Ultra-low-cost 1D-scanning antenna array
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsAlec Adams, Lixin Cai, Robert John Greenlaw
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Abstract
Antenna elements are disclosed herein that include a metallic square ring patch and a metallic square ring slot to transmit or receive radio frequency (RF) signals. The disclosed antenna elements use several dielectric layers that are separated by two low-dielectric foam layers. The square ring patch is located above an upper foam layer, and a square ring slot is located between the upper foam layer and a bottom foam layer. Electrical feed lines are used to either supply electrical power to the antenna elements cells or output RF signals that are received by the square ring patch. The disclosed antenna elements may be arranged together in an antenna array that is tunable to collectively generate or receive RF signals.
Claims20
An antenna element for generating a radio frequency (RF) signal, comprising:
- a plurality of dielectric layers comprising a top dielectric layer, a middle dielectric layer, and a bottom dielectric layer;
- a square ring patch positioned directly below the top dielectric layer;
- a square ring slot;
- a plurality of foam layers between the plurality of dielectric layers, wherein an upper foam layer of the plurality of foam layers separates the square ring patch from the square ring slot, wherein the upper form layer separates the top dielectric layer and the middle dielectric layer, wherein the lower form layer of the plurality of foam layers separates the middle dielectric layer and the bottom dielectric layer;
- and
- electrical feed lines supplying electrical power to generate electrical resonance in the square ring slot for producing the RF signal in the square ring patch.
An antenna element for generating or receiving a radio frequency (RF) signal, comprising:
- a plurality of dielectric layers comprising a top dielectric layer, a middle dielectric layer, and a bottom dielectric layer;
- a square ring patch positioned directly below the top dielectric layer;
- a square ring slot;
- a plurality of foam layers between the plurality of dielectric layers, wherein an upper foam layer of the plurality of foam layers separates the square ring patch from the square ring slot, wherein the upper foam layer separates the top dielectric layer and the middle dielectric layer, wherein a lower foam layer of the plurality of foam layers separates the middle dielectric layer and the bottom dielectric layer;
- and
- electrical feed lines receiving electrical power generated from electrical resonance received by the square ring patch and induced in the square ring slot.
An antenna array for communicating a radio frequency (RF) signal, comprising:
- a plurality of antenna elements positioned in an antenna array, each antenna element comprising:
- a plurality of dielectric layers comprising a top dielectric layer, a middle dielectric layer, and a bottom dielectric layer;
- a square ring patch directly below the top dielectric layer;
- a square ring slot;
- a plurality of foam layers between the plurality of dielectric layers, wherein an upper foam layer of the plurality of foam layers separates the square ring patch from the square ring slot, wherein the upper foam layer separates the top dielectric layer and the middle dielectric layer, wherein a lower foam layer of the plurality of foam layers separates the middle dielectric layer and the bottom dielectric layer;
- and
- electrical feed lines supplying electrical power to generate electrical resonance in the square ring slot for producing the RF signal in the square ring patch.
An antenna array for communicating a radio frequency (RF) signal, comprising:
- a plurality of antenna elements positioned in an array, each antenna element comprising:
- a plurality of dielectric layers comprising a top dielectric layer, a middle dielectric layer, and a bottom dielectric layer;
- a ring patch positioned directly below the top dielectric layer for receiving the RF signal;
- an upper foam layer between the top dielectric layer and the middle dielectric layer;
- a lower foam layer between the middle dielectric layer and the bottom dielectric layer;
- a ring slot positioned between the upper foam layer and the middle dielectric layer, wherein the ring slot is positioned to electromagnetically receive the RF signal from the ring patch;
- and
- electrical feed lines positioned to output the RF signal received by the ring slot as an output.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.