Tunable multi-band antenna array
AssigneeMassachusetts Institute of Technology
InventorsEugene C. Ngai, Paul A. Theophelakes, Richard J. Cotillo, Dennis J. Blejer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An antenna element is provided having a stacked patch configuration and having tuning structures by which the antenna element can be tuned at two different frequencies of operation. A plurality of the antenna elements can be combined to provide an antenna array. The antenna array can be provided having one or more surface wave surface wave control structures that isolate respective ones of the antenna elements from other respective ones of the antenna elements. The antenna element and/or the antenna array can be provided having RF feeds that can generate any pre-determined polarization.
Claims23
An antenna comprising:
- a substrate having first and second opposing surfaces;
- a plurality of antenna elements disposed on the first surface of said substrate;
- a ground plane disposed on the second surface of said substrate;
- and
- at least one surface wave control structure disposed on the first surface of said substrate and between an adjacent pair of the plurality of antenna elements, where said at least one surface wave control structure has a triangular cross section in a plane perpendicular to said substrate, and an apex at a pre-determined distance above the first surface of said substrate, wherein the apex has a pre-determined apex angle.
An antenna including one or more stacked patch assemblies, each having a first patch element adapted to couple with an isolation structure to a second patch element, the second patch element disposed on a first surface of a substrate, and a ground plane disposed on a second surface of the substrate, wherein the first surface of the substrate corresponds to a radiating surface, the antenna comprising:
- one or more upper tuning structures having a first end in electrical contact with the first patch element and a second end in electrical contact with the second patch element;
- and
- one or more lower tuning structures having a first end in electrical contact with the second patch element and a second end in electrical contact with the ground plane, wherein said one or more upper tuning structures and said one or more lower tuning structures are disposed such that the first and the second patch element can be tuned independently of each other.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.