Patch antenna

A patch antenna comprising a radiating element (10) and a ground plane (12) with a dielectric (14) therebetween, one or both of the radiating element and the ground plane comprising a plurality of spaced discrete elongated conductors, each substantially longer than its width, the conductors being arranged in a pattern approximating to a pattern of currents which are present in an equivalent patch radiating element of uniform and continuous cross-section when said equivalent element is excited in a selected excitation mode, one or both of the radiating element and ground plane also comprising connections for permitting minor currents to flow between respective adjacent pairs of the elongated conductors.

A method of transmitting or receiving radio-frequency energy, wherein the transmission or reception is by means of an antenna comprising a radiating element (10) and a ground plane (12) with a dielectric (14) therebetween, one or both of the radiating element and the ground plane comprising a plurality of spaced discrete elongated conductors, each substantially longer than its width, the conductors being arranged in a pattern approximating to a pattern of currents which are present in an equivalent patch radiating element of uniform and continuous cross-section when said equivalent element is excited in a selected excitation mode.