Broadband tapered monopole antenna

A broadband tapered monopole antenna, comprising:

• a planar counterpoise;
• and a planar radiator oriented perpendicularly to the planar counterpoise, the planar radiator being bounded by:
• a curved edge extending between a first vertex and a second vertex, a gap width between the curved edge and the planar counterpoise increasing monotonically between a minimum gap width at the first vertex and a maximum gap width at the second vertex;
• a first edge extending at least partially between the second vertex and a third vertex, the third vertex having a perpendicular distance to the planar counterpoise that is greater than the maximum gap width;
• a second edge extending at least partially between the third vertex and a fourth vertex;
• a third edge extending at least partially between the fourth vertex and a fifth vertex, the fifth vertex having a perpendicular distance to the planar counterpoise that is greater than the minimum gap width, the fourth vertex having a perpendicular distance to the planar counterpoise that is greater than the perpendicular distance to the planar counterpoise of the fifth vertex;
• and a fourth edge extending at least partially between the fifth vertex and the first vertex;
• wherein:
• the planar radiator has a maximum height that is greater than the maximum gap width, the maximum height establishing a fundamental resonant frequency, the planar radiator cooperating with the planar counterpoise to resonantly radiate at the fundamental resonant frequency;
• the minimum gap width establishes a highest tapered-slot frequency and the maximum gap width establishes a lowest tapered-slot frequency, the planar radiator cooperating with the planar counterpoise to non-resonantly radiate at frequencies between the highest tapered-slot frequency and the lowest tapered-slot frequency;
• and the lowest tapered-slot frequency is greater than the fundamental resonant frequency.