US5453755A — Circularly-polarized-wave flat antenna

Claim 1

Independent Claim 274 words

A circularly-polarized-wave flat antenna, comprising: a waveguide having at least a first metal plate, said metal plate having a plurality of holes; at least a first insulator, said insulator being mounted in a hole of said metal plate and having a through-hole and a protrusion, said through-hole extending from the outside of said waveguide to the inside of said waveguide and having a groove which is open to the outside of said waveguide and which extends in the radial direction of said protrusion; and at least one circularly-polarized-wave antenna element having a shaft portion, an arm portion, and a curl portion, said shaft portion being fitted in said through-hole of said insulator and having a top protruding outward beyond said metal plate, said arm portion protruding from said top of said shaft portion to terminate at an end, said curl portion being disposed on a flat plane perpendicular to said shaft portion, wherein a distance or radius from a center of said curl portion increases in the counterclockwise direction of said curl portion as viewed from the top thereof, and wherein the number of turns of said curl portion is in the range from 1 to 1.5, and said curl portion being connected to said end of the arm portion, said arm portion being engaged with said radially extending groove of said insulator, whereby if the position of said radially extending groove has been set in accordance with a desired orientation of said curl portion of said circularly-polarized antenna element, the engagement of said arm portion with said radially extending groove will automatically set the orientation of said curl portion in a predetermined direction.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 274 words

A circularly-polarized-wave flat antenna, comprising: a waveguide having at least a first metal plate, said metal plate having a plurality of holes; at least a first insulator, said insulator being mounted in a hole of said metal plate and having a through-hole and a protrusion, said through-hole extending from the outside of said waveguide to the inside of said waveguide and having a groove which is open to the outside of said waveguide and which extends in the radial direction of said protrusion; and at least one circularly-polarized-wave antenna element having a shaft portion, an arm portion, and a curl portion, said shaft portion being fitted in said through-hole of said insulator and having a top protruding outward beyond said metal plate, said arm portion protruding from said top of said shaft portion to terminate at an end, said curl portion being disposed on a flat plane perpendicular to said shaft portion, wherein a distance or radius from a center of said curl portion increases in the counterclockwise direction of said curl portion as viewed from the top thereof, and wherein the number of turns of said curl portion is in the range from 1 to 1.5, and said curl portion being connected to said end of the arm portion, said arm portion being engaged with said radially extending groove of said insulator, whereby if the position of said radially extending groove has been set in accordance with a desired orientation of said curl portion of said circularly-polarized antenna element, the engagement of said arm portion with said radially extending groove will automatically set the orientation of said curl portion in a predetermined direction.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 53 words

The circularly-polarized-wave flat antenna as set forth in claim 1, further comprising: a second insulator mounted in a second of the plurality of holes of said metal plate in a position adjacent to the first insulator, and a common connection member formed integrally with the first and second insulators for connecting said insulators.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 54 words

The circularly-polarized-wave flat antenna as set forth in claim 1, wherein said waveguide comprises: a second metal plate opposed to said first metal plate; and a brace member disposed between said first and second metal plates, for preventing the distance between said first and second metal plates from becoming shorter than a predetermined distance.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 21 words

The circularly-polarized-wave flat antenna as set forth in claim 3, wherein said first and second metal plates form an airtight structure.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 386 words

A circularly-polarized-wave flat antenna comprising: a waveguide having at least a first metal plate, said metal plate having a plurality of holes; at least a first insulator, said insulator being mounted in a hole of said metal plate and having a through-hole and a protrusion, said through-hole extending from the outside of said waveguide to the inside of said waveguide and having a groove which is open to the outside of said waveguide and which extends in the radial direction of said protrusion; and at least one circularly-polarized-wave antenna element having a shaft portion, an arm portion, and a curl portion, said shaft portion being fitted in said through-hole of said insulator and having a top protruding outward beyond said metal plate, said arm portion protruding from said top of said shaft portion to terminate at an end, said curl portion being disposed on a flat plane perpendicular to said shaft portion, wherein a distance or radius from a center of said curl portion increases in the counterclockwise direction of said curl portion as viewed from the top thereof, and wherein the number of turns of said curl portion is in the range from 1 to 1.5, and said curl portion being connected to said end of the arm portion, said arm portion being engaged with said radially extending groove of said insulator, whereby if the position of said radially extending groove has been set in accordance with a desired orientation of said curl portion of said circularly-polarized antenna element, the engagement of said arm portion with said radially extending groove will automatically set the orientation of said curl portion in a predetermined direction; wherein said shaft portion of said circularly-polarized-wave antenna element has bumps formed at a middle thereof, said through-hole of said insulator having an enlarged-diameter portion and a reduced-diameter portion, said enlarged-diameter portion being disposed within the waveguide, said reduced-diameter portion being disposed on an outside thereof, an inner diameter of said reduced-diameter portion being larger than an outer diameter of said shaft portion so that the insertion of said shaft portion into said through-hole causes said through-hole to be resiliently deformed and thereby allowing said bumps to pass through said reduced-diameter portion, the inner diameter of said enlarged-diameter portion being larger than the outer diameter of said shaft portion and said bumps.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 386 words

A circularly-polarized-wave flat antenna comprising: a waveguide having at least a first metal plate, said metal plate having a plurality of holes; at least a first insulator, said insulator being mounted in a hole of said metal plate and having a through-hole and a protrusion, said through-hole extending from the outside of said waveguide to the inside of said waveguide and having a groove which is open to the outside of said waveguide and which extends in the radial direction of said protrusion; and at least one circularly-polarized-wave antenna element having a shaft portion, an arm portion, and a curl portion, said shaft portion being fitted in said through-hole of said insulator and having a top protruding outward beyond said metal plate, said arm portion protruding from said top of said shaft portion to terminate at an end, said curl portion being disposed on a flat plane perpendicular to said shaft portion, wherein a distance or radius from a center of said curl portion increases in the counterclockwise direction of said curl portion as viewed from the top thereof, and wherein the number of turns of said curl portion is in the range from 1 to 1.5, and said curl portion being connected to said end of the arm portion, said arm portion being engaged with said radially extending groove of said insulator, whereby if the position of said radially extending groove has been set in accordance with a desired orientation of said curl portion of said circularly-polarized antenna element, the engagement of said arm portion with said radially extending groove will automatically set the orientation of said curl portion in a predetermined direction; wherein said shaft portion of said circularly-polarized-wave antenna element has bumps formed at a middle thereof, said through-hole of said insulator having an enlarged-diameter portion and a reduced-diameter portion, said enlarged-diameter portion being disposed within the waveguide, said reduced-diameter portion being disposed on an outside thereof, an inner diameter of said reduced-diameter portion being larger than an outer diameter of said shaft portion so that the insertion of said shaft portion into said through-hole causes said through-hole to be resiliently deformed and thereby allowing said bumps to pass through said reduced-diameter portion, the inner diameter of said enlarged-diameter portion being larger than the outer diameter of said shaft portion and said bumps.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 390 words

A circularly-polarized-wave flat antenna comprising: a waveguide having at least a first metal plate, said metal plate having a plurality of holes; at least a first insulator, said insulator being mounted in a hole of said metal plate and having a through-hole and a protrusion, said through-hole extending from the outside of said waveguide to the inside of said waveguide and having a groove which is open to the outside of said waveguide and which extends in the radial direction of said protrusion; and at least one circularly-polarized-wave antenna element having a shaft portion, an arm portion, and a curl portion, said shaft portion being fitted in said through-hole of said insulator and having a top protruding outward beyond said metal plate, said arm portion protruding from said top of said shaft portion to terminate at an end, said curl portion being disposed on a flat plane perpendicular to said shaft portion, wherein a distance or radius from a center of said curl portion increases in the counterclockwise direction of said curl portion as viewed from the top thereof, and wherein the number of turns of said curl portion is in the range from 1 to 1.5, and said curl portion being connected to said end of the arm portion, said arm portion being engaged with said radially extending groove of said insulator, whereby if the position of said radially extending groove has been set in accordance with a desired orientation of said curl portion of said circularly-polarized antenna element, the engagement of said arm portion with said radially extending groove will automatically set the orientation of said curl portion in a predetermined direction; wherein said shaft portion of said circularly-polarized-wave antenna element has a bent portion formed at a middle thereof, said through-hole of said insulator having an enlarged-diameter portion and a reduced-diameter portion, said enlarged-diameter portion being disposed within the waveguide, said reduced-diameter portion being disposed on an outside thereof, an inner diameter of said reduced-diameter portion being larger than an outer diameter of said shaft portion so that the insertion of said shaft portion into said through-hole causes said through-hole to be resiliently deformed and thereby allowing said bent portion to pass through said reduced-diameter portion, an inner diameter of said enlarged-diameter portion being larger than the outer diameter of said shaft portion and said bent portion.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 390 words

A circularly-polarized-wave flat antenna comprising: a waveguide having at least a first metal plate, said metal plate having a plurality of holes; at least a first insulator, said insulator being mounted in a hole of said metal plate and having a through-hole and a protrusion, said through-hole extending from the outside of said waveguide to the inside of said waveguide and having a groove which is open to the outside of said waveguide and which extends in the radial direction of said protrusion; and at least one circularly-polarized-wave antenna element having a shaft portion, an arm portion, and a curl portion, said shaft portion being fitted in said through-hole of said insulator and having a top protruding outward beyond said metal plate, said arm portion protruding from said top of said shaft portion to terminate at an end, said curl portion being disposed on a flat plane perpendicular to said shaft portion, wherein a distance or radius from a center of said curl portion increases in the counterclockwise direction of said curl portion as viewed from the top thereof, and wherein the number of turns of said curl portion is in the range from 1 to 1.5, and said curl portion being connected to said end of the arm portion, said arm portion being engaged with said radially extending groove of said insulator, whereby if the position of said radially extending groove has been set in accordance with a desired orientation of said curl portion of said circularly-polarized antenna element, the engagement of said arm portion with said radially extending groove will automatically set the orientation of said curl portion in a predetermined direction; wherein said shaft portion of said circularly-polarized-wave antenna element has a bent portion formed at a middle thereof, said through-hole of said insulator having an enlarged-diameter portion and a reduced-diameter portion, said enlarged-diameter portion being disposed within the waveguide, said reduced-diameter portion being disposed on an outside thereof, an inner diameter of said reduced-diameter portion being larger than an outer diameter of said shaft portion so that the insertion of said shaft portion into said through-hole causes said through-hole to be resiliently deformed and thereby allowing said bent portion to pass through said reduced-diameter portion, an inner diameter of said enlarged-diameter portion being larger than the outer diameter of said shaft portion and said bent portion.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 358 words

A circularly-polarized-wave flat antenna comprising: a waveguide having at least a first metal plate, said metal plate having a plurality of holes; at least a first insulator, said insulator being mounted in a hole of said metal plate and having a through-hole and a protrusion, said through-hole extending from the outside of said waveguide to the inside of said waveguide and having a groove which is open to the outside of said waveguide and which extends in the radial direction of said protrusion; and at least one circularly-polarized-wave antenna element having a shaft portion, an arm portion, and a curl portion, said shaft portion being fitted in said through-hole of said insulator and having a top protruding outward beyond said metal plate, said arm portion protruding from said top of said shaft portion to terminate at an end, said curl portion being disposed on a flat plane perpendicular to said shaft portion, wherein a distance or radius from a center of said curl portion increases in the counterclockwise direction of said curl portion as viewed from the top thereof, and wherein the number of turns of said curl portion is in the range from 1 to 1.5, and said curl portion being connected to said end of the arm portion, said arm portion being engaged with said radially extending groove of said insulator, whereby if the position of said radially extending groove has been set in accordance with a desired orientation of said curl portion of said circularly-polarized antenna element, the engagement of said arm portion with said radially extending groove will automatically set the orientation of said curl portion in a predetermined direction; wherein said shaft portion of said circularly-polarized-wave antenna element has a groove circumferentially formed at the middle thereof, said through-hole of said insulator having an inward protrusion, said protrusion being resiliently deformed so as to allow said shaft portion to pass through said through-hole when said shaft portion is inserted into said through-hole, said inward protrusion being engaged with said groove so as to prevent said shaft portion from slipping out of said through-hole when a force for removing said shaft portion is applied.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 358 words

A circularly-polarized-wave flat antenna comprising: a waveguide having at least a first metal plate, said metal plate having a plurality of holes; at least a first insulator, said insulator being mounted in a hole of said metal plate and having a through-hole and a protrusion, said through-hole extending from the outside of said waveguide to the inside of said waveguide and having a groove which is open to the outside of said waveguide and which extends in the radial direction of said protrusion; and at least one circularly-polarized-wave antenna element having a shaft portion, an arm portion, and a curl portion, said shaft portion being fitted in said through-hole of said insulator and having a top protruding outward beyond said metal plate, said arm portion protruding from said top of said shaft portion to terminate at an end, said curl portion being disposed on a flat plane perpendicular to said shaft portion, wherein a distance or radius from a center of said curl portion increases in the counterclockwise direction of said curl portion as viewed from the top thereof, and wherein the number of turns of said curl portion is in the range from 1 to 1.5, and said curl portion being connected to said end of the arm portion, said arm portion being engaged with said radially extending groove of said insulator, whereby if the position of said radially extending groove has been set in accordance with a desired orientation of said curl portion of said circularly-polarized antenna element, the engagement of said arm portion with said radially extending groove will automatically set the orientation of said curl portion in a predetermined direction; wherein said shaft portion of said circularly-polarized-wave antenna element has a groove circumferentially formed at the middle thereof, said through-hole of said insulator having an inward protrusion, said protrusion being resiliently deformed so as to allow said shaft portion to pass through said through-hole when said shaft portion is inserted into said through-hole, said inward protrusion being engaged with said groove so as to prevent said shaft portion from slipping out of said through-hole when a force for removing said shaft portion is applied.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 310 words

A circularly-polarized-wave flat antenna comprising: a waveguide having at least a first metal plate, said metal plate having a plurality of holes; at least a first insulator, said insulator being mounted in a hole of said metal plate and having a through-hole and a protrusion, said through-hole extending from the outside of said Waveguide to the inside of said waveguide and having a groove which is open to the outside of said waveguide and which extends in the radial direction of said protrusion; and at least one circularly-polarized-wave antenna element having a shaft portion, an arm portion, and a curl portion, said shaft portion being fitted in said through-hole of said insulator and having a top protruding outward beyond said metal plate, said arm portion protruding from said top of said shaft portion to terminate at an end, said curl portion being disposed on a flat plane perpendicular to said shaft portion, wherein a distance or radius from a center of said curl portion increases in the counterclockwise direction of said curl portion as viewed from the top thereof, and wherein the number of turns of said curl portion is in the range from 1 to 1.5, and said curl portion being connected to said end of the arm portion, said arm portion being engaged with said radially extending groove of said insulator, whereby if the position of said radially extending groove has been set in accordance with a desired orientation of said curl portion of said circularly-polarized antenna element, the engagement of said arm portion with said radially extending groove will automatically set the orientation of said curl portion in a predetermined direction; a protection plate disposed on an outer surface of said metal plate, having holes for encasing circularly-polarized-wave antenna elements; and a radome being a thin plate and disposed on an outer surface of said protection plate.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 310 words

A circularly-polarized-wave flat antenna comprising: a waveguide having at least a first metal plate, said metal plate having a plurality of holes; at least a first insulator, said insulator being mounted in a hole of said metal plate and having a through-hole and a protrusion, said through-hole extending from the outside of said Waveguide to the inside of said waveguide and having a groove which is open to the outside of said waveguide and which extends in the radial direction of said protrusion; and at least one circularly-polarized-wave antenna element having a shaft portion, an arm portion, and a curl portion, said shaft portion being fitted in said through-hole of said insulator and having a top protruding outward beyond said metal plate, said arm portion protruding from said top of said shaft portion to terminate at an end, said curl portion being disposed on a flat plane perpendicular to said shaft portion, wherein a distance or radius from a center of said curl portion increases in the counterclockwise direction of said curl portion as viewed from the top thereof, and wherein the number of turns of said curl portion is in the range from 1 to 1.5, and said curl portion being connected to said end of the arm portion, said arm portion being engaged with said radially extending groove of said insulator, whereby if the position of said radially extending groove has been set in accordance with a desired orientation of said curl portion of said circularly-polarized antenna element, the engagement of said arm portion with said radially extending groove will automatically set the orientation of said curl portion in a predetermined direction; a protection plate disposed on an outer surface of said metal plate, having holes for encasing circularly-polarized-wave antenna elements; and a radome being a thin plate and disposed on an outer surface of said protection plate.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 20 words

The circularly-polarized-wave flat antenna as set forth in claim 8, wherein said protection plate is formed of a polystyrene plastic.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 294 words

A circularly-polarized-wave flat antenna comprising: a waveguide having at least a first metal plate, said metal plate having a plurality of holes; at least a first insulator, said insulator being mounted in a hole of said metal plate and having a through-hole and a protrusion, said through-hole extending from the outside of said waveguide to the inside of said waveguide and having a groove which is open to the outside of said waveguide and which extends in the radial direction of said protrusion; and at least one circularly-polarized-wave antenna element having a shaft portion, an arm portion, and a curl portion, said shaft portion being fitted in said through-hole of said insulator and having a top protruding outward beyond said metal plate, said arm portion protruding from said top of said shaft portion to terminate at an end, said curl portion being disposed on a flat plane perpendicular to said shaft portion, wherein a distance or radius from a center of said curl portion increases in the counterclockwise direction of said curl portion as viewed from the top thereof, and wherein the number of turns of said curl portion is in the range from 1 to 1.5, and said curl portion being connected to said end of the arm portion, said arm portion being engaged with said radially extending groove of said insulator, whereby if the position of said radially extending groove has been set in accordance with a desired orientation of said curl portion of said circularly-polarized antenna element, the engagement of said arm portion with said radially extending groove will automatically set the orientation of said curl portion in a predetermined direction; and a radome disposed on an outer surface of said metal plate, having bottomed holes for encasing circularly-polarized-wave antenna elements.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 294 words

A circularly-polarized-wave flat antenna comprising: a waveguide having at least a first metal plate, said metal plate having a plurality of holes; at least a first insulator, said insulator being mounted in a hole of said metal plate and having a through-hole and a protrusion, said through-hole extending from the outside of said waveguide to the inside of said waveguide and having a groove which is open to the outside of said waveguide and which extends in the radial direction of said protrusion; and at least one circularly-polarized-wave antenna element having a shaft portion, an arm portion, and a curl portion, said shaft portion being fitted in said through-hole of said insulator and having a top protruding outward beyond said metal plate, said arm portion protruding from said top of said shaft portion to terminate at an end, said curl portion being disposed on a flat plane perpendicular to said shaft portion, wherein a distance or radius from a center of said curl portion increases in the counterclockwise direction of said curl portion as viewed from the top thereof, and wherein the number of turns of said curl portion is in the range from 1 to 1.5, and said curl portion being connected to said end of the arm portion, said arm portion being engaged with said radially extending groove of said insulator, whereby if the position of said radially extending groove has been set in accordance with a desired orientation of said curl portion of said circularly-polarized antenna element, the engagement of said arm portion with said radially extending groove will automatically set the orientation of said curl portion in a predetermined direction; and a radome disposed on an outer surface of said metal plate, having bottomed holes for encasing circularly-polarized-wave antenna elements.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 329 words

A circularly-polarized-wave flat antenna comprising: a waveguide having at least a first metal plate, said metal plate having a plurality of holes; at least a first insulator, said insulator being mounted in a hole of said metal plate and having a through-hole and a protrusion, said through-hole extending from the outside of said waveguide to the inside of said waveguide and having a groove which is open to the outside of said waveguide and which extends in the radial direction of said protrusion; and at least one circularly-polarized-wave antenna element having a shaft portion, an arm portion, and a curl portion, said shaft portion being fitted in said through-hole of said insulator and having a top protruding outward beyond said metal plate, said arm portion protruding from said top of said shaft portion to terminate at an end, said curl portion being disposed on a flat plane perpendicular to said shaft portion, wherein a distance or radius from a center of said curl portion increases in the counterclockwise direction of said curl portion as viewed from the top thereof, and wherein the number of turns of said curl portion is in the range from 1 to 1.5, and said curl portion being connected to said end of the arm portion, said arm portion being engaged with said radially extending groove of said insulator, whereby if the position of said radially extending groove has been set in accordance with a desired orientation of said curl portion of said circularly-polarized antenna element, the engagement of said arm portion with said radially extending groove will automatically set the orientation of said curl portion in a predetermined direction; wherein said waveguide comprises: a second metal plate opposed to said first metal plate; and a brace member disposed between said first and second metal plates, for preventing the distance between said first and second metal plates from becoming shorter than a predetermined distance; and wherein said insulator and said brace member are integrally formed.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 329 words

A circularly-polarized-wave flat antenna comprising: a waveguide having at least a first metal plate, said metal plate having a plurality of holes; at least a first insulator, said insulator being mounted in a hole of said metal plate and having a through-hole and a protrusion, said through-hole extending from the outside of said waveguide to the inside of said waveguide and having a groove which is open to the outside of said waveguide and which extends in the radial direction of said protrusion; and at least one circularly-polarized-wave antenna element having a shaft portion, an arm portion, and a curl portion, said shaft portion being fitted in said through-hole of said insulator and having a top protruding outward beyond said metal plate, said arm portion protruding from said top of said shaft portion to terminate at an end, said curl portion being disposed on a flat plane perpendicular to said shaft portion, wherein a distance or radius from a center of said curl portion increases in the counterclockwise direction of said curl portion as viewed from the top thereof, and wherein the number of turns of said curl portion is in the range from 1 to 1.5, and said curl portion being connected to said end of the arm portion, said arm portion being engaged with said radially extending groove of said insulator, whereby if the position of said radially extending groove has been set in accordance with a desired orientation of said curl portion of said circularly-polarized antenna element, the engagement of said arm portion with said radially extending groove will automatically set the orientation of said curl portion in a predetermined direction; wherein said waveguide comprises: a second metal plate opposed to said first metal plate; and a brace member disposed between said first and second metal plates, for preventing the distance between said first and second metal plates from becoming shorter than a predetermined distance; and wherein said insulator and said brace member are integrally formed.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 346 words

A circularly-polarized-wave flat antenna comprising: a waveguide having at least a first metal plate, said metal plate having a plurality of holes; at least a first insulator, said insulator being mounted in a hole of said metal plate and having a through-hole and a protrusion, said through-hole extending from the outside of said waveguide to the inside of said waveguide and having a groove which is open to the outside of said waveguide and which extends in the radial direction of said protrusion; and at least one circularly-polarized-wave antenna element having a shaft portion, an arm portion, and a curl portion, said shaft portion being fitted in said through-hole of said insulator and having a top protruding outward beyond said metal plate, said arm portion protruding from said top of said shaft portion to terminate at an end, said curl portion being disposed on a flat plane perpendicular to said shaft portion, wherein a distance or radius from a center of said curl portion increases in the counterclockwise direction of said curl portion as viewed from the top thereof, and wherein the number of turns of said curl portion is in the range from 1 to 1.5, and said curl portion being connected to said end of the arm portion, said arm portion being engaged with said radially extending groove of said insulator, whereby if the position of said radially extending groove has been set in accordance with a desired orientation of said curl portion of said circularly-polarized antenna element, the engagement of said arm portion with said radially extending groove will automatically set the orientation of said curl portion in a predetermined direction; wherein said waveguide has a second metal plate opposed to said first metal plate, said circularly-polarized-wave antenna further comprising: a housing disposed outside said second metal plate; and a converter housed in said housing, wherein said converter has a probe as an input/output terminal, said probe protruding from said housing, said probe extending through said second metal plate and protruding in said waveguide, said probe being insulated from said second metal plate.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 346 words

A circularly-polarized-wave flat antenna comprising: a waveguide having at least a first metal plate, said metal plate having a plurality of holes; at least a first insulator, said insulator being mounted in a hole of said metal plate and having a through-hole and a protrusion, said through-hole extending from the outside of said waveguide to the inside of said waveguide and having a groove which is open to the outside of said waveguide and which extends in the radial direction of said protrusion; and at least one circularly-polarized-wave antenna element having a shaft portion, an arm portion, and a curl portion, said shaft portion being fitted in said through-hole of said insulator and having a top protruding outward beyond said metal plate, said arm portion protruding from said top of said shaft portion to terminate at an end, said curl portion being disposed on a flat plane perpendicular to said shaft portion, wherein a distance or radius from a center of said curl portion increases in the counterclockwise direction of said curl portion as viewed from the top thereof, and wherein the number of turns of said curl portion is in the range from 1 to 1.5, and said curl portion being connected to said end of the arm portion, said arm portion being engaged with said radially extending groove of said insulator, whereby if the position of said radially extending groove has been set in accordance with a desired orientation of said curl portion of said circularly-polarized antenna element, the engagement of said arm portion with said radially extending groove will automatically set the orientation of said curl portion in a predetermined direction; wherein said waveguide has a second metal plate opposed to said first metal plate, said circularly-polarized-wave antenna further comprising: a housing disposed outside said second metal plate; and a converter housed in said housing, wherein said converter has a probe as an input/output terminal, said probe protruding from said housing, said probe extending through said second metal plate and protruding in said waveguide, said probe being insulated from said second metal plate.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 28 words

The circularly-polarized-wave flat antenna as set forth in claim 12, wherein said housing and an outer surface of said second metal plate are covered by a case member.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 26 words

The circularly-polarized-wave flat antenna as set forth in claim 12, wherein said probe is covered by an insulating resin, and said housing has a watertight structure.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 99 words

The plane circularly-polarized-wave antenna as set forth in claim 12, wherein said housing comprises a plurality of parts having and being connected to each other via connection surfaces, and wherein said antenna further comprises: a packing for connecting said connection surfaces of said housing; a seal member for keeping airtight said input/output terminal of said converter protruding from said housing; and an air penetration film having a plurality of holes whose diameter is smaller than the diameter of water molecules and larger than the diameter of air molecules, for closing air holes defined on a wall of said housing.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 65 words

A circularly-polarized-wave flat antenna as set forth in claim 15, wherein said housing has an air ventilation cover for covering said air penetration film from the outside of said air penetration film and for forming an air chamber along with said air penetration film, said air ventilation cover having at least one through-hole for connecting said air chamber to the outside of said air chamber.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 363 words

A circularly-polarized-wave flat antenna comprising: a waveguide having at least a first metal plate, said metal plate having a plurality of holes; at least a first insulator, said insulator being mounted in a hole of said metal plate and having a through-hole and a protrusion, said through-hole extending from the outside of said waveguide to the inside of said waveguide and having a groove which is open to the outside of said waveguide and which extends in the radial direction of said protrusion; and at least one circularly-polarized-wave antenna element having a shaft portion, an arm portion, and a curl portion, said shaft portion being fitted in said through-hole of said insulator and having a top protruding outward beyond said metal plate, said arm portion protruding from said top of said shaft portion to terminate at an end, said curl portion being disposed on a flat plane perpendicular to said shaft portion, wherein a distance or radius from a center of said curl portion increases in the counterclockwise direction of said curl portion as viewed from the top thereof, and wherein the number of turns of said curl portion is in the range from 1 to 1.5, and said curl portion being connected to said end of the arm .portion, said arm portion being engaged with said radially extending groove of said insulator, whereby if the position of said radially extending groove has been set in accordance with a desired orientation of said curl portion of said circularly-polarized antenna element, the engagement of said arm portion with said radially extending groove will automatically set the orientation of said curl portion in a predetermined direction; wherein said waveguide has a second metal plate opposed to said first metal plate, said circularly-polarized-wave antenna further comprising: a housing disposed outside said second metal plate; and a converter housed in said housing, wherein said converter has a probe as an input/output terminal, said probe protruding from said housing, said probe extending through said second metal plate and protruding in said waveguide, said probe being insulated from said second metal plate; and wherein said probe is covered by an insulating resin and said housing has an airtight structure.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 363 words

A circularly-polarized-wave flat antenna comprising: a waveguide having at least a first metal plate, said metal plate having a plurality of holes; at least a first insulator, said insulator being mounted in a hole of said metal plate and having a through-hole and a protrusion, said through-hole extending from the outside of said waveguide to the inside of said waveguide and having a groove which is open to the outside of said waveguide and which extends in the radial direction of said protrusion; and at least one circularly-polarized-wave antenna element having a shaft portion, an arm portion, and a curl portion, said shaft portion being fitted in said through-hole of said insulator and having a top protruding outward beyond said metal plate, said arm portion protruding from said top of said shaft portion to terminate at an end, said curl portion being disposed on a flat plane perpendicular to said shaft portion, wherein a distance or radius from a center of said curl portion increases in the counterclockwise direction of said curl portion as viewed from the top thereof, and wherein the number of turns of said curl portion is in the range from 1 to 1.5, and said curl portion being connected to said end of the arm .portion, said arm portion being engaged with said radially extending groove of said insulator, whereby if the position of said radially extending groove has been set in accordance with a desired orientation of said curl portion of said circularly-polarized antenna element, the engagement of said arm portion with said radially extending groove will automatically set the orientation of said curl portion in a predetermined direction; wherein said waveguide has a second metal plate opposed to said first metal plate, said circularly-polarized-wave antenna further comprising: a housing disposed outside said second metal plate; and a converter housed in said housing, wherein said converter has a probe as an input/output terminal, said probe protruding from said housing, said probe extending through said second metal plate and protruding in said waveguide, said probe being insulated from said second metal plate; and wherein said probe is covered by an insulating resin and said housing has an airtight structure.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1998-09-25	1999-03-27	1999-09-26	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2002-09-25	2003-03-27	2003-09-26	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
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Circularly-polarized-wave flat antenna

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