Substrate-loaded frequency-scaled ultra-wide spectrum element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017302003-A1
Application number	US-201514544935-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 16, 2015
Priority date	Jun 16, 2015
Publication date	Oct 19, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A phased array antenna including a base plate and a board projecting from the base plate. The board including a dielectric layer and a conductive layer. The conductive layer includes first and second spaced apart radiating elements and a pillar disposed between the first and second spaced apart radiating elements. The pillar is electrically connected to the base plate, and the first and second spaced apart radiating elements are configured to capacitively couple to the pillar.

First claim

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1 . A phased array antenna comprising:
a base plate; and a board projecting from the base plate, the board comprising:
a dielectric layer; and
a conductive layer, wherein the conductive layer comprises:
first and second spaced apart radiating elements; and
a pillar disposed between the first and second spaced apart radiating elements,

wherein:
the pillar is electrically connected to the base plate, and
the first and second spaced apart radiating elements are configured to capacitively couple to the pillar.

2 . The phased array antenna of claim 1 , wherein the phased array antenna is configured to transmit or detect RF signals over a bandwidth of at least 2:1.

3 . The phased array antenna of claim 1 , wherein the antenna is configured to have an average voltage standing wave ratio of less than 5:1.

4 . The phased array antenna of claim 1 , wherein the antenna is configured to have an average voltage standing wave ratio of less than 5:1 over a scan volume of at least 30 degrees from broadside.

5 . A unit cell of for a phased array antenna comprising:
a base plate; a first dielectric layer projecting from the base plate; and a first conductive layer disposed on a side of the first dielectric layer, the first conductive layer comprising:
a ground pillar;
a first ground member spaced apart from a first edge of the ground pillar; and
a first signal member disposed between the ground pillar and the first ground member,
wherein:
the first signal member is electrically insulated from the ground pillar and the first ground member, and
an edge of the first signal member is configured to capacitively couple to the first edge of the ground pillar.

6 . The unit cell of claim 5 , wherein the conductive layer further comprises a second ground member spaced apart from a second edge of the ground pillar, opposite the first edge, wherein an edge of the second ground member is configured to capacitively couple to the second edge of the ground pillar.

7 . The unit cell of claim 5 , further comprising:
a second dielectric layer; a second conductive layer disposed on a side of the second dielectric layer, the second conductive layer comprising:
a second signal member spaced apart from a third edge of the ground pillar, wherein the second signal member is electrically insulated from the base plate and the ground pillar, and an edge of the second signal member is configured to capacitively couple to the third edge of the ground pillar; and
a third ground member spaced apart from a fourth edge of the ground pillar, opposite the third edge, wherein an edge of the third ground member is configured to capacitively couple to the fourth edge of the ground pillar.

8 . The unit cell of claim 5 , wherein the element is configured to receive RF signals in a frequency range between a first frequency and a second frequency that is higher than the first frequency and the first signal member projects from the base plate with a maximum height of one-half the wavelength of the second frequency.

9 . The unit cell of claim 5 , wherein:
the ground pillar comprises a first plurality of projections that project from the first edge of the ground pillar; and the first signal member comprises a second plurality of projections that project from the edge of the first signal member.

10 . The unit cell of claim 5 , wherein the ground pillar and the first ground member are configured to be electrically connected to a base plate.

11 . The unit cell of claim 5 , wherein a distal end of the first ground member and a distal end of the first signal member are substantially symmetrical about a plane disposed midway between the first ground member and the first signal member.

12 . A radiating element for a phased array antenna comprising:
a first dielectric layer; a first conductive layer disposed on a first side of the first dielectric layer, the first conductive layer comprising:
a first member comprising a first stem and a first impedance matching portion, wherein the first impedance matching portion comprises at least one projecting portion projecting from a first edge of the first impedance matching portion; and
a second member spaced apart from the first member, the second member comprising a second impedance matching portion, wherein the second impedance matching portion comprises at least one other projecting portion projecting toward the first edge of the first impedance matching portion.

13 . The radiating element of claim 12 , wherein the first member further comprises a first capacitive coupling portion along a second edge, opposite the first edge, the first capacitive coupling portion configured to capacitively couple to a first ground pillar.

14 . The radiating element of claim 12 , wherein the first impedance matching portion and the second impedance matching portion are substantially symmetrical.

15 . The radiating element of claim 12 , wherein the first impedance matching portion comprises a first projecting portion at an end of the first member, the first projecting portion projecting from the first edge of the first impedance matching portion, and a second projecting portion spaced between the first projecting portion and the first stem, the second projecting portion projecting from the first edge of the first impedance matching portion, and wherein the first projecting portion projects farther than the second projecting portion.

16 . The radiating element of claim 12 , wherein the first member is electrically insulated from the second member.

17 . The radiating element of claim 12 , further comprising a second conductive layer disposed on a second side of the first dielectric layer, the second conductive layer comprising a ground strip, wherein at least a portion of the ground strip and at least a portion of the first stem form a microstrip or a stripline.

18 . The radiating element of claim 12 , further comprising:
a second conductive layer disposed on a second side of the first dielectric layer, the second conductive layer comprising a first ground strip; a second dielectric layer disposed on a side of the first conductive layer opposite the first dielectric layer; and a third conductive layer disposed on a side of the second dielectric layer, the third conductive layer comprising a second ground strip, wherein the first ground strip and the second ground strip are electrically connected to the second member.

Assignees

• Mitre Corp
• The Mitre Cooporation

Inventors

• Elsallal Wajih
• Hood Jamie
• Locker Al
• Kindt Rick

Classifications

• H01Q21/061 Primary

  Two dimensional planar arrays · CPC title

• H01Q1/48

  Earthing means; Earth screens; Counterpoises · CPC title

• H01Q5/25 Primary

  Ultra-wideband [UWB] systems, e.g. multiple resonance systems; Pulse systems · CPC title

• H01Q21/24

  Combinations of antenna units polarised in different directions for transmitting or receiving circularly and elliptically polarised waves or waves linearly polarised in any direction {(circularly polarised patch antennas H01Q9/0428; circularly polarised horns H01Q13/0241; cross-polarised horns H01Q13/0258; polarisation converters H01Q15/242; cross-polarised rear feeds H01Q19/136; crossed polarisation dual antenna H01Q25/001)} · CPC title

• H01Q21/064

  using horn or slot aerials (slotted waveguides arrays H01Q21/005) · CPC title