# US 10,374,315 B2 · Broadband multiple layer dielectric resonator antenna and method of making the same

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- Number: US 10,374,315 B2
- Document ID: US10374315B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/334,669
- Filed: 2016-10-26
- Published: 2017-05-04
- Granted: 2019-08-06
- Earliest claimed: 2015-10-28
- Assignees: Rogers Corporation
- Applicants: Rogers Corporation
- Inventors: Kristi Pance; Karl Sprentall; Shawn P. Williams
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10374315B2

## CPC

- H01Q 9/0485: {Dielectric resonator antennas}
- B29C 64/10: Processes of additive manufacturing
- B29C 64/112: using individual droplets, e.g. from jetting heads
- B29C 64/118: using filamentary material being melted, e.g. fused deposition modelling [FDM]
- B29C 64/147: using sheet material, e.g. laminated object manufacturing [LOM] or laminating sheet material precut to local cross sections of the 3D object
- B29C 64/153: using layers of powder being selectively joined, e.g. by selective laser sintering or melting
- H01Q 1/36: Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; {Particular materials used therewith}(H01Q1/08, H01Q1/14 take precedence)
- H01Q 1/38: formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support {(patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142)}
- H01Q 1/40: Radiating elements coated with or embedded in protective material
- H01Q 1/422: {comprising two or more layers of dielectric material (H01Q1/425 takes precedence)}
- H01Q 1/48: Earthing means; Earth screens; Counterpoises
- H01Q 5/364: Creating multiple current paths
- H01Q 5/50: Feeding or matching arrangements for broad-band or multi-band operation
- H01Q 9/0457: {electromagnetically coupled to the feed line}
- H01Q 21/30: Combinations of separate antenna units operating in different wavebands and connected to a common feeder system
- B33Y 10/00: Processes of additive manufacturing
- H01Q 1/523: {between antennas of an array}
- H01Q 9/0492: {circularly polarised}
- H01Q 21/061: {Two dimensional planar arrays}
- H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72)
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- B33Y: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING

## Abstract

A dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) includes: an electrically conductive ground structure; a plurality of volumes of dielectric materials disposed on the ground structure comprising N volumes, N being an integer equal to or greater than 3, disposed to form successive and sequential layered volumes V(i), i being an integer from 1 to N, wherein volume V(1) forms an innermost volume, wherein a successive volume V(i+1) forms a layered shell disposed over and at least partially embedding volume V(i), wherein volume V(N) at least partially embeds all volumes V(1) to V(N−1); and a signal feed disposed and structured to be electromagnetically coupled to one or more of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A dielectric resonator antenna (DRA), comprising:
an electrically conductive ground structure;
a plurality of volumes of dielectric materials disposed on the ground structure comprising N volumes, N being an integer equal to or greater than 3, disposed to form successive and sequential layered volumes V(i), i being an integer from 1 to N, wherein volume V(1) forms an innermost volume, wherein a successive volume V(i+1) forms a layered shell disposed over and at least partially embedding volume V(i), wherein volume V(N) at least partially embeds all volumes V(1) to V(N−1);
a signal feed disposed and structured to be electromagnetically coupled to one or more of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials; and
an electrically conductive fence disposed circumferentially around the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials, and electrically connected with and forming part of the ground structure.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The DRA of claim 1, wherein each successive volume V(i+1) forms a layered shell disposed over and completely 100% embedding volume V(i).

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The DRA according to claim 1, wherein volume V(N) completely 100% embeds all volumes V(1) to V(N−1).

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The DRA according to claim 1, wherein the signal feed is disposed within an opening of the ground structure in non-electrical contact with the ground structure, and is disposed within one of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The DRA of claim 1, wherein:
the signal feed is disposed within and electromagnetically coupled to the first volume V(1) of dielectric material; and
each volume of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials has a central longitudinal axis that is parallel to and centrally disposed relative to a longitudinal axis of the signal feed, the longitudinal axis of the signal feed being perpendicular to the ground structure.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The DRA of claim 5, wherein:
each volume of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials has a cylindrical shaped cross section axially centered on each other and axially centered on the signal feed.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The DRA of claim 5, wherein:
each volume of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials has an elliptical shaped cross section axially centered on each other and axially centered on the signal feed.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The DRA of claim 5, wherein:
the each volume of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials and the embedded signal feed form an arch, each arched volume of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials having both ends of the respective arched volume disposed on the ground structure.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The DRA of claim 1, wherein:
the signal feed is disposed within and electromagnetically coupled to one of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials that is other than the first volume V(1) of dielectric material.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The DRA of claim 9, wherein:
each volume of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials has a central longitudinal axis that is parallel to and centrally disposed relative to each other, each central longitudinal axis being perpendicular to the ground structure.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The DRA of claim 9, wherein:
each volume of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials has a central longitudinal axis that is parallel to and sideways shifted in a same sideways direction relative to each other, each central longitudinal axis being perpendicular to the ground structure.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The DRA of claim 11, wherein:
each volume of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials has a cylindrical shape.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The DRA of claim 11, wherein:
each volume of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials has an elliptical shape.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The DRA of claim 11, wherein:
each volume of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials has an elongated dome shape oriented lengthwise to its respective central longitudinal axis; and
further comprising an electrically conductive fence disposed circumferentially around the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials, and electrically connected with and forming part of the ground structure.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The DRA of claim 14, wherein:
the first volume V(1) of dielectric material is centrally disposed relative to a center of the circumference of the electrically conductive fence.

### Claim 16 (depends on 9)

The DRA of claim 9, further comprising:
a container disposed on the ground structure comprising a material having a dielectric constant between 1 and 3;
wherein the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials are embedded within the container;
wherein each volume of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials has a central longitudinal axis that is parallel to and centrally disposed relative to each other, and the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials is centrally shifted in a sideways direction relative to a central longitudinal axis of the container, each central longitudinal axis being perpendicular to the ground structure.

### Claim 17 (depends on 9)

The DRA of claim 9, further comprising:
a container disposed on the ground structure comprising a material having a dielectric constant between 1 and 3;
wherein the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials are embedded within the container;
wherein each volume of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials has a central longitudinal axis that is centrally disposed relative to each other, and relative to a longitudinal axis of the container, each longitudinal axis being perpendicular to the ground structure;
wherein the outer volume V(N) of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials has an asymmetrical shape.

### Claim 18 (depends on 9)

The DRA of claim 9, wherein:
the signal feed is disposed within and electromagnetically coupled to the second volume V(2) of dielectric material.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The DRA of claim 1, wherein:
directly adjacent volumes of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials have different dielectric constant values that range from a first relative minimum value at volume V(1) to a relative maximum value at one of volumes V(2) to V(N−1), back to a second relative minimum value at volume V(N).

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The DRA of claim 19, wherein the first relative minimum value is equal to the second relative minimum value.

### Claim 21 (depends on 1)

The DRA of claim 1, wherein:
directly adjacent volumes of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials have different dielectric constant values that range from a first relative minimum value at volume V(1) to a relative maximum value at V((N+1)/2), where N is an odd integer, back to a second relative minimum value at V(N).

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The DRA of claim 21, wherein the first relative minimum value is equal to the second relative minimum value.

### Claim 23 (depends on 1)

The DRA of claim 1, wherein:
the signal feed is disposed within and electromagnetically coupled to the first volume V(1) of dielectric material;
each volume of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials has an hemispherical shape; and
further comprising a container disposed on the ground structure comprising a material having a dielectric constant between 1 and 3, the container having an hemispherical shape;
wherein the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials is embedded within the container;
wherein each volume of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials has a zenith axis that is centrally disposed relative to each other, and the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials are centrally shifted in a sideways direction relative to a zenith axis of the container; and
wherein the signal feed is arched within the first volume V(1) of dielectric material and enters the first volume V(1) off center from the zenith axis of the first volume V(1).

### Claim 24 (depends on 1)

The DRA of claim 1, wherein:
each volume of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials is in direct intimate contact with adjacent ones of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials.

### Claim 25 (depends on 1)

The DRA of claim 1, wherein:
the signal feed comprises a copper wire, a coaxial cable, a microstrip, a waveguide, a surface integrated waveguide, or a conductive ink.

### Claim 26 (depends on 1)

The DRA of claim 1, wherein:
N is equal to 5.

### Claim 27 (depends on 1)

A DRA array, comprising:
a plurality of DRAs according to claim 1 arranged in an x by y array pattern, where x and y are integers.

### Claim 28 (depends on 27)

The DRA array of claim 27, wherein:
x is equal to y.

### Claim 29 (depends on 1)

A method for manufacture of the DRA of claim 1, the method comprising molding at least one volume of the plurality of volumes of the dielectric materials, or all of the volumes of the plurality of volumes of dielectric materials.