Corrugated horn antenna with enhanced frequency range

• US 9,478,868 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2012
• Issued: 10/25/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: XI3
• Original Assignee: XI3
• Inventors: Henry, Cooper, Westerberg, Ronald M., Peng, Sheng, Habeck, Paul, Phelps, Floyd
• Primary Examiner(s): Levi, Dameon E
• Assistant Examiner(s): ISLAM, HASAN Z
• Application Number:
  US13/370,275
• Publication Number:
  US 20120200470A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,720 Days
• Field of Search: 343/767, 343/770, 343/772, 343/786
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 13/085 Slot-line radiating ends

Abstract

A radiator element for transmission and reception of RF communications formed of a planar conductive material positioned upon a planar dielectric substrate surface. Two lobes formed of the conductive material have side edges abutting a cavity decreasing in cross section between the lobes. The cavity has a widest point configured to receive RF frequencies at the lowest frequency and a narrowest point configured to receive a highest frequency of the element. The widest and narrowest point may be changed during manufacture to fit the frequency spectrum needed. Opposing pairs of recess cavities formed in the side edges of the lobes along the decreasing edges of the cavity enhance the frequency of operation for frequencies paired to the distance between the pairs of notches. Projections are employable along the side edges to optimize impedance.

Claims

1. A radiator element for RF communications, comprising:

a planar dielectric substrate;

a first substrate surface of said substrate having a portion of which is covered with a conductive material and a portion of which is uncovered, said first substrate surface having respective opposing side edges, an upper edge, a bottom edge and a centerline, said centerline substantially centered between and parallel to said respective opposing side edges;

said conductive material forming a pair of lobes having substantially identical shapes;

said lobes having respective said opposing side edges defining opposing sides of a cavity positioned upon said uncovered substrate surface;

said lobes extending in opposite directions to respective distal tips;

said cavity having a mouth portion, said mouth portion beginning at said upper edge, along a line extending between said distal tips;

said cavity reducing in cross-section from said upper edge as it extends to a narrowest point substantially centered between said respective side edges of said lobes;

said cavity further defined by a pair of curved edges, each of said pair of curved edges extending between one of said distal tips and said narrowest point of said cavity, each of said pair of curved edges forming a boundary between a portion of said cavity and a portion of each of said pair of lobes;

recess cavities formed in said conductive material at respective opposing positions on opposing sides of said centerline and extending from each said curved edge outward toward one of said respective side edges of said lobes, said recess cavities providing a means for enhanced reception of frequencies specific to distances between respective pairs of said recess cavities formed in said respective opposing positions;

a curved portion of said cavity extending downward toward said bottom edge from said narrowest point in a curved direction into a first one of said lobes, wherein said curved portion forms a substantially oval configuration; and

a feedline positioned on a second surface of said substrate, wherein said second substrate surface is opposite said first substrate surface, wherein said feedline comprises a substantially oval portion that is aligned within said substantially oval configuration, and wherein said feedline is configured to electrically communicate at a first position with one of said lobes, said feedline adapted at a second end for electrical communication with an RF receiver or transceiver.