Array antenna with dual polarization and method

• US 7,138,952 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2005
• Issued: 11/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Mcgrath, Daniel T., Shively, Timothy H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Tan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vy, Hung Tran
• Application Number:
  US11/032,914
• Publication Number:
  US 20060152426A1
• Time in Patent Office: 679 Days
• Field of Search: 343/700.MS, 343/853, 343/893, 343/770
• US Class Current: 343/751
• 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 13/085 Slot-line radiating ends
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/24 Combinations of antenna units polarised in different directions for transmitting or receiving circularly and elliptically polarised waves or waves linearly polarised in any direction circularly polarised patch antennas H01Q9/0428; circularly polarised horns H01Q13/0241; cross-polarised horns H01Q13/0258; polarisation converters H01Q15/242; cross-polarised rear feeds H01Q19/136; crossed polarisation dual antenna H01Q25/001
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/30 with feed to end of elongated active element, e.g. unipole H01Q9/44 takes precedence

Abstract

According to one embodiment of the invention, an array antenna includes a substrate body, a first antenna element, and a second antenna element. The first antenna element is coupled to the substrate body and is operable to transmit or receive a first signal. The second antenna element is coupled to the substrate body and is operable to transmit or receive a second signal. The first antenna element is of a different type than the second antenna element. The direction of polarization of the first signal is different than the direction of polarization of the second signal.

Claims

1. An array antenna comprising:

at least one substrate body;

a plurality of first antenna elements that are not monopole radiators, the plurality of first antenna elements coupled to the at least one substrate body and operable to transmit or receive a first signal;

a plurality of second antenna element elements that are monopole radiators, the plurality of second antenna elements coupled to the at least one substrate body and operable to transmit or receive a second signal;

wherein

the plurality of first antenna elements is of a different type than the plurality of second antenna elements, and

the direction of polarization of the first signal is different than the direction of polarization of the second signal.

2. The array antenna of claim 1, wherein the direction of polarization of the first signal is orthogonal to the direction of polarization of the second signal.

3. The array antenna of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first antenna elements is a flared notch radiator and the plurality of second antenna elements is not a flared notch radiator.

4. The array antenna of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first antenna elements is a flared notch radiator.

5. The array antenna of claim 4, wherein:

the at least one substrate body includes a circuit board,

the flared notch radiator is embedded in the circuit board, and

the monopole radiator is affixed to the circuit board.

6. The array antenna of claim 4, wherein the flared notch is formed into the edge of a metal plate.

7. The array antenna of claim 1, further comprising:

a first feed line and a second feed line, wherein

the first and second feed lines are embedded in the at least one substrate body, and

the first and second feed lines are operable to provide radio frequency signals to the first and second types of antenna elements.

8. The array antenna of claim 7, wherein the first and second feed lines are strip line feeds.

9. The array antenna of claim 7, wherein the first and second feed lines are microstrip feeds.

10. An array antenna comprising:

a substrate body;

a plurality of first antenna elements that are not monopole radiators, the plurality of first antenna elements coupled to the substrate body and operable to transmit or receive a first signal having a first polarization;

a plurality of second antenna elements that are monopole radiators, the plurality of second antenna elements coupled to the substrate body and operable to transmit or receive a second signal having a second polarization;

wherein

the plurality of first antenna elements is of a different type than the plurality of second antenna elements, and

the direction of the second polarization of the second signal is different than the direction of the first polarization of the first signal.

11. The array antenna of claim 10, wherein the direction of the first polarization of the first signal is orthogonal to the direction of the second polarization of the second signal.

12. The array antenna of claim 10, wherein the plurality of first antenna elements is a flared notch radiator and the plurality of second antenna elements is not a flared notch radiator.

13. The array antenna of claim 10, wherein the plurality of first antenna elements is a flared notch radiator.

14. The array antenna of claim 13, wherein

the substrate body includes a circuit board,

the flared notch radiator is embedded in the circuit board, and

the monopole radiator is affixed to the circuit board.

15. The array antenna of claim 10, further comprising:

a first feed line and a second feed line, wherein

the first and second feed lines are embedded in the substrate body, and

the first and second feed lines are operable to provide radio frequency signals to the first and second antenna elements.