US5434581A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Broadband cavity-like array antenna element and a conformal array subsystem comprising such elements
Assignee: Alcatel Lucent NV
•
Filing: 1993-11-16
•
Granted: 1995-07-18
•
Expires: 2013-11-16
Abstract
Abstract The invention concerns a broadband antenna element for array antennas using microstrip technology. In accordance with the invention, an etched patch 2 on a dielectric substrate 1 is disposed at the bottom of a cavity 7 defined by conductive walls 8, cylindrical walls, for example, or walls of more complicated geometry. Depending on the embodiment, the conductive walls 8 can extend through the dielectric substrate 1 to form an electric contact with the ground plane 6 or a second resonator comprising a second etched patch 12 on a second thin dielectric substrate 11 may be placed in front of the cavity 7. The invention also applies to antenna subarrays constructed from a plurality of these antenna elements and to array antennas constructed from a plurality of these subarrays.
Inventors
- 👤 Gerard Raguenet
- 👤 Frederic Magnin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 18:39
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01Q; H01Q13/00; H01Q13/10; H01Q13/18; H01Q21/00; H01Q21/06; H01Q21/061; H01Q21/065; H01Q21/20; H01Q21/205
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
A broadband patch-type antenna element for an array antenna comprising a large number of antenna elements and at least one feed array for feeding signals to said antenna elements, said feed array being implemented in microstrip technology on a dielectric substrate, said antenna elements and feed array being disposed on a from surface, in the radiation direction, of said substrate, a ground plane being conformally disposed on the rear surface of said substrate, the patch-type antenna element being characterized in that it comprises: an etched conductive patch on a dielectric substrate, said patch being disposed in a closed cavity-like volume which enables operation of the antenna element to be optimized; and a resonating system comprising a cavity defined by conductive walls lying substantially perpendicular to said patch, said cavity being disposed on the front surface of said dielectric substrate, said patch being disposed at the bottom of said cavity, and said conductive walls of said cavity extending through said substrate to the ground plane.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
164 words
A broadband patch-type antenna element for an array antenna comprising a large number of antenna elements and at least one feed array for feeding signals to said antenna elements, said feed array being implemented in microstrip technology on a dielectric substrate, said antenna elements and feed array being disposed on a from surface, in the radiation direction, of said substrate, a ground plane being conformally disposed on the rear surface of said substrate, the patch-type antenna element being characterized in that it comprises: an etched conductive patch on a dielectric substrate, said patch being disposed in a closed cavity-like volume which enables operation of the antenna element to be optimized; and a resonating system comprising a cavity defined by conductive walls lying substantially perpendicular to said patch, said cavity being disposed on the front surface of said dielectric substrate, said patch being disposed at the bottom of said cavity, and said conductive walls of said cavity extending through said substrate to the ground plane.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The antenna element according to claim 1, characterized in that said cavity is open in the radiation direction of said antenna element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The antenna element according to claim 1, characterized in that said cavity is partially closed in the radiation direction by a second resonator which comprises an etched conductive patch on a second thin dielectric substrate disposed on the front surface of said cavity.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The antenna element according to claim 1, characterized in that said microstrip feed array is a simple microstrip.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The antenna element according to claim 1, characterized in that said microstrip feed array is a screened microstrip.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
113 words
A subarray of antenna elements for an array antenna including a mechanical support, a plurality of patches and corresponding microstrip technology feed arrangements disposed on an associated dielectric substrate which is conformally disposed on an associated ground plane, said subarray characterized in that said mechanical support is disposed on a front surface of said dielectric substrate on a radiating side of the antenna, and wherein each of the antenna elements comprises: an etched conductive patch on said dielectric substrate, said patch being one of said plurality of patches; and conductive walls lying substantially perpendicular to said patch and forming a cavity, said conductive walls extending through said dielectric substrate to the ground plane.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
113 words
A subarray of antenna elements for an array antenna including a mechanical support, a plurality of patches and corresponding microstrip technology feed arrangements disposed on an associated dielectric substrate which is conformally disposed on an associated ground plane, said subarray characterized in that said mechanical support is disposed on a front surface of said dielectric substrate on a radiating side of the antenna, and wherein each of the antenna elements comprises: an etched conductive patch on said dielectric substrate, said patch being one of said plurality of patches; and conductive walls lying substantially perpendicular to said patch and forming a cavity, said conductive walls extending through said dielectric substrate to the ground plane.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The antenna subarray according to claim 6 characterized in that said mechanical support 14 comprises conductive walls of said cavity.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The antenna subarray according to claim 6 or claim 7 characterized in that said subarray is fed from a single feed point common to all the antenna elements of said subarray.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The antenna subarray according to claim 6 or claim 7 characterized in that said subarray is conformed rather than planar.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
An array antenna characterized in that the array antenna comprises antenna subarrays according to claim 6.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The array antenna according to claim 10, characterized in that said antenna is disposed on a surface in the shape of a body of revolution.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The array antenna according to claim 10, characterized in that said antenna is disposed on a conformed surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The array antenna according to any one of claims 10, 11 and 12 characterized in that said antenna is made up of subarrays having exactly the same geometry.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4131894A
Cited
US4197544A
Cited
US4605932A
Cited
US4709240A
Cited
EP0205393A1
Cited
US4816836A
Cited
GB2193379A
Cited
US5087920A
Cited
US4990926A
Cited
EP0355898A1
Cited
US5124713A
Cited
EP0512487A1
Cited
US5210542A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-07-17 | 1999-01-16 | 1999-07-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-07-17 | 2003-01-16 | 2003-07-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-07-17 | 2007-01-16 | 2007-07-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |