Broadband multiple layer dielectric resonator antenna and array thereof

• US 10,700,435 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2019
• Issued: 06/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rogers Corporation (Rogers Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rogers Corporation (Rogers Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Pance, Kristi, Sprentall, Karl E., Williams, Shawn P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Tho G
• Application Number:
  US16/686,442
• Publication Number:
  US 20200091609A1
• Time in Patent Office: 225 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/10 Processes of additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/112 using individual droplets, e.g. from jetting heads
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/118 using filamentary material being melted, e.g. fused deposition modelling [FDM]
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/147 using sheet material, e.g. laminated object manufacturing [LOM] or laminating sheet material precut to local cross sections of the 3D object
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/153 using layers of powder being selectively joined, e.g. by selective laser sintering or melting
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 10/00 Processes of additive manufacturing
• 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 1/38 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 1/40 Radiating elements coated with or embedded in protective material
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/422 comprising two or more layers of dielectric material H01Q1/425 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/48 Earthing means; Earth screens; Counterpoises
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/523 between antennas of an array
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/061 Two dimensional planar arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/30 Combinations of separate antenna units operating in different wavebands and connected to a common feeder system
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/364 Creating multiple current paths
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/50 Feeding or matching arrangements for broad-band or multi-band operation
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0457 electromagnetically coupled to the feed line
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0485 Dielectric resonator antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0492 circularly polarised

Abstract

A dielectric resonator antenna, DRA, includes: a ground structure; a plurality of volumes of dielectric materials disposed on the ground structure having N volumes V₁ to V_N, N being an integer equal to or greater than 3; a signal feed disposed and structured to be electromagnetically coupled to one or more of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials; wherein adjacent ones of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials have different dielectric constants with respect to each other; wherein each volume V₂ to V_N−1 includes a dielectric material other than air; and, wherein at least volume V₁ has a cross sectional shape as observed in an elevation view with an overall height that is greater than half its respective overall width.

Claims

1. A dielectric resonator antenna, DRA, comprising:

an electrically conductive ground structure;

a plurality of volumes of dielectric materials disposed on the ground structure comprising N volumes, N being an integer equal to or greater than 3, disposed to form successive and sequential layered volumes V_i, i being an integer from 1 to N, wherein volume V₁ forms an innermost first volume, wherein a successive volume V_i+1 forms a layered shell disposed over and at least partially embedding volume V_i, wherein volume V_N at least partially embeds all volumes V₁ to V<sub>N−

1</sub>;

a signal feed disposed and structured to be electromagnetically coupled to one or more of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials;

wherein adjacent ones of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials have different dielectric constants with respect to each other;

wherein each volume V₂ to V<sub>N−

1</sub> comprises a dielectric material other than air; and

wherein at least volume V₁ has a cross sectional shape as observed in an elevation view with an overall height that is greater than half its respective overall width.

2. The DRA of claim 1, wherein each successive volume V_i+1 forms a layered shell disposed over and completely 100% embedding volume V_i.

3. The DRA of claim 1, wherein volume V_N completely 100% embeds all volumes V₁ to V_N−

1.

4. The DRA of claim 1, wherein the signal feed is disposed within an opening of the ground structure in non-electrical contact with the ground structure, and is disposed within one of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials.

5. The DRA of claim 1, wherein the DRA when electromagnetically excited by an electrical signal on the signal feed is configured to produce a far field 3D radiation pattern that occupies a topological space corresponding to a single element homotopy group defined by a family of closed loop paths that are each contractible at a single point within the 3D radiation pattern.

6. The DRA of claim 1, wherein:

the first volume V₁ has a dielectric constant equal to that of air.

7. The DRA of claim 1, wherein:

the signal feed is disposed within and electromagnetically coupled to the first volume V₁ of dielectric material; and

each volume of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials has a central longitudinal axis that is centrally disposed relative to a longitudinal axis of the signal feed, the longitudinal axis of the signal feed being perpendicular to the ground structure.

8. The DRA of claim 1, wherein:

the signal feed is disposed within and electromagnetically coupled to one of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials that is other than the first volume V₁ of dielectric material.

9. The DRA of claim 1, wherein:

each volume of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials has a central longitudinal axis that is centrally disposed relative to each other, each central longitudinal axis being perpendicular to the ground structure.

10. The DRA of claim 1, wherein:

each volume of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials has a cylindrical shape.

11. The DRA of claim 1, wherein:

each volume of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials has a cylindrical shape axially centered on each other and axially centered on the signal feed.

12. The DRA of claim 1, wherein:

the signal feed is disposed within and electromagnetically coupled to the second volume V₂ of dielectric material.

13. The DRA of claim 1, wherein:

the signal feed is disposed within one of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials; and

each volume of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials form respective arched volumes, and the embedded signal feed forms an arch, each arched volume of the respective arched volumes of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials having both ends of the respective arched volume disposed on the electrically conductive ground structure.

14. The DRA of claim 13, wherein:

the signal feed is disposed within and electromagnetically coupled to the first volume V₁ of dielectric material.

15. The DRA of claim 14, wherein:

the signal feed is arched within the first volume V₁ of dielectric material and enters the first volume V₁ off center from a zenith axis of the first volume V₁.

16. The DRA of claim 1, wherein:

the signal feed comprises a copper wire, a coaxial cable, a microstrip, a waveguide, a surface integrated waveguide, or a conductive ink.

17. The DRA of claim 1, wherein:

the first volume V₁ has an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion being wider than the upper portion.

18. The DRA of claim 1, wherein:

N is greater than 3.

19. The DRA of claim 1, wherein:

N is greater than 3 and equal to or less than 5.

20. A DRA array, comprising:

a plurality of DRA'"'"'s according to claim 1 arranged in an x by y array pattern, where x and y are integers.

21. The DRA array of claim 20, wherein:

x is equal to y.