Microstrip Patents (Class 343/700MS)
  • Patent number: 5894287
    Abstract: A polarization diversity device for reducing a fading effect. The polarization diversity device for reducing a fading effect, which has a microstrip disk type of antenna for outputting a signal received from a first position, in the form of a field dipole polarized in a direction of X, and outputting a signal received from a second position perpendicular to the first position, in the form of a field dipole polarized in a direction of Y, a phase shifter for phase-shifting the signal received from the second position, thereby to set the signal having the most appropriate value to a fading environment of a corresponding channel, and a combiner for combining the signal received from the first position, with the signal outputted from the phase shifter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Assignee: SamSung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kwang-Jin An, Authur Roberts
  • Patent number: 5892481
    Abstract: A device for antenna units consisting of one or several radiation elements for transmission and reception, respectively, of electromagnetic signals, and a ground plane arranged at a distance from said radiation element. The device includes several cooling flanges, which present edge portions facing the radiation elements, and extend at a predetermined distance to said radiation element. The edge portions are arranged at a chosen relative distance so that said edge portions together define said ground plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
    Inventor: Christer Andersson
  • Patent number: 5892482
    Abstract: A mutual coupling neutralizer for neutralizing adverse mutual coupling between a pair of patch antennas for mobile communication system. The coupling neutralizer includes a first and second capacitor each having a first end and a second end, where the first ends are coupled to a respective patch antenna. The neutralizer further includes a high impedance transmission line connected to the second ends of the capacitors. The transmission line and capacitors are sized and configured to neutralize adverse mutual coupling between the pair of patch antennas over a predetermined frequency band. The neutralization of mutual coupling is achieved by extracting a signal present at one patch antenna and injecting the signal at the other patch antenna at a substantially equal amplitude and opposite in phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: William E. Coleman, Jr., Ray B. Jones
  • Patent number: 5886669
    Abstract: An antenna for use in a portable radio apparatus, which has a pair of bands extending from the main body of the apparatus, for securing the apparatus to a user. A first antenna conductor supplied with power and a second antenna conductor not supplied with power are embedded in each band and extend parallel to the axis of the band. The first and second antenna conductors embedded in the first band are connected at one end to the first and second antenna conductors embedded in the second band. No load is connected to the second antenna conductor embedded in each band. The second antenna conductor embedded in each band performs different functions according to its length. If it has a length equal to or greater than half the wavelength .lambda. of waves to receive, it will function as a reflector. If it has a length less than half the wavelength .lambda. of the waves, it will function as a director.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazunori Kita
  • Patent number: 5886667
    Abstract: An integrated helmet and omnidirectional microstrip antenna system comprising a ballistic helmet constructed of rigid non-metallic material with a sheet of dielectric material as the top layer thereof and an omnidirectional microstrip antenna system having one or more antenna radiator elements affixed to the top surface of the dielectric sheet. The antenna radiator elements are circularly polarized by a microstrip feed network designed to provide circular polarization of a desired sense. A conductive layer of metallic material bonded to the underside of said dielectric sheet and integrated in the helmet structure serves as the electrical ground for the antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Inventor: Probir K. Bondyopadhayay
  • Patent number: 5886668
    Abstract: Hand-held transmitting and/or receiving apparatus, including a housing made of electrically non-conductive material, an electric circuit positioned within the housing, an electrical ground plane positioned within the housing, an antenna resonator element extending approximately parallel to the ground plane and having a first free end and a second end electrically connected by a ground connector to the ground plane and an arrangement for connecting the ground plane and the resonator element to the electric circuit. The resonator element, the ground plane and the ground connector are positioned about and fixed to a dielectric body positioned inside the housing. This antenna is easily manufactured and reduces the influence of mechanical tolerances and mechanical and thermal influences on the electrical parameters of the antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: Hagenuk Telecom GmbH
    Inventors: Gert Fr.o slashed.lund Pedersen, Jan Gert Thomsen
  • Patent number: 5880695
    Abstract: A repeater station having circularly polarized antennas. A diamond panel antenna and a panel antenna are positioned in a back-to-back relationship. Each antenna is circularly polarized. The antennas use "tunnel technology" for isolating the antennas. A chassis forming a recessed portion is provided. A dielectric board is inserted into the recess. Patch elements mounted on a board are inserted into the recess and connected to the dielectric board. The width of the boards are such that a "tunnel" is formed about the periphery thereof. Absorber material is then inserted into the tunnel around the boards. A radome is placed over the recess enclosing the boards and elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Astron Corporation
    Inventors: Glenn F. Brown, Joseph R. Jahoda
  • Patent number: 5880694
    Abstract: A phased array antenna having stacked-disc radiators embedded in dielectric media. The phased array antenna has a rectangular arrangement of unit cells that are disposed on a ground plane. A lower dielectric puck with a high dielectric constant is disposed on the ground plane. An excitable disc is disposed within the perimeter of and on top of the lower dielectric puck. An upper low dielectric constant dielectric puck that has a dielectric constant lower than that of the lower dielectric puck is disposed on the excitable disc. A parasitic disc is disposed within the perimeter of and on top of the upper dielectric puck. Dielectric filler material having a dielectric constant that is lower than that of the lower dielectric puck surrounds the dielectric pucks. A radome 18 is disposed on top of the parasitic disc and the unit cell. Two orthogonal pairs of excitation probes are coupled to the lower excitable disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Allen T. S. Wang, Kuan Min Lee, Ruey Shi Chu
  • Patent number: 5877726
    Abstract: An antenna device of the type including an array antenna comprised of a plurality of planar antenna elements, wherein the planar antenna elements are arranged in a staggered pattern such that two adjacent ones of the antenna elements are disposed diagonally with each other. With this staggered arrangement, the spacing between the adjacent antenna element becomes larger than that in a conventional matrix arrangement, whereby the interference between the adjacent planar antenna elements is considerably reduced, while the antenna efficiency of the planar antenna elements is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kudoh, Hiroshi Uematsu, Jun Ashihara
  • Patent number: 5874919
    Abstract: A reduced weight, low profile, stacked patch antenna includes an `active` antenna patch element, a `parasitic` antenna patch element, and a tuning stub portion of a microstrip feed, which resonate at respectively different frequencies. The tuning stub is located adjacent to the active patch element, so that electromagnetic field energy associated with the tuning stub is coupled to the active and parasitic patches of the stacked patch structure, thereby creating a distributed resonance characteristic, having an augmented bandwidth compared with that of a conventional patch antenna. Manufacture of the stacked patch antenna is facilitated by the use of both a proximity feed and the interleaving of layers of adhesive material among the respective components of the stacked structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: James J. Rawnick, Brian D. Anderson, Gregory M. Turner, Jeffrey A. Bensen
  • Patent number: 5872545
    Abstract: A receive and/or transmit microwave planar array antenna is of the multiplate stack type comprising a plurality of slot radiating elements disposed along the rows and the columns of a matrix. The basic stack comprises three ground plates incorporating openings and two independent excitation circuit planes, enabling transmission or reception of two inclined beams. At least two other excitation circuit planes are provided so that each beam can additionally have dual polarization. The excitation circuits are microstrips, coplanar waveguides, dipole lines, of the loop or slot type, or a combination of such lines. Two consecutive lines are oriented at 90.degree. to each other. Applications include individual reception from two geostationary television satellites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: Agence Spatiale Europeene
    Inventor: Emmanuel Rammos
  • Patent number: 5872542
    Abstract: An antenna (10, 110, 210) comprising a ground layer (30, 130, 230), a feed layer (50, 150, 250), an antenna layer (40, 140, 240) and a transparent dielectric substrate (20, 120, 220) interposed between two of the layers (30 and 40, 140 and 150, 230 and 250). An electromagnetic field is produced between the ground layer (30, 130, 230) and the antenna layer (40, 140, 240) when the feed and ground layers (50 and 30, 150 and 130, 250 and 230) are exposed to a microwave frequency above 3,000 megahertz for transmission and when the antenna and ground layers (40 and 30, 140 and 130, 240 and 230) are exposed to a microwave frequency above 3,000 megahertz, for reception. The ground layer (30, 130, 230), feed layer (50, 150, 250) and antenna layer (40, 140, 240) are made of an optically transparent and electrically conductive material. About 30% of the visible light impinging on the antenna (10, 110, 210) passes through the antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: Federal Data Corporation
    Inventors: Rainee Simons, Richard Q. Lee
  • Patent number: 5870058
    Abstract: The invention is based on a planar concept and involves the configuration of a planar radiating element with the property of generating wide-band electromagnetic radiation fields with circular field polarisation. A wide-band radiating element is developed in which the radiating and excitation network planes are separated and excitation of the radiating element is achieved using a coupling waveguide comprising a group of highly conductive planar elements stacked along the normal to their (large) surfaces above a conductive ground plane; to ensure a large radiation band-width, the highly conductive planar elements are placed well above the conductive ground plane and their highly inductive coupling components (which are connected to the ground plane) are compensated by special coaxial waveguide diaphragms whose ellipticity of the circular polarisation is adjusted solely by circular or square diaphragms within the planar contour, without affecting the radiating edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Dettling + Oberhausser Ingenieurgesellschaft
    Inventor: Lutz Rothe
  • Patent number: 5870063
    Abstract: A spacecraft of a set of spacecraft has an antenna support frame defining square apertures, which are the same size in all spacecraft of the set of spacecraft. The set also includes a plurality of radiating tiles for various operating frequencies. The tiles all have the same dimensions, so that any combination of tiles may be mounted in the apertures of the frames of any spacecraft to form antenna arrays of various sizes, depending upon the customer's requirements. Each tile includes plural beamformers and power amplifiers, and remotely controllable phase shifters and level controls, for ready reconfiguration of the antennas while the spacecraft is in operation. The preferred dimension of each radiating tile is a one-foot square.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corp.
    Inventors: Alan Ralph Cherrette, Bronson Murray
  • Patent number: 5870057
    Abstract: In an antenna having a conductor of a length L and a dielectric material with a dielectric constant .epsilon..sub.r1 contacting the conductor, a matching dielectric layer .epsilon..sub.r2 less than .epsilon..sub.r1 matches the dielectric constant to free space. Preferably .epsilon..sub.r2 =.sqroot..epsilon..sub.r1 , L=.lambda..sub.o /(2.sqroot..epsilon..sub.r1 ). The depth d of the second dielectric is a quarter wavelength in the matching layer. Multiple matching layers with successively decreasing dielectric constants forms embodiments. In one embodiment the resonant conductive arrangement is a microstrip patch antenna with the dielectric material supporting a patch and matching layer covering the dielectric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: James G. Evans, Martin Victor Schneider, Robert W. Wilson
  • Patent number: 5867126
    Abstract: A current-inducing-type surface-mount-type antenna which is short in length and thin in thickness and which can be formed into a small size and communication equipment having the same mounted therein. A radiation electrode substantially in the shape of a letter L or a sideways U and a power supply electrode are formed on the surface of a base made of a dielectric or a magnetic substance with a gap therebetween. A short-circuit end of the radiation electrode and the power supply electrode are connected to a grounding terminal and a power supply terminal, respectively, which are formed on an end surface of the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Murata Mfg. Co. Ltd
    Inventors: Kazunari Kawahata, Ken Okada
  • Patent number: 5867130
    Abstract: A directional center-fed half wave dipole antenna is constructed from a multilayer substrate (100) having dipole antenna elements (112, 142) disposed on opposite surfaces (113, 141) of the multilayer substrate (100). An energy reflector (160) is disposed on at least one side of the substrate (100) and positioned adjacent to the dipole antenna elements (112, 142). The dipole antenna elements (112, 142) are fed by a center feed member (122). Center feed member (122) has a tapered width so as to provide the necessary impedance matching. A ground plane is disposed within the multilayer substrate, the elements of which (114, 134) are positioned on both sides of the center feed element (122).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger S. Tay, Quirino Balzano
  • Patent number: 5864318
    Abstract: A composite antenna comprising a first and second antenna suitable for transceiving independent signals in the cellular communication and GPS bands. The first antenna has upper and lower electrically conductive discs of substantially the same size aligned substantially in parallel, a first means for application of a first electrical signal between and at substantially geometric centers of the discs, and a plurality of electrically conductive shunts. The second (GPS) antenna is attached atop the upper electrically conductive disc and has a second means for application of a second electrical signal to the GPS antenna which traverses the electrically conductive discs whereby there is no significant degradation in performance of either the first cellular antenna or the second GPS antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Dorne & Margolin, Inc.
    Inventors: John Cosenza, Michael Kane, William Rovinsky, Richard Hines
  • Patent number: 5861848
    Abstract: A patch and a ground conductor are shortcircuited with two shortcircuit portions that are composed of conductive plates and that pass through a dielectric substrate. The shortcircuit portions are connected to the inner periphery of the patch and have large widths therealong. A first shortcircuit portion is disposed on a first line that connects a microstrip feeder line and the center point of the patch. A second shortcircuit portion is disposed on a second line that passes through the center point. The inner angle of the first line and the second line is in the range from 80 degrees to 110 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Hisao Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 5861854
    Abstract: A surface-mount antenna includes a radiation electrode formed on one or more surfaces of a rectangular parallelopiped base member comprising a dielectric or a magnetic substance so as to have one end as an open end and another end as a first ground electrode, a feeding electrode formed on the surface or surfaces, and a second ground electrode formed in proximity to the open end of said radiation electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: Murata Mfg. Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazunari Kawahata, Ken Okada
  • Patent number: 5859614
    Abstract: A planar antenna for microwave applications includes a supporting structure that is made using standard LTCC (low temperature co-fired ceramics) multi-layer techniques and a polyimide tape containing an adhesive at one side which is adheringly attached to the supporting structure. The body of the supporting structure defines a transmission line substrate and several of the intermediate layers define a path for microwave energy to be coupled from the transmission line substrate to the antenna. The method includes adhering the tape to the supporting structure, cutting the tape to size, and baking the tape and supporting structure in an oven at about 180.degree. C. for about 4 hours to rigidify the tape. The obtained antenna is thus protected against substrate effects such as TM mode zero cut-off frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Arthur C. Paolella, Dana J. Sturzebecher, Felix Schwering
  • Patent number: 5859616
    Abstract: An interleaved planar array antenna system providing angularly adjustable linearly polarized beams comprises an array of parallel rows of transmit dipole element pairs and an array of parallel rows of receive dipole element pairs, the two arrays being interleaved. Each of the dipole element pairs includes a first dipole element and a second dipole element adjacent and orthogonal to the first dipole element. All of the first dipole elements are parallel to each other and all of the second dipole elements are parallel to each other. All of the dipole elements are on the same surface and on another surface parallel to and spaced from the first surface there is an array of transmit feed line pairs and an array of receive feed line pairs, with the arrays being interleaved with each other. The transmit feed line pairs are proximity coupled to the transmit dipole element pairs and the receive feed line pairs are proximity coupled to the receive dipole element pairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: GEC-Marconi Hazeltine Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence S. Gans, Leonard Schwartz
  • Patent number: 5857150
    Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, an apparatus for extending the receiving range of an RF receiver mounted in a non-metallic housing, including: at least one metallic strip attached to an element of the non-metallic housing; and the metallic strip being disposed so as to receive an RF signal transmitted to the RF receiver and air couple the RF signal into the RF receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Assignee: Delco Electronics Corp.
    Inventors: David Arlan Copp, Quentin Earl Langton Gurney
  • Patent number: 5854606
    Abstract: A compact surface-mount antenna is constructed from a rectangular-prism-shaped base member made from a dielectric material or a magnetic material. A through-hole is formed between one end-face and the opposing end-face in the base member. A radiation electrode is formed on the inside surface of the through-hole. One end of the radiation electrode is connected to a ground electrode formed on the one end-face, and the other end of the radiation electrode serves as an open end on the opposite end-face. A power-supplying electrode is formed through a dielectric gap disposed around the open end on the opposite end-face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazunari Kawahata, Kazuhisa Yamaki
  • Patent number: 5854607
    Abstract: Electrical apparatus comprises a number of modules (4) supplied with eletrical power by ducts (6) which convey cooling fluid between adjacent modules (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: GEC-Marconi Avionics (Holdings) Limited
    Inventor: Anthony Miles Kinghorn
  • Patent number: 5847681
    Abstract: A communication and tracking antenna is formed by embedding a tracking patch array in a shaped dual gridded reflector. The reflector includes first and second reflector grids that have orthogonally arranged grid lines and are respectively fed by feed horns. The patch array is positioned so that the first reflector grid is between the patch array and the first feed horn. The first reflector grid thus serves as a filter to remove unwanted polarization components and enhance the quality of both the tracking radiation and the radiation that is reflected from the second reflector grid. In other embodiments, a tracking array is positioned adjacent a reflector's perimeter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: William C. Faherty, Steven O. Lane
  • Patent number: 5847682
    Abstract: A top loaded antenna is provided that is composed of a triangular-shaped resonator and a dielectric substrate. The triangular-shaped resonator is located on a first plane with its top connected a vertical rectangular strip and its bottom connected to a microstrip feed line through a smooth tapering strip. There is one grounded strip on both sides of the smooth tapering strip in parallel to the rectangular strip load, where each grounded strip is connected to a grounded metallic plate on a second plane through a plurality of via holes. The present invention utilizes the top loading technique and the smooth tapering technique to create the design of a compact and built-in antenna which will provide a planar antenna structure with broad bandwidth and high radiation efficiency. The inventive antenna has a very even radiation field on the horizontal plane and is thus ideal for the radio transceiver used in mobile communications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Inventor: Shyh-Yeong Ke
  • Patent number: 5844523
    Abstract: Electromagnetic and electrical apparatuses use a laminate structure having a thermoplastic elastomer with variable dielectric loss as a dielectric layer. A conductive layer laminated to the thermoplastic elastomer allow use for applications such as printed circuit boards and slot antennas. Additional conductive and dielectric layers still allow use as a printed circuit board as well as other antenna structures. Some embodiments of the apparatuses disclosed exhibit many desired properties, such as flexibility, conformability and weatherability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Joan V. Brennan, Scott T. Ginkel, Timothy S. Skogland
  • Patent number: 5844524
    Abstract: An antenna is constructed as an "on-board antenna" in the form of conductor tracks on a circuit board. A conductor track on the upper surface of the circuit board is electrically connected to a conductor track on the lower surface thereof through plated-through holes. This increases both the effective antenna surface area and thus the radiation power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Josef Kraiczyk, Johannes Kroitzsch
  • Patent number: 5844529
    Abstract: An enclosed antenna assembly having a non-rigid, floating connection between an aluminum tray and a radome along the length of the assembly. The non-rigid, floating connection along the length of the antenna assembly provides a seal that is not damaged or degraded as a result of thermal expansion and contraction of the dissimilar materials. The tray and radome are joined along their length by a tongue and groove type connection, which allows free movement along the major axis. A top end cap provides the only rigid connection between the tray and the radome. A bottom end cap is fastened only to the radome. The design of the keyway and the top end cap prevent direct water intrusion. The bottom end cap includes weep holes to allow condensation to escape from the interior of the antenna assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Electromagnetic Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Edward Bell, David John Kiesling, Scott Allen Swanburg
  • Patent number: 5841401
    Abstract: An antenna includes a substrate having a first surface with a ground plane disposed thereover and having a second surface with a first plurality of strip conductors disposed along a first longitudinal axis thereof. A feed circuit has a first port coupled to an input port of the antenna and a plurality of second ports, each of which is coupled to one of the first plurality of strip conductors. A radome has a first surface disposed over and spaced a predetermined distance from the second surface of the substrate. A second plurality of strip conductors are disposed on the first surface of the radome above corresponding ones of the first plurality of strip conductors on the second surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Martin R. Bodley, Michael G. Sarcione, Fernando Beltran, Haywood Hartwell
  • Patent number: 5838284
    Abstract: A phased array design in the shape of a logarithmic spiral. By distributing the elements of the array along a logarithmic spiral-shaped curve, spatial regularities are avoided and the array is therefore able to function over a wide frequency range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Robert P. Dougherty
  • Patent number: 5838280
    Abstract: In a microstrip type antenna used in a radio transceiver, the microstrip type antenna comprises a push-button switch which has a locked state of a first height and an unlocked state of a second height being taller than the first height. The locked state and the unlocked state are changed alternately whenever the push-button switch is pushed down. A dielectric plate is connected to the push-button switch and has first and second surfaces which are parallel to each other. A plane antenna element has a principal part which is located in parallel with the dielectric plate and a supporting part which is connected to the first surface and which is contiguous to the principal part to support the principal part. A ground plate is located in parallel with the dielectric plate with a space interval which left between the second surface and the ground plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Toshikazu Miyashita
  • Patent number: 5838282
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an antenna system which is capable of multiband operation from a single antenna aperture. The system provides a high degree of design freedom for achieving desired antenna pattern shapes for all relevant frequency bands. The system achieves this pattern shaping ability by utilizing a unique array configuration which is highly adaptable. The array configuration may include a center array element for each of the relevant frequency bands. In one embodiment of the present invention, a dual frequency band antenna is provided which includes a stacked patch element as the center element in a first frequency band and a crossed dipole element, mounted on top of the stacked patch, as the center element in the second frequency band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Farzin Lalezari, J. Mark Rogers, Ajay I. Sreenivas
  • Patent number: 5838285
    Abstract: A wide beamwidth antenna system (100) having a number of monopole antenna elements (102-108) disposed on at least one surface (111,113) of a single, flexible dielectric substrate (101), a number of antenna feed members (110-116), disposed on the first surface (111) of the dielectric substrate (101), each antenna feed member (110-116) being respectively coupled to one of the monopole antenna elements (102-108), a system feed member (118), disposed on the first surface (111) of the dielectric substrate (101), a first power splitter (120), disposed on the first surface (111) of the dielectric substrate (101) and coupled between the system feed member (118) and the first one of the monopole antennae (102) and a first phase shifter (130), disposed on the first surface (111) of the dielectric substrate (101) and coupled between the first (102) and the second (104) monopole antennae. A ground plane (140) is disposed on a portion of the second surface (113) of the dielectric substrate (101).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger Yew-Siow Tay, Oscar M. Garay, Quirino Balzano
  • Patent number: 5835063
    Abstract: An antenna for the transmission and/or reception of microwave signals comprises a substrate plate, at least one feeder line located on a first face of the substrate plate and a conductive deposit located on a second face of the substrate plate. The conductive deposit defines a main surface forming a ground plane for the feeder line and at least one radiating finger. The radiating finger has a first end connected to the main surface and a free end extending at least partially along one side of the main surface to form a longitudinal space between the radiating finger and the main surface. The longitudinal space forms a coupling slot for the antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: France Telecom
    Inventors: Patrice Brachat, Christian Sabatier, Roger Behe
  • Patent number: 5835062
    Abstract: A flat panel-configured electronically steered phased array antenna includes a planar distribution of densely nested microstrip dipole sub-arrays, arranged and controlled in a manner similar to microstrip `reflect-array` antenna elements. The resultant phase of a circularly polarized wave for a reflect-array fan-out distribution of dipole antenna elements is controlled by an associated plurality of triode-configured field emission devices. Each dipole element sub-array is plated to a resistive sub-layer on an interior surface of a flat first millimeter wave transmissive panel member of an evacuated flat panel type support structure. Mounted to a similar resistive layer on the interior surface of a second, flat panel member is a microstrip conductive layer partially overlapped around its periphery by respective fan-configured microstrip dipole antenna elements plated on the first panel member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas E. Heckaman, David B. Kanaly
  • Patent number: 5831577
    Abstract: A GPS/radio antenna for receiving a GPS satellite signal and a DGPS radio signal. The GPS/radio antenna includes a GPS antenna using a microstrip antenna element for receiving the GPS signal having GPS location determination information, a radio antenna for receiving a DGPS radio signal in the FM broadcast frequency range having DGPS corrections, an enclosure, and a cable. The GPS/radio antenna may be included in a GPS/DGPS receiver system also including a receiver unit with an FM DGPS receiver for demodulating the DGPS radio signal and providing DGPS corrections, and a differential-ready GPS receiver for providing a differentially-corrected GPS location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Mark E. Nichols, Eric B. Rodal
  • Patent number: 5832389
    Abstract: A base station for communicating with at least one mobile station in a cellular communications system includes a plurality of receive antennas wherein each receive antenna is oriented to define a respective receive coverage area. The antennas are supported by a support structure so that a first receive antenna defines a first receive coverage area and a second receive antenna defines a second receive coverage area overlapping a portion of the first receive coverage area. First and second wideband receivers are operatively connected to respective first and second antennas. The first wideband receiver receives a first plurality of receive channels from the first receive coverage area, and the second wideband receiver receives a second plurality of receive channels from the second receive coverage area. The first and second pluralities of receive channels include at least one common receive channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Ericsson Inc.
    Inventor: Paul W. Dent
  • Patent number: 5831581
    Abstract: A dual band monopulse radar antenna has a planar configuration and is divided into four quadrants. The antenna includes a circular plate with an array of slots formed in each quadrant. The slots are configured for operation at a first frequency, such as X-band. Four respective slot waveguide feeds are provided, one for each array of slots in each quadrant. A dielectric layer, such as Teflon, is mounted on the surface of the plate. Each quadrant of the antenna is provided with an array of microwave patch elements comprising a plurality of rows of patch elements fed by a microstrip line. Each array of microwave patch elements is fed by a waveguide. The antenna has eight waveguide couplers, two for each quadrant of the antenna with one waveguide feed in each quadrant for the slot array and one waveguide coupler in each array for the microwave patch element array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Vought Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Shaun M. Keough
  • Patent number: 5831578
    Abstract: A microwave antenna element comprising a ground plane printed on an insulating substrate and an antenna plate having at least one antenna outlet. The ground plane and the antenna plate are separated by a dielectric, wherein the dielectric separating the plate from the ground plane is air. The antenna plate is constituted by a conductive plate of a shape adapted to the polarization of the transmission microwave vector. The antenna plate has at least two legs formed by stamping and folding which serve to support the plate on the substrate. Each leg passes through a respective orifice in the substrate, at least one of the legs serves not only for support purposes, but also constitutes an antenna outlet. There is a gap in the ground plane surrounding the orifice via which each leg of the antenna outlet passes through the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Compagnie Generale D'Automatisme CGA-HBS
    Inventor: Jean-Patrick Lefevre
  • Patent number: 5829121
    Abstract: Single and multiple radiator element planar array antennas and a method of making are disclosed. A styrofoam dielectric substrate, a die cut conductive first layer, preferably copper foil, secured to one surface and a conductive second layer, preferably aluminum foil, on the other surface forms the ground plane. A cutting die of cutting blades in a required array on a cutting press is used to cut through the conductive layer and into the dielectric layer in a sandwich of the two to provide inexpensive, durable and dimensionally stable antennas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Antennas America, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin O. Shoemaker, Randall P. Marx
  • Patent number: 5828345
    Abstract: A dual notch radiating antenna includes a pair of notch cavities having respective slow wave structures extending into the notch cavities. The slow wave structures effectively shorten the length of the dual notch antenna. The dual notch antenna also includes a pair of front end impedance transformers respectively coupled to open ends of the notch cavities. A passageway is coupled between the impedance transformers near the open ends of the corresponding notch cavities. The passageway provides an alternative shorter path for leakage current from one notch cavity to the other notch cavity, thus greatly reducing the likelihood of an effective short circuit occurring at a signal supply port of the dual notch antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy Waterman, John Vezmar, James Yon
  • Patent number: 5828340
    Abstract: A wideband antenna has a planar conductive tab, a planar ground plane and transmission line. The conductive tab is sub-wavelength in all dimensions and has a top edge that is wider than its bottom end. The width of the conductive tab tapers from the top edge to the bottom end. The ground plane is parallel with and located below the conductive tab. The wideband antenna of the present invention, called a tab monopole, is planar in form enabling it to be readily manufactured using standard printed circuit board methods and facilitating its integration with packages and radio frequency circuitry used to feed the antenna. Operational bandwidths in excess of 40% were realized by this wideband, sub-wavelength antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Inventor: J. Michael Johnson
  • Patent number: 5828339
    Abstract: An integrated directional antenna includes a radome, a resonant cavity within the radome, a microstrip radiator and a patch re-radiator positioned within the resonant cavity to provide a directed or focused beam. A first radiator can be provided for signal transmission and a second radiator for signal reception. A chassis member is located within the radome and defines the resonant cavity/ies and a rear cavity for electronic components. A rear cover can incorporate an integral heat sink for dissipating heat from electronic components within the rear cavity. An antenna mounting bracket has first and second spaced mounting points to allow a large range of mounting angles with a compact construction. The chassis member, the radio transmission and/or receiving elements and the electronic circuit elements can be sandwiched together in a desired configuration by fixing the rear cover to the radome. The antenna finds particular application in the field of radio telephony systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: DSC Communications Corporation
    Inventor: Mineshkumar R. Patel
  • Patent number: 5825334
    Abstract: An antenna (20) including a continuous planar conductor (22) in a coaxial connector. The planar conductor (22) is made by stamping an array of slots (30) in a continuous sheet of metal with ends of adjacent slots (30) being offset from each other in an alternating pattern of long and short slot portions (32, 36) on each side of a centerline of the array; at least filling each slot (30) with a dielectric material (50), thereby defining a slot filled strip; and cutting along each side of the slot-filled strip intersecting each filled long slot portion (32) at a sufficient distance from the ends of adjacent ones of the filled short slot portions (36) to define a strap (42) of metal connecting the metal strips on each side of each slot (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Daniel Gherardini, Scott Keith Mickievicz, Richard Nicholas Whyne, John Anthony Woratyla
  • Patent number: 5825329
    Abstract: The invention provides a microstrip patch antenna for emitting backscatter-modulated signals in response to a received signal. The antenna has two segments that are connected together by a switch. When the switch is ON, the antenna is a full wave length antenna with its two segments out-of-phase with each other, thus producing minimal backscatter. When the switch is OFF, the two segments of the antenna act in concert with each other to produce a backscatter-modulated signal. Multiple pairs of such antennas can be connected together to make a single antenna with increased signal power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Amtech Corporation
    Inventors: Richard L. Veghte, Curtis L. Carrender
  • Patent number: 5821902
    Abstract: A folded dipole microstrip antenna is disclosed herein. The microstrip antenna includes a dielectric substrate for defining a first mounting surface and a second mounting surface substantially parallel thereto. A folded dipole radiative element is mounted on the second mounting surface. The microstrip antenna further includes a microstrip feed line, mounted on the first surface, for exciting the radiative element in response to an excitation signal. In a preferred implementation of the microstrip antenna an excitation signal is applied to the microstrip feed line through a coaxial cable. In such a preferred implementation the folded dipole radiative element includes a continuous dipole arm arranged parallel to first and second dipole arm segments separated by an excitation gap. The feed element is mounted in alignment with the excitation gap and is electrically connected to the continuous dipole arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Inmarsat
    Inventor: Keith M. Keen
  • Patent number: 5821903
    Abstract: In a transceiver for a WLAN having a two-part folding housing of electrically insulating material, one part having a shielded compartment for the radio circuitry, there is provided a two-part strip-conductor antenna conforming with the outer surface of the one part of the housing, the radio compartment shielding forming a ground plane for this antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Plessey Semiconductors Limited
    Inventor: David Anthony Williams
  • Patent number: 5818391
    Abstract: A microstrip antenna has two dielectric layers bonded together with an array of conducting strips interposed therebetween, the strips being spaced to define a slot between each pair of adjacent strips. A conductive ground plane is disposed on a first outer side of the two bonded dielectric layers, and an array of radiating patches are disposed on a second outer side of the two bonded dielectric layers, each of which patches is positioned over a corresponding slot, the array of patches being spaced apart to form an aperture between each pair of adjacent patches. Responsive to electromagnetic energy, a high-order standing wave is induced in the antenna and a directed beam is transmitted from and/or received into the antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Southern Methodist University
    Inventor: Choon Sae Lee