High gain metamaterial antenna device

• US 8,384,600 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2010
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tyco Electronics Services GmbH (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Original Assignee: Tyco Electronics Services GmbH (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Inventors: Huang, Wei, Poilasne, Gregory, Pathak, Vaneet
• Primary Examiner(s): Tan, Vibol
• Application Number:
  US12/722,481
• Publication Number:
  US 20100231464A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,083 Days
• Field of Search: 343/700.MS, 343/90, 343/729, 343/767, 343/770, 343/702, 343/787, 343/788, 343/846
• US Class Current: 343/700.MS
• 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 13/08 Radiating ends of two-conductor microwave transmission lines, e.g. of coaxial lines, of microstrip lines
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/0086 said selective devices having materials with a synthesized negative refractive index, e.g. metamaterials or left-handed materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/08 the units being spaced along or adjacent to a rectilinear path waveguide fed H01Q21/0037
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/378 Combination of fed elements with parasitic elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/30 with feed to end of elongated active element, e.g. unipole H01Q9/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/40 Element having extended radiating surface

Abstract

An antenna is presented having a flared structure wherein charge is induced from one portion of the structure to another. The flared structure may be a V-shaped or other shaped element. The antenna includes at least one parasitic element to increase the gain of the antenna and extend the radiation pattern generated by the antenna in a given direction.

Claims

1. An antenna device, comprising:

a substrate having two conductive layers separated by a dielectric layer;

a first metal portion patterned onto a first layer of the substrate, the first metal portion have a flared shape;

a second metal portion patterned onto the first layer of the substrate, the second metal portion having a second shape corresponding to the flared shape of the first metal portion and having a first side proximate the first metal portion; and

a parasitic element patterned onto the first layer of the substrate, the parasitic element having a shape corresponding to the second shape positioned proximate a second side of the second metal portion.

2. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the antenna is a Composite Right and Left Handed (CRLH) structure.

3. The antenna of claim 2, wherein signals are guided through the CRLH structure to radiate in a first direction.

4. The antenna of claim 2, wherein the antenna is a unit cell, the first metal portion is a launch pad and the second metal portion is a cell patch.

5. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the flared shape is a V-shape.

6. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the parasitic element is a parasitic capacitive element comprising a plurality of nested shapes.

7. The antenna of claim 2, wherein the flared shape is symmetric with respect to a feed line coupled to the first metal portion.

8. The antenna as in claim 2, wherein the flared shape is a U-shape.

9. The antenna of claim 2, wherein the flared shape is a semi-circular shape.

10. The antenna of claim 2, wherein the antenna further comprises a via to a second layer of the substrate.

11. A wireless apparatus, comprising:

a substrate having two conductive layers separated by a dielectric layer;

a first metal portion patterned onto a first layer of the substrate, the first metal portion have a flared shape;

a second metal portion patterned onto the first layer of the substrate, the second metal portion having a second shape corresponding to the flared shape of the first metal portion and having a first side proximate the first metal portion;

a parasitic element patterned onto the first layer of the substrate, the parasitic element having a shape corresponding to the second shape and positioned proximate a second side of the second metal portion; and

a transceiver coupled to the first metal portion.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first and second metal portions, and the parasitic element form an antenna, and the antenna is a Composite Right and Left Handed (CRLH) structure.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the flared shape is a V-shape.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the antenna is a unit cell of the CRLH structure, the first metal portion is a launch pad, and the second metal portion is a cell patch.

14. A method for manufacturing an antenna, comprising:

forming a first metal portion patterned onto a first layer of a substrate, the first metal portion have a flared shape, the substrate having two conductive layers separated by a dielectric layer;

forming a second metal portion onto the first layer of the substrate, the second metal portion having a second shape corresponding to the flared shape of the first metal portion and having a first side proximate the first metal portion; and

forming a parasitic element on the first layer of the substrate, the parasitic element having a shape corresponding to the second shape and positioned proximate a second side of the second metal portion.

15. The method of claim 14, comprising forming a Composite Right and Left Handed (CRLH) structure, comprising the forming the first and second layers and the forming the parasitic element.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the antenna is a unit cell of the CRLH structure, the first metal portion is a launch pad, and the second metal portion is a cell patch.

16. A method, comprising:

receiving an electrical signal at a first metal portion of an antenna comprising a Composite Right and Left Handed (CRLH) structure, the first metal portion having a flared shape;

inducing charge onto a second metal portion of the antenna, from the first metal portion, the second metal portion having a second shape corresponding to the flared shape of the first metal portion and having a first side proximate the first metal portion;

inducing the charge onto a parasitic element of the antenna, from the second metal portion, the parasitic element having a shape corresponding to the second shape positioned proximate a second side of the second metal portion; and

in response, transmitting an electromagnetic wave from the antenna, the electromagnetic wave representative of the electrical signal.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

capturing a portion of an incident propagating electromagnetic wave to provide a received electrical signal representative of the incident propagating electromagnetic wave, at the parasitic element;

inducing charge onto the second metal portion from the parasitic element;

inducing charge onto the first metal portion from the second metal portion; and

in response, using the first metal portion, providing the received electrical signal representative of the incident propagating electromagnetic wave for processing by a wireless apparatus.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the antenna is a unit cell of the CRLH structure, the first metal portion is a launch pad, and the second metal portion is a cell patch.