Wideband dielectric antenna

• US 8,009,107 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2010
• Issued: 08/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AGC Automotive Americas Co. (AGC, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AGC Automotive Americas R&D, Inc (AGC, Inc.)
• Inventors: Villarroel, Wladimiro, Li, Qian
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; Hoanganh
• Application Number:
  US12/755,795
• Publication Number:
  US 20100220031A1
• Time in Patent Office: 510 Days
• Field of Search: 343/700.MS, 343/713, 343/711, 343/846, 343/848
• US Class Current: 343/700.0MS
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1271 for mounting on windscreens
• 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 19/30 the primary active element being centre-fed and substantially straight, e.g. Yagi antenna
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/30 Combinations of separate antenna units operating in different wavebands and connected to a common feeder system
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/35 using two or more simultaneously fed points
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/04 Resonant antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0435 using two feed points
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0485 Dielectric resonator antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/40 Element having extended radiating surface
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/42 with folded element, the folded parts being spaced apart a small fraction of the operating wavelength

Abstract

An antenna for radiating an electromagnetic field having both linear and circular polarization includes a ground plane and a dielectric layer. The dielectric layer is disposed on the ground plane and has at least one exposed surface that radiates the electromagnetic field. A first feeding element is disposed on the exposed surface for electrically exciting the dielectric layer to provide the linear polarization at a first frequency having a first effective wavelength. A second feeding element is disposed on the exposed surface for electrically exciting the dielectric layer to provide the circular polarization at a second frequency having a second effective wavelength. The feeding elements are separated by a distance greater than ⅛ wavelength of the largest of the effective wavelengths.

Claims

1. An antenna for radiating an electromagnetic field having both linear and circular polarization, said antenna comprising:

a ground plane;

a dielectric layer disposed on said ground plane and having at least one exposed surface that radiates the electromagnetic field; and

a first feeding element disposed on said at least one exposed surface for electrically exciting said dielectric layer to provide the linear polarization at a first frequency having a first effective wavelength; and

a second feeding element disposed on said at least one exposed surface for electrically exciting said dielectric layer to provide the circular polarization at a second frequency having a second effective wavelength;

wherein

said feeding elements are separated by a distance greater than ⅛

wavelength of any of the effective wavelengths.

2. An antenna as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a third feeding element disposed on said exposed surface for electrically exciting said dielectric layer to provide the circular polarization at a third frequency having a third effective wavelength.

3. An antenna as set forth in claim 2 wherein said second feeding element is disposed opposite said first feeding element from said third feeding element and such that said second feeding element provides right hand circular polarization and said third feeding element provides left hand circular polarization.

4. An antenna as set forth in claim 1 wherein a center axis is disposed through a center of said exposed surface and said second feeding element is disposed offset from said center axis.

5. An antenna as set forth in claim 4 wherein the second feeding element is separated from the center axis by a distance greater than ⅛

wavelength of any of the effective wavelengths.

6. An antenna as set forth in claim 1 wherein said dielectric layer has a semi-circular configuration from a top view.

7. An antenna as set forth in claim 6 wherein said exposed surface is rectangular shaped, substantially flat, and extends transverse relative to said ground plane.

8. An antenna as set forth in claim 1 wherein said dielectric layer has a relative permittivity between 5 and 15.

9. An antenna as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least one of said feeding elements has a non-uniform width.

10. An antenna as set forth in claim 1 wherein said feeding elements define widths corresponding to an impedance for providing impedance matching with a transmission line.

11. A window having an integrated antenna for radiating an electromagnetic field having both linear and circular polarization, said window comprising:

a nonconductive pane;

a ground plane spaced from said nonconductive pane;

a dielectric layer sandwiched between said ground plane and said nonconductive pane and having at least one exposed surface that radiates the electromagnetic field;

a first feeding element disposed on said exposed surface for electrically exciting said dielectric layer to provide the linear polarization at a first frequency having a first effective wavelength; and

a second feeding element disposed on said exposed surface for electrically exciting said dielectric layer to provide the circular polarization at a second frequency having a second effective wavelength;

wherein

said feeding elements are separated by a distance greater than ⅛

wavelength of any of the effective wavelengths.

12. A window as set forth in claim 11 further comprising a third feeding element disposed on said exposed surface for electrically exciting said dielectric layer to provide the circular polarization at a third frequency having a third effective wavelength.

13. A window as set forth in claim 12 wherein said second feeding element provides right hand circular polarization and said third feeding element provides left hand circular polarization.

14. A window as set forth in claim 11 wherein a center axis is disposed through a center of said exposed surface and said second feeding element is disposed offset from said center axis.

15. A window as set forth in claim 14 wherein the second feeding element is separated from the center axis by a distance greater than ⅛

wavelength of any of the effective wavelengths.

16. A window as set forth in claim 11 wherein said dielectric layer has a semi-circular configuration from a top view.

17. A window as set forth in claim 16 wherein said exposed surface is rectangular shaped, substantially flat, and extends transverse relative to said ground plane.

18. A window as set forth in claim 11 wherein said dielectric layer has a relative permittivity between 5 and 15.

19. A window as set forth in claim 11 wherein at least one of said feeding elements has a non-uniform width.

20. A window as set forth in claim 11 wherein said feeding elements define widths corresponding to an impedance for providing impedance matching with a transmission line.