Multilayer radiating structure of variable directivity

Abstract

The invention relates to antennas, and more particularly to plane or shaped array antennas. The antenna of the invention comprises radiating sources having a multilayer dielectric/conductor structure and a multiplicity of coupled elements distributed over the interfaces between successive dielectric layers, all being fed by a single radiating patch situated at the bottom level of the antenna. The geometrical parameters of the conductive patches and their distribution within the successive layers giving rise to a high degree of flexibility in antenna design, in particular with respect to simultaneously optimizing antenna parameters such as: directivity, bandwidth, efficiency, polarization purity, and symmetry of the radiation pattern. These advantages of the invention stem mainly from the possibility of increasing the radiating aperture of a source without increasing the complexity of passive distributors for distributing the radiated signals. This is obtained by coupling elements together between levels, and by devising shapes that enable the equivalent radiating area to be increased at each successive level.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.