Antenna with shaped dielectric loading

• US 8,692,729 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2011
• Issued: 04/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Ball, Thomas A., Snow, Jeffrey M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hess, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Malone, Steven J
• Application Number:
  US13/072,403
• Publication Number:
  US 20120112975A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,110 Days
• Field of Search: 343/783, 343/773, 343/772, 343/753
• US Class Current: 343/753
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/09 wherein the primary active element is coated with or embedded in a dielectric or magnetic material protective material H01Q1/40, varying the electric or magnetic characteristics of refracting or diffracting devices H01Q3/44
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/28 Conical, cylindrical, cage, strip, gauze, or like elements having an extended radiating surface; Elements comprising two conical surfaces having collinear axes and adjacent apices and fed by two-conductor transmission lines waveguide horns or mouths H01Q13/00; slot antennas H01Q13/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49016 Antenna or wave energy "plumbing" making

Abstract

An apparatus, method of propagating a signal and method of manufacture for an antenna structure comprising a section which is positioned or formed in relation to a portion of the antenna structure, such that a portion of the electromagnetic (EM) field that is emitted from the antenna structure is partially slowed or phase shifted thereby resulting in an improvement of the horizontal gain of the EM field.

Claims

1. An antenna structure comprising:

a first antenna element, said first antenna element being adapted to produce a first electromagnetic radiation pattern comprising a first and second reference axis;

a second antenna element, said second antenna element comprising a material adapted to refract a portion of said first electromagnetic radiation pattern to produce a second electromagnetic radiation pattern which has a third reference axis being substantially orthogonal to said first reference axis;

wherein said second antenna element is adapted to modify said first electromagnetic radiation pattern by delaying a portion of said first electromagnetic radiation pattern to cause a phase shift that results in said second electromagnetic radiation pattern;

wherein said second antenna element shape is formed to shape and concentrate said second electromagnetic radiation pattern orientation towards said third reference axis;

wherein said first reference axis is a vertical axis and said third reference axis is in the direction where directive gain is maximized after refraction by said second antenna element.

2. An antenna structure of claim 1, wherein said second antenna element comprises a plurality of dielectric material layers.

3. An antenna structure of claim 1, wherein said first antenna element comprises a disc and cone, said disc having a first and second surface, said second surface facing towards said cone, said second antenna element being formed in proximity to said second surface.

4. An antenna structure of claim 1, wherein said second antenna element has a substantially triangular cross section.

5. An antenna structure of claim 1, wherein said second antenna element has a plurality of layers, each layer having a different refractive electrical property.

6. An antenna structure of claim 1, wherein said second element comprises a plurality of different dielectric layers, at least one of said layers having a first shape and another having a second shape.

7. An antenna structure of claim 6, wherein said first and second shapes have a first and second propagation delay on said first electromagnetic radiation pattern.

8. An antenna structure of claim 1, wherein said first antenna element is a discone antenna.

9. An antenna structure of claim 1, wherein said first axis is an axis of rotation of said first antenna element, said second axis is an axis describing a propagation direction of said first electromagnetic radiation pattern, said third axis is a propagation direction of said second electromagnetic propagation pattern.

10. An antenna structure comprising:

a first antenna element adapted to produce a first electromagnetic radiation pattern comprising a first reference axis and a first plane being substantially orthogonal to said first reference axis;

a second antenna element adapted in spatial relation to a portion of said first antenna element such that a portion of said first electromagnetic radiation pattern is modified thereby creating a second electromagnetic radiation pattern which has a directivity substantially strengthened in the direction of said first reference plane;

wherein said second antenna element shape is formed to shape and concentrate said second electromagnetic radiation pattern orientation towards a directional wave propagation vector;

wherein said second antenna element is adapted to increase said directivity of said second electromagnetic radiation pattern towards said directional wave propagation vector.

11. An antenna structure of claim 10, wherein said first electromagnetic radiation pattern is modified by delaying a portion of said first electromagnetic radiation pattern to cause a phase shift that results in said second electromagnetic radiation pattern.

12. An antenna structure of claim 10, wherein said second antenna element comprises a dielectric material.

13. An antenna structure of claim 10, wherein said first antenna element comprises a disc and cone, said disc having a first and second surface, said second surface facing towards said cone, said second antenna element being formed in proximity to said second surface.

14. An antenna structure of claim 10, wherein said second antenna element has a plurality of dielectric layers.

15. An antenna structure of claim 10, wherein said second antenna element has a plurality of layers, each layer having a different refractive electrical property.

16. An antenna structure of claim 10, wherein said second antenna element has a plurality of layers, at least one layer having a form that is different than a form of another layer.

17. An antenna structure of claim 10, wherein said second element comprises a plurality of different dielectric layers, at least one of said layers having a first shape and another having a second shape.

18. An antenna structure of claim 17, wherein said first and second shapes have a first and second propagation delay on said first electromagnetic radiation pattern.

19. An antenna structure of claim 10, wherein said second antenna element comprises a plurality of layers, an outer layer being formed with a plurality of surfaces formed within face of the outer layer.

20. An antenna comprising:

a first antenna element, said first antenna element being adapted to produce a first electromagnetic radiation pattern at a first frequency range comprising a first and second reference axis, wherein said first reference axis defines an axis of rotation for said first electromagnetic radiation pattern produced by said first antenna element, said second reference axis is a directional wave propagation vector for said first electromagnetic radiation pattern; and

a second antenna element, said second antenna element comprising a material adapted to refract a portion of said first electromagnetic radiation pattern at a second frequency range to produce a second electromagnetic radiation pattern which has a third reference axis wherein said third reference axis defines a directional wave propagation vector for said second electromagnetic radiation pattern,

wherein said second antenna element shape and materials are determined based on a desired form or shape of a first plane that said second electromagnetic radiation pattern forms when said second electromagnetic pattern forms when it intersects said first plane;

wherein said second antenna element shape is formed to shape and concentrate said second electromagnetic radiation pattern orientation towards said directional wave propagation vector;

wherein said second antenna element is adapted to increase directivity of said second electromagnetic radiation pattern towards said directional wave propagation vector.

21. A method producing a radio wave comprising:

producing a first radio wave using a first antenna element adapted to produce a first electromagnetic radiation pattern comprising a first and second reference axis; and

refracting said first radio wave through a second antenna element, said second antenna element being adapted to modify a portion of said first electromagnetic radiation pattern to produce a second electromagnetic radiation pattern which is has a third reference axis being substantially orthogonal to said first reference axis.

22. A method as is in claim 21, wherein said first electromagnetic radiation pattern is modified by delaying a portion of said first electromagnetic radiation pattern so as to cause a phase shift that results in said second electromagnetic radiation pattern.

23. A method as in claim 21, wherein said second antenna element comprises a dielectric material.

24. A method as in claim 21, wherein said second antenna element comprises a plurality of layers, at least one layer having a different electric property that another layer.

25. A method of manufacturing an antenna comprising:

providing a first antenna element, said first antenna element being adapted to produce a first electromagnetic radiation pattern comprising a first and second reference axis; and

providing a second antenna element adapted to refract a portion of an electromagnetic wave having said first electromagnetic radiation pattern thereby creating a second electromagnetic radiation pattern which is has a third reference axis being substantially orthogonal to said first reference axis.

26. A method as in claim 25, wherein said second antenna element comprises a dielectric material.

27. A method as in claim 25, wherein said second antenna element comprises a plurality of layers, at least one of said plurality of layers comprising a different dielectric material than another of said plurality layers.

28. A method as in claims 25, further comprising a forming a first portion of an outer surface of said second antenna element to have a different electromagnetic refractive property than a second portion of said second antenna element.

29. A method as in claim 25, wherein said first portion of an outer surface of said second antenna element comprises a groove adapted to refract said first electromagnetic radiation pattern in a predetermined direction.

30. A method as in claim 25, wherein said second antenna element is adapted with a first refractive surface and a second refractive surface on the first refractive surface.