Creating low cost multi-band and multi-feed passive array feed antennas and low-noise block feeds

• US 9,461,367 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2014
• Issued: 10/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ovzon LLC
• Original Assignee: Overhorizon LLC (Ovzon AB)
• Inventors: Romney, Matthew C, Mockett, Gregory P
• Primary Examiner(s): MANCUSO, HUEDUNG XUAN CAO
• Application Number:
  US14/162,632
• Publication Number:
  US 20140203995A1
• Time in Patent Office: 985 Days
• Field of Search: 343/893, 343/700.MS, 343/846, 342/70, 342/175
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/17 the primary radiating source comprising two or more radiating elements H01Q19/15, H01Q25/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/065 Patch antenna array
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/007 using two or more primary active elements in the focal region of a focusing device for operation on different wavebands H01Q5/22
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/30 Arrangements for providing operation on different wavebands

Abstract

An antenna, multi-band antenna system, and antenna apparatus for radio frequency communications are disclosed. The antenna includes a first antenna core, a multi-band antenna array located on the first antenna core, a second antenna core laminated to the first antenna core, an antenna ground plane located on the second core, and a plurality of feed networks interspersed on the first antenna core and the second antenna core. The first antenna core and the second antenna core form dielectric columns between the multi-band antenna array and the antenna ground plane. The antenna may also include a low noise block feed connection located on the first antenna core.

Claims

1. An antenna comprising:

a first antenna core;

a multi-band antenna array located on a top surface the first antenna core;

a second antenna core laminated to the first antenna core, wherein an inner surface of the first antenna core is adjacent to an inner surface of the second antenna core;

an antenna ground plane located on the second core;

a first dielectric window located at the inner surface of the first antenna core and positioned beneath the multi-band antenna array;

a second dielectric window located in the inner surface of the second antenna core and positioned beneath the multi-band antenna array, wherein the first dielectric window and the second dielectric window form a dielectric column between the multi-band antenna array and the antenna ground plane; and

a plurality of feed networks interspersed on the first antenna core and the second antenna core.

2. The antenna of claim 1, further comprising a low noise block feed connection located on the first antenna core.

3. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the multi-band antenna comprises:

a first antenna array configured to operate on a first radio frequency band; and

a second antenna array configured to operate on a second radio frequency band, wherein the second antenna array is integrated into the same antenna boresite as the first antenna array.

4. The antenna of claim 3, wherein the second antenna array is oriented at a 45 degree offset to the axis of the first antenna array.

5. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the plurality of feed networks comprises:

a first feed network connected to a first antenna array; and

a second feed network connected to a second antenna array.

6. The antenna of claim 5, wherein the second feed network lies outside the dielectric columns associated with the first antenna array.

7. The antenna of claim 5, wherein the first feed network is located on the first antenna core and the second feed network is located on the second antenna core.

8. The antenna of claim 5, wherein the first feed network and the multi-band antenna array are located on a common surface of the antenna.

9. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the multi-band antenna comprises a first patch array and a second patch array having a common antenna boresite.

10. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the plurality of feed networks are located outside of the dielectric columns.

11. A multi-band antenna system, the system comprising:

a first antenna core comprising a first metallized layer, a first substrate, and a second metallized layer;

a second antenna core comprising a third metallized layer, a second substrate, and a fourth metallized layer, wherein the second antenna core is laminated to the first antenna core with the second metallized layer adjacent to the third metallized layer;

a multi-band antenna array located on the first antenna core and formed from the first metallized layer;

a first dielectric window located in the second metalized layer and positioned beneath the multi-band antenna array;

a second dielectric window located in the third metalized layer and positioned beneath the multi-band antenna array, wherein the first dielectric window and second dielectric window form a dielectric column between the multi-band antenna array and the fourth metallized layer;

a first feed networks located on the first antenna core;

a second feed network located on the second antenna core; and

a low noise block downconverter integrated with the first antenna core.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the multi-band antenna array comprises a first patch array and a second patch array having a common antenna boresite.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the second feed network lies outside dielectric columns associated with the first antenna array.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the first patch array is configured to operate on a first radio frequency band and the second patch array is configured to operate on a second radio frequency band.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein a thickness of the first substrate is configured for use with antenna electronics.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the first feed network is located on the first metallized layer and the second feed network is located on the fourth metallized layer.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the first antenna core is a printed circuit board and the low noise block downconverter is attached to the printed circuit board.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the first substrate is thinner than the second substrate.

19. An antenna apparatus comprising:

an antenna array configured to operate on a first radio frequency band and a second radio frequency band;

a dielectric column located under the antenna array and formed by laminating two substrates together, the substrates comprising a copper layer, and removing a dielectric window from each copper layer prior to lamination to create the dielectric column, the antenna array being located at an outer surface of the laminated substrates;

a ground plane located on a surface of the laminated substrates opposite the antenna array, the dielectric column being formed between the antenna array and the ground plane;

a first corporate feed network formed on a first surface of the laminated substrates and situated outside the dielectric column;

a second corporate feed network formed on a second surface of the laminated substrates and situated outside the dielectric column; and

a low noise block board formed on the first surface of the laminated substrates.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the antenna array comprises a first patch array and a second patch array having a common antenna boresite, the second patch array being oriented at a 45 degree offset to the first patch array.