US5068671A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Orthogonally polarized quadraphase electromagnetic radiator
Assignee: United States Department of the Air Force
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Filing: 1988-06-24
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Granted: 1991-11-26
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Expires: 2008-06-24
Abstract
Abstract A broadband multi-element antenna having desirable phase, standing wave and polarization characteristics is disclosed. The antenna is arranged as a plurality of airfoil shaped elements located in radial planes about a central axis with the element peripheries collectively defining a horn shaped surface-centrally disposed of which is a ground plane member of preferably truncated conical shape which includes electrical feeding arrangements having in phase and out of phase element coupling. The antenna is suitable for radar, satellite, and other precision uses including military applications.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael C. Wicks
- 👤 Paul V. Etten
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 09:02
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01Q; H01Q13/00; H01Q13/08; H01Q13/085; H01Q21/00; H01Q21/06; H01Q21/20; H01Q21/24; H01Q21/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
Antenna apparatus comprising the combination of: a plurality of radiating elements each resident in one plane of a family of intersecting radiating element planes that are of equal angle spacing about a common plane intersection axis; each of said radiating elements having an airfoil like cross-section shape in its radiating element plane of residence with the airfoil under surface line in said cross-section shape facing outward and away from said common axis and the airfoil curving most surface line in said cross-section shape facing toward said common axis and lying in predetermined separation therefrom and with the airfoil leading edge portion in said cross-section shape facing a first distal end of said axis and the airfoil trailing edge portion in said cross-section shape facing an opposite second distal end of said axis; a conically shaped ground plane element disposed centrally of said radiating elements along said axis with an apex portion thereof facing said axis first distal end and a planar base portion thereof facing said axis second distal end; means for coupling electrical energy signals of predetermined relative phase relationship with each of said radiating elements.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
187 words
Antenna apparatus comprising the combination of: a plurality of radiating elements each resident in one plane of a family of intersecting radiating element planes that are of equal angle spacing about a common plane intersection axis; each of said radiating elements having an airfoil like cross-section shape in its radiating element plane of residence with the airfoil under surface line in said cross-section shape facing outward and away from said common axis and the airfoil curving most surface line in said cross-section shape facing toward said common axis and lying in predetermined separation therefrom and with the airfoil leading edge portion in said cross-section shape facing a first distal end of said axis and the airfoil trailing edge portion in said cross-section shape facing an opposite second distal end of said axis; a conically shaped ground plane element disposed centrally of said radiating elements along said axis with an apex portion thereof facing said axis first distal end and a planar base portion thereof facing said axis second distal end; means for coupling electrical energy signals of predetermined relative phase relationship with each of said radiating elements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plurality of radiating elements consists of four radiating elements.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plane intersection axis is vertically disposed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the internal surface of said conically shaped ground plane element defines an acute angle with respect to said axis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for coupling electrical energy signals includes electrical conductor members communicating from the interior region to the exterior region of said ground plane element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
120 words
A wideband antenna comprising the combination of: a tapering shaped ground plane element disposed around an antenna central axis with an apex portion thereof facing a first axis extremity and a base portion thereof facing the opposite axis extremity; a plurality of planar radiating elements disposed in radial planes that are symmetrically distributed about said axis and orthogonally oriented with respect to the surface of said ground plane element; each of said radiating elements extending along said axis beyond said ground plane apex portion in the direction of said first axis extremity and having a curving cross sectional shape in its plane of residence including predetermined varying separation between the radiating element axis adjacent edge and said ground plane surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
120 words
A wideband antenna comprising the combination of: a tapering shaped ground plane element disposed around an antenna central axis with an apex portion thereof facing a first axis extremity and a base portion thereof facing the opposite axis extremity; a plurality of planar radiating elements disposed in radial planes that are symmetrically distributed about said axis and orthogonally oriented with respect to the surface of said ground plane element; each of said radiating elements extending along said axis beyond said ground plane apex portion in the direction of said first axis extremity and having a curving cross sectional shape in its plane of residence including predetermined varying separation between the radiating element axis adjacent edge and said ground plane surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The antenna of claim 6 wherein said predetermined varying separation is in accordance with a mathematical relationship.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The antenna of claim 7 wherein said predetermined varying separation is substantially logarithmic in nature.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The antenna of claim 8 wherein said tapering shaped ground plane element is conical in shape.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The antenna of claim 9 wherein the internal surface of said conically shaped ground place element defines an acute angle with respect to said axis.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The antenna of claim 10 further including electrical energy signal transmission means coupled in predetermined electrical phase relationship with each of said radiating elements.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
The antenna of claim 11 wherein said signal transmission means includes a plurality of electrical conductor members passing through the surface of said ground plane element and connecting with regions of predetermined electrical impedance on each said radiating element.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The antenna of claim 12 wherein said regions of predetermined electrical impedance are located at the ground plane base portion adjacent end of each said radiating element.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
The antenna of claim 6 wherein the largest length dimension of each said antenna element is disposed at a predetermined acute angle opening toward said axis first extremity with respect to the line of said axis.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The antenna of claim 6 wherein said length dimension of each said radiating element is selected in response to the frequency band of electrical signals coupled with said antenna.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The antenna of claim 15 wherein said length is substantially one-half (1/2) wavelength at the frequency of low frequency cutoff.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The antenna of claim 16 wherein said radiating elements are of identical size and shape and are four in number.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
11 words
The antenna of claim 17 wherein said axis is vertically oriented.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
38 words
The antenna of claim 18 wherein said antenna is received on a physical mounting structure and further including electrically insulating electrical support members connected between a central point of each said antenna blade element and said mounting structure.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
159 words
A method for refining the dimensions of a multiple element horn configured diverse polarization broadband antenna comprising the steps of; fabricating a first approximation model of the horn configured antenna including the radiating elements, ground plane elements and the predetermined relative positioning and spacing of said elements, said fabricating including selecting element and spacing dimensions adjacent to the element feed point to achieve a predetermined input first surge impedance value; coupling said first approximation antenna through a coaxial transmission line of said predetermined first impedance value to a time domain reflectometer surge impedance determining apparatus; adjusting the physical size of the radiating elements and the relative spacing thereof with respect to said ground plane member and with respect to each other to achieve linear smoothly increasing values of surge impedance along the length of the radiating elements; said linear increasing surge impedance values including a predetermined moderate final value of surge impedance at an antenna horn mouth disposed point.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
159 words
A method for refining the dimensions of a multiple element horn configured diverse polarization broadband antenna comprising the steps of; fabricating a first approximation model of the horn configured antenna including the radiating elements, ground plane elements and the predetermined relative positioning and spacing of said elements, said fabricating including selecting element and spacing dimensions adjacent to the element feed point to achieve a predetermined input first surge impedance value; coupling said first approximation antenna through a coaxial transmission line of said predetermined first impedance value to a time domain reflectometer surge impedance determining apparatus; adjusting the physical size of the radiating elements and the relative spacing thereof with respect to said ground plane member and with respect to each other to achieve linear smoothly increasing values of surge impedance along the length of the radiating elements; said linear increasing surge impedance values including a predetermined moderate final value of surge impedance at an antenna horn mouth disposed point.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 20 wherein said predetermined moderate final value of surge impedance defines a horn mouth radius large enough to provide a moderately sloped horn surface of low energy reflection back to the element feed region of said horn and small enough to limit the overall size of said horn within predetermined moderate limits.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 21 wherein said predetermined input first surge impedance value is fifty ohms and wherein said predetermined moderate final value of surge impedance is between one hundred thirty and two hundred thirty ohms.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 22 wherein said first approximation model includes spacing between each of said elements and said ground plane element that opens exponentially in proceeding from throat to mouth regions of said horn.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-11-25 | 1995-05-27 | 1995-11-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-11-25 | 1999-05-27 | 1999-11-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-11-25 | 2003-05-27 | 2003-11-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |