Patent US6081239A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6081239A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Planar antenna including a superstrate lens having an effective dielectric constant
Assignee: Gradient Technologies LLC
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Filing: 1998-10-23
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Granted: 2000-06-27
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Expires: 2018-10-23
Abstract
Abstract A planar antenna that includes a high dielectric constant superstrate lens having a plurality of air holes that vary the actual dielectric constant of the lens to provide an effective dielectric constant superstrate lens. The holes can take on any shape and configuration in accordance with a particular antenna design scheme so as to optimize the effective dielectric constant for a particular application. In one particular design, the holes are formed in a random manner completely through superstrate lens, and the holes have an opening diameter less than 1/20th of the operational wavelength of the antenna. The holes act to vary the dielectric constant of the superstrate lens so that the resonant waves do not form in the lens, thus reducing power loss in the antenna. The holes are formed by a suitable mechanical or laser drilling operation.
Inventors
- 👤 Kazem F. Sabet
- 👤 Kamal Sarabandi
- 👤 Linda P. B. Katehi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 15:58
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01Q; H01Q1/00; H01Q1/40; H01Q13/00; H01Q13/10; H01Q15/00; H01Q15/02; H01Q15/08; H01Q19/00; H01Q19/06; H01Q19/062
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
A planar antenna system comprising: a substrate; a planar antenna patterned on the substrate, said antenna operating at a predetermined frequency band; and a superstrate lens positioned on the antenna opposite to the substrate and being made of a superstrate material having a material dielectric constant, said superstrate lens including a plurality of holes that vary the material dielectric constant to be an effective dielectric constant that acts to reduce resonant waves in the superstrate lens.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
76 words
A planar antenna system comprising: a substrate; a planar antenna patterned on the substrate, said antenna operating at a predetermined frequency band; and a superstrate lens positioned on the antenna opposite to the substrate and being made of a superstrate material having a material dielectric constant, said superstrate lens including a plurality of holes that vary the material dielectric constant to be an effective dielectric constant that acts to reduce resonant waves in the superstrate lens.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The antenna system according to claim 1 wherein the superstrate material is selected from the group consisting of polymers, ceramics, thermoplastics and their composites.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The antenna system according to claim 1 wherein the opening of each of the holes has an average lateral dimension less than about one-twentieth of the wavelength at a center frequency of the predetermined frequency band.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The antenna system according to claim 1 wherein the holes are dispersed across the superstrate lens in a random manner.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The antenna system according to claim 1 wherein the holes re dispersed across the superstrate lens in a predetermined symmetrical configuration.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The antenna system according to claim 1 wherein the holes extend completely through the superstrate lens.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The antenna system according to claim 1 wherein the superstrate lens is separated into a plurality of radial sections where each section includes a different pattern of holes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The antenna system according to claim 1 wherein the shape of the holes is selected from any predetermined shape.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The antenna system according to claim 1 wherein the planar antenna is selected from the group consisting of slot ring antennas and slot spiral antennas.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The antenna system according to claim 1 wherein the substrate is made of a material having a lower dielectric constant than the effective dielectric constant.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The antenna system according to claim 1 wherein the frequency band is selected from the group consisting of cellular telephone, GPS, PCS and radio frequency bands.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The antenna system according to claim 1 wherein the planar antenna is patterned from a metallized layer formed on the substrate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The antenna system according to claim 1 wherein the holes are formed in the superstrate lens by a drilling process.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The antenna system according to claim 1 wherein the superstrate lens is cylindrical.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The antenna system according to claim 1 wherein the superstrate lens includes a stack of separate lens sections, each having a plurality of holes but with different hole distributions.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The antenna system according to claim 1 wherein the holes in the superstrate are filled with a material that is different from the lens material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
118 words
The planar antenna system comprising: a substrate having a substrate dielectric constant; a planar slot antenna patterned on the substrate, said slot antenna being operational at a predetermined frequency band having an operational wavelength; and a superstrate lens positioned on the antenna opposite to the substrate and being made of a superstrate material having a material dielectric constant, being a ceramic composite, said superstrate lens including a plurality of micromachined holes extending through the lens that vary the material dielectric constant to be an effective dielectric constant that acts to reduce resonant waves in the superstrate lens, said holes having an average diameter less than 1/20th of the wavelength at a center frequency of the predetermined frequency band.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
118 words
The planar antenna system comprising: a substrate having a substrate dielectric constant; a planar slot antenna patterned on the substrate, said slot antenna being operational at a predetermined frequency band having an operational wavelength; and a superstrate lens positioned on the antenna opposite to the substrate and being made of a superstrate material having a material dielectric constant, being a ceramic composite, said superstrate lens including a plurality of micromachined holes extending through the lens that vary the material dielectric constant to be an effective dielectric constant that acts to reduce resonant waves in the superstrate lens, said holes having an average diameter less than 1/20th of the wavelength at a center frequency of the predetermined frequency band.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The antenna system according to claim 17 wherein the holes are dispersed across the superstrate lens in a random or symmetrical manner.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The antenna system according to claim 17 wherein the holes extend completely through the superstrate lens.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
The antenna system according to claim 17 wherein the superstrate lens is separated into a plurality of radial sections where each section includes a different pattern of holes.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The antenna system according to claim 17 wherein the frequency band is selected from the group consisting of cellular telephone, GPS, PCS and radio frequency bands.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
The antenna system according to claim 17 wherein the planar antenna is patterned from a metallized layer formed on the substrate.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
13 words
The antenna system according to claim 17 wherein the superstrate lens is cylindrical.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
27 words
The antenna system according to claim 17 wherein the slot antenna is selected from the group consisting of a ring slot antenna and a spiral slot antenna.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of providing a planar antenna system, comprising: providing a substrate; patterning a planar antenna on the substrate to operate at a predetermined frequency band; providing a superstrate lens on the antenna opposite to the substrate that is made out of a superstrate material having a material dielectric constant; and forming a plurality of holes in the superstrate lens to vary the material dielectric constant to be an effective dielectric constant that acts to reduce resonant waves in the superstrate lens.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of providing a planar antenna system, comprising: providing a substrate; patterning a planar antenna on the substrate to operate at a predetermined frequency band; providing a superstrate lens on the antenna opposite to the substrate that is made out of a superstrate material having a material dielectric constant; and forming a plurality of holes in the superstrate lens to vary the material dielectric constant to be an effective dielectric constant that acts to reduce resonant waves in the superstrate lens.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method according to claim 25 wherein forming the holes includes forming the holes to have an average opening dimension less than about 1/20th of the wavelength at a center frequency of the predetermined frequency band.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 25 wherein forming the holes includes forming the holes in a random or symmetrical manner across the superstrate lens.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 25 wherein forming the holes includes forming the holes completely through the superstrate lens.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method according to claim 25 wherein forming the holes includes separating the superstrate lens into a plurality of radial sections and forming holes to have different patterns in each section.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 25 wherein providing a planar antenna includes providing a slot ring antenna or a slot spiral antenna.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method according to claim 25 wherein forming the holes in the superstrate lens includes forming the holes by a mechanical drilling process.
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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) | 2003-06-27 | 2003-12-27 | 2004-06-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-06-27 | 2007-12-27 | 2008-06-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-06-27 | 2011-12-27 | 2012-06-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |