Integrated waveguide antenna array

• US 7,554,505 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Issued: 06/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ORR Partners I,. L.P.
• Original Assignee: Wavebender, Inc.
• Inventors: Haziza, Dedi David
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Hoang V
• Application Number:
  US11/932,476
• Publication Number:
  US 20080048922A1
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: 343/772, 343/786, 343/776, 333/6, 333/21.R, 333/98.R, 333/73.W
• US Class Current: 343/786
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/00 Waveguide horns or mouths; Slot antennas; Leaky-waveguide antennas; Equivalent structures causing radiation along the transmission path of a guided wave
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/0225 of non-circular cross-section H01Q13/0216 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/0241 radiating a circularly polarised wave H01Q13/0258 takes precedence; polarisation converters H01Q15/244, in a waveguide H01P1/17
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/0043 Slotted waveguides combination with horns H01Q13/0233
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/005 Slotted waveguides arrays

Abstract

An antenna array is provided having a waveguide cavity. The waveguide cavity has a plurality of holes formed on the top surface thereof. Radiating elements are provided on the top surface, each about one of the holes. A radiation source coupled planar wave radiation through an opening in one of the sides of the waveguide cavity.

Claims

1. An antenna comprising:

a parallel plate waveguide cavity having a planar top surface, a planar bottom surface parallel to the top surface, and a sidewall, the top surface having a plurality of holes provided thereupon;

a plurality of radiating elements, each element comprising a tubular conductor extending from the top surface and positioned at a perimeter of one of the plurality of holes; and

a planar wave radiation source coupling planar radiation energy through an opening in the sidewall.

2. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the tubular conductor is has a conical shape.

3. The antenna of claim 2, wherein the tubular conductor further comprises slots for introducing a phase shift to a planar wave propagating in the tubular conductor.

4. The antenna of claim 2, wherein the tubular conductor further comprises a retarder for introducing a phase shift to a planar wave propagating in the tubular conductor.

5. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the tubular conductor has a square cross-section.

6. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the tubular conductor has a rectangular cross section.

7. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the tubular conductor has a cross-shaped cross section.

8. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the radiating elements are arranged in n rows and m columns.

9. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the sidewall is polygonal.

10. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the sidewall is curved.

11. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the radiation source comprises a sectoral horn.

12. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the radiation source comprises a curved reflector.

13. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the radiation source comprises a slotted waveguide array.

14. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the radiation source comprises a microstrip.

15. A two-dimensional antenna array, comprising:

a square waveguide cavity having a square top surface, a square bottom surface, and a sidewall bounding at least two sides of the waveguide, the top surface having a plurality of holes provided thereupon, the holes arranged in equal number of rows and columns;

a plurality of radiating elements, each element comprising a tubular conductor extending from the top surface and positioned about one of the plurality of holes; and

a planar wave radiation source coupling planar radiation energy through one side of the wave guide.

16. The antenna array of claim 15, further comprising a second planar wave radiation source coupling a planar wave through a second side of the waveguide.

17. The antenna array of claim 16, wherein the planar wave radiation source couples a horizontally polarized planar wave and the second planar wave radiation source couples a vertically polarized planar wave.

18. The antenna array of claim 15, wherein each of the radiating elements comprises a circularly polarizing element.

19. The antenna array of claim 15, wherein the radiating elements are equally spaced apart.

20. The antenna array of claim 15, wherein the radiation source comprises one of:

a microstrip, a slotted waveguide, a sectoral horn, and a curved reflector.