Tapered slot antenna
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsRobert S. Homer, Bruce Calder
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved tapered slot antenna. The structure includes a first antenna element, a second antenna element, a brace, a semi-infinite balun and a radome. The first and second antenna elements are operatively coupled to the brace in a tapered slot antenna configuration. The first and second input feed of the semi-infinite balun are operatively coupled to the first and second antenna elements, respectively, so that the second input feed is situated along substantially an entire length of a feed channel of the second antenna element. The radome is operatively coupled to the first and second antenna elements. A method for fabricating improved tapered slot antennas is also described.
Claims21
An improved tapered slot antenna, comprising:
- a) a first antenna element capable of transmitting and receiving rf energy;
- b) a second antenna element capable of transmitting and receiving rf energy;
- c) a brace, operatively coupled to said first antenna element and said second antenna element, capable of snugly receiving said first antenna element and said second antenna element in a tapered slot antenna configuration, and having a gap height and gap width represented by the following equation:
- w
- h
- =
- 44
-
-
- π
- Z
- 0
-
- ɛ
- r
- ;
- d) a semi-infinite balun comprising a first input feed and a second input feed, wherein said first input feed is operatively coupled to a feed aperture of said first antenna element, and wherein said second input feed is operatively coupled to a feed channel of said second antenna element so that said second input feed is situated along substantially an entire length of said feed channel;
- e) a radome, operatively coupled to said first and second antenna elements, wherein said radome is capable of allowing at least one band of rf energy to pass through said radome, and wherein said radome substantially encloses and helps stabilize said first and second antenna elements.
A method for an improved tapered slot antenna, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) configuring a first antenna element and a second antenna element in a TSA configuration using a brace so that a gap height and a gap width are represented by the following equation:
- w
- h
- =
- 44
-
-
- π
- Z
- 0
-
- ɛ
- r
- ;
- b) coupling a first input feed and a second input feed of a SIB to a feed aperture of said first antenna element and a feed channel of said second antenna element, respectively, wherein said second input feed is situated along substantially an entire length of said feed channel;
- c) enclosing said first antenna element and said second antenna element with a radome capable of allowing at least one band of rf energy to pass through said radome, and capable of helping to stabilize said first and second antenna elements.
An improved tapered slot antenna, comprising:
- a) means for configuring a first antenna element and a second antenna element in a TSA configuration using a brace so that a gap height and a gap width are represented by the following equation:
- w
- h
- =
- 44
-
-
- π
- Z
- 0
-
- ɛ
- r
- ;
- b) means, operatively coupled and responsive to said means for configuring a first antenna element and a second antenna element, for coupling a first input feed and a second input feed of a SIB to a feed aperture of said first antenna element and a feed channel of said second antenna element, respectively, wherein said second input feed is situated along substantially an entire length of said feed channel;
- c) means, operatively coupled and responsive to said means for coupling a first input feed and a second input feed of a SIB, for enclosing said first antenna element and said second antenna element with a radome capable of allowing at least one band of rf energy to pass through said radome, and capable of helping to stabilize said first and second antenna elements.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.