# US 12,009,597 B2 · Metamaterial antenna array with isolated antennas and ground skirt along the perimeter

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- Number: US 12,009,597 B2
- Document ID: US12009597B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/830,536
- Filed: 2022-06-02
- Published: 2022-12-29
- Granted: 2024-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2021-06-24
- Assignees: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
- Applicants: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
- Inventors: Attila Zólomy; Ádám Süle; Daniel Simon; Kiruba Sankaran Subramani; Terry Lee Dickey; Jeffrey Tindle
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12009597B2

## CPC

- 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 21/065: {Patch antenna array}
- H01Q 1/523: {between antennas of an array}
- H01Q 9/045: {with particular feeding means (for circular polarisation H01Q9/0428)}
- H01Q 15/0006: {Devices acting selectively as reflecting surface, as diffracting or as refracting device, e.g. frequency filtering or angular spatial filtering devices (H01Q15/12, H01Q15/22, H01Q15/24 take precedence)}
- H01Q 15/0086: {said selective devices having materials with a synthesized negative refractive index, e.g. metamaterials or left-handed materials}
- 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 1/2291: {used in Bluetooth® or Wi-Fi® devices of Wireless Local Area Networks [WLAN] (H01Q1/241 takes precedence; WLAN in general H04W)}
- H01Q 9/0435: {using two feed points}
- H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72)

## Abstract

An antenna array that utilizes ground guard rings and metamaterial structures is disclosed. In certain embodiments, the antenna array is constructed from a plurality of antenna unit cells, wherein each antenna unit cell is identical. The antenna unit cell comprises a top surface, that contains a patch antenna and a ground guard ring. A reactive impedance surface (RIS) layer is disposed beneath the top surface and contains the metamaterial structures. The metamaterial structures are configured to present an inductance to the patch antennas, thereby allowing the patch antennas to be smaller than would otherwise be possible. In some embodiments, the metamaterial structures comprise hollow square frames. An antenna array constructed using this antenna unit cell has less coupling than conventional antenna arrays, which results in better performance. A ground skirt surrounds the perimeter of the antenna array to improve radiation phase pattern balance within the array.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An antenna array, comprising:
a plurality of antenna unit cells, wherein each antenna unit cell comprises:
a top surface, comprising a patch antenna and a ground guard ring surrounding the patch antenna;
a reactive impedance surface (RIS) layer disposed beneath the top surface, wherein the RIS layer comprises metamaterial structures; and
a ground layer disposed beneath the RIS layer, wherein vias electrically connect the ground guard ring to the ground layer;
wherein a ground skirt surrounds a perimeter of the antenna array on the top surface, and wherein additional vias electrically connect the ground skirt to the ground layer.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The antenna array of claim 1, wherein the RIS layer is immediately adjacent to the top surface.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The antenna array of claim 2, wherein the ground layer is immediately adjacent to the RIS layer.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The antenna array of claim 1, wherein the metamaterial structures comprise hollow square frames.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The antenna array of claim 1, wherein an integral number of metamaterial structures are disposed on the RIS layer in an area defined by the ground guard ring.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The antenna array of claim 5, wherein the integral number is N2, wherein N is an integer.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The antenna array of claim 1, further comprising a RIS ground guard ring disposed on the RIS layer, vertically aligned with the ground guard ring and electrically connected to the vias and the ground layer.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The antenna array of claim 1, wherein the plurality of antenna unit cells comprises N×M antenna unit cells, wherein N and M are integers and at least one of N and M is greater than 1.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The antenna array of claim 1, further comprising one or more unused metal layers disposed between the top surface and the RIS layer and/or between the RIS layer and the ground layer.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The antenna array of claim 9, further comprising auxiliary ground guard rings disposed on at least one of the one or more unused metal layers, vertically aligned with the ground guard ring and electrically connected to the vias and the ground layer.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The antenna array of claim 1, further comprising a second ground skirt disposed on a different layer and vertically aligned with the ground skirt on the top surface.

### Claim 12

An antenna array, comprising:
a plurality of antenna unit cells, wherein each antenna unit cell comprises:
a top surface, comprising a patch antenna and a ground guard ring surrounding the patch antenna; and
a ground layer disposed beneath the top surface, wherein vias electrically connect the ground guard ring to the ground layer;
wherein a ground skirt surrounds a perimeter of the antenna array on the top surface, and wherein additional vias electrically connect the ground skirt to the ground layer.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The antenna array of claim 12, wherein the plurality of antenna unit cells comprises N×M antenna unit cells, wherein N and M are integers and at least one of N and M is greater than 1.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The antenna array of claim 12, further comprising one or more unused metal layers disposed between the top surface and the ground layer.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The antenna array of claim 14, further comprising auxiliary ground guard rings disposed on at least one of the one or more unused metal layers, vertically aligned with the ground guard ring and electrically connected to the vias and the ground layer.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The antenna array of claim 12, further comprising a second ground skirt disposed on a different layer and vertically aligned with the ground skirt on the top surface and electrically connected to the vias and the ground layer.