With Wave Guide Coupling Patents (Class 343/771)
  • Publication number: 20020101385
    Abstract: A slot array antenna includes a feed waveguide plate, a radiating waveguide plate and a slot plate adhered or connected together. The feed waveguide plate is formed with a first feed port and a feed waveguide to which an electromagnetic wave is fed via the feed port. The radiating waveguide plate is formed with second feed ports communicated to the feed waveguide, and radiating waveguides communicated to the second feed ports. The slot plate is formed with slots for radiating electromagnetic waves fed via the radiating waveguides. The first feed port is positioned substantially at the center of the length of the feed waveguide. The slot array antenna allows a polarization direction of the antenna to be freely adjusted while minimizing a wasteful space otherwise allotted to peripheral circuits and is therefore miniaturized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2001
    Publication date: August 1, 2002
    Inventor: Ou Hok Huor
  • Patent number: 6426685
    Abstract: A radiating coaxial radio-frequency cable is specified, that comprises an inner conductor, a dielectric surrounding the latter and a tubular outer conductor disposed above the latter and concentric with the inner conductor. In the outer conductor, mutually separated openings (5) are provided that are disposed in a mutually offset manner in the circumferential direction of the cable and, in the longitudinal direction of the latter, are disposed along surface lines extending mutually in parallel in rows (R1, R2, R3) extending over the entire length of the cable. All the openings (5) extend essentially in the circumferential direction of the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Alcatel
    Inventors: Erhard Mahlandt, Mark Davies
  • Patent number: 6396440
    Abstract: A phased array antenna apparatus includes a plurality of radiation elements, a power supply unit, a power distributor, a feed probe, a plurality of electromagnetic coupling units, and a plurality of phase shifters. The radiation elements are aligned and arranged to be electromagnetically driven. The power supply units supply power to the radiation elements. The power distributor has a pair of conductive plates arranged to be parallel to each other and acts as a radial waveguide distributing the power supplied from the power supply unit to the radiation elements. The feed probe is arranged on one of the conductive plates to radiate an electromagnetic wave into the radial waveguide in accordance with the power supplied from the power supply unit. The electromagnetic coupling units are arranged on the other conductive plate in correspondence with the radiation elements to extract the electromagnetic wave radiated from the feed probe and propagating through the radial waveguide by electromagnetic coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Shuguang Chen
  • Patent number: 6396452
    Abstract: This invention relates to improvements in slotted cable antenna structures. This slotted cable antenna is built on a length of standard semi-rigid rf transmission line having a number of slots (gaps) cut in its outer conductor. Associated with each slot is a shunt conductor, the length of which is adjusted to control the amount of rf energy which escapes through that slot. Between each slot, the semi-rigid line is bend into a meander (loop) to introduce controlled delay in the radiated rf energy from the following slot. The meander is by-passed with a solder connection to maintain continuity of antenna current with the chosen physical slot spacing, typically half-wavelength, approximately. An embodiment of this invention is useful as an element in frangible antenna arrays such as employed in UHF glide slope stations of the Instrument Landing System (ILS).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Watts Antenna Co
    Inventor: Chester B. Watts, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6388632
    Abstract: A slot antenna includes an antenna guide formed with a recess, a dielectric member received in the recess, a slot plate held in contact with the dielectric member; and a waveguide connected to the antenna guide for introduction of microwaves. The slot plate is uniformly supported by the dielectric member. Alternatively, the slot plate is provided with an expansion absorbing region, so that the slot plate is displaceable relative to the dielectric member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigehiro Murakawa, Kenji Tanaka, Takahiro Arakawa
  • Patent number: 6377217
    Abstract: A phased array antenna includes a plurality of radiating elements, a feed line assembly, a ground plane positioned between the plurality of radiating elements and the feed line assembly, with the ground plane having a plurality of openings positioned between the plurality of radiating elements and the feed line assembly, and a plurality of voltage tunable dielectric phase shifters coupled to the feed line assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Paratek Microwave, Inc.
    Inventors: Yongfei Zhu, Louise C. Sengupta, Andrey Kozyrev, Xubai Zhang
  • Patent number: 6359590
    Abstract: An antenna feeder line of the invention comprises a dielectric substrate, a first main conductor layer, a second main conductor layer, through conductor groups in two rows and sub conductor layers, which form a dielectric waveguide line, wherein a slot is provided in the first main conductor layer of the dielectric waveguide line, high-frequency signals are fed to an antenna device disposed above the slot, and a grounding conductor comprising a conducting bar and/or a conductor layer, for electrically connecting the first and second surfaces constituting H surfaces is disposed in a position which is perpendicular to a signal transmission direction and at a distance substantially not more than ½ the distance between E surfaces from side surfaces constituting the E surfaces, in a transmission area within a distance substantially the same as the signal wavelength from the slot to the input side or the side opposite thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventor: Takeshi Takenoshita
  • Patent number: 6351244
    Abstract: The invention provides an arrangement for use in an antenna array for transmitting and receiving at at least one frequency in at least two polarizations, comprising at least two antenna elements (210-208), where each antenna element is intended for one of the two polarizations, the antenna elements being arranged on a feeding structure (100, 320, 420) which conducts electrical signals to and from the antenna elements (201-208). The invention is characterized in that the feeding structure (100, 320, 420) comprises a number of waveguides (101) dimensioned for the said at least one frequency, in that the different waveguides are used for feeding the antenna elements (201-208) intended for different polarization, and in that the waveguides (101) are completely or partially filled with a material, the dielectric constant of which is higher than that of air, whereby an antenna array with small or negligible grating lobes can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Göran Snygg, Sune Johansson, Bengt Svensson
  • Patent number: 6344831
    Abstract: This invention relates to improvements in slotted cable runway localizer antennas for the Instrument Landing System (ILS). The antenna radiates simultaneous sum and difference patterns carrying standard ILS reference (CSB) and deflection (SBO) components of the transmitted signal. The signal components from an ILS transmitter are supplied through an rf bridge (hybrid) to both ends of the slotted cable structure. Optional isolators inserted in the coaxial feed lines improve the impedance presented to the transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: Watts Antenna Co.
    Inventor: Chester B. Watts, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20020003502
    Abstract: An antenna for simultaneous microwave transmission and reception is disclosed. The antenna comprises an array of wave-guides (10, 16) arranged side-by-side. In a typical embodiment of the array the wave-guides are rectangular wave-guides comprising a symmetrically or un-symmetrically placed ridge (8) and forming an array of vertical or horizontal columns. Opposite to the ridge at a second wall of the rectangular wave-guide slots (20, 21, 27, 28) are provided in the front wall, each aperture wave-guide being made narrow-band tuned for a respective transmitting or a receiving frequency in order to achieve a low coupling between transmitting and receiving to facilitate simultaneous transmission and reception at equal polarisation. Furthermore parallel to the array of slotted wave-guides a wave-guide filter (30, 35) may be arranged at each side forming a respective transmitting signal filter and a receiving signal filter to form a compact single aperture transmit/receive microwave antenna unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Publication date: January 10, 2002
    Inventor: Kent Olof Falk
  • Patent number: 6320555
    Abstract: A slotted coaxial antenna design that accomplishes four-way branch feeding without the use of feedlines, is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the antenna design is based on a number of layered coaxial feeds where each layer feeds the next outer layer. The internally branch fed slotted coaxial antenna design produces substantially no beam sway over at least four television channels, can accommodate pressurizing for increased power handling, and provides desirable antenna output response performance suitable for digital TV transmission and NTSC antenna systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: General Signal Corporation
    Inventor: John L. Schadler
  • Patent number: 6313807
    Abstract: An array antenna includes a patch arrayed on a metal backing plate and a plurality of inputs connected to the patch so as to radiate and receive an electromagnetic wave via the patch. The array antenna includes a transmitting/receiving circuit for feeding or receiving signals at a specific frequency to or from the array antenna. A waveguide divided into sections is provided to feed the electromagnetic wave to the radiating antenna. Each waveguide section produces a specific phase difference along the array antenna which accumulates and causes the electromagnetic wave to focus at a particular angle. Each waveguide section therefore produces a wave focused at a different angle, allowing the antenna to generate a plurality of focused waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Frank Stan Kolak
  • Patent number: 6304228
    Abstract: A communication system and antenna system for use on a satellite. The communication system includes a transmitter and/or a receiver that are respectively coupled to the antenna system. The antenna system includes a plurality of stepped slot waveguides that each have a plurality of slots disposed in a broadwall thereof that form an array of slots. Adjacent slots of each waveguide are offset from a centerline of the respective waveguide and are spaced at half guide wavelength intervals, and selected slots are thus located at a different axial positions relative to other slots in the array. A feed waveguide having in input/output port is provided that couples RF energy between the plurality of stepped slot waveguides and the communication system. The stepped waveguide slot array antenna system provides phase control of the beam pattern produced thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Space Systems/Loral, Inc.
    Inventors: Terry M. Smith, George Hardie, Juan Duarte
  • Publication number: 20010028329
    Abstract: An antenna element (30, 31, 32), comprising a wave-guide (1, 1′) comprising a number of slots (2, 2′, 3, 3′) being pairwise arranged, preferably at 90 degrees to one another and +/−45 degrees to the longitudinal direction of the waveguide has been described. The antenna element is coupled to a feeder (5) for providing a first wave inside the wave-guide (W_a) The antenna element comprises at least one amplitude and phase control unit (APC, 14, 15, 16) for controlling the phase and amplitude of a reflected or separately provided second wave (W_b) in relation to the first wave, the second wave propagating inside the wave-guide in an opposite direction to the first wave (W_a), whereby the polarisation of an emitted or received wave (W′) outside the wave-guide can be controlled. Moreover, a transceiver (33, 34, 35) adapted for controlling the polarisation modes and a method for operating such a transceiver has been described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Inventors: Kent Falk, Ingmar Karlsson
  • Patent number: 6297782
    Abstract: A modular array antenna. The antenna has a plurality of radiating elements fed by a hybrid waveguide/stripline network that includes a waveguide power splitter for coupling power into the stripline network. Components of the array antenna may be substituted for selecting polarization and beamwidth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Gabriel Electronics Incorporated
    Inventors: Peter G. Matthews, David Kokotoff
  • Patent number: 6285335
    Abstract: An antenna structure for the transmission and processing of electromagnetic microwave signals is manufactured by making holes in a number of electrically-conductive plates by a mechanical or chemical process in order to create cut-outs in the form of through holes with electrically-conductive edge surfaces. For each plate, the holes have a defined position and length from one side of each plate to its other side. The plates with the holes are stacked in a defined relative position, and the sides of the plates are fixed to each other at least around the edge surfaces formed. In this way, a number of holes are given electrically-conductively limited surfaces in the form of the edge surfaces and also the parts of the side surfaces of the surrounding plate facing the holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
    Inventors: Göran Snygg, Bengt Svensson, Sune Johansson
  • Patent number: 6285334
    Abstract: A slot antenna is described. The slot antenna includes a waveguide having a first side, a second side, a third side, and a fourth side, a closed end and an open end. The second side extends substantially perpendicularly from a first end of the first side. The third side extends substantially perpendicularly from a second end of the first side. The fourth side extends between the second side and the third side with the fourth side substantially parallel to the first side. The sides and the closed end form a cavity. A feeding point is located substantially midway between the first end of the first side and the second end of the first side. A T-Bar is located inside the cavity, the T-bar having a center member extending from the feeding point into the cavity and a cross member having a length extending across the cavity between the second side and the third side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Inventors: Gordon Sinclair, Po-shin Cheng
  • Patent number: 6278410
    Abstract: The present invention provides a planar antenna having a first, outer planar conductive element and a second planar conductive element located in a hole in the outer element. At least 75% of the boundary between the hole and the first outer planar conductive element is a continuous concave smooth curve. The second planar conductive element is substantially coplanar with and surrounded by the first outer planar conductive element. At least 75% of the outer boundary of the second planar conductive element is a continuously convex smooth curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignees: Interuniversitair Microelektronica Centrum, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven Research & Development
    Inventors: Ezzeldin Soliman, Eric Beyne, Walter De Raedt, Guy Vandenbosch
  • Patent number: 6259415
    Abstract: Low-protrusion array antennas enable reception of satellite signals by airliners in flight. Prior systems using a beam normal to an array face required a 70° array tilt for reception from a satellite at 20° elevation (i.e., tilt angle is complementary angle (90°−&bgr;) of satellite angle (&bgr;) of elevation). Compared to that 70° array tilt for reception from a satellite at 20° elevation, disclosed antennas require an array tilt of only 25° (90°−&bgr;−&agr;=25°). This is accomplished by providing a beam at a fixed acute angle (&agr;) to the array face (e.g. 45 degrees). A side-by-side linear array 16 of slotted waveguide radiator columns 18 provides a pencil beam at a fixed acute angle of 45° to array aperture, for example. By action of tilting motor 42 to mechanically tilt the array of slotted waveguides over a range of ±25° from horizontal, the beam can be scanned from 20° elevation to 70° elevation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: BAE Systems Advanced Systems
    Inventors: Richard J. Kumpfbeck, John F. Pedersen, Joseph T. Merenda
  • Patent number: 6239757
    Abstract: A communication module for a vehicle including an automobile, a vessel or the like, the communication module being disposed on a back side or inside of an identification plate of the means of transportation. The communication module is formed of a millimeter wave integrated circuit section and a plane antenna section. The millimeter wave integrated circuit section has two conductive plates arranged in parallel with each other, and a dielectric stripline and an electric element disposed between the conductive plates. The plane antenna section has two conductive plates arranged in parallel with each other, a dielectric stripline disposed between the conductive plates and a slot made in one of the conductive plates. At least a respective one of the conductive plates of the millimeter wave integrated circuit section and a respective one of the conductive plates of the plane antenna section are integrated in a plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Youhei Ishikawa, Toru Tanizaki
  • Patent number: 6215444
    Abstract: For an array antenna, comprising at least one array of multiple aerials, having several planar microwave resonators in strip transmission line technique, a structure is suggested for which the coupling to a feed line occurs via a window in the rear metal-coating that is completely covered by a resonator. The additional resonators in the array of multiple aerials are connected via connecting lines to the first-named resonator. The array antenna preferably comprises a larger number of arrays of multiple aerials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventor: Christian Engeln
  • Patent number: 6201507
    Abstract: A radiator (10) comprising one or more centered longitudinal shunt slots (12) disposed in a rectangular waveguide (11) that are fed by corresponding offset ridge resonant irises (14). The offset ridge resonant irises that are centered on each respective slot. When multiple slots and offset ridge resonant irises are employed, adjacent irises are oriented opposite to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Pyong K. Park, Sang H. Kim
  • Patent number: 6198453
    Abstract: A waveguide antenna apparatus which allows accurate and independent control of RF amplitude and phase characteristics while maintaining small, narrow dimensions and a constant external cross-sectional shape. The waveguide antenna apparatus comprises a waveguide section having first and second opposing broad faces, with the first broad face having a continuous curvilinear slot therein, and the second broad face having a continuous ridge thereon. The ridge may vary in width along the length of the waveguide and may also vary in height. The waveguide section generally includes first and second narrow faces. The slot in the first broad face is generally positioned off-center with respect to the waveguide section and is elongated, curvilinear or meandering in shape. Conventional feed and load may be coupled to the waveguide antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Richard Chew
  • Patent number: 6181291
    Abstract: A compact high-performance antenna. The antenna includes a waveguide (16) for providing or receiving electromagnetic energy. A feed circuit (18, 106, 108, 110) provides or receives the electromagnetic energy to or from the waveguide (16). A radiating circuit (112, 114) provides or receives the electromagnetic energy to or from the feed circuit (18). One or more notches (120) in the feed circuit (108, 110) compensate for insertion phase errors in the electromagnetic energy. One or more tabs (18) in the radiating circuit (112, 114) compensate for radiation phase errors in the electromagnetic energy. In a specific embodiment, the antenna is a dipole antenna and includes an array of dipole cards. The radiating circuit (112, 114) includes first (112) and second (114) radiating circuits included in each of the dipole cards (14). The first (112) and second (114) radiating circuits include a plurality of quarter-wave stripline transformers (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Joseph M. Anderson, Pyong K Park
  • Patent number: 6175337
    Abstract: A high-gain, dielectric loaded, slotted waveguide antenna having a photonic bandgap, a high-impedance electromagnetic structure, in contact with the waveguide surface containing longitudinal slots, and a tailored dielectric material structure in contact with the outer surface of the photonic bandgap structure. The tailored dielectric structure at the inner most surface has the same effective dielectric constant of the waveguide material and the photonic bandgap structure. The effective dielectric constant is then incrementally or continuously reduced to have a dielectric constant close to that of the free-space value at the outer surface further distance from the waveguide array. The tailoring of the effective dielectric constant is achieved by layering a given number of slabs of different dielectric constants with sequentially reduced values, or by varying the chemical composition of the material, or by varying the density of the material imbedded with high dielectric constant particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Louis J. Jasper, Jr., Joseph R. Miletta, George Merkel
  • Patent number: 6166701
    Abstract: Disclosed is a common aperture dual polarization antenna array (30). This common aperture dual polarization antenna array (30) includes an antenna aperture (36) and a plurality of centered slot arrays (32) positioned within the antenna aperture (36). A plurality of notch dipole arrays (34) are positioned within the antenna aperture (36) and positioned substantially orthogonal to the plurality of centered slot arrays (32). A first feed guide (46) is coupled to the plurality of centered slot arrays (32) and a second feed guide (56) is coupled to the plurality of notch dipole arrays (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Pyong K. Park, Steven E. Bradshaw, Steven W. Bartley, Joseph M. Anderson, Sang H. Kim, David Y. Kim
  • Patent number: 6154181
    Abstract: A device includes a waveguide for the transmission/reception of microwave signals. The waveguide is coupled to a microstrip reception circuit as well as to a microstrip transmission circuit. The waveguide includes a filter arrangement which attenuates the microwave signals transmitted from the transmission circuit in order to prevent undesirable interference to the reception circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing S.A.
    Inventors: Chaoying Hu-Guo, Patrice Hirtzlin, Gerard Haquet, David Harrison
  • Patent number: 6150989
    Abstract: A cavity-backed slot antenna constituted by a housing constructed of conductive material. The housing forms a cavity. An elongated primary slot of a given length is formed in one of the walls of the housing. A secondary slot of a given length is formed in an adjacent wall. Diodes are secured across the primary slot at a pre-determined location. An r.f. transmission line is electrically coupled to the conductive sheet across side edges of said primary slot for transmitting and receiving r.f. signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Sky Eye Railway Services International Inc.
    Inventor: Yvon C. Aubry
  • Patent number: 6150988
    Abstract: A slot antenna is described. The slot antenna includes waveguide having a first side, a second side, a third side, and a fourth side, a closed end and an open end. The second side extends substantially perpendicularly from a first end of the first side. The third side extends substantially perpendicularly from a second end of the first side. The fourth side extends between the second side and the third side with the fourth side substantially parallel to the first side. The sides and the closed end form a cavity. A feeding point is located substantially midway between the first end of the first side and the second end of the first side. A T-Bar is located inside the cavity, the T-bar having a center member extending from the feeding point into the cavity and a cross member having a length extending across the cavity between the second side and the third side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: TCI International, Inc.
    Inventors: Gordon Sinclair, Po-shin Cheng
  • Patent number: 6133877
    Abstract: A device for microstrip distribution networks and for group antennas for the suppression of unwanted modes on the distribution network side of a microstrip distribution network. This thereby avoids, among other things, unwanted coupling between antenna elements connected to the microstrip distribution network. A waveguide substructure in principle designed as a U of extruded aluminium, is connected to the microstrip distribution network along two connection lines with at least two electrically-conductive connections to the ground plane of the microstrip distribution network along each connection line. Together with at least part of the ground plane, the waveguide substructure forms a waveguide structure. The waveguide structure is dimensioned so that it has a cut-off frequency that is higher than the highest frequency that is used in the microstrip distribution network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
    Inventors: Jonas Sandstedt, Bjorn Johannisson, Goran Snygg
  • Patent number: 6127985
    Abstract: A waveguide-implemented antenna comprising a planar array of waveguide slot radiators for communicating electromagnetic signals exhibiting simultaneous dual polarization states. The antenna can consist of parallel ridged waveguides having rectangular or "T"-shaped ridged cross sections. The ridged walls of each parallel ridged waveguide contain a linear array of input slots for receiving (transmitting) electromagnetic signals having a first polarization state from (to) the parallel ridged waveguides and for transmitting (receiving) those signals into (from) a corresponding array of cavity sections. The cavity sections comprise a short section of uniform waveguide with a thickness of much less than a wavelength in the propagation direction. The cavity sections feed to output slots which are rotated relative to the input slots; such that the output slots exhibit a second polarization state, which they radiate (receive) to (from) free space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: EMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael G. Guler
  • Patent number: 6124833
    Abstract: A flat radial line slot antenna having a radial waveguide is disclosed. The antenna has a front plate and a rear plate, the front plate having an array of radiating slots and an array of reflection cancelling slots formed in the rear plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: The University of Queensland
    Inventors: Marek Edward Bialkowski, Paul William Davis
  • Patent number: 6115004
    Abstract: An antenna support for a communications tower has three or more vertical steel legs which are joined along their lengths by nonmetallic lattice members. The lattice members include horizontal braces and diagonal nonmetallic wires. At least one digital or analog antenna is mounted to one or more legs of the antenna support. Alternatively, each leg may function as an antenna and contain a number of wave guides. The legs are cylindrical and slots are milled in each leg for enhancing the performance of the wave guides. The total number of slots and their spacing may vary as a function of the frequency and pattern direction of the wave guides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Inventor: Henry J. McGinnis
  • Patent number: 6115002
    Abstract: The invention comprises an array of radiating elements (1) to be used as a module in a phased-array radar antenna, the radiating elements consisting of waveguides of rectangular section. The radiating elements are disposed on a common surface (2), which causes the common surface to constitute a side wall of each radiating element. The radiating elements preferably consist of channel sections (3). This consequently yields a rigid construction, while the array can be realised in only a limited number of manufacturing operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Hollandse Signaalapparaten B.V.
    Inventors: Henk Fischer, Antonius B. M. Klein Breteler
  • Patent number: 6114956
    Abstract: An electronic device including a wave transmitter covering a determined spatial sensing field, and a wave receiver for controlling an automatic device; a radiating antenna including a waveguide having lateral faces and slots arranged on one of the lateral faces, wherein the slots radiate in planes substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the waveguide, and wherein the wave transmitter and the wave receiver are arranged at one end of the waveguide; a matched load arranged at an opposite end of the wave guide; substantially identical reflectors arranged over substantially the whole length of the waveguide, wherein the reflectors extend essentially symmetrically with respect to longitudinal plane of symmetry of the waveguide and making a predetermined angle with one another, and wherein the waveguide and the reflectors are composed of at least one piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Belgian Electronic Research S.A.
    Inventor: Fernand Van Genechten
  • Patent number: 6107964
    Abstract: To simplify designing and fabrication of a shaped beam array antenna for generating a cosecant square beam, slots having the same size are arranged with the same separation on a wall of a wave guide. The slots yield an excitation amplitude distribution wherein the excitation amplitude distribution attenuates exponentially from a feeder side of the wave guide to the terminal side of the wave guide where a terminal dummy is provided. The excitation phase distribution is linear with a slight variation. The first slot nearest to the feeder side is modified to produce an excitation phase difference between the first and the second slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Masashi Hirabe
  • Patent number: 6100853
    Abstract: A low profile, low cost receiver/transmitter system includes a planar waveguide-to-microstrip adapter, a dielectric loaded waveguide fed slot array antenna, and a downconverter all formed on a single dielectric substrate made of polytetrafluoroethylene. The waveguide antenna includes a set of slots disposed in a surface thereof to receive/transmit a microwave/millimeter wave signal. The waveguide-to-stripline adapter is connected to the waveguide antenna and includes a taper section attached to a microstrip line. The taper section, which may be linear or may follow some other more complex taper function such as a Chebyshev function, adapts a signal propagating within the waveguide antenna to the microstrip line or vise versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: James H. Schaffner, Jim C. Williams, Patrick J. Loner
  • Patent number: 6081241
    Abstract: A device for the power transmission of microwaves between a strip-line and a number of parallel cavity waveguides arranged in a group antenna. The strip-line includes H-shaped slots. These slots are centered with respect to a central conductor. Opposite each of the slots, a corresponding slot is arranged through the wall of the cavity waveguide. Electrically conducting seals are arranged to follow immediately outside the contours of the slots. The strip-line is fixedly fastened to the seals and the ridge waveguide, whereby good electrical coupling is achieved. Simultaneously, small cavities are formed between the slots. These cavities have a leveling effect such that the demands on mechanical precision is appreciably lowered, such that the tolerance to placement of the slots opposite to each other is increased substantially as compared to the case of the waveguides directly abutting the strip-line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
    Inventors: Lars Gustaf Josefsson, Mats Gunnar H.ang.kan Eriksson, Lars Bertil Malm, Jan Michael Bergendahl
  • Patent number: 6049311
    Abstract: A scanning antenna (1) has, a first waveguide (2) with parallel metal plates (10, 11), a waveguide feed (19) substantially at a focus (15) of the first waveguide (2), the plates (10, 11) being partially filled therebetween with a biconvex dielectric body (21) emanating a wave of planar phase front, and a planar waveguide bend (4) having a planar profile (13) redirecting an incident wave of planar phase front for propagation in a second waveguide (3) having an array of radiating antenna elements (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventor: Angelos Alexanian
  • Patent number: 6037910
    Abstract: A phased-array antenna, particularly for the radar frequency range, comprising at least a predetermined number of transmit/receive radiator elements arranged linearly and/or matrix-shaped, a power distribution as well as a phase shifter network and a transmit/receive change-over arrangement. The transmit/receive change-over arrangement includes a serial feed comprising a waveguide with coupling in/coupling out locations disposed along its length and to which the phase shifter network, and possibly a further power distribution network, is coupled and also the transmitting/receiving arrangements are coupled. With this arrangement, an otherwise needed transmit/receive switch, for example, a circulator, is not necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Aerospace AG
    Inventors: Klaus Solbach, Tiang-Gwan Liem
  • Patent number: 6037909
    Abstract: The integration of traveling wave tube amplifiers and multiplexers onto passive transmit array antenna panels deployed out board of a spacecraft bus to simultaneously provide a spacecraft transponder that permits antenna pattern flexibility in orbit, high DC to RF power conversion efficiency, facilitates higher spacecraft power and provides a spacecraft with deployed payload panel architecture having multiple independent beams that can be electronically reconfigured on the ground or in orbit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Space Systems/Loral, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan R. Cherrette
  • Patent number: 6034646
    Abstract: In an information transmission device and method for systems using radiating waveguides along which a mobile travels, an unmodulated carrier wave is injected into the radiating waveguide. Some of the energy of the unmodulated carrier wave is sampled locally along the radiating waveguide. A local modulation signal representing information addressed to the mobile modulates the unmodulated carrier wave. The modulated carrier wave is radiated to the mobile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: GEC Alsthom Transport SA
    Inventors: Marc Heddebaut, Jean Rioult, Marion Berbineau, Denis Duhot
  • Patent number: 6031433
    Abstract: A dielectric waveguide which has a pair of dielectric substrates affixed to each other and a pair of electrically-conductive layers on the external surfaces of the two dielectric substrates. Each dielectric substrate has a projecting part that is thicker than other parts. A propagating region is formed where the projecting parts on the two opposing dielectric substrates are put together. Furthermore, a circuit is formed on the contact surface between the dielectric substrates. The circuit may include an electronic component. A part of the circuit is arranged in the propagating region so as to provide electromagnetic-field coupling between the circuit and the dielectric waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Tanizaki, Hiroshi Nishida, Atsushi Saitoh
  • Patent number: 6028562
    Abstract: A waveguide-implemented antenna comprising a planar array of waveguide slot radiators for communicating electromagnetic signals exhibiting simultaneous dual polarization states. The antenna can consist of parallel waveguides of rectangular or ridged cross section. The broadwalls of each parallel waveguide contain a linear array of input slots for receiving (transmitting) electromagnetic signals having a first polarization state from (to) the parallel waveguide and for transmitting (receiving) those signals into (from) an array of cavity sections. The cavity sections comprise a short section of uniform waveguide with a length of much less than a wavelength in the propagation direction. The cavity sections feed to output slots which are rotated relative to the input slots; such that the output slots exhibit a second polarization state, which they radiate (receive) to (from) free space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: EMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael G. Guler, James P. Montgomery
  • Patent number: 6020858
    Abstract: A plate antenna for use with polarized waves, wherein pairs of slots are formed in a parallel-plate waveguide, feeding waveguides supply mutually orthogonal TEM waves, the pairs of slots are arranged in a V-shaped pattern, adjacent slot pairs are arranged in mutually opposite directions, the antenna beam can be tilted by adjusting the space between the pairs of slots, and the pairs of slots can induce electric fields in the same direction for horizontal and vertical TEM waves. It is then possible to transmit and receive a horizontal polarized wave and a vertical polarized wave even when the antenna beam is tilted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Atsushi Sagisaka
  • Patent number: 6011520
    Abstract: A geodesic slotted cylindrical (GSC) antenna having a shaped elevation pattern and a narrow or shaped azimuth beam that can be scanned 360.degree. in the azimuth plane. The azimuth radiation pattern of the GSC antenna can be reconfigured through the use of interchangeable beam forming feed networks. The GSC antenna comprises a parallel plate waveguide formed by spaced-apart inner and outer cylinders constructed from conductive material. Radiation occurs from a stack of circumferential slots in the outer cylinder. By varying the slot spacing with the azimuth angle, the elevation pattern can be altered as a function of the azimuth angle. The GSC antenna can be excited by a number of equally spaced probes on a circle at the base of the cylinders. The feed radius is typically smaller than the outer cylinder's radius to minimize the number of active components and to minimize the number of spurious ray paths that can wrap around inside the cylinder's parallel plate region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: EMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Howell, Thomas E. Sharon
  • Patent number: 6008770
    Abstract: A tapered slot plane antenna apparatus for a millimeter wave radio communication system which provides a tapered pattern composed by utilizing a Fermi-Diac distribution function so as to consider an impedance matching and a directivity of the antenna apparatus. Supporting layers and protection layers may be utilized to provide sufficient strength for implementation in a compact millimeter wave radio communication system. The plane antenna may further prevent a directivity from deteriorating even if distances between end portions of an antenna aperture portion and ends of an antenna are decreased. A slot width of a slot line may be widened in tapering for radiating an electromagnetic wave in a progressive direction of the slot line by a conductor portion having a slot line and a corrugated structure portion at respective end portions located parallel to a radiating direction of the electromagnetic wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Satoru Sugawara
  • Patent number: 6008775
    Abstract: A phased array includes a first plurality of radiators having a first polarization and a second plurality of radiators having a second polarization, different from said first polarization. The phased array is constructed such that radiating patterns of the first and second plurality of radiators are congruent. The radiators are constructed so that they radiating apertures thereof can occupy virtually the same space, i.e., the spacing of the radiating elements is less than a wavelength. Other features provided allow this compactness to be achieved. Impedance matching features are integrated into the radiators themselves. The elevation assemblies of the radiators are mated together, and then are coupled across to their respective azimuth assemblies. Two azimuth assemblies for either type of polarization may be provided when monopulse operation is required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Bobowicz, William B. Yablon, Dennis A. Grube, Norman E. Thurlow, Lawrence J. Hunter, Jose A. Coronado, Jeffrey J. Dickstein, Timothy M. Fertiq, Alex E. Bailey, John Chino, Andrea Curbean, Tapan Gupta, Ronnie L. Starling, Steven N. Stitzer, Herbert J. Henderson, Terry L. Reeve, Robert G. Schmier
  • Patent number: 6008771
    Abstract: An antenna includes a cylindrically shaped dielectric resonator placed on a longitudinally extended axis of an elongated dielectric strip disposed on a planar conductor and another planar conductor having an opening covers the dielectric strip with the opening on the dielectric resonator. There may be another dielectric strip placed perpendicularly to the first dielectric strip such that the dielectric resonator is where the lines longitudinally extended from the axes of both dielectric strips will cross.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuaki Tanaka, Kazunari Kawahata, Youhei Ishikawa, Seiichi Arai
  • Patent number: 5995055
    Abstract: A planar antenna radiating structure comprising an array of continuous transverse stubs having a stepped configuration arranged in a ground plane of a parallel-plate waveguide. Control of the complex reflection coefficient of the aperture of the radiating structure over a range of operating frequencies and scan angles is accomplished using parallel-plate waveguide modes through a choice of stub length(s), stub height(s), inter-stub spacings, parallel-plate separation and the properties of dielectric media used for the parallel-plate waveguide and stubs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: William W. Milroy