Antenna with ferrite-core and dielectric-shell
AssigneeThe Board of Trustees of The University of Alabama
InventorsYang-Ki Hong, Woncheol Lee, Hoyun Won
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Abstract
In an aspect, the disclosed technology relates to embodiments of a lossy ferrite-core and dielectric-shell (LFC-DS) structure in an axial-mode helical antenna (AM-HA) or a meandered dipole antennas. The instant topology can be used to facilitates the broader use of ferrite materials, including lossy ferrite material, for a miniature AM-HA or meandered dipole antennas, e.g., by overcoming the lossy characteristics of the lossy ferrite. The resulting miniature AM-HA can be used for high frequency operation, including at over 1 GHz, making the instant topology suitable for very high frequency (VHF) and ultra-high Frequency (UHF) applications.
Claims19
An antenna comprising:
- a multi-shell ferrite-dielectric composite structure comprising:
- a hollow-center ferrite layer defining a core of the composite structure;
- a plurality of ferrite layers and a plurality of dielectric layers configured in an alternating fashion, wherein a first dielectric layer of the plurality of dielectric layers surrounds the hollow-center ferrite layer;
- and
- a radiator comprising a conductor placed in proximity to the composite structure to form the antenna with the composite structure;
- wherein the plurality of dielectric layers are configured to reduce lossy characteristics of the plurality of ferrite layers.
An axial-mode helical antenna, comprising;
- a composite structure comprising:
- a hollow-center ferrite layer defining a core of the composite structure;
- a plurality of ferrite layers and a plurality of dielectric layers configured in an alternating fashion, including a first dielectric layer, wherein the first dielectric layer of the plurality of dielectric layers surrounds the hollow-center ferrite layer;
- and
- a radiator comprising a conductor that helically wound around the composite structure;
- wherein the plurality of dielectric layers are configured to reduce collective lossy characteristics of the plurality of ferrite layers.
A meandered dipole antenna, comprising;
- A composite structure comprising:
- a hollow-center ferrite layer defining a core of the composite structure;
- a plurality of ferrite layers and a plurality of dielectric layers configured in an alternating fashion, including a first dielectric layer,
- wherein the first dielectric layer of the plurality of dielectric layers surrounds the hollow-center ferrite layer;
- a radiator comprising a meandered conductor, wherein the radiator is placed next to the first dielectric layer;
- and
- a second dielectric layer, wherein the first dielectric layer and second dielectric layer encapsulates the radiator;
- wherein the plurality of dielectric layers are configured to reduce collective lossy characteristics of the plurality of ferrite layers.
A method to configure an antenna, the method comprising:
- providing a lossy hollow-center ferrite core for the antenna;
- placing a first dielectric layer of a plurality of dielectric layers to surround the lossy hollow-center ferrite core to form an antenna core, wherein the first dielectric layer has a dielectric loss tangent (tan δε) less than that of the lossy hollow-center ferrite core;
- and
- placing a plurality of ferrite layers and the plurality of dielectric layers in an alternating fashion around the antenna core;
- assembling a conductive radiator for the antenna in proximity to the antenna core,
- wherein the lossy hollow-center ferrite core, the plurality of dielectric layers, the plurality of ferrite layers, and conductive radiator form the antenna, and wherein the plurality of dielectric layers reduces collective lossy characteristics of the lossy hollow-center ferrite core.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.