Broadband circular polarization satellite antenna

Claim 2

The antenna of Claim 1 wherein said preselected number is four and said at least first coupling array includes first, second, third and fourth microstrip patch elements.

Claim 3

The antenna of Claim 2 wherein said one or more phase transmission line means of said at least first interconnect network comprises: a first phase transmission line means coupled between said first microstrip patch element and said signal transmission means; a second phase transmission line means coupled between said second microstrip patch element and said signal transmission means for providing a phase shift of about 90° relative to said first microstrip patch element; a third phase transmission line means coupled between said third microstrip patch element and said signal transmission means for providing a phase shift of about 180° relative to said first microstrip patch element; and a fourth phase transmission line means coupled between said fourth microstrip patch element and said signal transmission means for providing a phase shift of about 270° relative to said first microstrip patch element.

Claim 4

The antenna of Claim 2 wherein said microstrip patch elements of said at least first coupling array are fed so as to excite two orthogonal modes of said microstrip patch elements.

Claim 5

The antenna of Claim 4 wherein: each of said microstrip patch elements of said at least first coupling array comprises a square microstrip patch having first, second, third and fourth sides; and said sequential rotation relationship comprises: said first microstrip patch element being fed at said first and said second sides; said second microstrip patch element being fed at said second and said third sides; said third microstrip patch element being fed at said third and said fourth sides; and said fourth microstrip patch element being fed at said fourth and said first sides.

Claim 6

The antenna of Claim 1 and further comprising: a second coupling array having said preselected number of microstrip patch elements disposed on said first surface of said first substrate; and a second antenna array having said preselected number of microstrip patch elements disposed on said first surface of said second substrate such that each of said microstrip patch elements of said second antenna array is positioned above a selected one of said microstrip patch elements of said second coupling array for electromagnetic coupling therebetween wherein circularly polarized signals can be transmitted/received by said at least first coupling array and said second antenna array; and a second interconnect network comprising one or more phase transmission line means disposed on said first surface of said first substrate and connecting said microstrip patch elements of said second coupling array with said signal transmission means, said one or more phase transmission line means of said second interconnect network having preselected lengths wherein said microstrip patch elements of said second coupling array are in sequential rotation relationship.

Claim 7

The antenna of Claim 6 wherein: said preselected number is four; said at least first coupling array includes first, second, third and fourth microstrip patch elements; and said second coupling array includes fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth microstrip patch elements.

Claim 8

The antenna of Claim 7 wherein: said one or more phase transmission line means of said at least first interconnect network comprises: a first phase transmission line means coupled between said first microstrip patch element and said signal transmission means; a second phase transmission line means coupled between said second microstrip patch element and said signal transmission means for providing a phase shift of about 90° relative to said first microstrip patch element; a third phase transmission line means coupled between said third microstrip patch element and said signal transmission means for providing a phase shift of about 180° relative to said first microstrip patch element; a fourth phase transmission line means coupled between said fourth microstrip patch element and said signal transmission means for providing a phase shift of about 270° relative to said first microstrip patch element; and said one or more phase transmission line means of said second interconnect network comprises: a fifth phase transmission line means coupled between said fifth microstrip patch element and said signal transmission means; a sixth phase transmission line means coupled between said sixth microstrip patch element and said signal transmission means for providing a phase shift of about 90° relative to said fifth microstrip patch element; a seventh phase transmission line means coupled between said seventh microstrip patch element and said signal transmission means for providing a phase shift of about 180° relative to said fifth microstrip patch element; and an eighth phase transmission line means coupled between said eighth microstrip patch element and said signal transmission means for providing a phase shift of about 270° relative to said fifth microstrip patch element.

Claim 9

A broadband, circular polarization antenna array for use on a satellite, comprising: ground means; a first substrate positioned over said ground means; first spacing means positioned over said first substrate; a second substrate positioned above and substantially parallel to said first spacing means; a first subarray having a preselected number of electromagnetically coupled patch pairs of microstrip patch coupling elements and microstrip patch antenna elements, said microstrip patch coupling elements being disposed on a first surface of said first substrate and said microstrip patch antenna element, being disposed on a first surface of said second substrate; a first interconnect network comprising one or more phase transmission line means disposed on said first surface of said first substrate and connecting said microstrip patch coupling elements of said first subarray with a signal transmission means, said one or more phase transmission line means of said first interconnect network having preselected lengths wherein said microstrip patch elements of said first subarray are in sequential rotation relationship and circularly polarized signals can be transmitted/received by said first subarray; at least a second subarray having said preselected number of electromagnetically coupled patch pairs of microstrip patch coupling elements and microstrip patch antenna elements proximate to said first subarray, said microstrip patch coupling elements of said at least second subarray being disposed on said first surface of said first substrate and said microstrip patch antenna elements of said at least second subarray being disposed on said first surface of said second substrate; at least a second interconnect network comprising one or more phase transmission line means disposed on said first surface of said first substrate and connecting said coupling elements of said at least second subarray with said signal transmission means, said one or more phase transmission line means of said at least second interconnect network having preselected lengths wherein said microstrip patch elements of said at least second subarray are in sequential rotation relationship, said at least second interconnect means further comprising phase transmission line means having a preselected length wherein said first subarray and said at least second subarray are in sequential rotation relationship and circularly polarized signals can be transmitted/received by said second subarray; second spacing means positioned below said first substrate; and a third substrate positioned below and substantially parallel to said second spacing means, said ground means being disposed on a surface of said third substrate.

Claim 10

The antenna of Claim 9 wherein: said preselected number is four; said first subarray includes first, second, third and fourth microstrip patch coupling elements; said second subarray includes fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth microstrip patch coupling elements; said one or more phase transmission line means of said first interconnect network comprises: a first phase transmission line means coupled between said first microstrip patch element and said signal transmission means; a second phase transmission line means coupled between said second microstrip patch element and said signal transmission means for providing a phase shift of about 90° relative to said first microstrip patch element; a third phase transmission line means coupled between said third microstrip patch element and said signal transmission means for providing a phase shift of about 180° relative to said first microstrip patch element; a fourth phase transmission line means coupled between said fourth microstrip patch element and said signal transmission means for providing a phase shift of about 270° relative to said first microstrip patch element; and said one or more phase transmission line means of said at least second interconnect network comprises: a fifth phase transmission line means coupled between said fifth microstrip patch element and said signal transmission means; a sixth phase transmission line means coupled between said sixth microstrip patch element and said signal transmission means for providing a phase shift of about 90° relative to said fifth microstrip patch element; a seventh phase transmission line means coupled between said seventh microstrip patch element and said signal transmission means for provides a phase shift of about 180° relative to said fifth microstrip patch element; and an eighth phase transmission line means coupled between said eighth microstrip patch element and said signal transmission means for providing a phase shift of about 270° relative to said fifth microstrip patch element.