# US 10,374,317 B2 · Exponentially tapered slot antenna and assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,374,317 B2 - Document ID: US10374317B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/625,206 - Filed: 2017-06-16 - Published: 2018-12-20 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-06-16 - Assignees: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc. - Applicants: Bae Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc. - Inventors: Christopher K. Cheung; Dean W. Howarth; Michael J. O'Brien - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10374317B2 ## CPC - H01Q 13/085: {Slot-line radiating ends} - 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 1/526: {Electromagnetic shields} - H01Q 3/26: varying the relative phase or relative amplitude of energisation between two or more active radiating elements; varying the distribution of energy across a radiating aperture ({H01Q3/12,} H01Q3/22, H01Q3/24 take precedence) - H01Q 21/20: the units being spaced along or adjacent to a curvilinear path {(slotted waveguide arrays H01Q21/005; circularly or helically slotted waveguides H01Q21/0062)} - H01Q 21/24: Combinations of antenna units polarised in different directions for transmitting or receiving circularly and elliptically polarised waves or waves linearly polarised in any direction {(circularly polarised patch antennas H01Q9/0428; circularly polarised horns H01Q13/0241; cross-polarised horns H01Q13/0258; polarisation converters H01Q15/242; cross-polarised rear feeds H01Q19/136; crossed polarisation dual antenna H01Q25/001)} - H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72) ## Abstract An exponentially tapered slot antenna assembly includes a plurality of antenna panels arranged together in a general box-like configuration. At each corner of the box-like configuration, a capacitive load panel is in operative electrical communication with orthogonal pairs of antenna panels. Each antenna panel defines an inner and outer surface and has an electromagnetic interference shielding material positioned thereon. The shielding material positioned may be positioned near a first or upper edge of each antenna panel of the assembly. It has been empirically determined that this configuration enables an operational bandwidth that is greater than 5:1 and a voltage standing wave ratio that is less than 3:1 over the 5:1 bandwidth. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An antenna assembly comprising: a first exponentially tapered slot antenna (ETSA) including an exponentially tapered edge on a radiating element positioned between a substrate and a superstrate collectively defining a first antenna panel including a first end and a second end; a second ETSA including an exponentially tapered edge of a radiating element positioned between a substrate and a superstrate collectively defining a second antenna panel including a first end and a second end; a first corner formed by an orthogonal alignment of the first end of the first antenna panel with the second end of the second antenna panel; a first capacitive loaded panel adjacent the first corner in operative electrical communication with the first ETSA and the second ETSA; a third ETSA including an exponentially tapered edge on a radiating element positioned between a substrate and a superstrate collectively defining a third antenna panel including a first end and the second end; the third antenna panel offset parallel to the first antenna panel; a second corner formed by an orthogonal alignment of the first end of the second antenna panel with the second end of the third antenna panel; and a second capacitive loaded panel adjacent the second corner in operative electrical communication with the second ETSA and the third ETSA. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The antenna assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a first angle formed between the first capacitive loaded panel and the first antenna panel; a second angle formed between the first capacitive loaded panel and the second antenna panel; and wherein the first angle and the second angle are both 45°. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The antenna assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a first electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding material positioned along a first major surface of the first antenna panel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The antenna assembly of claim 3, further comprising: a second EMI shielding material positioned along an opposite second major surface of the first antenna panel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The antenna assembly of claim 4, wherein the first and second EMI shielding material are positioned over a wider first end of the exponentially tapered edge. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The antenna assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a fourth ETSA including an exponentially tapered edge on a radiating element positioned between a substrate and a superstrate collectively defining a fourth antenna panel including a first end and the second end; the fourth antenna panel offset parallel to the second antenna panel; a third corner formed by an orthogonal alignment of the first end of the third antenna panel with the second end of the fourth antenna panel; a third capacitive loaded panel adjacent the third corner in operative electrical communication with the third ETSA and the fourth ETSA; a fourth corner formed by an orthogonal alignment of the second end of the first antenna panel with the first end of the fourth antenna panel; and a fourth capacitive loaded panel adjacent the fourth corner in operative electrical communication with the first ETSA and the fourth ETSA. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The antenna assembly of claim 6, further comprising: wherein the orthogonal alignments of the first, second, third, and fourth antenna panels define an open box-like antenna structure including a collective outer surface and a collective inner surface; and a first electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding material positioned along at least a portion of the collective outer surface. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The antenna assembly of claim 7, further comprising: a second EMI shielding material positioned along at least a portion of the collective inner surface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The antenna assembly of claim 8, further comprising: an operational bandwidth of the open box-like antenna structure that is at least 5 to 1 (5:1); and a Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR) of the open box-like antenna structure that is less than 3:1 over the at least 5:1 bandwidth. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The antenna assembly of claim 8, wherein an instantaneous bandwidth is equal to the operational bandwidth. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The antenna assembly of claim 8, wherein the open box-like antenna structure has dimensions in the following ranges: a length less than about 20 inches, a width less than about 20 inches, and a height less than about 15 inches; and wherein each of the four capacitive loaded panels is square shaped with dimensions in a range from about 6″×6″ to about 12″×12″. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The antenna assembly of claim 8, wherein the first antenna panel and the second antenna panel form an orthogonal pair and when the first and second antenna panels are fed with a ±90° phase difference, the first ETSA and the second ETSA respectively form either right hand or left hand circular polarization.