Integrated oscillator and microstrip antenna system

An integrated oscillator and microstrip antenna system comprising:

• (a) a conductive reference surface;
• (b) a dielectric layer overlyng said reference surface and having a thickness substantially less than one-fourth wavelength at the intended operating frequency of the system;
• (c) a shaped single layer conductive surface overlying and supported by said dielectric layer above said reference surface and wherein said shaped single layer conductive surface includes:
• (i) at least one microstrip radiator means having a resonant dimension at said intended operating frequency and defining at least one radiating slot between an edge of the radiator means and the underlying reference surface,
• (ii) microstrip transmission line means extending from the periphery of said at least one radiator means to a first connection pad, and
• (iii) a second connection pad and at least one third connection pad extending to respectively associated microstrip reactance and bias feed circuitry;
• and
• (d) a 3-element active device having at least three connection areas electrically connected respectively to said first, second and third connection pads;
• said radiator means, through said microstrip transmission line means, directly providing the predetermined load impedance for the remainder of the system required to cause the active device to oscillate with delivery of substantially maximum output power at said intended operating frequency without impedance matching to the transmission line means, said microstrip transmission means being dimensioned for electrically transforming the impedance of the radiator means to the predetermined load impedance for the active device at said intended operating frequency.

An integrated oscillator and microstrip antenna system for radiating RF signals at an intended radio operating frequency, said system comprising:

• oscillator means for producing radio frequency signals at said intended operating frequency, said oscillator means including an active device having an output element and at least two additional elements, said oscillator means delivering a maximum signal output at said intended operating frequency when an optimum RF load impedance is connected to said active device output element;
• an electrically conductive reference surface;
• a shaped single layer of conductive surfaces spaced from said reference surface by a distance substantially less than one-fourth wavelength at said intended operating frequency, the elements of said active device being electrically and mechanically connected to said conductive surfaces;
• microstrip radiator means comprising a first portion of said conductive surfaces for radiating said radio frequency signals, said conductive surfaces first portion defining a terminal point thereon, said conductive surfaces first portion being dimensioned such that approximately said optimum RF load impedance exists at said terminal point;
• and
• microstrip transmission line means for coupling said radio frequency signals from said active device output terminal to said microstrip radiator means terminal point, said microstrip transmission line means comprising an elongated strip of conductive surface spaced from said reference surface by a distance substantially less than one-fourth wavelength at said intended operating frequency, said strip having first and second ends, said strip first end being directly electrically and mechanically connected to said active device output element, said strip second end being directly electrically and mechanically connected to said microstrip radiator means terminal point, no additional impedance matching elements being connected between said microstrip transmission line means and said active device output element, no additional impedance matching elements being connected between said microstrip transmission line means and said microstrip radiator means, said microstrip radiator means and microstrip transmission line means together directly presenting substantially said optimum RF load impedance at said intended operating frequency to said active device output element, aid microstrip transmission line means being dimensioned for electrically transforming the RF load impedance presented at the microstrip radiator means terminal point into substantially the optimum RF load impedance at said intended operating frequency and for directly presenting said substantially optimum impedance to said active device output element.