Patent US6525691B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6525691B2
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US
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Miniaturized conformal wideband fractal antennas on high dielectric substrates and chiral layers
Assignee: Penn State Research Foundation
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Filing: 2001-06-28
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Granted: 2003-02-25
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Expires: 2021-06-28
Abstract
Abstract A class of antennas that comprise an electrically conductive fractal pattern disposed on a dielectric substrate and are capable of construction in a size measured in centimeters as compared to previous antennas of the same class that measured in meters. One antenna style has a ground plane that is perpendicular to the substrate and another style has a ground plane that is parallel to the substrate. The substrate has a dielectric constant of in the range of about 10 to 600 or more and may be a ferroelectric, such as barium strontium titanate. A bias voltage applied across the substrate can tune the antenna for operation in a particular frequency range. The antenna can be made especially wideband by placing an absorbing material behind the substrate. The fractal pattern may be any fractal pattern, such as Hilbert curve, Koch curve, Sierpinski gasket and Sierpinski carpet. One style of the antenna uses a fractal pattern that has a plurality of segments arranged in a first configuration and a switch disposed to alter the first configuration to one or more other configurations. The antenna elements may also be arranged in a phased array.
Inventors
- 👤 Vijay K. Varadan
- 👤 Kalarickaparambil Vinoy
- 👤 Jose A. Kollakompil
- 👤 Vasundara V. Varadan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 07:20
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01Q; H01Q3/00; H01Q3/44; H01Q1/00; H01Q1/36; H01Q15/00; H01Q15/0006; H01Q15/0093; H01Q9/00; H01Q9/04; H01Q9/30; H01Q9/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 55
Claim 1
Independent Claim
80 words
An antenna comprising: a substrate having a dielectric constant of at least 10; at least one layer of electrically conductive material overlying a surface of said substrate, wherein said layer of electrically conductive material comprises a fractal pattern; a sheet of electrically conductive material disposed substantially perpendicular to said surface of said substrate to provide a ground plane; and means for applying a bias voltage across said substrate to tune said antenna for operation in at least one frequency band.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
80 words
An antenna comprising: a substrate having a dielectric constant of at least 10; at least one layer of electrically conductive material overlying a surface of said substrate, wherein said layer of electrically conductive material comprises a fractal pattern; a sheet of electrically conductive material disposed substantially perpendicular to said surface of said substrate to provide a ground plane; and means for applying a bias voltage across said substrate to tune said antenna for operation in at least one frequency band.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The antenna of claim 1 , further comprising an input feed coupled to said at least one layer of electrically conductive material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The antenna of claim 1 , wherein said substrate comprises a ferroelectric material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The antenna of claim 3 , wherein said ferroelectric material is barium strontium titanate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The antenna of claim 1 , wherein said fractal pattern is selected from the group consisting of Hilbert curve, Koch curve, Sierpinski gasket, Sierpinski carpet and mixtures thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The antenna of claim 1 , wherein said means for tuning comprises a variable voltage.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The antenna of claim 1 , wherein said dielectric constant is in the range of about 10 to 200.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The antenna of claim 1 , wherein said dielectric constant is in the range of about 200 to 600 and higher.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
102 words
An antenna comprising: a substrate having a dielectric constant of at least 10; at least one layer of electrically conductive material overlying a surface of said substrate, wherein said layer of electrically conductive material comprises a fractal pattern; a sheet of electrically conductive material disposed in relation to said substrate to provide a ground plane; means for applying a bias voltage across said substrate to tune said antenna for operation in at least one frequency band; and a layer of absorbing material overlying an opposed surface of said substrate, wherein said absorbing material layer smoothens the frequency/return loss characteristic of said antenna.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
102 words
An antenna comprising: a substrate having a dielectric constant of at least 10; at least one layer of electrically conductive material overlying a surface of said substrate, wherein said layer of electrically conductive material comprises a fractal pattern; a sheet of electrically conductive material disposed in relation to said substrate to provide a ground plane; means for applying a bias voltage across said substrate to tune said antenna for operation in at least one frequency band; and a layer of absorbing material overlying an opposed surface of said substrate, wherein said absorbing material layer smoothens the frequency/return loss characteristic of said antenna.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The antenna of claim 9 , wherein said sheet of electrically conductive material is disposed substantially parallel to said surface of said substrate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The antenna of claim 9 , wherein said absorbing material is a chiral material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
105 words
An antenna comprising: a substrate having a dielectric constant of at least 10; at least one layer of electrically conductive material overlying a surface of said substrate, wherein said layer of electrically conductive material comprises a fractal pattern, wherein said fractal pattern has a plurality of segments arranged in a first configuration; at least one switch disposed to change said first configuration to a second configuration; a sheet of electrically conductive material disposed in relation to said substrate to provide a ground plane; and means for applying a bias voltage across said substrate to tune said antenna for operation in at least one frequency band.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
105 words
An antenna comprising: a substrate having a dielectric constant of at least 10; at least one layer of electrically conductive material overlying a surface of said substrate, wherein said layer of electrically conductive material comprises a fractal pattern, wherein said fractal pattern has a plurality of segments arranged in a first configuration; at least one switch disposed to change said first configuration to a second configuration; a sheet of electrically conductive material disposed in relation to said substrate to provide a ground plane; and means for applying a bias voltage across said substrate to tune said antenna for operation in at least one frequency band.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The antenna of claim 12 , wherein said fractal pattern is a Hilbert curve.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
84 words
An antenna comprising: first and second assemblies that each comprise: a substrate of dielectric material having a first surface and a second surface; and at least one layer of electrically conductive material comprising a fractal pattern overlying said first surface of said substrate; and a layer of absorbing material disposed between the second surfaces of said first and second assemblies; and a sheet of electrically conductive material disposed in relation to said first and second assemblies so as to serve as a ground plane.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
84 words
An antenna comprising: first and second assemblies that each comprise: a substrate of dielectric material having a first surface and a second surface; and at least one layer of electrically conductive material comprising a fractal pattern overlying said first surface of said substrate; and a layer of absorbing material disposed between the second surfaces of said first and second assemblies; and a sheet of electrically conductive material disposed in relation to said first and second assemblies so as to serve as a ground plane.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The antenna of claim 14 , wherein each of said substrates has a dielectric constant of at least 10.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The antenna of claim 14 , wherein said dielectric material comprises a ferroelectric.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
The antenna of claim 16 , wherein said ferroelectric comprises barium strontium titanate.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
The antenna of claim 14 , wherein said absorbing layer comprises a chiral material.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The antenna of claim 14 , wherein said sheet of electrically conductive material is disposed substantially perpendicular to said first and second assemblies.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
The antenna of claim 14 , wherein said sheet of electrically conductive material is disposed substantially parallel to said first and second assemblies.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
63 words
The antenna of claim 14 , wherein said absorbing layer is a first absorbing layer disposed in overlying relation to said second surface of said first assembly, and further comprising a second absorbing layer disposed in overlying relation to said second surface of said second assembly, and wherein said sheet of electrically conductive material is disposed between said first and second absorbing layers.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
The antenna of claim 14 , wherein said first and second surfaces are opposed surfaces.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
26 words
The antenna of claim 14 , wherein said fractal pattern is selected from the group consisting of Hilbert curve, Koch curve, Sierpinski gasket and Sierpinski carpet.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
37 words
The antenna of claim 14 , wherein said fractal pattern has a plurality of segments arranged in a first configuration, and further comprising at least one switch disposed to change said first configuration to a second configuration.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
14 words
The antenna of claim 14 , wherein said fractal pattern is a Hilbert curve.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
19 words
The antenna of claim 14 , wherein said dielectric constant is in the range of about 10 to 200.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
19 words
The antenna of claim 14 , wherein said dielectric constant is in the range of about 200 to 600.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
33 words
The antenna of claim 14 , further comprising means for applying a bias voltage across at least one of said substrates to tune said antenna for operation in at least one frequency band.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
61 words
An antenna comprising: a substrate that comprises a dielectric material; at least one layer of electrically conductive material overlying a surface of said substrate, wherein said layer of electrically conductive material comprises a fractal pattern that has a plurality of segments arranged in a first configuration; and at least one switch disposed to change said first configuration to a second configuration.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
61 words
An antenna comprising: a substrate that comprises a dielectric material; at least one layer of electrically conductive material overlying a surface of said substrate, wherein said layer of electrically conductive material comprises a fractal pattern that has a plurality of segments arranged in a first configuration; and at least one switch disposed to change said first configuration to a second configuration.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
14 words
The antenna of claim 29 , wherein said fractal pattern is a Hilbert curve.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
18 words
The antenna of claim 29 , wherein said dielectric material has a dielectric constant of at least 10.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
13 words
The antenna of claim 29 , wherein said dielectric material comprises a ferroelectric.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
24 words
The antenna of claim 29 , wherein said switch is selected from the group that consists of radio frequency switch, pin diode and MEM.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
17 words
The antenna of claim 29 , further comprising means for applying a bias voltage across said substrate.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
20 words
The antenna of claim 34 , wherein said bias voltage tunes said antenna for operation in a particular frequency range.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
26 words
The antenna of claim 29 , further comprising a body of electrically conductive material disposed in relation to said substrate to serve as a ground plane.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
53 words
The antenna of claim 29 , wherein said at least one layer is one of a plurality of layers of electrically conductive material overlying said surface of said substrate, wherein each of said layers of electrically conductive material comprises a fractal pattern that has a plurality of segments arranged in a first configuration.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
23 words
The antenna of claim 37 , further comprising a feed network having phase shifting capability to deliver signals to said plurality of layers.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
14 words
The antenna of claim 37 , wherein said fractal pattern is a Hilbert curve.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
128 words
An antenna comprising: a substrate having a dielectric constant of at least 10; at least one layer of electrically conductive material overlying a surface of said substrate, wherein said layer of electrically conductive material comprises a fractal pattern; a sheet of electrically conductive material disposed in relation to said substrate to provide a ground plane; means for applying a bias voltage across said substrate to tune said antenna for operation in at least one frequency band, wherein said at least one layer is one of a plurality of layers of electrically conductive material overlying said surface of said substrate, wherein each of said layers of electrically conductive material comprises a fractal pattern; and a feed network having phase shifting capability to deliver signals to said plurality of layers.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
128 words
An antenna comprising: a substrate having a dielectric constant of at least 10; at least one layer of electrically conductive material overlying a surface of said substrate, wherein said layer of electrically conductive material comprises a fractal pattern; a sheet of electrically conductive material disposed in relation to said substrate to provide a ground plane; means for applying a bias voltage across said substrate to tune said antenna for operation in at least one frequency band, wherein said at least one layer is one of a plurality of layers of electrically conductive material overlying said surface of said substrate, wherein each of said layers of electrically conductive material comprises a fractal pattern; and a feed network having phase shifting capability to deliver signals to said plurality of layers.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
19 words
The antenna of claim 40 , wherein said fractal pattern has a plurality of segments configured in a pattern.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
13 words
The antenna of claim 41 , wherein said pattern is a Hubert curve,
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
102 words
An antenna comprising: at least one assembly that comprises: a substrate that comprises a dielectric material; at least one layer of electrically conductive material overlying a surface of said dielectric substrate, wherein said layer of electrically conductive material comprises a fractal pattern; and a sheet of electrically conductive material disposed in relation to said dielectric substrate to provide a ground plane; and means for applying a bias voltage across said substrate to tune said antenna for operation in at least one frequency band, wherein said at least one assembly is one of a plurality of substantially identical assemblies disposed in an array.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
102 words
An antenna comprising: at least one assembly that comprises: a substrate that comprises a dielectric material; at least one layer of electrically conductive material overlying a surface of said dielectric substrate, wherein said layer of electrically conductive material comprises a fractal pattern; and a sheet of electrically conductive material disposed in relation to said dielectric substrate to provide a ground plane; and means for applying a bias voltage across said substrate to tune said antenna for operation in at least one frequency band, wherein said at least one assembly is one of a plurality of substantially identical assemblies disposed in an array.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
16 words
The antenna of claim 43 , wherein said substrates of said assemblies are descrete separate substrates.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
25 words
The antenna of claim 44 , wherein said substrates of said assemblies are a common substrate that the electrically conductive layers of each assembly overlie.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
23 words
The antenna of claim 43 , wherein said sheet of electrically conductive material is disposed substantially perpendicular to said surface of said substrate.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
23 words
The antenna of claim 43 , wherein said sheet of electrically conductive material is disposed substantially parallel to said surface of said substrate.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
13 words
The antenna of claim 43 , wherein said substrate comprises a ferroelectric material.
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