Microstrip-dipole antenna elements and arrays thereof

Claim 2

An antenna element comprising: a microstrip board having a conductive feed line on a first side thereof and a conductive surface on its second side; and at least one conductive dipole separated from said conductive surface by less than one-sixth of a wavelength of the antenna element's operational frequency as measured in the medium between said dipole and said conductive surface, and with said at least one dipole being spaced apart from and asymmetrically disposed relative to said feed line such that one end portion of said dipole overlaps said feed line and the remaining portion of said dipole does not overlap said feed line and with said asymmetrical orientation of said dipole being sufficient to cause substantially different amounts of reactive coupling between the feed line and the respective end portions of the dipole; whereby signals can be applied or received across said feed line and said conductive surface.

Claim 3

The antenna element of claim 1 wherein said dipole is disposed above and is parallel to said feed line.

Claim 4

The antenna element of claim 2 wherein said dipole is longitudinally centered with respect to one end of said feed line.

Claim 5

The antenna element of claim 2 wherein said dipole is disposed relative to one end of said feed line such that the longitudinal overlap therebetween is at least one-thirtieth of a wavelength of the antenna's operational frequency.

Claim 6

The antenna element of claim 1 wherein said dipole is on a dielectric board which is disposed relative to said microstrip board such that said dipole is separated from said feed line by the thickness of said dielectric board.

Claim 7

The antenna element of claim 5 wherein said dipole is parallel to and longitudinally centered with respect to one end of said microstrip feed line.

Claim 8

The antenna element of claim 6 wherein the combined thickness of said dielectric and microstrip boards is between λ/6 and λ/25, where λ is the wavelength of the antenna element's operational frequency.

Claim 9

The antenna element of claim 7 wherein the thickness of said microstrip board is between λ/16 and λ/50.

Claim 10

The antenna element of claim 7 wherein the combined thickness of said dielectric and microstrip boards is approximately 2.7 times the thickness of said microstrip board.

Claim 11

The antenna element of claim 1 wherein said dipole is above and orthogonal to said feed line, whereby the reactive coupling between said dipole and said feed line is predominantly capacitive.

Claim 12

The antenna of claim 1 wherein said dipole is on said first side of said microstrip board and adjacent to said feed line.

Claim 13

The antenna element of claim 11 wherein said dipole is parallel to, located at the side of, and is centered longitudinally with respect to one end of said feed line.

Claim 14

The antenna element of claim 11 wherein said dipole is disposed relative to one end of said feed line such that there is a longitudinal overlap therebetween of at least one-thirtieth of a wavelength of the operational frequency of said antenna element.

Claim 15

An antenna element comprising: a microstrip board having a conductive feed line on a first side thereof and a conductive surface on its second side; and at least two conductive dipoles reactively coupled to one another and space apart from and asymmetrically disposed relative to said feed line such that one end portion of each dipole overlaps said feed line and the remaining portion of each dipole does not overlap said feed line and with said asymmetrical orientation of each dipole being sufficient to cause substantially different amounts of reactive coupling between the feed line and the respective end portions of each dipole, and said dipoles being separated from said conductive surface by less than one-sixth of a wavelength of the element's operational frequency, as measured in the medium between said dipoles and said conductive surface.

Claim 16

An antenna element comprising: a microstrip board having a conductive feed line on a first side thereof and a conductive surface on its second side; and at least two conductive dipoles reactively coupled to one another and space apart from and asymmetrically disposed relative to said feed line such that one end portion of each dipole overlaps said feed line and the remaining portion of each dipole does not overlap said feed line and with said asymmetrical orientation of each dipole being sufficient to cause substantially different amounts of reactive coupling between the feed line and the respective end portions of each dipole, and said dipoles being separated from said conductive surface by less than one-sixth of a wavelength of the element's operational frequency, as measured in the medium between said dipoles and said conductive surface.

Claim 17

The antenna element of claim 14 wherein said dipoles are on a dielectric board which is disposed on top of said microstrip board such that said dipoles are separated from said feed line by the thickness of said dielectric board, and wherein the combined thickness of said dielectric and microstrip boards is between λ/6 and λ/25, where λ is the wavelength of the antenna element's operational frequency.

Claim 18

The antenna element of claim 15 wherein the thickness of said microstrip is between λ/16 and λ/50.

Claim 19

The antenna element of claim 14 wherein said dipoles are disposed above and are parallel to said feed line.

Claim 20

The antenna element of claim 14 wherein said dipoles are longitudinally centered with respect to one end of said feed line.

Claim 21

The antenna element of claim 14 wherein said dipoles are disposed relative to one end of said feed line such that the longitudinal overlap between each of said dipoles and said end is at least one-thirtieth of a wavelength of the antenna's operational frequency.

Claim 22

The antenna element of claim 14 wherein said dipoles are above and orthogonal to said feed line, whereby the coupling between said dipoles and said feed line is predominately capacitive.

Claim 23

The antenna element of claim 14 wherein said dipoles are on said first side of said microstrip board and on opposite sides of said feed line.

Claim 24

The antenna element of claim 21 wherein the dipoles are centered longitudinally with respect to one end of said feed line.

Claim 25

A linear antenna array comprising: a microstrip board having a conductive feed line on a first side thereof and a conductive surface on its second side; and a plurality of conductive dipole elements each of which is spaced apart from and asymmetrically disposed relative to said feed line such that one end portion of each dipole overlaps said feed line and the remaining portion of each dipole does not overlap said feed line and with said asymmetrical orientation of each dipole being sufficient to cause substantially different amounts of reactive coupling between the feed line and the respective end portions of each dipole and said dipoles being separated from said conductive surface by less than one-sixth of a wavelength of the array's operational frequency, as measured in the medium between said dipoles and said conductive surface; whereby the illumination taper of the array is determined by the relative coupling pattern between said dipoles and said feed line; and signals can be applied or received across said feed line and said conductive surface.

Claim 26

A linear antenna array comprising: a microstrip board having a conductive feed line on a first side thereof and a conductive surface on its second side; and a plurality of conductive dipole elements each of which is spaced apart from and asymmetrically disposed relative to said feed line such that one end portion of each dipole overlaps said feed line and the remaining portion of each dipole does not overlap said feed line and with said asymmetrical orientation of each dipole being sufficient to cause substantially different amounts of reactive coupling between the feed line and the respective end portions of each dipole and said dipoles being separated from said conductive surface by less than one-sixth of a wavelength of the array's operational frequency, as measured in the medium between said dipoles and said conductive surface; whereby the illumination taper of the array is determined by the relative coupling pattern between said dipoles and said feed line; and signals can be applied or received across said feed line and said conductive surface.

Claim 27

The linear antenna array of claim 23 wherein said plurality of dipoles are orthogonal to said feed line, whereby the reactive coupling between said dipoles and said feed line is predominately capacitive.

Claim 28

The linear antenna array of claim 23 wherein said plurality of dipoles are on a dielectric board which is disposed on top of said microstrip board such that said dipoles are separated from said feed line by the thickness of said dielectric board.

Claim 29

A planar array antenna comprising: a microstrip board having on a first side thereof a corporate feed arrangement comprising interconnected conductive feed lines arranged so that ends of the feed lines form a preselected pattern, and having a conductive surface on its second side; a dielectric board having an array of conductive dipole elements arranged in the same pattern as said ends of the feed lines; and wherein said dielectric board is disposed on top of said microstrip board such that each of said dipoles are separated from an associated feed line by the thickness of said dielectric board, such that each of said dipoles is spaced apart from and asymmetrically disposed relative to its associated feed line such that one end portion of each dipole overlaps said feed line and the remaining portion of each dipole does not overlap said feed line and with said asymmetrical orientation of each dipole being sufficient to cause substantially different amounts of reactive coupling between the feed line and the respective end portions of each dipole and wherein the thickness of said microstrip and dielectric boards are such that said dipoles elements are separated from said conductive surface by less than one-sixth of a wavelength of the array's operational frequency, as measured in the medium between said dipole and said conductive surface; whereby signals can be applied or received across said corporate feed arrangement and said conductive surface.

Claim 30

A planar array antenna comprising: a microstrip board having on a first side thereof a corporate feed arrangement comprising interconnected conductive feed lines arranged so that ends of the feed lines form a preselected pattern, and having a conductive surface on its second side; a dielectric board having an array of conductive dipole elements arranged in the same pattern as said ends of the feed lines; and wherein said dielectric board is disposed on top of said microstrip board such that each of said dipoles are separated from an associated feed line by the thickness of said dielectric board, such that each of said dipoles is spaced apart from and asymmetrically disposed relative to its associated feed line such that one end portion of each dipole overlaps said feed line and the remaining portion of each dipole does not overlap said feed line and with said asymmetrical orientation of each dipole being sufficient to cause substantially different amounts of reactive coupling between the feed line and the respective end portions of each dipole and wherein the thickness of said microstrip and dielectric boards are such that said dipoles elements are separated from said conductive surface by less than one-sixth of a wavelength of the array's operational frequency, as measured in the medium between said dipole and said conductive surface; whereby signals can be applied or received across said corporate feed arrangement and said conductive surface.

Claim 31

The antenna of claim 26 wherein each of said dipoles are colinear with respect to the end of its associated feed line.

Claim 32

The antenna of claim 27 wherein each of said dipoles is longitudinally centered with respect to the end of its associated feed line.

Claim 33

An antenna element adapted for transmitting circularly polarized signals comprising: a microstrip board having on a first side thereof a conductive feed line, one end of which terminates into mutually orthogonal arms and with one arm being approximately a quarter of a wavelength of the antenna element's operational frequency longer than the other arm; and having a conductive surface on its second side and wherein a portion of said feed line contiguous to said arms is slotted and a resistive material bridges said slot; whereby during the operation of said antenna, energy reflected from the ends of said arms is dissipated by said resistive material; a dielectric board having a pair of mutually orthogonal conductive dipoles; and wherein said dielectric board is disposed relative to said microstrip board such that said dipoles are separated from said feed line by the thickness of said dielectric board and so that each of said dipoles is reactively coupled to an associated one of the arms of said feed line; whereby circularly polarized signals can be applied or received across said feed line and said conductive surface.

Claim 34

An antenna element adapted for transmitting circularly polarized signals comprising: a microstrip board having on a first side thereof a conductive feed line, one end of which terminates into mutually orthogonal arms and with one arm being approximately a quarter of a wavelength of the antenna element's operational frequency longer than the other arm; and having a conductive surface on its second side and wherein a portion of said feed line contiguous to said arms is slotted and a resistive material bridges said slot; whereby during the operation of said antenna, energy reflected from the ends of said arms is dissipated by said resistive material; a dielectric board having a pair of mutually orthogonal conductive dipoles; and wherein said dielectric board is disposed relative to said microstrip board such that said dipoles are separated from said feed line by the thickness of said dielectric board and so that each of said dipoles is reactively coupled to an associated one of the arms of said feed line; whereby circularly polarized signals can be applied or received across said feed line and said conductive surface.

Claim 35

A circularly polarized antenna comprising: a microstrip board having on a first side thereof a corporate feed arrangement comprising interconnected conductive feed lines, with one end of each feed line terminating in two mutually orthogonal arms and with one arm of each line being approximately 90° longer than the other arm at the antenna's operational frequency; and having a conductive surface on its second side; a dielectric board having a plurality of pairs of mutually orthogonal conductive dipoles arranged in the same pattern as the ends of the feed lines on said microstrip board; and wherein; said dielectric board is disposed relative to said microstrip board such that said dipoles are separated from said corporate feed arrangement by the thickness of said dielectric board and so that each of said dipoles is reactively coupled to an associated one of the arms of an associated feed line; whereby circularly polarized signals can be transmitted or received by applying or receiving signals across said corporate feed arrangement and said conductive surface.

Claim 36

A circularly polarized antenna comprising: a microstrip board having on a first side thereof a corporate feed arrangement comprising interconnected conductive feed lines, with one end of each feed line terminating in two mutually orthogonal arms and with one arm of each line being approximately 90° longer than the other arm at the antenna's operational frequency; and having a conductive surface on its second side; a dielectric board having a plurality of pairs of mutually orthogonal conductive dipoles arranged in the same pattern as the ends of the feed lines on said microstrip board; and wherein; said dielectric board is disposed relative to said microstrip board such that said dipoles are separated from said corporate feed arrangement by the thickness of said dielectric board and so that each of said dipoles is reactively coupled to an associated one of the arms of an associated feed line; whereby circularly polarized signals can be transmitted or received by applying or receiving signals across said corporate feed arrangement and said conductive surface.

Claim 37

The antenna of claim 30 wherein a portion of each of said feed lines contiguous to said arms is slotted and a resistive material bridges said slot; whereby during the operation of said antenna, energy reflected from the end of said arms is dissipated by said resistive material.

Claim 38

The antenna of claim 30 wherein each of said dipoles is colinear with respect to the associated arm of said corporate feed arrangement.

Claim 39

The antenna arrangement of claim 32 wherein each of said dipoles is longitudinally centered with respect to the end of the associated arm of said corporate feed arrangement.

Claim 40

A circularly polarized antenna comprising: a microstrip board having on a first side thereof a corporate feed arrangement comprising interconnected conductive feed lines, with one end of each feed line terminating in two mutually orthogonal arms and with one arm of each line being approximately 90° longer than the other arm at the antenna's operating frequency; and having a conductive surface on its second side and wherein a portion of each of said feed lines contiguous to said arms is slotted and a resistive material bridges said slot; whereby during the operation of said antenna, energy reflected from the ends of said arms is dissipated by said resistive material; a dielectric board having a plurality of disk shaped conductors arranged thereon in the same pattern as the ends of the feed lines on said microstrip board; and wherein said dielectric board is disposed relative to said microstrip board such that said disk shaped conductors are separated from said corporate feed arrangement by the thickness of said dielectric board and so that each of said disk shaped conductors is reactively coupled to the arms of an associated feed line; whereby circularly polarized signals can be applied or received by applying or receiving signals across said corporate feed arrangement and said conductive surface.

Claim 41

A circularly polarized antenna comprising: a microstrip board having on a first side thereof a corporate feed arrangement comprising interconnected conductive feed lines, with one end of each feed line terminating in two mutually orthogonal arms and with one arm of each line being approximately 90° longer than the other arm at the antenna's operating frequency; and having a conductive surface on its second side and wherein a portion of each of said feed lines contiguous to said arms is slotted and a resistive material bridges said slot; whereby during the operation of said antenna, energy reflected from the ends of said arms is dissipated by said resistive material; a dielectric board having a plurality of disk shaped conductors arranged thereon in the same pattern as the ends of the feed lines on said microstrip board; and wherein said dielectric board is disposed relative to said microstrip board such that said disk shaped conductors are separated from said corporate feed arrangement by the thickness of said dielectric board and so that each of said disk shaped conductors is reactively coupled to the arms of an associated feed line; whereby circularly polarized signals can be applied or received by applying or receiving signals across said corporate feed arrangement and said conductive surface.