Patch antenna arrangement

• US 9,979,092 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2013
• Issued: 05/22/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kathrein Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Kathrein-Werke KG. (Kathrein SE)
• Inventors: Dobric, Nikola
• Primary Examiner(s): MUNOZ, DANIEL
• Application Number:
  US14/401,331
• Publication Number:
  US 20150123865A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,860 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/005 Patch antenna using one or more coplanar parasitic elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0414 in a stacked or folded configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0428 radiating a circular polarised wave

Abstract

The invention relates to an improved antenna arrangement which is characterized by the following features: a patch electrode (7) having a patch electrode surface (71) is provided above the dielectric (5) or on the upper face (5a) of the dielectric (5), said patch electrode (7) is fed via a feed line (11) that passes through the dielectric (5) and in doing so is led to a feed point (11a), which is galvanically or capacitively connected to the patch electrode (7). An electrically conductive top patch (23) having a top patch surface (23′) is provided at a distance (D) above the patch electrode (7), said patch electrode (7) and the top patch (23) are arranged perpendicularly to a central axis (Z) passing through the antenna arrangement, said antenna arrangement being formed as a left or right circular polarized antenna arrangement. The at least one electric connecting line (29) between the patch electrode (7) and the top patch (23) has at least line sections (29d) which are aligned transversely with respect to the central axis (Z).

Claims

1. Antenna array configured as a left or right circularly polarized antenna array, the antenna array comprising:

a dielectric having a length (L), a width (B) and a height (H), the dielectric comprising an upper side,

a patch electrode with a patch electrode surface is provided above the dielectric or on the upper side of the dielectric, the patch electrode having a circular resonance (RF_Z),

the patch electrode being fed via a feeder, which passes through the dielectric and in the passing is guided to a feeding point which is galvanically or capacitively connected to the patch electrode,

an electrically conductive attachment patch provided at a distance (D) above the patch electrode, the electrically conductive attachment patch having an attachment patch surface, the patch electrode and the attachment patch being arranged perpendicularly to a central axis (Z) passing through the antenna array, the electrically conductive attachment patch having a linear resonance frequency (FR),

at least one electrical connecting line provided between the patch electrode and the attachment patch, the at least one electrical connecting line having a linear resonance frequency (FR_L), the at least one electrical connecting line between the patch electrode and the attachment patch having at least plural non-coaxial line sections oriented non-transversely to the central axis (Z), the plural non-transversely oriented line sections having a combined length that is the distance D or an integer multiple of the distance D,

the at least one electrical connecting line including said plural line sections being configured to relocate the linear resonance frequency (FR) of the attachment patch toward the range of the circular resonance (RF_Z) of the patch electrode to shift the linear resonance into the circular resonance of the patch electrode and thereby pivot a main lobe direction of the antenna array in relation to the central axis (Z).

2. Patch antenna array according to claim 1, wherein the connecting line has at least one line portion, which extends perpendicularly to the central axis (Z) or parallel to the patch electrode or to the attachment patch.

3. Patch antenna array according to claim 1, wherein the length of the at least one connecting line is greater than the distance (D) between the patch electrode and the attachment patch.

4. Patch antenna array according to claim 1, wherein the at least one connecting line comprises at least three line sections, a first and a third of the at least three line sections and/or the connection points to the attachment patch and to the patch electrode not being positioned in alignment with one another in relation to the central axis (Z).

5. Patch antenna array according to claim 1, wherein the at least one connecting line comprises at least three line sections, the first and third of the at least three line sections and/or the connection points on the attachment patch and to the patch electrode being positioned in alignment with one another in relation to the central axis (Z).

6. Patch antenna array according to claim 1, wherein the connecting line consists of or comprises a block or cylinder, at least a portion of which is aligned obliquely to the central axis (Z) and is electrically conductive or at least coated with an electrically conductive surface.

7. Patch antenna array according to claim 1, wherein at least two connecting lines or at least four connecting lines are provided, via which a galvanic or capacitive connection is produced between the patch electrode and the attachment patch.

8. Patch antenna array according to claim 1, wherein the attachment patch consists of or comprises an electrically conductive metal sheet or an edged metal sheet having edge portions formed all round or in portions at the peripheral edge.

9. Patch antenna array according to claim 1, wherein parallel to the patch electrode and galvanically separated therefrom, a coupling surface is provided, which is galvanically connected to the attachment patch via the at least one connecting line.

10. Patch antenna array according to claim 1, wherein underneath the attachment patch and capacitively coupled to it, a coupling surface is provided, between which and the patch electrode a galvanic connection is produced via the at least one connecting line.

11. Patch antenna array according to claim 1, wherein on the opposite side of the patch electrode to the dielectric and capacitively coupled to said patch electrode, a coupling surface is provided, and in that on the side of the attachment patch facing the patch antenna a coupling surface coupled to the attachment patch is provided, and in that the two coupling surfaces are galvanically connected to one another via at least one electrical connecting line.

12. Patch antenna array according to claim 1, wherein the clearance between the patch electrode and the attachment patch comprises a dielectric, which consists of air at least in part or up to a partial height.

13. Patch antenna array according to claim 1, wherein the clearance between the patch electrode and the attachment patch comprises a solid dielectric at least in part or up to a partial height.

14. Patch antenna array according to claim 1, wherein the attachment patch and/or a dielectric located underneath it has a central opening passing through the attachment patch and/or the dielectric.

15. Patch antenna array according to claim 13, wherein the attachment patch is constructed on the upper side of the dielectric, which in turn is positioned on and/or glued to the patch electrode or a coupling surface extending parallel thereto.

16. Patch antenna array according to claim 13, wherein the dielectric has one or more connecting lines or a through-connection passing through it.

17. Patch antenna array according to claim 13, wherein the dielectric consists of a printed circuit board material.

18. Patch antenna array according to claim 1, wherein the block or cylinder is arranged in the central opening in the dielectric.

19. Patch antenna array according to claim 14, wherein the central opening passes through the thickness (D) of the attachment patch and/or the dielectric, the side walls of the central opening being coated with an electrically conductive layer of material producing a through-connection, via which the attachment patch and the patch electrode or a coupling surface coupled to it are electrically connected.

20. Patch antenna array according to claim 1, wherein the patch electrode and/or the attachment patch are provided with an obliquely extending chamfer at two corner regions opposite one another at 180°

.

21. Patch antenna array according to claim 20, wherein the patch electrode and the attachment patch are chamfered and have the same alignment in terms of their opposite chamfers, such that the chamfers are located parallel to one another.

22. Patch antenna array of claim 1 further including a conductive ground plane disposed on an underside of the dielectric, wherein the ground plane is not electrically connected to the patch electrode.

23. Patch antenna array of claim 1 wherein the connecting line includes a feeder, and the position of the connecting line feeder on the attachment patch is configured to shift the linear resonance into the circular resonance.

24. Patch antenna array of claim 1 wherein the at least one connecting line including said plural line sections is configured to set a main beam direction at an incline relative to the patch electrode surface in a deviation from a perpendicular alignment.

25. Antenna array configured as a left or right circularly polarized antenna array, the antenna array comprising:

a dielectric having a length (L), a width (B) and a height (H) and having an upper side and an underside,

a patch electrode with a patch electrode surface provided on or above the upper side of the dielectric, the patch electrode having a circular resonance (RF_Z),

the patch electrode being fed via a feeder, which passes through the dielectric and in the passing is guided to a feeding point which is galvanically or capacitively connected to the patch electrode,

an electrically conductive attachment patch provided at a distance (D) above the patch electrode, the patch electrode and the attachment patch being arranged perpendicularly to a central axis (Z) passing through the antenna array, the attachment patch having a linear resonance (FR); and

means disposed between the patch electrode and the attachment patch for relocating the linear resonance (FR) of the attachment patch toward the range of the circular resonance (RF_Z) of the patch electrode to thereby shift said linear resonance into the circular resonance of the patch electrode, pivot a main lobe direction of the antenna array in relation to the central axis (Z) and set a main beam direction at an incline relative to the patch electrode surface in a deviation from a perpendicular alignment to said patch electrode, the means for relocating including at least one electrical connecting line provided between the patch electrode and the attachment patch, the at least one electrical connecting line having plural non-coaxial line sections oriented non-transversely to the central axis (Z), the plural non-transversely oriented line sections having a combined length that is the distance D or an integer multiple of said distance D.