Low-profile magneto-electric dipole antenna
AssigneeLockheed Martin Corporation
InventorsPaul Jeffrey Nelson, Elie Germain Tianang, James F. Mulvey
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Provided herein are various enhancements for magnetoelectric diploe antenna assemblies, arrays, and associated antenna structures. In one example, an antenna structure includes patch elements conductively coupled to a baseplate by support members that position the patch elements at a vertical offset from a surface of the baseplate. The support members comprise meandered features on surfaces abutting gaps between the support members housing orthogonal antenna feeds coupled to radio frequency links for the antenna structure.
Claims19
An antenna structure, comprising:
- patch elements conductively coupled to a baseplate by support members comprising cylindrical columns spanning between the baseplate and the patch elements that position the patch elements at a vertical offset from a surface of the baseplate;
- and
- the support members comprising meandered features on surfaces abutting gaps between the support members housing orthogonal antenna feeds coupled to radio frequency links for the antenna structure.
An antenna array, comprising:
- an array baseplate having apertures into which a plurality of antenna subassemblies are held;
- each of the plurality of antenna subassemblies comprising:
- a set of four patch elements conductively coupled to a subassembly baseplate by corresponding cylindrical column support members that position the patch elements at a vertical offset from the baseplate;
- and
- the support members comprising meandered features on surfaces abutting gaps between the support members housing orthogonal antenna feeds coupled to radio frequency links for the antenna structure.
A method, comprising:
- forming a modular antenna structure by at least:
- positioning overlapping orthogonal antenna feeds in a central region of a baseplate of the modular antenna structure;
- attaching radiator subassemblies to the baseplate disposed about the orthogonal antenna feeds;
- wherein the radiator subassemblies comprise patch elements conductively coupled to the baseplate by cylindrical column support members that position the patch elements at a vertical offset from a surface of the baseplate;
- and
- wherein the support members comprise meandered features on surfaces abutting the central region between the support members.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.