wherein the at least one outer conductor forms an electrical path from the second end of the at least one outer conductor available for electrical connectivity to the patch element; and

at least one dielectric spacer sandwiched between the at least one outer conductor and the at least one inner conductor from the second end of the at least one inner conductor available for electrical connectivity to the patch element.

37. The antenna according to claim 36, wherein the at least one outer conductor is formed of:

a first outer conductor attached and electrically connected to the ground plane on a first end of the first outer conductor, wherein the first outer conductor is available for electrical connectivity on a second end of the first outer conductor, wherein the first outer conductor concentrically surrounds the at least one inner conductor from the second end of the at least one inner conductor available for electrical connectivity to the ground plane, and

a second outer conductor attached and electrically connected to the ground plane on a first end of the second outer conductor, wherein the second outer conductor is attached and electrically connected to the patch element on a second end of the second outer conductor, wherein the second outer conductor extends through the substrate and concentrically surrounding the at least one inner conductor from the ground plane to the patch element, and wherein the at least one dielectric spacer is formed of;

a first dielectric spacer sandwiched between the first outer conductor and the at least one inner conductor, and

a second dielectric spacer sandwiched between the second outer conductor and the at least one inner conductor.

38. An antenna having a resonant electric field structure comprising:

a substrate having a top surface, bottom surface, predetermined thickness, and predetermined dielectric constant;

a patch clement attached to the top surface of the substrate wherein the patch element is comprised of a first conductive material;

a ground plane attached the bottom surface of the substrate, wherein the ground plane is comprised of a second conductive material;

an integrated circuit attached to the patch element;

at least one electrical connection means for electrically connecting the integrated circuit to the ground plane wherein each electrical connection means extends through the substrate at a predetermined position, wherein each electrical connection means extends through the patch element but is not electrically connected to the patch element;

at least one inner conductor electrically connected to and terminating at the integrated circuit on a first end of the at least one inner conductor, wherein the at least one inner conductor is available for electrical connectivity on a second end of the at least one inner conductor, wherein the at least one inner conductor extends through the ground plane, substrate, and patch element but not electrically connected to the ground plane and patch element, and wherein the at least one inner conductor forms an electrical path from the second end of the at least one inner conductor available for electrical connectivity to the integrated circuit; and

at least one outer conductor electrically connected to and terminating at the patch element on a first end of the at least one outer conductor, wherein the at least one outer conductor is electrically connected to the ground plane, wherein the at least one outer conductor extends through the substrate, wherein the at least one outer conductor concentrically surrounds the at least one inner conductor from the second end of at least one inner conductor available for electrical connectivity to the patch element, wherein the at least one outer conductor is available for electrical connectivity on a second end of the at least one outer conductor, and wherein the at least one outer conductor forms an electrical path from the second end of the at least one outer conductor available for electrical connectivity to the patch element.

39. The antenna according to claim 38, wherein the integrated circuit is attached to the patch element by electrically bonded means, adhesive means, or mechanical attachment means.

40. The antenna according to claim 38, wherein the integrated circuit is selected from a group consisting of a filter, power divider, amplifier, phase shifter, and transmission line.

41. The antenna according to claim 38, wherein the first conductive material of the patch element is a conductive metal or alloy.

42. The antenna according to claim 38, wherein the second conductive material of the ground plane is a conductive metal or alloy.

43. The antenna according to claim 38, wherein the first conductive material of the patch element is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, copper, brass, gold, silver, tin, and nickel.

44. The antenna according to claim 38, wherein the second conductive material of the ground plane is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, copper, brass, gold, silver, tin, and nickel.

45. The antenna according to claim 38, further comprising a connection means for connecting the at least one outer conductor to the ground plane.

46. The antenna according to claim 38, further comprising at least one dielectric spacer sandwiched between the at least one outer conductor and the at least one inner conductor.

47. An antenna having a resonant electric field structure comprising:

a substrate having a predetermined dielectric constant;

a patch element attached to the substrate;

a ground plane attached to the substrate, wherein the ground plane is comprised of a conductive material;

an integrated circuit attached to the patch element;

a via electrically connected to the integrated circuit and ground plane;

an inner conductor electrically connected to and terminating at the integrated circuit on a first end of the inner conductor, wherein the inner conductor is available for electrical connectivity on a second end of the inner conductor, wherein the inner conductor extends through the ground plane, substrate, and patch element but is not electrically connected to the ground plane or patch element, and wherein the at least one inner conductor forms an electrical path from the second end of the at least one inner conductor available for electrical connectivity to the integrated circuit; and

an outer conductor electrically connected to and terminating at the patch element on a first end of the outer conductor, wherein the outer conductor is electrically connected to and extends through the ground plane, wherein the outer conductor extends through the substrate, wherein the outer conductor is available for electrical connectivity on a second end of the outer conductor, wherein the outer conductor concentrically surrounds the inner conductor from the second end of the inner conductor to the patch element, and wherein the outer conductor forms an electrical path from the second end of the at least one outer conductor available for electrical connectivity to the patch element.

48. The antenna according to claim 47, wherein the inner conductor and the outer conductor are positioned where the magnitude of the resonant electric field structure, in the absence of the outer conductor and the inner conductor, is about zero.

49. The antenna according to claim 47, wherein the outer conductor is positioned to establish a null in the resonant electric field structure by creating a short circuit between the patch element and the ground plane.

50. The antenna according to claim 47, wherein the via is a manual via.

51. The antenna according to claim 47, wherein the via is a plated via.

52. The antenna according to claim 47, wherein the integrated circuit is a stripline circuit.

53. The antenna according to claim 47, wherein the integrated circuit is a microstrip line circuit.

54. The antenna according to claim 47, further comprising a dielectric spacer sandwiched between the outer conductor and inner conductor from the second end of the inner conductor to the patch element.

55. An antenna, having a resonant electric field structure and electrically connected to a device, comprising:

a substrate having a predetermined dielectric constant;

a patch element attached to the substrate wherein the patch element incorporates at least one aperture at a predetermined location;

a ground plane attached to the substrate, wherein the ground plane is comprised of a conductive material;

an integrated circuit attached to the patch element; and

a feed means for transferring electrical energy from the device to the patch element and integrated circuit or vice versa or both having at least one outer conductor and at least one inner conductor, wherein the at least one inner conductor is electrically connected to and terminates at the integrated circuit on a first end of the at least one inner conductor, wherein the at least one inner conductor is electrically connected to the device on a second end of the at least one inner conductor, wherein the at least one inner conductor extends through the ground plane, substrate, and patch element but is not electrically connected to the ground plane and patch element, wherein the at least one inner conductor forms an electrical path from the second end of the at least one inner conductor to the integrated circuit, wherein the at least one outer conductor is electrically connected to and terminates at the patch element on a first end of the at least one outer conductor, wherein the at least one outer conductor is electrically connected to the ground plane, wherein the at least one outer conductor extends through the substrate, wherein the at least one outer conductor is electrically connected to the device on a second end of the at least one outer conductor, wherein the at least one outer conductor concentrically surrounds the at least one inner conductor from the second end of the at least one inner conductor to the patch element, and wherein the at least one outer conductor forms an electrical path from the second end of the at least one outer conductor to the patch element.

56. The antenna according to claim 55, wherein the feed means is positioned where the magnitude of the resonant electric field structure, in the absence of the feed means, is about zero.

57. The antenna according to claim 55, wherein the at least one outer conductor is positioned to establish a null in the resonant electric field structure by creating a short circuit between the patch element and the ground plane.

58. The antenna according to claim 55, wherein each aperture has an ellipsoidal cross-sectional shape.

59. The antenna according to claim 55, wherein each aperture has a circular cross-sectional shape.

60. The antenna according to claim 55, wherein each aperture has a rectilinear cross-sectional shape.

61. The antenna according to claim 55, wherein each aperture is incorporated in the patch element by press punching means, etching means, printed circuit means, or drilling means.

62. The antenna according to claim 55, wherein the integrated circuit is formed of a laminate layer connected to the patch element and a circuit layer attached to the laminate layer.

63. An antenna, having a resonant electric field structure and electrically connected to a device, comprising:

a first substrate having a predetermined first dielectric constant;

a first ground plane attached to the first substrate;

a first patch element attached to the first substrate wherein the first patch element incorporates at least one first patch element (FPE) aperture;

an integrated circuit attached to the first patch element;

a second laminate layer attached to the integrated circuit;

a second ground plane attached to the second laminate layer wherein the second ground plane incorporates at least one second ground plane (SGP) aperture;

a second substrate having predetermined second dielectric constant attached to the second ground plane;

a second patch element attached to the second substrate; and

a feed means for transferring electrical energy from the device to the first patch element and integrated circuit or vice versa or both having at least one outer conductor and at least one inner conductor, wherein the at least one inner conductor is electrically connected to and terminates at the integrated circuit at a first end of the at least one inner conductor, wherein the at least one inner conductor is electrically connected to the device on a second end of the at least one inner conductor, wherein the at least one inner conductor extends through the first ground plane, the first substrate, and the first patch element but is not electrically connected to the first ground plane and first patch element, wherein at the at least one inner conductor forms an electrical path from the second end of the at least one inner conductor to the integrated circuit, wherein the at least one outer conductor is electrically connected to and terminates at the first patch clement on a first end of the at least one outer conductor, wherein the at least one outer conductor is electrically connected to the first ground plane, wherein the at least one outer conductor extends through the first substrate, wherein the at least one outer conductor is electrically connected to the device on a second end of the at least one outer conductor, wherein the at least one outer conductor concentrically surrounds the at least one inner conductor from the second end of at least one inner conductor to the first;

patch element, and wherein at the at least one outer conductor forms an electrical path from the second end of the at least one outer conductor to the first patch element.

64. The antenna according to claim 63, wherein the integrated circuit is formed of a first laminate layer attached to the first patch element and a circuit layer attached to the first laminate layer.

65. An antenna, having a resonant electric field structure and electrically connected to a device, comprising:

a first substrate having a predetermined first dielectric constant;

a first ground plane attached to the first substrate;

a first patch element attached to the first substrate wherein the first patch element incorporates an aperture;

an integrated circuit attached to the first patch element;

a laminate layer attached to the integrated circuit;

a second ground plane attached to the laminate layer, a second substrate having predetermined second dielectric constant attached to the second ground plane;

a second patch element attached to the second substrate;

at least one electrical connection means for electrically connecting the integrated circuit to the second patch element wherein the at least one electrical connection means extends through the second substrate at a predetermined position, wherein the at least one electrical connection means extends through the second ground plane and is not electrically connected to the second ground plane, and wherein the at least one electrical connection means extends through the laminate layer; and

a feed means for transferring electrical energy from the device to the first patch element and integrated circuit or vice versa or both having at least one outer conductor and at least one inner conductor, wherein the at least one inner conductor is electrically connected to and terminates at the integrated circuit on a first end of the at least one inner conductor, wherein the at least one inner conductor is electrically connected to the device on a second end of the at least one inner conductor, wherein the at least one inner conductor extends through the first ground plane, the first substrate, and the first patch element but is not electrically connected to the first ground plane and first patch element, wherein the at least one inner conductor forms an electrical path from the second end of at least one inner conductor to the integrated circuit, wherein the at least one outer conductor is electrically connected to and terminates at the first patch element on a first end of the at least one outer conductor, wherein the at least one outer conductor is electrically connected to the first ground plane, wherein the at least one outer conductor extends through the first substrate, wherein the at least one outer conductor is electrically connected to the device on a second end of the at least one outer conductor, wherein the at least one outer conductor concentrically surrounds the at least one inner conductor from the second end of the at least one inner conductor to the first patch element, and wherein the at least one outer conductor forms an electrical path from the second end of the at least one outer conductor to the first patch element.

66. An antenna, having a resonant electric field structure and electrically connected to a device, comprising:

a first substrate having a predetermined first dielectric constant;

a first ground plane attached to the first substrate;

a first patch element attached to the first substrate;

an integrated circuit attached to the first patch element;

a laminate layer attached to the integrated circuit;

a second ground plane attached to the laminate layer wherein the second ground plane incorporates at least one aperture;

a second substrate having predetermined second dielectric constant attached to the second ground plane;

a second patch element attached to the second substrate;

at least one electrical connection means for electrically connecting the integrated circuit to the first ground plane wherein the at least one electrical connection means extends through the first substrate at a predetermined position, and wherein the at least one electrical connection means extends through the first patch element and is not electrically connected to the first patch element; and

a feed means for transferring electrical energy from the device to the patch element and integrated circuit or vice versa or both having at least one outer conductor and at least one inner conductor, wherein the at least one inner conductor is electrically connected to and terminates at the integrated circuit on a first end of the at least one inner conductor, wherein the at least one inner conductor is electrically connected to the device on a second end of the at least one inner conductor, wherein the at least one inner conductor extends through the first ground plane, the first substrate, and the first patch element but is not electrically connected to the first ground plane and first patch clement, wherein the at least one inner conductor forms an electrical path from the second end of the at least one inner conductor to the integrated circuit, wherein the at least one outer conductor is electrically connected to and terminates at the first patch element on a first end of the at least one outer conductor, wherein the at least one outer conductor is electrically connected to the first ground plane, wherein the at least one outer conductor extends through the first substrate, wherein the at least one outer conductor is electrically connected to the device on a second end of the at least one outer conductor, wherein the at least one outer conductor concentrically surrounds the at least one inner conductor from the second end of the at least one inner conductor to the first patch element, and wherein the at least one outer conductor forms an electrical path from the second end of the at least one outer conductor to the first patch element.

67. An antenna, having a resonant electric field structure and electrically connected to a device, comprising:

a first substrate having a predetermined first dielectric constant;

a first ground plane attached to the first substrate;

a first patch clement attached to the first substrate;

an integrated circuit attached to the patch element;

a laminate layer attached to the integrated circuit;

a second ground plane attached to the laminate layer;

a second substrate having predetermined second dielectric constant attached to the second ground plane layer;

a second patch element attached to the second substrate;

at least one first electrical connection means for electrically connecting the integrated circuit to;

the first ground plane wherein the at least one first electrical connection means extends through the first substrate at a predetermined position, and wherein the at least one first electrical connection means extends through the first patch element and is not electrically connected to the first patch element;

at least one second electrical connection means for electrically connecting the integrated circuit to the second patch element wherein the at least one second electrical connection means extends through the second substrate at a predetermined position, wherein the at least one second electrical connection means extends through the second ground plane and is not electrically connected to the second ground plane, and wherein the at least one second electrical connection means extends through the laminate layer; and

a feed means for transferring electrical energy from the device to the first patch element and integrated circuit or vice versa or both having at least one outer conductor and at least one inner conductor, wherein the at least one inner conductor is electrically connected to and terminates at the integrated circuit on a first end of the at least one inner conductor, wherein the at least one inner conductor is electrically connected to the device on a second end of the at least one inner conductor, wherein the at least one inner conductor extends through the first ground plane, the first substrate, and the first patch element but is not electrically connected to the first ground plane and first patch element, wherein the at least one inner conductor forms an electrical path from the second end of the at least one inner conductor to the integrated circuit, wherein the at least one outer conductor is electrically connected to and terminates at the first patch element on a first end of the at least one outer conductor, wherein the at least one outer conductor is electrically connected to the first ground plane, wherein the at least one outer conductor extends through the first substrate, wherein the at least one outer conductor is electrically connected to the device on a second end of the at least one outer conductor, wherein the at least one outer conductor concentrically surrounds the at least one inner conductor from the second end of the at least one inner conductor to the first patch element, and wherein the at least one outer conductor forms an electrical path from the second end of the at least one outer conductor to the first patch element.

68. An antenna, having a resonant electric field structure and electrically connected to a device, comprising:

a substrate having a predetermined first dielectric constant;

a ground plane attached to the substrate;

a patch element attached to the substrate;

an integrated circuit attached to the patch element;

a capacitive feed plate embedded in the substrate;

a capacitive load embedded in the substrate;

a first electrical connection means for electrically connecting the integrated circuit to the capacitive feed plate wherein the first electrical connection means extends through the first substrate at a predetermined position, and wherein the first electrical connection means extends through the patch element and is not electrically connected to the patch element;

a second electrical connection means for electrically connecting the patch element to the capacitive load wherein the second electrical connection means extends through the substrate at a predetermined position; and

a feed means for transferring electrical energy from the device to the patch element and integrated circuit or vice versa or both having at least one outer conductor and at least one inner conductor, wherein the at least one inner conductor is electrically connected to and terminates at the integrated circuit on a first end of the at least one inner conductor, wherein the at least one inner conductor is electrically connected to the device on a second end of the at least one inner conductor, wherein the at least one inner conductor extends through the ground plane, the substrate, and the patch element but is not electrically connected to the ground plane and patch element, wherein the at least one inner conductor forms an electrical path from the second end of the at least one inner conductor to the integrated circuit, wherein the at least one outer conductor is electrically connected to and terminates at the patch element on a first end of the at least one outer conductor, wherein the at least one outer conductor is electrically connected to the first ground plane, wherein the at least one outer conductor extends through the first substrate, wherein the at least one outer conductor is electrically connected to the device on a second end of the at least one outer conductor, wherein the at least one outer conductor concentrically surrounds the at least one inner conductor from the second end of the at least one inner conductor to the first patch element, and wherein the at least one outer conductor forms an electrical path from the second end of the at least one outer conductor to the first patch element.

69. The antenna according to claim 68, wherein the at least one outer conductor is positioned to establish a null in the resonant electric field structure by creating a short circuit between the patch element and the ground plane.

70. The antenna according to claim 68, wherein the at least one outer conductor is formed of:

a first outer conductor attached and electrically connected to the ground plane on a first end of the first outer conductor, wherein the first outer conductor is electrically connected to the device on a second end of the first outer conductor, wherein the first outer conductor concentrically surrounds the at least one inner conductor from the second end of the at least one inner conductor to the ground plane, and

a second outer conductor attached and electrically connected to the ground plane on a first end of the second outer conductor, wherein the second outer conductor is attached and electrically connected to the patch element on a second end of the second outer conductor, wherein the second outer conductor extends through the substrate and concentrically surrounding the at least one inner conductor from the ground plane to the patch element.