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US5017931A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Interleaved center and edge-fed comb arrays

Assignee: Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems LLC
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Filing: 1988-12-15
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Granted: 1991-05-21
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Expires: 2008-12-15
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Abstract

Abstract A microstrip antenna array for use at millimeter wave frequencies for radiating and receiving a broadside beam of energy in which a first symmetric edge-fed array has its radiating elements physically interleaved with the radiating elements of a center-fed array. Using this configuration, the antenna performance remains relatively stable over both temperature and frequency.

Inventors

  • 👤 William R. Carlyon

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 00:06
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01Q; H01Q21/00; H01Q21/06; H01Q21/08; H01Q21/061; H01Q21/068

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim 78 words
A microstrip antenna for millimeter wave transmitting and receiving systems, comprising in combination: (a) a center-fed two-dimensional array of parallel, spaced-apart microstrip transmission lines, each having a plurality of radiating elements conductively joined thereto; and (b) an edge-fed two-dimensional array of parallel, spaced-apart microstrip transmission lines, each having a plurality of radiating elements joined thereto, the transmission lines and radiating elements comprising said edge-fed array being interleaved with said transmission lines and radiating elements comprising said center-fed array.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 78 words
A microstrip antenna for millimeter wave transmitting and receiving systems, comprising in combination: (a) a center-fed two-dimensional array of parallel, spaced-apart microstrip transmission lines, each having a plurality of radiating elements conductively joined thereto; and (b) an edge-fed two-dimensional array of parallel, spaced-apart microstrip transmission lines, each having a plurality of radiating elements joined thereto, the transmission lines and radiating elements comprising said edge-fed array being interleaved with said transmission lines and radiating elements comprising said center-fed array.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 14 words
The microstrip antenna as in claim 1 wherein said radiating elements are comb elements.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 358 words
A microstrip antenna for millimeter wave transmitting and receiving systems, comprising in combination: (a) a planar dielectric sheet having a conductive ground plane adhered to one major surface thereof and a pattern of printed conductors on the other major surface, said pattern including: (i) first and second arrays of parallel transmission lines, said arrays being spaced apart from one another with the transmission lines in the first array longitudinally aligned with transmission lines in the second array, (ii) a plurality of radiating elements conductively joined to each of said transmission lines in said first and second arrays along the lengths thereof and at regular intervals, (iii) a first feedline conductively joined to a first end of all of said transmission lines in said first array and a second feedline conductively joined to a first end of all of said transmission lines in said second array, said first and second feedlines being on opposed outer edges of said first and second arrays, (iv) further feedlines joining the mid-points of said first and second feedlines to a common port without intersecting said first and second arrays, (v) third and fourth arrays of parallel transmission lines, said third and fourth arrays being spaced apart from one another with the transmission lines in said third array longitudinally aligned with the transmission lines in said fourth array, (vi) a plurality of radiating elements conductively joined to each of said transmission lines in said third and fourth arrays along the lengths thereof and at regular intervals, (vii) a third feedline conductively joined to a first end of all of said transmission lines in said third array and a fourth feedline conductively joined to a first end of all of said transmission lines in said fourth array, said third and fourth feedlines being on adjacent inner edges of said third and fourth arrays, and (viii) further feedlines extending in the space between said third and fourth arrays and coupled to the mid-points of said third and fourth feedlines, said transmission lines and radiating elements in said first and second arrays being interleaved with the transmission lines and radiating elements in said third and fourth arrays.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 358 words
A microstrip antenna for millimeter wave transmitting and receiving systems, comprising in combination: (a) a planar dielectric sheet having a conductive ground plane adhered to one major surface thereof and a pattern of printed conductors on the other major surface, said pattern including: (i) first and second arrays of parallel transmission lines, said arrays being spaced apart from one another with the transmission lines in the first array longitudinally aligned with transmission lines in the second array, (ii) a plurality of radiating elements conductively joined to each of said transmission lines in said first and second arrays along the lengths thereof and at regular intervals, (iii) a first feedline conductively joined to a first end of all of said transmission lines in said first array and a second feedline conductively joined to a first end of all of said transmission lines in said second array, said first and second feedlines being on opposed outer edges of said first and second arrays, (iv) further feedlines joining the mid-points of said first and second feedlines to a common port without intersecting said first and second arrays, (v) third and fourth arrays of parallel transmission lines, said third and fourth arrays being spaced apart from one another with the transmission lines in said third array longitudinally aligned with the transmission lines in said fourth array, (vi) a plurality of radiating elements conductively joined to each of said transmission lines in said third and fourth arrays along the lengths thereof and at regular intervals, (vii) a third feedline conductively joined to a first end of all of said transmission lines in said third array and a fourth feedline conductively joined to a first end of all of said transmission lines in said fourth array, said third and fourth feedlines being on adjacent inner edges of said third and fourth arrays, and (viii) further feedlines extending in the space between said third and fourth arrays and coupled to the mid-points of said third and fourth feedlines, said transmission lines and radiating elements in said first and second arrays being interleaved with the transmission lines and radiating elements in said third and fourth arrays.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 39 words
The microstrip antenna as in claim 7 wherein said further feedlines associated with said first and second arrays and said further feedlines associated with said third and fourth arrays respectively joined to a signal transmitter and a signal receiver.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 14 words
The microstrip antenna as in claim 7 wherein said radiating elements are comb radiators.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2217321A Cited
US4063245A Cited
US4180818A Cited
US4475107A Cited
US4691206A Cited
GB2161652A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1994-05-20 1994-11-19 1995-05-21 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1998-05-20 1998-11-19 1999-05-21 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2002-05-20 2002-11-19 2003-05-21 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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