Communications: radio wave antennas – Antennas – Slot type
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-08
2001-05-29
Wimer, Michael C. (Department: 2821)
Communications: radio wave antennas
Antennas
Slot type
C343S770000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06239761
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tapered slot antenna and, more particularly, to a tapered slot antenna with an extended dielectric substrate as a dielectric loading for tuning the E and H field beam width.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Tapered slot antennas are generally known in the art and used in various microwave communications systems. Examples of such tapered slot antennas are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,036,335; 5,081,466 and 5,187,489. Such tapered slot antennas are also discussed in Antenna Engineering Handbook, 3rd Edition, McGraw-Hill, Inc., pgs. 8.4-8.9 (1993).
Such tapered slot antennas are normally formed on a dielectric substrate by photolithography techniques. Such tapered slot antennas include a metallization layer formed on one side of the substrate. A portion of the metallization layer is etched away to the substrate to form a tapered slot that extends to the edge of the substrate. A microstrip feed line is formed on an opposite side of the substrate by way of a metallized strip. The metallized strip it positioned adjacent a narrow portion of the slot, formed on the opposite side of the substrate. A plated through hole or small diameter wire is known to be used to couple the microstrip feed to the tapered slot antenna formed on the opposing side of the dielectric. When used in receiver applications, incoming electric magnetic radiation is received by the tapered slot antenna and coupled to the microstrip feed line, which, in turn, is normally coupled to signal conditioning circuitry, such as a low noise amplifier.
Unfortunately, such tapered slot antennas have asymmetric radiation patterns. In other words, the H-plane beam width is relatively wider than the E-plane beam width. As such, the gain and the coupling efficiency of such tapered slot antennas is relatively low.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a tapered slot antenna which solves various problems in the prior art.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a tapered slot antenna with a symmetrical radiation pattern in order to increase the gain and coupling efficiency of the antenna.
Briefly, the present invention relates to a tapered slot antenna which may be formed by photolithography techniques which includes a dielectric substrate with a metallization layer deposited on one side. The metallization layer is etched to the dielectric to form a tapered slot. In order to tune the antenna, for example, such that the E and H fields are symmetrical, the substrate extends beyond the wide portion of the slot. A microstrip feed line is formed by a metallization deposit on an opposing side of the substrate. The microstrip feed line extends across a narrow portion of the tapered slot and is configured to optimize the coupling between the microstrip feed line and the tapered slot antenna.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3508276 (1970-04-01), Rope et al.
patent: 3518691 (1970-06-01), Hallendorff
patent: 4516129 (1985-05-01), Ittipiboon et al.
patent: 4607685 (1986-08-01), Mitchell, Jr.
patent: 4622559 (1986-11-01), Shafai et al.
patent: 4855749 (1989-08-01), DeFonzo
patent: 5019940 (1991-05-01), Clemens
patent: 5023623 (1991-06-01), Kreinheder et al.
patent: 5036335 (1991-07-01), Jairam
patent: 5070340 (1991-12-01), Diaz
patent: 5081466 (1992-01-01), Bitter, Jr.
patent: 5187489 (1993-02-01), Whelan et al.
patent: 5248987 (1993-09-01), Lee
patent: 5467098 (1995-11-01), Bonebright
“Antenna Engineering Handbook,” (3rdEdition), by Richard C. Johnson, Editor McGraw-Hill, Inc. (1993) pp. 8-4 to 8-9.
Dow G. Samuel
Guo Yong
Keller Robert W.
TRW Inc.
Wimer Michael C.
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