Current sheet array antenna
AssigneeBall Aerospace & Technologies Corp.
InventorsMatthew G. Salem, Sean P. Finn
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods for providing a broadband antenna are provided. The antenna can include a current sheet array having a plurality of elements. Each of the elements includes dipole arms. The dipole arms can be configured as first and second dipole arm pairs for transmitting or receiving signals of different polarizations. Capacitive structures are provided between adjacent branch portions of the dipole arms. The capacitive structures extend from a first side of a substrate on which the dipole arms are located towards a second side of the substrate.
Claims20
An antenna element, comprising:
- a substrate;
- a first dipole arm disposed on a first surface of the substrate;
- a second dipole arm disposed on the first surface of the substrate;
- a first capacitive structure, wherein the first capacitive structure includes:
- a first capacitive element that extends from a branch portion of the first dipole arm towards a second surface of the substrate;
- and
- a second capacitive element that extends from a branch portion of the second dipole arm towards the second surface of the substrate,
- wherein the branch portion of the first dipole arm from which the first capacitive element extends is adjacent the branch portion of the second dipole arm from which the second capacitive element extends, and
- wherein the first surface of the substrate is opposite the second surface of the substrate.
An array antenna, comprising:
- a substrate, wherein the substrate includes a first side and a second side opposite the first side;
- a plurality of antenna elements, wherein each of the antenna elements includes:
- first, second, third, and fourth dipole arms disposed on the first side of the substrate, wherein each of the dipole arms includes first and second branch portions;
- and
- a plurality of capacitive elements, wherein at least one of the capacitive elements extends from each branch portion of each of the dipole arms in a direction towards the second side of the substrate.
A method of forming an antenna element, comprising:
- patterning a conductive layer on a first side of a substrate, wherein a plurality of dipole arms are formed;
- providing a ground plane on a second side of the substrate;
- forming voids that extend from the first side of the substrate and towards the second side of the substrate, wherein each void is adjacent a portion of a dipole arm included in the plurality of dipole arms;
- and
- placing a conductive material in the voids, wherein the conductive material in each of the voids is in electrical contact with a corresponding portion of the dipole arms, and wherein the conductive material in each of the voids is not in electrical contact with the ground plane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.