High gain, frequency tunable variable impedance transmission line loaded antenna having shaped top plates

An antenna comprising:

• a conductive plate;
• a first conductive element including a first edge;
• a second conductive element including a first edge electrically connected to said conductive plate, said second conductive element further including a second edge spaced apart from the first edge of said second conductive element;
• a first radiating element, wherein a first region of said first radiating element is spaced proximate to the first edge of said first conductive element so as to create a gap there between, wherein a second region of said first radiating element is spaced proximate to the second edge of said second conductive element so as to create a gap there between;
• a first meanderline coupler conductively connected between said first conductive element and said first radiating element so as to provide a conductive path across the gap there between;
• a second meanderline coupler conductively connected between said second conductive element and said first radiating element so as to provide a conductive electrical path across the gap there between;
• and
• a second radiating element conductively connected at two spaced apart points to said first radiating element, wherein said first-and said second radiating elements cooperate to form the antenna radiating element.

An antenna array comprising;

• a groundplane;
• a plurality of antenna elements, wherein each antenna element comprises:
• a first conductive element including a first edge;
• a second conductive element including a first edge connected to said ground plane, said second conductive element further including a second edge spaced apart from the first edge of said second conductive element;
• at least one radiating element having a shape selected from a closed curve, a polygon a simple polygon and an irregularly bounded surface and, through one or more of said regions determines the effective length of each antenna element, and wherein a first location of said at least one radiating element is spaced proximate to the first edge of said first conductive element so as to create a gap there between, and wherein a second location of said at least one top radiating element is spaced proximate to the second edge of said second conductive element so as to create a gap there between;
• a first meanderline coupler conductively connected between said first conductive element and said at least one radiating element so as to provide a conductive path across the gap there between;
• second meanderline coupler conductively connected between said second conductive element and said at least one radiating element so as to provide a conductive path across the gap there between;
• and
• wherein said first and said second meanderline couplers have a selectable effective electrical length.

An antenna comprising:

• a conductive plate;
• a first meanderline coupler having a first terminal responsive to a signal when said antenna is operative in a transmitting mode and for providing a signal when said antenna is operative in a receiving mode, and further having a second terminal;
• a second meanderline coupler having a first terminal conductively connected to said conductive plate and further having a second terminal;
• a shaped conductive element conductively connected to the second terminal of said first meanderline coupler at a first location and conductively connected to the second terminal of said second meanderline coupler at a second location, wherein said shaped conductive element comprises a plurality of independently excitable regions, and wherein current flow through one or more of said regions determines the effective length of the antenna;
• and
• wherein said first and said second meanderline couplers have independently selectable effective electrical lengths.

An antenna comprising:

• a conductive plate;
• a first meanderline coupler having a first terminal responsive to a signal when said antenna is operative in a transmitting mode and for receiving a signal when said antenna is operative in a receiving mode, and further having a second terminal;
• a second meanderline coupler having a first terminal in electrical connection with said conductive plate and further having a second terminal;
• a first radiating element in electrical connection with the second terminal of said first meanderline coupler at a first location and in electrical connection with the second terminal of said second meanderline coupler at a second location;
• and
• a second radiating element electrically connected to said first radiating element at two spaced apart points.