Multi-beam antenna

• US 7,994,996 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2007
• Issued: 08/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Acquisition, LLC (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: TK Holding, Inc. Electronics
• Inventors: Rebeiz, Gabriel, Schoenlinner, Bernhard, Ebling, James P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan; Tho G
• Application Number:
  US11/627,369
• Publication Number:
  US 20070195004A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,657 Days
• Field of Search: 343/700.MS, 343/753, 343/754, 343/767, 343/770
• US Class Current: 343/754
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/3233 particular used as part of a sensor or in a security system, e.g. for automotive radar, navigation systems
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/48 Earthing means; Earth screens; Counterpoises
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/085 Slot-line radiating ends
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/06 using refracting or diffracting devices, e.g. lens radome H01Q1/42
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/062 for focusing
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/30 the primary active element being centre-fed and substantially straight, e.g. Yagi antenna
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/29 Combinations of different interacting antenna units for giving a desired directional characteristic H01Q25/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/00 Antennas or antenna systems providing at least two radiating patterns arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern H01Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/24 varying the orientation by switching energy from one active radiating element to another, e.g. for beam switching
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/245 in the focal plane of a focussing device

Abstract

A plurality of antenna elements on a dielectric substrate are adapted to launch or receive electromagnetic waves in or from a direction substantially away from either a convex or concave edge of the dielectric substrate, wherein at least two of the antenna elements operate in different directions. Slotlines of tapered-slot endfire antennas in a first conductive layer of a first side of the dielectric substrate are coupled to microstrip lines of a second conductive layer on the second side of the dielectric substrate. A bi-conical reflector, conformal cylindrical dielectric lens, or discrete lens array improves the H-plane radiation pattern. Dipole or Yagi-Uda antenna elements on the conductive layer of the dielectric substrate can be used in cooperation with associated reflective elements, either alone or in combination with a corner-reflector of conductive plates attached to the conductive layers proximate to the endfire antenna elements.

Claims

1. A multi-beam antenna, comprising:

a. a dielectric substrate, wherein said dielectric substrate comprises a conical surface; and

b. a plurality of antenna elements on said dielectric substrate, wherein at least two of said plurality of antenna elements each comprise an end-fire antenna adapted to launch, receive, or launch and receive electromagnetic waves in or from a direction substantially away from an edge of said dielectric substrate and substantially parallel thereto so that a directivity of said multi-beam antenna is oriented upwards in elevation relative to an associated axis of revolution of said conical surface, and said direction for at least one said end-fire antenna is different from said direction for at least another said end-fire antenna.

2. A multi-beam antenna, comprising:

a. a dielectric substrate; and

b. a plurality of antenna elements on said dielectric substrate, wherein at least two of said plurality of antenna elements each comprise an end-fire antenna adapted to launch, receive, or launch and receive electromagnetic waves in or from a direction substantially away from an edge of said dielectric substrate, said direction for at least one said end-fire antenna is different from said direction for at least another said end-fire antenna, said at least two of said plurality of antenna elements are located along at least a portion of said edge of said dielectric substrate, said at least a portion of said edge of said dielectric substrate is curved, said at least a portion of said edge of said dielectric substrate is concave, and said electromagnetic waves are launched or received through a region that is central to said portion of said edge of said dielectric substrate that is concave.

3. A multi-beam antenna as recited in claim 2, wherein said at least a portion of said edge of said dielectric substrate at least partially circular or elliptical.

4. A multi-beam antenna, comprising:

a. a dielectric substrate; and

b. a plurality of antenna elements on said dielectric substrate, wherein at least two of said plurality of antenna elements each comprise an end-fire antenna adapted to launch, receive, or launch and receive electromagnetic waves in or from a direction substantially away from an edge of said dielectric substrate, each antenna element of said at least two of said plurality of antenna elements is oriented in a respective said direction, said electromagnetic waves are launched, received or launched and received through a region external of said dielectric substrate, said direction for at least one said end-fire antenna is different from said direction for at least another said end-fire antenna, and at least one said end-fire antenna comprises either a Yagi-Uda antenna, a dipole antenna, a helical antenna, a monopole antenna, or a tapered dielectric rod.

5. A multi-beam antenna, comprising:

a. a dielectric substrate; and

b. a plurality of antenna elements on said dielectric substrate, wherein at least two of said plurality of antenna elements each comprise an end-fire antenna adapted to launch, receive, or launch and receive electromagnetic waves in or from a direction substantially away from an edge of said dielectric substrate, said direction for at least one said end-fire antenna is different from said direction for at least another said end-fire antenna, at least one said end-fire antenna comprises either a Yagi-Uda antenna, a dipole antenna, a helical antenna, a monopole antenna, or a tapered dielectric rod, and said at least one said end-fire antenna comprises a Yagi-Uda antenna, said Yagi-Uda antenna comprises a dipole element and a plurality of directors on a first side of said dielectric substrate, and at least one reflector on a second side of said dielectric substrate.

6. A multi-beam antenna, comprising:

a. a dielectric substrate; and

b. a plurality of antenna elements on said dielectric substrate, wherein at least two of said plurality of antenna elements each comprise an end-fire antenna adapted to launch, receive, or launch and receive electromagnetic waves in or from a direction substantially away from an edge of said dielectric substrate, said direction for at least one said end-fire antenna is different from said direction for at least another said end-fire antenna, at least one said end-fire antenna comprises either a Yagi-Uda antenna, a dipole antenna, a helical antenna, a monopole antenna, or a tapered dielectric rod, and said at least one said end-fire antenna comprises a monopole antenna adapted to extend away from a surface of said dielectric substrate.

7. A multi-beam antenna, comprising:

a. a dielectric substrate;

b. a plurality of antenna elements on said dielectric substrate, wherein at least two of said plurality of antenna elements each comprise an end-fire antenna adapted to launch, receive, or launch and receive electromagnetic waves in or from a direction substantially away from an edge of said dielectric substrate, each antenna element of said at least two of said plurality of antenna elements is oriented in a respective said direction, said electromagnetic waves are launched, received or launched and received through a region external of said dielectric substrate, and said direction for at least one said end-fire antenna is different from said direction for at least another said end-fire antenna; and

c. a switching network having an input and a plurality of outputs, said input is operatively connected to a corporate antenna feed port, and each output of said plurality of outputs is connected to a different antenna element of said plurality of antenna elements.

8. A multi-beam antenna as recited in claim 7, further comprising at least one transmission line on said dielectric substrate, wherein at least one said at least one transmission line is operatively connected to a feed port of one of said plurality of antenna elements, and each output of said plurality of outputs of said switching network is connected to a different antenna element of said plurality of antenna elements via said at least one transmission line.

9. A multi-beam antenna as recited in claim 7, wherein said switching network is operatively connected to said dielectric substrate.