US 5,396,658 AGranted

Radio frequency antenna and mixer array

AssigneeUniversity of Utah Research Foundation

InventorsR. Jennifer Hwu, J. Mark Baird, Roberto W. Alm

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Abstract

A radio frequency millimeter-wave signal antenna and mixer system includes a dielectric substrate having a generally planar upper surface, and a ground-plane layer of conductive material disposed below the upper surface. This ground plane layer includes a plurality of spaced-apart low conductivity sections or windows to allow passage therethrough of radio frequency signals received at a surface of the substrate. A plurality of antennae are disposed on the upper surface of the substrate, with each antenna being positioned over a respective one of the windows in the ground-plane layer. A plurality of mixers are also disposed on the upper surface of the substrate, each adjacent a respective antenna for receiving radio frequency signals therefrom and for producing intermediate frequency signals. A plurality of output conductors are formed on the upper surface of the substrate, each being coupled to a respective mixer to extend therefrom alongside the antenna from which respective mixer receives radio frequency signals. The output conductors carry intermediate frequency signals from the respective mixers to the edge of the substrate.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A radio frequency antenna and mixer system for receiving and down-converting r-f signals to i-f signals, said system comprising

a base having a generally planar upper surface and a lower surface, and formed of a material having low conductivity, with a ground-plane layer of conductive material disposed below said upper surface, said layer including a plurality of spaced-apart low conductivity sections,
a plurality of antenna means, each antenna means being disposed on the upper surface of the base, over a respective one of the low conductivity sections in said layer,
a plurality of mixer means, each disposed on the upper surface of the base, adjacent a respective antenna means for receiving r-f signals therefrom and for producing i-f signals,
a plurality of means for inputting a local oscillator signal to each of a respective mixer means, and
a plurality of output conductors, each output conductor disposed on the upper surface of the base, each of the output conductors being coupled to a respective mixer means, the respective output conductor extending therefrom alongside the antenna means in a direction generally away from the means for inputting a local oscillator signal, the output conductor extending alongside the antenna means from which said respective mixer means receives r-f signals and each of the output conductors carrying i-f signals from said respective mixer means.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.