Microstrip array antenna

• US 7,705,782 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2002
• Issued: 04/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Southern Methodist University
• Original Assignee: Southern Methodist University
• Inventors: Lee, Choon Sae
• Primary Examiner(s): Wimer; Michael C
• Application Number:
  US10/278,252
• Publication Number:
  US 20040080455A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,743 Days
• Field of Search: 343/700.MS, 343/853, 333/116
• US Class Current: 343/700.0MS
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/065 Patch antenna array

Abstract

A microstrip antenna has a single dielectric layer with a conductive ground plane disposed on one side, and an array of spaced apart radiating patches disposed on the other side of the dielectric layer. The radiating patches are interconnected with a feed terminal via stripline elements. Responsive to electromagnetic energy, a high-order standing wave is induced in the antenna and a directed beam is transmitted from and/or received into the antenna. A dual-mode embodiment is configured such that standing wave nodes occur at the intersection of orthogonally situated striplines to minimize cross-polarization levels of the signals and the cross-talk between the two modes of operation.

Claims

1. An antenna (100-3300), comprising:

a dielectric layer defining a first side and a second side;

one or more conductive ground plane elements disposed on the first side of the dielectric layer;

a two-dimensional array of spaced-apart, radiating patches disposed on the second side of the dielectric layer;

one or more microstrips disposed on the second side of the dielectric layer and connected directly to at least one corner of each of a plurality of immediately adjacent patches, such that each of the patches is directly coupled electrically to immediately adjacent patches in each of the two dimensions, wherein the one or more microstrips, the one or more ground plane elements, and the plurality of patches are at least configured to form at least one resonant cavity and wherein a standing wave is formed in the at least one resonant cavity whereby at least one node of the standing wave exists along at least a portion of the one or more microstrips and wherein the dielectric layer, the one or more ground plane elements, the plurality of patches and the one or more microstrips act collectively as a resonator.

2. The antenna (100-3300) of claim 1, wherein the patches and microstrips are sized and positioned so that, responsive to electromagnetic energy, a high-order standing wave is induced in the antenna.

3. The antenna (100-3300) of claim 1 wherein the antenna is planar.

4. The antenna (100-1800) of claim 1, further comprising at least one feeding means electrically connected to the one or more ground plane elements and at least one patch for feeding electromagnetic energy to and/or extracting electromagnetic energy from the antenna.

5. The antenna (100-1800) of claim 1, further comprising at least one feeding means having a first conducting element electrically connected to the one or more ground plane elements and a second conducting element electrically connected to at least one patch for feeding electromagnetic energy to and/or extracting electromagnetic energy from the antenna.

6. The antenna (100-1800) of claim 1, further comprising at least one of a probe, an SMA probe, an aperture-coupled line, and a microstrip electrically connected to the one or more ground plane elements and at least one patch for feeding electromagnetic energy to and/or extracting electromagnetic energy from the antenna.

7. The antenna (100-1800) of claim 1, further comprising at least two feeding means, each of which comprise one of a probe, an SMA probe, an aperture-coupled line, and a microstrip, each of which feeding means are orthogonally electrically connected to the one or more ground plane elements and at least one patch for feeding electromagnetic energy to and/or extracting electromagnetic energy from the antenna.

8. The antenna (100-1300) of claim 1, wherein the patches are arranged in a square array of equal rows and columns.

9. The antenna (100) of claim 1, further comprising at least one tuning stub disposed on the second side of the dielectric layer and extending substantially perpendicularly from at least one of said at least one microstrips.

10. The antenna (1900-3300) of claim 1, further comprising the at least one feeding means electrically connected to the ground plane elements and through at least one transmission line and at least one microstrip to at least one patch for feeding electromagnetic energy to and/or extracting electromagnetic energy from the antenna.

11. The antenna (1900-3300) of claim 1, further comprising the at least one feeding means having a first conducting element electrically connected to the ground plane elements and a second conducting element electrically connected through at least one transmission line and at least one microstrip to at least one patch for feeding electromagnetic energy to and/or extracting electromagnetic energy from the antenna.

12. The antenna (1900-3300) of claim 1, further comprising at least one of a probe, an SMA probe, an aperture-coupled line, and a microstrip electrically connected to the one or more ground plane elements and through at least one transmission line and at least one microstrip to at least one patch for feeding electromagnetic energy to and/or extracting electromagnetic energy from the antenna.

13. The antenna (2300, 2900, 3200) of claim 1, further comprising at least two feeding means, each of which comprise one of a probe, an SMA probe, an aperture-coupled line, and a microstrip, each of which feeding means are orthogonally electrically connected to the one or more ground plane elements and through at least one transmission line and at least one microstrip to at least one patch for feeding electromagnetic energy to and/or extracting electromagnetic energy from the antenna.

14. The antenna (1900, 2100, 2500) of claim 1, further comprising at least one feeding means electrically connected to the one or more ground plane elements and through a transmission line connected to a plurality of microstrips connected to at least one corner of at least one patch for feeding electromagnetic energy to and/or extracting electromagnetic energy from the antenna.

15. The antenna (1900, 2500) of claim 1, further comprising at least one feeding means electrically connected to the one or more ground plane elements and through a transmission line connected to a plurality of microstrips connected to at least one corner of at least one patch for feeding electromagnetic energy to and/or extracting electromagnetic energy from the antenna, and wherein the transmission line is centrally disposed on the second side of the dielectric layer.

16. The antenna (2100) of claim 1, further comprising at least one feeding means electrically connected to the one or more ground plane elements and through a transmission line connected to a plurality of microstrips connected to at least one corner of at least one patch for feeding electromagnetic energy to and/or extracting electromagnetic energy from the antenna, and wherein the transmission line is disposed on the second side of the dielectric layer outside the array of patches.

17. The antenna (100-3300) of claim 1, wherein the one or more microstrips are substantially uninterrupted by the plurality of patches.

18. The antenna (100-3300) of claim 1, wherein the standing wave formed in the at least one resonant cavity is two-dimensional.

19. The antenna (100-3300) of claim 1, wherein the one or more microstrips are substantially uninterrupted by the plurality of patches, and wherein the standing wave formed in the at least one resonant cavity is two-dimensional.

20. The antenna (100-3300) of claim 1, wherein the two-dimensional array comprises four or more radiating patches.

43. The method of claim 2, wherein the intersecting conductors are microstrips.

21. An antenna (100-3300), comprising:

a dielectric layer defining a first side and a second side;

one or more conductive ground plane elements disposed on the first side of the dielectric layer;

a plurality of spaced-apart, radiating patches disposed on the second side of the dielectric layer;

one or more microstrips disposed on the second side of the dielectric layer and electrically connected to at least one corner of each patch such that the one or more microstrips are substantially uninterrupted by the plurality of patches, wherein the one or more microstrips, the one or more ground plane elements, and the plurality of patches are at least configured to form at least one resonant cavity and wherein a standing wave is formed in the at least one resonant cavity whereby at least one node of the standing wave exists along at least a portion of the one or more microstrips and wherein the dielectric layer, the one or more ground plane elements, the plurality of patches and the one or more microstrips act collectively as a resonator;

wherein the patches include at least four patches, and each patch includes first and second diametrically opposed corners and third and fourth diametrically opposed corners, and wherein the microstrips are apportioned between a first group of parallel microstrips and a second group of parallel microstrips, the microstrips in the first group of microstrips being oriented substantially perpendicular to the microstrips in the second group of microstrips, and wherein the first group of microstrips electrically interconnects together at least one of the first and second diametrically opposed corners of each of at least two of the at least four patches, and wherein the second group of microstrips electrically interconnects together at least one of the third and fourth diametrically opposed corners of each of at least two of the at least four patches.

22. An antenna (100-3300), comprising:

a dielectric layer defining a first side and a second side;

one or more conductive ground plane elements disposed on the first side of the dielectric layer;

a plurality of spaced-apart, radiating patches disposed on the second side of the dielectric layer;

one or more microstrips disposed on the second side of the dielectric layer and electrically connected to at least one corner of each patch such that the one or more microstrips are substantially uninterrupted by the plurality of patches, wherein the one or more microstrips, the one or more ground plane elements, and the plurality of patches are at least configured to form at least one resonant cavity and wherein a standing wave is formed in the at least one resonant cavity whereby at least one node of the standing wave exists along at least a portion of the one or more microstrips and wherein the dielectric layer, the one or more ground plane elements, the plurality of patches and the one or more microstrips act collectively as a resonator;

wherein the patches include at least four patches, and each patch includes first and second diametrically opposed corners and third and fourth diametrically opposed corners, and wherein the microstrips are apportioned between a first group of parallel microstrips and a second group of parallel microstrips, the microstrips in the first group of microstrips being oriented substantially perpendicular to the microstrips in the second group of microstrips, and wherein the first group of microstrips electrically interconnects together at least one of the first and second diametrically opposed corners of each of at least two of the at least four patches, and wherein the second group of microstrips electrically interconnects together at least one of the third and fourth diametrically opposed corners of each of at least two of the at least four patches, and wherein the antenna further comprises one tuning stub extending outwardly from each corner of a patch.

23. An antenna (100-3300), comprising:

a dielectric layer defining a first side and a second side;

one or more conductive ground plane elements disposed on the first side of the dielectric layer;

a plurality of spaced-apart, radiating patches disposed on the second side of the dielectric layer;

one or more microstrips disposed on the second side of the dielectric layer and electrically connected to at least one corner of each patch such that the one or more microstrips are substantially uninterrupted by the plurality of patches, wherein the one or more microstrips, the one or more ground plane elements, and the plurality of patches are at least configured to form at least one resonant cavity and wherein a standing wave is formed in the at least one resonant cavity whereby at least one node of the standing wave exists along at least a portion of the one or more microstrips and wherein the dielectric layer, the one or more ground plane elements, the plurality of patches and the one or more microstrips act collectively as a resonator;

wherein the patches include at least four patches, and each patch includes first and second diametrically opposed corners and third and fourth diametrically opposed corners, and wherein the microstrips are apportioned between a first group of parallel microstrips and a second group of parallel microstrips, the microstrips in the first group of microstrips being oriented substantially perpendicular to the microstrips in the second group of microstrips, and wherein the first group of microstrips electrically interconnects together at least one of the first and second diametrically opposed corners of each of at least two of the at least four patches, and wherein the second group of microstrips electrically interconnects together at least one of the third and fourth diametrically opposed corners of each of at least two of the at least four patches, and wherein the antenna further comprises one tuning stub extending outwardly from one corner of each of four patches toward a common point.

24. An antenna (100-3300), comprising:

a dielectric layer defining a first side and a second side;

one or more conductive ground plane elements disposed on the first side of the dielectric layer;

a plurality of spaced-apart, radiating patches disposed on the second side of the dielectric layer;

one or more microstrips disposed on the second side of the dielectric layer and electrically connected to at least one corner of each patch such that the one or more microstrips are substantially uninterrupted by the plurality of patches, wherein the one or more microstrips, the one or more ground plane elements, and the plurality of patches are at least configured to form at least one resonant cavity and wherein a standing wave is formed in the at least one resonant cavity whereby at least one node of the standing wave exists along at least a portion of the one or more microstrips and wherein the dielectric layer, the one or more ground plane elements, the plurality of patches and the one or more microstrips act collectively as a resonator;

wherein the patches include at least four patches, and each patch includes first and second diametrically opposed corners and third and fourth diametrically opposed corners, and wherein the microstrips are apportioned between a first group of parallel microstrips, a second group of parallel microstrips, and a third group of microstrips, the microstrips in the first group of microstrips being oriented substantially perpendicular to the microstrips in the second group of microstrips, the microstrips in the third group of microstrips being oriented at substantially 45°

to the microstrips in the first and second groups of microstrips, and wherein the first group of microstrips electrically interconnects together at least one of the first and second diametrically opposed corners of each of at least two of the at least four patches, and wherein the second group of microstrips electrically interconnects together at least one of the third and fourth diametrically opposed corners of each of at least two of the at least four patches, and wherein, for at least one group of four patches, the antenna further comprises one tuning stub extending outwardly toward a common point from one corner of each of the four patches constituting the at least one group of patches, and one microstrip from the third group of microstrips interconnects each tuning stub with each of two closest tuning stubs.

25. An antenna (100-3300), comprising:

a dielectric layer defining a first side and a second side;

one or more conductive ground plane elements disposed on the first side of the dielectric layer;

a plurality of spaced-apart, radiating patches disposed on the second side of the dielectric layer;

one or more microstrips disposed on the second side of the dielectric layer and electrically connected to at least one corner of each patch such that the one or more microstrips are substantially uninterrupted by the plurality of patches, wherein the one or more microstrips, the one or more ground plane elements, and the plurality of patches are at least configured to form at least one resonant cavity and wherein a standing wave is formed in the at least one resonant cavity whereby at least one node of the standing wave exists along at least a portion of the one or more microstrips and wherein the dielectric layer, the one or more ground plane elements, the plurality of patches and the one or more microstrips act collectively as a resonator;

wherein the patches include at least four patches, and each patch includes first and second diametrically opposed corners and third and fourth diametrically opposed corners, and wherein the microstrips are apportioned between a first group of parallel microstrips, a second group of parallel microstrips, and a third group of microstrips, the microstrips in the first group of microstrips being oriented substantially perpendicular to the microstrips in the second group of microstrips, the microstrips in the third group of microstrips being oriented at substantially 45°

to the microstrips in the first and second groups of microstrips; and

wherein the first group of microstrips electrically interconnects together at least one of the first and second diametrically opposed corners of each of at least two of the at least four patches, and wherein the second group of microstrips electrically interconnects together at least one of the third and fourth diametrically opposed corners of each of at least two of the at least four patches; and

wherein, for at least one first group of four patches, the antenna further comprises one short stub extending outwardly toward a common point from one corner of each of the four patches constituting the at least one group of patches, and one microstrip from the third group of microstrips interconnects each short stub with each of two closest short stubs; and

wherein, for at least one second group of four patches, the antenna further comprises one tuning stub extending outwardly toward a common point from one corner of each of the four patches constituting the at least one group of patches, and one microstrip from the third group of microstrips interconnects each tuning stub with each of two closest tuning stubs, each tuning stub extending beyond the interconnection point of the respective microstrips and tuning stubs.

26. An antenna (100-3300), comprising:

a dielectric layer defining a first side and a second side;

one or more conductive ground plane elements disposed on the first side of the dielectric layer;

a plurality of spaced-apart, radiating patches disposed on the second side of the dielectric layer;

one or more microstrips disposed on the second side of the dielectric layer and electrically connected to at least one corner of each patch such that the one or more microstrips are substantially uninterrupted by the plurality of patches, wherein the one or more microstrips, the one or more ground plane elements, and the plurality of patches are at least configured to form at least one resonant cavity and wherein a standing wave is formed in the at least one resonant cavity whereby at least one node of the standing wave exists along at least a portion of the one or more microstrips and wherein the dielectric layer, the one or more ground plane elements, the plurality of patches and the one or more microstrips act collectively as a resonator;

wherein the antenna is a linear array antenna defining a first side and a second side, and wherein the antenna includes at least three patches, each of which define first corners proximate to the first side, and second corners proximate to the second side; and

wherein, between two adjacent patches, the microstrips electrically interconnect a first corner of each patch with a second corner of the adjacent patch and those two microstrips are crisscrossed; and

wherein the antenna further comprises at least one tuning stub extending outwardly from at least one corner of one patch, which corner is also connected to a microstrip.

27. An antenna (100-3300), comprising:

a dielectric layer defining a first side and a second side;

one or more conductive ground plane elements disposed on the first side of the dielectric layer;

a plurality of spaced-apart, radiating patches disposed on the second side of the dielectric layer;

one or more microstrips disposed on the second side of the dielectric layer and electrically connected to at least one corner of each patch such that the one or more microstrips are substantially uninterrupted by the plurality of patches, wherein the one or more microstrips, the one or more ground plane elements, and the plurality of patches are at least configured to form at least one resonant cavity and wherein a standing wave is formed in the at least one resonant cavity whereby at least one node of the standing wave exists along at least a portion of the one or more microstrips and wherein the dielectric layer, the one or more ground plane elements, the plurality of patches and the one or more microstrips act collectively as a resonator;

a first feeding means electrically connected to the one or more ground plane elements and through a first transmission line connected to a plurality of substantially parallel first microstrips to at least one corner of at least one patch for feeding electromagnetic energy to and/or extracting electromagnetic energy from the antenna, wherein the first transmission line is substantially perpendicular to the first microstrips and positioned outside the plurality of patches; and

a second feeding means electrically connected to the one or more ground plane elements and through a second transmission line connected to a plurality of substantially parallel second microstrips to at least one corner of at least one patch for feeding electromagnetic energy to and/or extracting electromagnetic energy from the antenna, wherein the second transmission line is substantially perpendicular to the second microstrips and positioned outside the plurality of patches, and wherein the first microstrips are substantially perpendicular to the second microstrips.

28. An antenna (100-3300), comprising:

a dielectric layer defining a first side and a second side;

one or more conductive ground plane elements disposed on the first side of the dielectric layer;

a plurality of spaced-apart, radiating patches disposed on the second side of the dielectric layer;

one or more microstrips disposed on the second side of the dielectric layer and electrically connected to at least one corner of each patch such that the one or more microstrips are substantially uninterrupted by the plurality of patches, wherein the one or more microstrips, the one or more ground plane elements, and the plurality of patches are at least configured to form at least one resonant cavity and wherein a standing wave is formed in the at least one resonant cavity whereby at least one node of the standing wave exists along at least a portion of the one or more microstrips and wherein the dielectric layer, the one or more ground plane elements, the plurality of patches and the one or more microstrips act collectively as a resonator;

at least one feeding means electrically connected to the one or more ground plane elements and through a transmission line connected to a plurality of substantially parallel first microstrips connected to at least one first corner of each of at least one patch for feeding electromagnetic energy to and/or extracting electromagnetic energy from the antenna, and wherein the transmission line is generally centrally disposed on the second side of the dielectric layer within the plurality of patches; and

a plurality of substantially parallel second microstrips connected to at least one second corner of each of at least one patch, wherein the first microstrips are substantially perpendicular to the second microstrips, and the first corners are diametrically opposed to the second corners.

29. An antenna (100-3300), comprising:

a dielectric layer defining a first side and a second side;

one or more conductive ground plane elements disposed on the first side of the dielectric layer;

a plurality of spaced-apart, radiating patches disposed on the second side of the dielectric layer;

one or more microstrips disposed on the second side of the dielectric layer and electrically connected to at least one corner of each patch such that the one or more microstrips are substantially uninterrupted by the plurality of patches, wherein the one or more microstrips, the one or more ground plane elements, and the plurality of patches are at least configured to form at least one resonant cavity and wherein a standing wave is formed in the at least one resonant cavity whereby at least one node of the standing wave exists along at least a portion of the one or more microstrips and wherein the dielectric layer, the one or more ground plane elements, the plurality of patches and the one or more microstrips act collectively as a resonator;

a first feeding means electrically connected to the one or more ground plane elements and through a first transmission line connected to a plurality of substantially parallel first microstrips to at least one corner of at least one patch for feeding electromagnetic energy to and/or extracting electromagnetic energy from the antenna, wherein the first transmission line is substantially perpendicular to the first microstrips and generally centrally disposed on the second side of the dielectric layer within the plurality of patches; and

a second feeding means electrically connected to the ground plane and through a second transmission line connected to a plurality of substantially parallel second microstrips to at least one corner of at least one patch for feeding electromagnetic energy to and/or extracting electromagnetic energy from the antenna, wherein the second transmission line is substantially perpendicular to the second micro strips and generally centrally disposed on the second side of the dielectric layer within the plurality of patches, wherein the first microstrips are substantially perpendicular to the second microstrips, and wherein the second transmission line further comprises a bridge configured generally at the intersection of the first and second transmission lines, the bridge comprising vias extending from the second transmission line on each side of the first transmission line through apertures formed in the dielectric, the one or more ground plane elements, and a second dielectric to a microstrip disposed on the second dielectric for the transmission of electromagnetic energy across the second transmission line.

30. An antenna (100-3300), comprising:

a dielectric layer defining a first side and a second side;

one or more conductive ground plane elements disposed on the first side of the dielectric layer;

a plurality of spaced-apart, radiating patches disposed on the second side of the dielectric layer;

one or more microstrips disposed on the second side of the dielectric layer and electrically connected to at least one corner of each patch such that the one or more microstrips are substantially uninterrupted by the plurality of patches, wherein the one or more microstrips, the one or more ground plane elements, and the plurality of patches are at least configured to form at least one resonant cavity and wherein a standing wave is formed in the at least one resonant cavity whereby at least one node of the standing wave exists along at least a portion of the one or more microstrips and wherein the dielectric layer, the one or more ground plane elements, the plurality of patches and the one or more microstrips act collectively as a resonator;

a first feeding means electrically connected to the one or more ground plane elements and through first and second portions of a first transmission line connected to a plurality of substantially parallel first microstrips to at least one corner of at least one patch for feeding electromagnetic energy to and/or extracting electromagnetic energy from the antenna, wherein the first transmission line is substantially perpendicular to the first microstrips and generally centrally disposed on the second side of the dielectric layer within the plurality of patches;

a second feeding means electrically connected to the one or more ground plane elements and through first and second portions of a second transmission line connected to a plurality of substantially parallel second microstrips to at least one corner of at least one patch for feeding electromagnetic energy to and/or extracting electromagnetic energy from the antenna, wherein the second transmission line is substantially perpendicular to the second microstrips and generally centrally disposed on the second side of the dielectric layer within the array of patches, wherein the first microstrips are substantially perpendicular to the second microstrips; and

a directional coupler configured for providing electrical continuity between the first and second portions of the first transmission line, and for providing electrical continuity between the first and second portions of the second transmission line, such that transmission of electromagnetic energy between the first and second transmission lines is substantially inhibited, the coupler comprising;

a first microstrip longitudinal section defining a first end connected to the first portion of the first transmission line, a second end connected to the first portion of the second transmission line;

a second microstrip longitudinal section defining a first end connected to the second portion of the first transmission line, a second end connected to the second portion of the second transmission line;

a first microstrip end connection section connected between the first end of the first longitudinal section and the first end of the second longitudinal section;

a second microstrip end connection section connected between the second end of the first longitudinal section and the second end of the second longitudinal section; and

an intermediate microstrip connection section connected between the mid-section of the first longitudinal section and the mid-section of the second longitudinal section, wherein the first, second, and intermediate connection sections are sized so that the centerlines of the first and second longitudinal sections are spaced apart by about a quarter-wavelength, and so that the centerlines of the first and intermediate connection sections are spaced apart by about a quarter-wavelength, and so that the centerlines of the second and intermediate connection sections are spaced apart by about a quaffer-wavelength, and wherein the widths of the first and second longitudinal sections and the intermediate sections are determined assuming an impedance of X, and the widths of the first and second end connection sections are determined assuming an impedance of about 2X, wherein X is about 25 to 100 ohms.

31. A planar microstrip directional coupler configured for providing electrical continuity between first and second portions of a first transmission line, and for providing electrical continuity between first and second portions of a second transmission line, such that transmission of electromagnetic energy between the first and second transmission lines is substantially inhibited, the coupler comprising:

a first microstrip longitudinal section defining a first end connected to the first portion of the first transmission line, a second end connected to the first portion of the second transmission line;

a second microstrip longitudinal section defining a first end connected to the second portion of the first transmission line, a second end connected to the second portion of the second transmission line;

a first microstrip end connection section connected between the first end of the first longitudinal section and the first end of the second longitudinal section;

a second microstrip end connection section connected between the second end of the first longitudinal section and the second end of the second longitudinal section; and

an intermediate microstrip connection section connected between the midpoint of the first longitudinal section and the midpoint of the second longitudinal section, wherein the first, second, and intermediate connection sections are sized so that the centerlines of the first and second longitudinal sections are spaced apart by about a quarter-wavelength, and so that the centerlines of the first and intermediate connection sections are spaced apart by about a quarter-wavelength, and so that the centerlines of the second and intermediate connection sections are spaced apart by about a quarter-wavelength, and wherein the widths of the first and second longitudinal sections and the intermediate sections are determined assuming an impedance of X, and the widths of the first and second end connection sections are determined assuming an impedance of about 2X, wherein X is about 25 to 100 ohms.

32. The coupler of claim 31, wherein each of the first and second ends of the first and second longitudinal sections are chamfered at an angle of about 45°

.

33. A microstrip array antenna, comprising:

a single layer of dielectric material;

one or more ground plane elements contiguous a first side of said dielectric material;

a two-dimensional array of patches contiguous a second side of said dielectric material opposite said first side;

a feed terminal; and

a plurality of microstrip conductors directly connecting each of the patches electrically to immediately adjacent patches in each of the two dimensions, whereby said feed terminal is physically connected to each of said plurality of patches, at least one cavity formed between the patches such that the plurality of microstrip conductors are substantially uninterrupted by the plurality of patches, the microstrip conductors and the ground plane elements being configured such that at least one standing wave is formed in the at least one cavity whereby some nodes of the standing wave exist at each of said microstrip conductors wherein the dielectric material, the plurality of patches, the plurality of microstrip conductors, and the one or more ground plane elements act collectively as a resonator.

34. The antenna of claim 33, wherein the two-dimensional array comprises at least four or more patches.

35. A method of designing a microstrip array antenna, comprising the steps of:

attaching at least one ground plane element to a first side of a planar dielectric; and

configuring a two-dimensional array of radiating patches, a feed terminal connected to associated conductive material that directly connects each of the patches electrically to immediately adjacent radiating patches in each of the two dimensions, on a second side of said planar dielectric, opposite said first side, to insure that a two-dimensional standing wave having a plurality of nodes is formed in at least one cavity between the patches, the associated conductive material and the ground plane element wherein at least some nodes of the standing wave are coincident with the position of said associated conductive material wherein the dielectric, the ground plane element, the patches and the conductive material act collectively as a resonator.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the associated conductive material is configured as microstrips.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the associated conductive material connects the feed terminal to each of the radiating patches such that the plurality of microstrip conductors are substantially uninterrupted by the plurality of patches.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein the two-dimensional array comprises four or more radiating patches.

39. A method of designing a microstrip array antenna, comprising the steps of:

attaching at least one ground plane element to a first side of a planar dielectric; and

configuring a two-dimensional array of radiating patches, a feed terminal and associated conductive material that connect the feed terminal to each of the radiating patches such that the plurality of microstrip conductors are substantially uninterrupted by the plurality of patches and directly couple each of the patches electrically to immediately adjacent patches in each of the two dimensions, on a second side of said planar dielectric, opposite said first side, to insure that a two-dimensional standing wave having a plurality of nodes is formed in at least one cavity between the patches, the associated conductive material and the ground plane element to provide a predetermined distribution of electromagnetic power over the radiating patches wherein the dielectric, the ground plane element, the patches, and the conductive material act collectively as a resonator.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the associated conductive material is configured as microstrips and the predetermined distribution is substantially uniform.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein the associated conductive material is configured as microstrips and the predetermined distribution is tapered to minimize sidelobe energy distribution.

42. A method of distributing EM energy between first and second energy sources and their respective energy sinks where the first and second energy sources are physically connected to their respective energy sinks via first and second sets of intersecting conductors in the same plane but having different angular orientations, comprising the steps of:

providing a resonant cavity contiguous the plane of said intersecting conductors, wherein said energy sinks comprise a two-dimensional array of radiating patches, each patch being directly coupled electrically to immediately adjacent patches in each of the two dimensions; and

generating first and second standing waves of first and second angular orientations from said first and second EM sources whereby nodes of said first and second standing waves occur at the intersections of at least some of said first and second sets of intersecting conductors such that excitations of a mode of the first standing wave and a mode of the second standing wave are substantially independent with each other.

44. An antenna, comprising:

a ground plane element;

a surface area including radiating array elements forming a two-dimensional array, a signal source terminal and associated conductive material directly interconnecting each of the elements electrically to immediately adjacent ones of said radiating array elements in each of the two dimensions and said signal source terminal such that the conductive material is substantially uninterrupted by the radiating array elements; and

at least one resonant signal cavity between said ground plane element and said surface area configured to create, upon the application of EM power to said antenna, a standing wave the nodes of which exist at both the radiating array element and the associated conductive material wherein the surface area and the ground plane element act collectively as a resonator.

45. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the radiating array elements are patches of conductive material and the associated conductive material comprises microstrip elements.

46. A microstrip planar array antenna, comprising:

a number of radiating array elements including patches in a planar, two-dimensional array, the patches being of substantially identical size;

a feed terminal in said planar array;

at least one ground plane element;

a plurality of associated conductive material elements, in said planar array, whereby said feed terminal is physically connected to each of said number of substantially identical size patches such that the conductive material elements are substantially uninterrupted by the plurality of patches and whereby said patches and said conductive material elements directly connect each of the patches electrically to immediately adjacent patches in each of the two dimensions in the two-dimensional array; and

at least one resonant cavity contiguous said planar array configured such that standing waves formed in the at least one cavity have nodes at cross points of two vertical and horizontal microstrips wherein the at least one ground plane element, the plurality of radiating array elements and the plurality of conductive elements act collectively as a resonator.

47. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein:

the radiating array elements are radiating patches and are substantially identical size for maximum directivity; and

the associated conductive material elements are microstrips.

48. A microstrip single planar array antenna that can be used, without modification, for circular and linear polarized beam signals, comprising:

a plurality of radiating patches in a two-dimensional planar array;

first and second substantially independent feed terminals in said two-dimensional planar array;

first and second sets of microstrip conductors, in said two-dimensional planar array, directly coupling each patch electrically to immediately adjacent patches in each of the two dimensions, whereby each of said feed terminals is physically connected to each of said plurality of substantially identical size patches with said first and second sets of microstrip conductors being oriented in different angular directions such that they form a plurality of criss-cross intersections; and

at least one resonant cavity contiguous said planar array configured such that standing waves formed in the cavity have nodes coincident with a majority of said microstrip criss-cross intersections and said radiating patches.

49. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the radiating patches are substantially identical size for maximum directivity.

50. The antenna of claim 49, wherein the patches are square.

51. A method of increasing the transmission efficiency of a microstrip array antenna including a two-dimensional array of radiating patches and a signal source terminal in a given plane juxtaposed a resonant cavity, wherein the signal source terminal comprises at least two substantially independent feed terminals, comprising the steps of:

electrically connecting the source terminal to each of the radiating patches with a plurality of conductive microstrips directly coupling each of the patches electrically to immediately adjacent patches in each of the two dimensions of the two-dimensional array, and crossing each other at one or more cross points; and

configuring the antenna elements whereby at least two orthogonal standing waves occurring in said resonant cavity each have at least one node at the at least one cross point of the plurality of said conductive strips in a modal excitation manner whereby the cross-talk levels are minimized.

52. An antenna (100-3300), comprising:

a dielectric layer defining a first side and a second side;

at least one conductive ground plane element disposed on the first side of the dielectric layer;

a two-dimensional array of spaced-apart, radiating patches disposed on the second side of the dielectric layer; and

at least one interconnecting element disposed on the second side of the dielectric layer and electrically interconnecting at least one corner of each patch of said plurality of patches such that at least one interconnecting element is substantially uninterrupted by the plurality of patches and such that each of the patches is directly connected electrically to immediately adjacent patches of said two-dimensional array in each of the two dimensions, wherein the interconnecting element, the at least one ground plane element and the array are at least configured to form at least one resonant cavity and wherein a two-dimensional standing wave is formed in the at least one resonant cavity whereby at least one node of the standing wave exists along at least a portion of the interconnecting element wherein the dielectric layer, the at least one ground plane element, the plurality of patches and the interconnecting element act collectively as a resonator.

53. The antenna of claim 52, wherein the at least one interconnecting element and said patches defines one surface of a leaky cavity operationally including a standing wave.

54. The antenna of claim 52, wherein the at least one interconnecting element operates to guide the power flow of standing waves formed in cavity the boundaries of which are delineated by said dielectric layer.

55. The antenna of claim 52, wherein the at least one interconnecting element operates in conjunction with said patches to define antenna bandwidth.

56. The antenna of claim 52, wherein the at least one interconnecting element operates in conjunction with said patches to define a standing wave resonant frequency of a cavity formed within the boundaries of the dielectric layer.

57. An antenna, comprising:

a substantially planar, two-dimensional array of radiating elements, wherein the radiating elements of the two-dimensional array are substantially equally spaced in each dimension and the two dimensions of the array extend in first and second substantially orthogonal directions;

a first channel being generally linear and configured to guide one or both of a traveling wave and a standing wave;

a first radiating element of the array of radiating elements;

a second radiating element of the array of radiating elements immediately adjacent the first radiating element and spaced from the first radiating element in the first direction;

a third radiating element of the array of radiating elements immediately adjacent the first radiating element and spaced from the first radiating element in the second direction;

wherein the first radiating element is directly connected by the first channel to the second radiating element, without intervening junctions with other channels directly connected to any other radiating element of the array;

wherein the first radiating element is directly connected by the first channel to the third radiating element, without intervening junctions with other channels directly connected to any other radiating element of the array; and

wherein the second radiating element is connected by the first channel to the third radiating element at a first point on the first radiating element.

58. The antenna of claim 57, wherein the two-dimensional array of radiating elements comprises four or more radiating elements.

59. The antenna of claim 57, wherein the radiating elements each comprise a patch.

60. The antenna of claim 57, wherein the radiating elements are substantially identically shaped.

61. The antenna of claim 57, wherein the first channel comprises a plurality of conductors connecting each immediately adjacent radiating element of the two-dimensional array and substantially uninterrupted by the radiating elements.

62. The antenna of claim 61, wherein the first channel further comprises a plurality of microstrip conductors.

63. The antenna of claim 57, wherein each radiating element of the planar, two-dimensional array comprises a corner, wherein the first channel directly connects each immediately adjacent radiating element at the corner of the radiating element, and wherein the first point of the first radiating element comprises a corner of the first radiating element.

64. The antenna of claim 63, wherein the first channel comprises a microstrip.

65. The antenna of claim 64, wherein the microstrip connects three or more immediately adjacent radiating elements of the two-dimensional array and the microstrip is substantially uninterrupted by the corners of the radiating elements.

66. The antenna of claim 65, wherein the portion of the microstrip connected to three or more immediately adjacent radiating elements is substantially straight.

67. The antenna of claim 57, further comprising a sheet of dielectric material having a first and a second oppositely facing surfaces, the first surface underlying the planar array of radiating elements and the second surface overlying one or more ground elements.

68. The antenna of claim 57, wherein the first channel of each radiating element is substantially linear.