High-efficiency broadband antenna

• US 9,647,326 B1
• Filed: 03/17/2014
• Issued: 05/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Worldwide Antenna Systems, LLC
• Original Assignee: Worldwide Antenna Systems, LLC
• Inventors: Gorman, Kurt
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Graham
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim, Jae
• Application Number:
  US14/217,442
• Time in Patent Office: 1,149 Days
• Field of Search: 343745, 343722, 343725, 343893
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/36 Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; Particular materials used therewithH01Q1/08, H01Q1/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/50 Structural association of antennas with earthing switches, lead-in devices or lightning protectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/29 Combinations of different interacting antenna units for giving a desired directional characteristic H01Q25/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/40 Element having extended radiating surface
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 7/21 providing two or more phase shifted output signals, e.g. n-phase output

Abstract

A design for high-efficiency broadband antennas which includes a D-plate and an E-cylinder, electrically insulated from each other, the E-cylinder being above the D-plate, and both parts insulated from a ground plane. The E-cylinder and D-plate may be fed by distinct feed networks with adjustable impedance.

Claims

1. A high-efficiency broadband antenna comprising:

a D-plate comprising;

a horizontal conductor raised above and insulated from a ground plane; and

a D-plate feed conductor;

an E-cylinder comprising;

a vertical hollow conductive cylinder of smaller diameter than the D-plate, which is mounted concentrically above and insulated from the D-plate, and a funnel-shaped conductor with a lower lip which has the same diameter as the vertical hollow conductive cylinder, and an upper lip which has a larger diameter than the vertical hollow conductive cylinder, wherein the vertical hollow conductive cylinder has an upper lip, and wherein the lower lip of the funnel-shaped conductor is connected to the upper lip of the vertical hollow conductive cylinder; and

an E-cylinder feed conductor;

a transmitter input feed, connected to a source of modulated alternating current;

an antenna tuning circuit configured to receive the transmitter input feed;

a first antenna feed network, with adjustable impedance, configured to feed power from the antenna tuning circuit to the E-cylinder; and

a second antenna feed network, with adjustable impedance, configured to feed power from the antenna tuning circuit to the D-plate;

wherein the antenna tuning circuit is adjusted to provide a resistive input as compared to a reactive impedance of the E-cylinder and the D-plate once the adjustable impedance on the first antenna feed network and the adjustable impedance on the second antenna feed network are set; and

wherein half the power from the transmitter input feed is provided to each of the E-cylinder and the D-plate.

2. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the voltage standing wave ratio is less than about 3:

1 when the input feed frequency is within a frequency band of width 0.040 MHz.

3. The antenna of claim 2, wherein the voltage standing wave ratio is less than about 3:

1 when the input feed frequency is between 1.620 MHz and 1.640 MHz.

4. The antenna of claim 2, wherein the voltage standing wave ratio is less than about 2:

1 when the input feed frequency is within a frequency band of width 0.040 MHz.

5. The antenna of claim 3, wherein the voltage standing wave ratio is less than about 2:

1 when the input feed frequency is between 1.620 MHz and 1.640 MHz.

6. The antenna of claim 1, further comprising one or more means for measuring the magnitude and phase of both current and voltage at each antenna feed network simultaneously.

7. The antenna of claim 6, further comprising one or more tuners configured to adjust the impedance of the first and/or second antenna feed network in correlation with the input to said means for measuring.

8. The antenna of claim 1, wherein, when the transmitter input feed feeds a power of 100 watts at 1.630 MHz, the average measured field strength transmitted by the antenna at 1 km over a period of one hour is at least 70 mV/m.

9. The antenna of claim 8 wherein the measured field strength is at least 80 mV/m.

10. The antenna of claim 9 wherein the measured field strength is at least 90 mV/m.