Electromagnetically coupled microstrip antennas having feeding patches capacitively coupled to feedlines

Claim 3

A method according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of feedlines (2), said plurality of feeding patches (3), and said radiating patches - (4) is separated into at least two groups, each group of feedlines (2), feeding patches (3), and radiating patches (4) forming a subarray, whereby at least two subarrays are formed, the subarrays being connected to a common feedline (7).

Claim 4

A method according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of feedlines (2), said plurality of feeding patches (3), and said plurality of radiating patches - (4) are configured so as to achieve linear or circular polarization each of said feeding patches being coupled to at least two of said feedlines (3) to achieve circular polarization.

Claim 5

A method according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of feeding patches (3) has a plurality of first perturbation segments (5,6), and each of said plurality of radiating patches has a plurality of second perturbation segments (5,6), said method further comprising the step of coupling each of said feeding patches (3) and a respective one of said radiating patches (4) such that said first and second perturbation segments (5,6) on each of said feeding patches (3) and a respective one of said radiating patches (4) are in register, whereby circular polarization is achieved.

Claim 6

A microstrip antenna array, comprising: a plurality of feedlines (2); a plurality of feeding patches (3), each coupled in a contactless manner to at least a respective one of said plurality of feedlines (2); and a plurality of radiating patches (3), each coupled in a contactless manner to a respective one of said plurality of feeding patches (3), each of said plurality of feedlines (2), said plurality of feeding patches (3), and said plurality of radiation patches (4) being separated into at least two groups, each group of feedlines (2), feeding patches (3), and radiating patches (4)forming a subarray, whereby at least two subarrays are formed, the subarrays being connected to a common feedline (7).

Claim 7

A microstrip antenna array, comprising: a plurality of feedlines (2); a plurality of feeding patches (3), each coupled in a contactless manner to at least a respective one of said plurality of feedlines (2); and a plurality of radiating patches (3), each coupled in a contactless manner to a respective one of said plurality of feeding patches (3), each of said plurality of feedlines (2), said plurality of feeding patches (3), and said plurality of radiation patches (4) being separated into at least two groups, each group of feedlines (2), feeding patches (3), and radiating patches (4)forming a subarray, whereby at least two subarrays are formed, the subarrays being connected to a common feedline (7).

Claim 8

A microstrip antenna array according to claim 5, wherein said plurality of feedlines (2), said plurality of feeding patches (3), and said plurality of radiating patches (4) are configured so as to achieve linear or circular polarization, each of said feeding patches being coupled to at least one feedline to achieve circular polarization.

Claim 9

A microstrip antenna array according to claim 5, wherein said plurality of feeding patches - (3) has a plurality of first perturbation segments - (5,6) and said plurality of radiating patches (4) has a plurality of second perturbation segments said first and second perturbation segments (5,6) comprising tabs (6) or notches (5) extending from or cut out from said feeding patches and said radiating patches (4) respectively, whereby circular polarization is achieved.

Claim 10

A microstrip antenna array according to claim 5, wherein said feeding patches (3) and said radiating patches (9) are of an arbitrary but predefined shape.

Claim 11

A microstrip antenna array according to claim 7, wherein the number of elements in a first one of said at least two groups is N, and the number of elements in a second one of said at least two groups is N z , where N, and N, are integers greater than 1, and wherein a first angular displacement of the perturbation segments (5,6) of one radiation patch (4) relative to the perturbation segments (5,6) on adjacent radiation patches (4) within said first one of said at least two groups is equal to 360 degrees divided by N,, and a second angular displacement of the perturbation segments (5,6) of one radiation patch (4) relative to the perturbation segments (5,6) on adjacent radiation patches (4) within said second one of said at least two groups is equal to 360 degrees divided by N 2 -10. A microstrip antenna array according to claim 7, wherein the number of said first and second perturbation segments (5,6) is two, said first perturbation segments (5,6) being diametrically opposed with respect to each other on each of said feeding patches, each of said feedlines (2) being is coupled to a corresponding one of said feeding patches at an angle of 45 degrees with respect to one of said first perturbation segments (5,6).

Claim 12

A microstrip antenna array according to claim 10, wherein the number of said second perturbation segments (5,6) is two, and wherein said first and second perturbation segments (5,6) on each of said feeding patches (3) and a respective one of said radiating patches (4) are in register.

Claim 13

A microstrip antenna array according to claim 5, wherein each of said feedlines (2) is separated from a corresponding one of said feeding patches (3) by air or a dielectric material, and each of said feeding patches (3) is separated from a corresponding one of said radiating patches (4) by air or a dielectric material.

Claim 14

A microstrip antenna array accoring to claim 6, each of said feedlines (2) being coupled to a corresponding one of said feeding patches (3) in accordance with para., meter substantially related to a wavelength of electromagnetic radiation, each of said feeding patches (3) being coupled to a corresponding one of said radiating patches (4) in accordance with a parameter substantially related to a wavelength of electromagnetic radiation.