EP0279050A1 — Three resonator parasitically coupled microstrip …

Claim 1

Independent Claim 72 words

A broadbanded microstrip antenna comprising: a conductive reference surface; a driven conductive RF radiator element spaced less than one-tenth of a wavelength above said reference surface; a conductive RF feedline connected to said driven element; a first passive conductive RF radiator element spaced above and capacitively coupled to said driven element; and a second passive conductive RF radiator element spaced above said first passive element and capacitively coupled to said driven element.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 72 words

A broadbanded microstrip antenna comprising: a conductive reference surface; a driven conductive RF radiator element spaced less than one-tenth of a wavelength above said reference surface; a conductive RF feedline connected to said driven element; a first passive conductive RF radiator element spaced above and capacitively coupled to said driven element; and a second passive conductive RF radiator element spaced above said first passive element and capacitively coupled to said driven element.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 30 words

An antenna as in claim 1 wherein the spacings between said elements and the dimensions of said elements are chosen to produce a 2:1 VSWR bandwidth of at least 20%.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 28 words

An antenna as in claim 1 wherein said driven element resonates at a frequency which is higher than the resonant frequencies of said first and second passive elements.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 30 words

An antenna as in claim 1 further including a substrate having a first surface, said driven element and at least one RF circuit being disposed on said substrate first surface.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 41 words

An antenna as in claim 4 wherein said substrate also has a second surface opposing to said first substrate surface, said second surface being disposed in contact with said reference surface, said substrate spacing said driven element from said reference surface.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 33 words

A broadbanded microstrip antenna as in claim 1 wherein said driven element is effectively connected in series with said passive elements, and said passive elements are effectively connected in parallel with one another.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 18 words

A broadbanded microstrip antenna as in claim 1 further comprising a radome disposed above said second passive element.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 21 words

A broadbanded microstrip antenna as in claim 1 wherein the resonant frequency ranges of said first and second passive elements overlap.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 21 words

A broadbanded microstrip antenna as in claim 1 wherein said driven element dimensions are smaller than said first passive element dimensions.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 22 words

A broadbanded microstrip antenna as in claim 9 wherein said first passive element dimensions are smaller than said second passive element dimensions.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 23 words

A broadbanded microstrip antenna as in claim 1 wherein said first and second passive elements are only parasitically coupled to said driven element.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 46 words

A broadbanded microstrip antenna as in claim 1 wherein said antenna produces less than a predetermined VSWR for a predetermined range of RF frequencies, and said antenna has greater gain at the lower and higher ends of said range than in the middle of said range.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 23 words

A broadbanded microstrip antenna as in claim 1 wherein said first and second parasitic elements direct RF radiation emanating from said driven element.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 156 words

A broadbanded microstrip antenna comprising: a conductive reference surface; a driven conductive RF radiating element spaced less than one-tenth of a wavelength above said reference surface, said driven element having dimensions such that it resonates in response to signals within a first band of radio frequencies; a conductive RF feedline connected to said driven element; a first passive conductive RF radiating element spaced above and parasitically coupled to said driven element, said first passive element having dimensions such that it resonates in response to signals within a second band of radio frequencies; and a second passive conductive RF radiating element spaced above said first passive element and parasitically coupled to said driven element, said second passive element having dimensions such that it resonates in response to signals within a third band of radio frequencies, wherein said first, second and third bands are different from and overlap one another, and said elements are arranged in a stack.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 156 words

A broadbanded microstrip antenna comprising: a conductive reference surface; a driven conductive RF radiating element spaced less than one-tenth of a wavelength above said reference surface, said driven element having dimensions such that it resonates in response to signals within a first band of radio frequencies; a conductive RF feedline connected to said driven element; a first passive conductive RF radiating element spaced above and parasitically coupled to said driven element, said first passive element having dimensions such that it resonates in response to signals within a second band of radio frequencies; and a second passive conductive RF radiating element spaced above said first passive element and parasitically coupled to said driven element, said second passive element having dimensions such that it resonates in response to signals within a third band of radio frequencies, wherein said first, second and third bands are different from and overlap one another, and said elements are arranged in a stack.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 55 words

A broadband microstrip antenna as in claim 14 wherein said driven element, first passive element and second passive element are closely coupled to and interact with one another such that the composite resonant frequency bandwidth of said elements is substantially continuous and is substantially broader than the independent resonant frequency bandwidths of said individual elements.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 67 words

A broadband microstrip antenna as in claim 14 wherein: said second passive element directs radiation emitted by said first passive element and/or said driven element when an RF signal within said first or second bands is applied to said feedline; and said first and second passive elements direct radiation emitted by said driven element when an RF signal within said first band is applied to said feedline.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 26 words

A broadband microstrip antenna as in claim 14 wherein said first passive element and second passive elements are effectively connected in parallel by capacitive coupling therebetween.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 157 words

A process for producing a broadband microstrip antenna comprising the steps of: (1) providing a first layer of insulative material having first and second conductive layers disposed on opposing surfaces thereof, said first conductive layer being resonant at a frequency F HIGH ; (2) connecting said first and second conductive layers to center and ground connections, respectively, of an RF transmission line; (3) providing a second layer of insulative material having a third conductive layer resonant at a frequency F LOW lower than said frequency F HIGH disposed on a first surface thereof, said second layer having an insulative surface opposing said first surface; (4) disposing said second layer insulative surface on said second conductive layer; (5) disposing a third layer of insulative material on said third conductive layer; and (6) disposing a fourth conductive layer resonant at a third frequency F MID between said frequencies F HIGH and F LOW on said third insulative material layer.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 157 words

A process for producing a broadband microstrip antenna comprising the steps of: (1) providing a first layer of insulative material having first and second conductive layers disposed on opposing surfaces thereof, said first conductive layer being resonant at a frequency F HIGH ; (2) connecting said first and second conductive layers to center and ground connections, respectively, of an RF transmission line; (3) providing a second layer of insulative material having a third conductive layer resonant at a frequency F LOW lower than said frequency F HIGH disposed on a first surface thereof, said second layer having an insulative surface opposing said first surface; (4) disposing said second layer insulative surface on said second conductive layer; (5) disposing a third layer of insulative material on said third conductive layer; and (6) disposing a fourth conductive layer resonant at a third frequency F MID between said frequencies F HIGH and F LOW on said third insulative material layer.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 56 words

A process as in claim 28 wherein: said process further includes the step of providing a further layer of insulative material having said fourth conductive layer disposed on a surface thereof; and said disposing step (6) includes the step of bonding said further layer surface and/or said fourth conductive layer to said third insulative material layer.

Three resonator parasitically coupled microstrip antenna array element

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