APERTURE ANTENNA WITH SHAPED DIELECTRIC LOADING
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An antenna structure comprising:
- a first antenna element comprising an elongate channel having an internal conductive surface and an apertured proximal end spaced apart from, and flaring out to, an apertured distal end, said conductive surface providing a propagation path, and said proximal end receiving EM waves in a first EM radiation pattern; and
a second antenna element positioned at least partially within said first antenna element, said second antenna element having a proximal portion coupled to a distal portion, said proximal portion flaring out from a proximal portion proximal end having a first cross-sectional area to proximal portion distal end having a second cross-sectional area larger than said first cross-sectional area, and said distal portion having a distal portion proximal end coupled to said proximal portion distal end and flaring in towards said apertured distal end, and said second antenna element introducing a phase delay along said propagation path adapted to at least partially flatten a phase front of said first EM radiation pattern to produce a second EM radiation pattern.
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Abstract
An antenna structure and a method of propagating an electromagnetic (EM) wave with the antenna structure. The antenna structure comprises a first aperture antenna element and a second element inside the first element adapted to strengthen the directivity of the wave.
208 Citations
32 Claims
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1. An antenna structure comprising:
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a first antenna element comprising an elongate channel having an internal conductive surface and an apertured proximal end spaced apart from, and flaring out to, an apertured distal end, said conductive surface providing a propagation path, and said proximal end receiving EM waves in a first EM radiation pattern; and a second antenna element positioned at least partially within said first antenna element, said second antenna element having a proximal portion coupled to a distal portion, said proximal portion flaring out from a proximal portion proximal end having a first cross-sectional area to proximal portion distal end having a second cross-sectional area larger than said first cross-sectional area, and said distal portion having a distal portion proximal end coupled to said proximal portion distal end and flaring in towards said apertured distal end, and said second antenna element introducing a phase delay along said propagation path adapted to at least partially flatten a phase front of said first EM radiation pattern to produce a second EM radiation pattern. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An antenna structure comprising:
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a first antenna element comprising an elongate channel having an internal conductive surface and an apertured proximal end spaced apart from, and flaring out to, an apertured distal end, said conductive surface providing a propagation path, and said proximal end receiving EM waves in a first EM radiation pattern; a second antenna element positioned at least partially within said first antenna element, said second antenna element having a first dielectric constant; and a third antenna element positioned at least partially within said second antenna element, said third antenna element having a second dielectric constant, wherein said second and third antenna elements introduce phase delays along said propagation path adapted to at least partially flatten a phase front of said first EM radiation pattern to produce a second EM radiation pattern. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An antenna structure comprising:
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a first antenna element comprising an elongate channel having an internal conductive surface and an apertured proximal end spaced apart from, and flaring out to, an apertured distal end, said conductive surface providing a propagation path, and said proximal end receiving EM waves in a first EM radiation pattern; and a second antenna element positioned at least partially within said first antenna element, said second antenna element having at least one opening on its surface, wherein said second antenna element introduces a phase delay along said propagation path adapted to at least partially flatten a phase front of said first EM radiation pattern to produce a second EM radiation pattern. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of producing a radio wave comprising:
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propagating a first radio wave having a first EM radiation pattern through a proximal opening of a first antenna element, said first antenna element including a distal opening in fluid communication with said proximal opening, said proximal opening and said distal opening defining a channel therebetween, and said distal opening being larger than said proximal opening; and refracting said first radio wave through a second antenna element positioned in said channel, said second antenna element introducing a phase delay along a propagation path of said first radio wave to at least partially flatten a phase front of said first EM radiation pattern to produce a second EM radiation pattern. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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26. An antenna structure comprising:
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a first antenna element, said first antenna element being adapted to produce a first EM radiation pattern comprising a first and second reference axis; and
a second antenna element, said second antenna element comprising a material adapted to refract a portion of said first EM radiation pattern to produce a second EM radiation pattern which has a third reference axis being substantially orthogonal to said first reference axis,wherein said second antenna element is adapted to modify said first EM radiation pattern by delaying a portion of said first EM radiation pattern to cause a phase shift that results in said second EM radiation pattern. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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29. An antenna structure comprising:
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a first antenna element, said first antenna element being adapted to produce a first EM radiation pattern comprising a first reference axis and a first plane being substantially orthogonal to said first reference axis; and a second antenna element, said second antenna element adapted in spatial relation to a portion of said first antenna element such that a portion of said first EM radiation pattern is modified thereby creating a second EM radiation pattern which has a directivity substantially strengthened in the direction of said first reference plane. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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31. An antenna structure comprising:
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a first antenna element, said first antenna element being adapted to produce a wave having a first EM radiation pattern comprising a first reference axis and a first plane being substantially orthogonal to said first reference axis; a second antenna element coupled to said first antenna element, said second antenna element having an input opening and an output opening defining an elongate channel therebetween, said channel being substantially aligned with said first reference axis, and said inlet opening being configured to receive said wave; and a third antenna element, said third antenna element positioned at least partially within said second antenna element and adapted to modify said wave to create a second EM radiation pattern, said second EM radiation pattern having a modified directivity substantially strengthened in the direction of said first reference axis relative to an unmodified directivity of the first EM radiation pattern, said unmodified directivity being the directivity said wave would exhibit in said second antenna element without said third antenna element.
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32. An antenna structure comprising:
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a first antenna element, said first antenna element being adapted to produce a wave having a first EM radiation pattern comprising a first reference axis and a first plane being substantially orthogonal to said first reference axis; a second antenna element coupled to said first antenna element, said second antenna element having an input opening and an output opening defining an elongate channel therebetween, said channel being substantially aligned with said first reference axis, and said inlet opening being configured to receive said wave; and a third antenna element, said third antenna element positioned at least partially within said second antenna element, a proximal portion of said third antenna element conforming to said elongate channel, said third antenna element adapted to alter said first EM radiation pattern by refraction of said wave through said third element to create a second EM radiation pattern, said altering comprising strengthening an unmodified directivity of said wave in the direction of said first reference axis, and said unmodified directivity being the directivity said wave would exhibit in said second antenna element without said third antenna element.
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Specification