Multi-band radiating elements with composite right/left-handed meta-material transmission line

• US 7,911,386 B1
• Filed: 05/22/2007
• Issued: 03/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Original Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Inventors: Lai, Anthony, Itoh, Tatsuo, Leong, Kevin M. K. H.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHEN, SHIH CHAO
• Application Number:
  US11/751,852
• Time in Patent Office: 1,400 Days
• Field of Search: 343/700.MS, 343/749, 343/846, 343/909
• 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

Dual-band and multi-band radiating elements are described based on composite right/left-handed (CRLH) meta-material transmission line (TL). These elements can operate as resonators and/or antennas depending on feed-line configuration. The radiating elements are based on the fundamental backward wave supported by a composite right/left-handed (CRLH) meta-material transmission line (TL). Unit-cells of the transmission line comprise conductive patches coupled through vias to a ground plane. The physical size and operational frequencies of the radiating element is determined by the unit cell of the CRLH meta-material. This radiating element is configured for monopolar radiation at a first resonant frequency and patch-like radiation at a second resonant frequency. The first and second resonant frequencies are not constrained to a harmonic relationship.

Claims

1. A multi-mode resonant radiating element, comprising:

a plurality of composite right/left-handed (CRLH) transmission line (TL) unit-cells configured for operation at multiple radio frequency bands;

each said unit-cell comprising a conductive patch connected to a ground plane through a via; and

said plurality of unit-cells forming a resonator;

wherein said radiating element radiates an i^th radiation pattern at the i^th resonant frequency, and a, j^th radiation pattern at a different j^th resonant frequency;

wherein said i^th radiation pattern is of a different shape than said j^th radiation pattern; and

wherein a single patch spans a plurality of said unit cells and connects to said ground plane through a plurality of vias in forming an inductor-loaded transmission line unit-cell implementation.

2. A radiating element as recited in claim 1:

wherein said via provides inductance L_L as a left-handed (LH) attribute; and

wherein right-hand (RH) attributes are in response to inductance (L_R) arising in response to current flow on the unit-cell, and from a capacitance (C_R) arising in response to an electric field between the conductive patch and the ground plane within each of said plurality of unit-cells.

3. A radiating element as recited in claim 1, wherein said resonant radiating element comprises either a resonator having at least a first and a second feed line, or an antenna having at least one feed line.

4. A radiating element as recited in claim 1, wherein said first radiation pattern is a monopolar radiation pattern operating at infinite wavelength.

5. A radiating element as recited in claim 1, wherein said second radiation pattern is a patch-like radiation pattern.

6. A radiating element as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second resonant frequencies of the radiating element are not constrained to being harmonics of one another.

7. A dual-mode resonant radiating element, comprising:

a plurality of composite right/left-handed (CRLH) transmission line (TL) unit-cells;

each said unit-cell comprising a conductive patch connected to a ground plane through a via; and

said plurality of unit cells forming a resonator;

wherein said radiating element radiates a monopolar radiation pattern at a first resonant frequency, and a patch-like radiation pattern at a second resonant frequency; and

wherein a single patch spans a plurality of said unit cells and connects to said ground plane through a plurality of vias in forming an inductor-loaded transmission line unit-cell implementation.

8. A radiating element as recited in claim 7:

wherein the via provides inductance L_L as a left-handed (LH) attribute;

wherein right-handed (RH) attributes are in response to inductance (L_R) arising in response to current flow on the unit-cell, and from a capacitance (C_R) arising in response to an electric field between the conductive patch and the ground plane within each of said plurality of unit-cells; and

wherein said plurality of unit-cells forms an inductor-loaded transmission line (TL).

9. A radiating element as recited in claim 7, wherein the operational frequencies of the radiating element can be controlled by changing the equivalent circuit parameters of the unit-cell without changing its physical size.

10. A radiating element as recited in claim 7, wherein said resonant radiating element comprises either a resonator having at least a first and a second feed line, or an antenna having at least one feed line.

11. A radiating element as recited in claim 7, wherein resonant operation arises in response to the fundamental backward wave of the CRLH TL, in which the supported wavelength is proportional to the operational frequency and the infinite wavelength supported by the CRLH TL at a finite frequency.

12. A radiating element as recited in claim 7, wherein the first and second resonant frequencies of the radiating element are not limited to being harmonics of one another.

13. A radiating element as recited in claim 7, wherein said plurality of composite right/left-handed (CRLH) transmission line (TL) unit-cells comprise a plurality of vias connecting at least one conductive plate to a ground plane.

14. A radiating element as recited in claim 7:

wherein the operational frequencies of the radiating element are not subject to having a harmonic relationship; and

wherein the operational frequencies of the radiating element are controlled by modifying the dispersion relation of the CRLH unit-cell.

15. A radiating element as recited in claim 7, wherein physical size and operational frequencies of the radiating element are determined by the unit cell of the CRLH meta-material.

16. A dual-mode, resonant radiating element, comprising:

a plurality of composite right/left-handed (CRLH) transmission line (TL) unit-cells;

at least one conductive patch;

a ground plane; and

a plurality of vias coupled between said at least one conductive patch and said ground plane forming an inductor-loaded transmission line (TL);

said via provides an inductance L_L as a left-handed (LH) attribute;

wherein right-handed (RH) attributes arise in response to inductance L_R from current flow on the unit-cell, and in response to capacitance C_R from an electric field between the conductive patch and the ground plane;

wherein said radiating element radiates a monopolar radiation pattern at a first resonant frequency and a patch-like radiation pattern at a second resonant frequency;

wherein the first and second resonant frequencies are not constrained to being harmonics of one another; and

wherein a single patch spans a plurality of said unit cells and connects to said ground plane through a plurality of vias in forming an inductor-loaded transmission line unit-cell implementation.