Communications: radio wave antennas – Antennas – Microstrip
Reexamination Certificate
2002-07-19
2003-11-04
Nguyen, Hoang (Department: 2821)
Communications: radio wave antennas
Antennas
Microstrip
C343S771000, C343S850000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06642890
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to electromagnetic antennas, and especially to electromagnetic antennas employing a plurality of antenna elements known as patch antenna elements. Such patch antenna construction is advantageous in constructing antennas that are known as steerable beam antennas. Steerable beam antennas employ fixed antenna elements, such as patch antenna elements, to “steer” loci of sensitivity (i.e., transmitting beams or bearings of reception) by establishing predetermined interference patterns among the various patch antenna elements. The desired predetermined interference patterns are commonly effected by imposing phase differences among the various patch antenna elements.
It is desirable that patch antenna elements in steerable beam antennas be closely or densely situated in order that maximum interaction among the various patch antenna elements may be realized. Prior art coupling structures employed for coupling the respective patch antenna elements with a signal coupling locus (e.g., a transmission line leading to a host device such as a transceiver for radio or radar operations) have heretofore occupied an undesirable lateral expanse about the respective antenna patch elements. As a result, antenna patch elements have not been as densely situated as desired. One solution has been to provide larger antenna patch elements. Installing an antenna patch element that occupies a larger area provides a larger expanse in the vicinity of that patch element for effecting the requisite electromagnetic coupling. However, the larger the respective patch elements, the less resolution that can be established in steering beam operations. That is, larger patch elements yield coarser beam patterns that result in coarser control of beam steering operations.
There is a need for an apparatus for coupling electromagnetic signals that permits closely arranged arrays of small antenna patch elements.
While such an apparatus is particularly useful for steerable beam antennas using closely arranged antenna patch elements, the apparatus has utility in other antenna coupling structures and arrangements. The invention disclosed, described and claimed herein is not limited to steerable beam antenna devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An apparatus for coupling electromagnetic signals from a signal transfer locus for electromagnetic transfer with a proximal medium includes: (a) An antenna element presenting elements in a spaced parallel relation with an antenna plane on a first dielectric substrate. (b) A transmission structure including a second dielectric substrate parallel with a transmission plane perpendicular with the antenna plane and including a slot line structure and a ground plane. The slot line structure has a first end proximal with the signal transfer locus and a second end within electromagnetic coupling range of the antenna element. The ground plane cooperates with the slot line structure and the second dielectric substrate to effect transmission of electromagnetic signals between the first end and the second end. (c) A coupling aperture traverses a respective antenna element adjacent each respective second end in register with the respective second end.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for coupling electromagnetic signals that permits closely arranged arrays of small antenna patch elements.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4939527 (1990-07-01), Lamberty et al.
patent: 6396440 (2002-05-01), Chen
patent: 6509874 (2003-01-01), Kolak et al.
Law Office of Donald D. Mondul
Nguyen Hoang
Paratek Microwave Inc.
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