Vertically polarized panel antenna system and method

A linearly polarized adjustable dipole antenna, comprising:

• a first and third pair of radiating means for radiating electromagnetic energy, the first pair of radiating means being substantially parallel and similarly oriented, including:
• a first and third common means for electrically and mechanically joining bases of the first and third pair of radiating means, respectively, the first and third common means including a first and third edge, and an adjustable source first and third contact point, respectively;
• and
• a first and third supporting means for non-conductively supporting the respective radiating means, including an adjustable first and third contact point;
• a second and fourth pair of radiating means for radiating electromagnetic energy, the second and fourth pair of radiating means being substantially parallel and similarly oriented, including an orientation opposite to the first and third pair of radiating means and displaced from the first and third pair of radiating means, including:
• a second and fourth common means for electrically and mechanically joining bases of the second and fourth pair of radiating means, including a second and fourth edge and an adjustable source second and fourth contact point, respectively;
• and
• a second and fourth supporting means for non-conductively supporting the respective radiating means, including an adjustable second and fourth contact point,
• wherein the first, second, third and fourth pair of radiating means are substantially within a common plane and whose first and second edges are displaced from each other by a first gap to form a first set of dipole radiators, and whose third and fourth edges are displaced from each other by a second gap to form a second set of dipole radiators,
• wherein the first and second set of dipole radiators are tunable by adjusting the first and second gaps, respectively.

A method for fabricating a linearly polarized adjustable dipole antenna, comprising the steps of:

• fabricating substantially parallel and similarly oriented monopole elements, including a common section which is substantially perpendicular to and joining bases of the monopole elements, each common section including an edge and an adjustable contact point;
• arranging pairs of the monopole elements in opposite orientation to a first pair of monopole elements to form a gap between the edges of the common sections, to form dipole radiators;
• mounting a dielectric supports including an adjustable attachment to the monopole elements;
• attaching a ground plane;
• attaching a stripline to the ground plane with the stripline's trace symmetrically coupled to the adjustable contact points, and a ground connection from the ground plane symmetrically coupled to the adjustable contact points of opposing pairs of monopole elements.