Patch antenna apparatus preferable for receiving ground wave and signal wave from low elevation angle satellite

A patch antenna apparatus comprising:

• a ground plane;
• a dielectric substrate disposed above the ground plane;
• a patch electrode provided on a surface of the dielectric substrate opposing the ground plane;
• a ground electrode disposed between the ground plane and the dielectric substrate;
• current-feed means connected to the patch electrode;
• and
• at least three bar-shaped conductors, each extending in a thickness direction of the dielectric substrate, arranged in the dielectric substrate along a circumference direction of the dielectric substrate, the bar-shaped conductors disposed outside the patch electrode, and lower ends of the bar-shaped conductors connected to the ground plane.

A patch antenna apparatus comprising:

• a ground plane;
• a dielectric substrate disposed above the ground plane;
• a patch electrode provided on a top surface of the dielectric substrate opposing the ground plane;
• currant-feed means connected to the patch electrode;
• and
• at least three metal pins, each having an upright portion extending in a thickness direction of the dielectric substrate, arranged at substantially regular Intervals around the dielectric substrate, a lower end of each metal pin connected to the ground plane and an upper end of the upright portion of each metal pin continues to a lateral metal member that is arranged above the dielectric substrate.

A patch antenna apparatus comprising:

• a ground plane;
• a dielectric substrate disposed on the ground plane;
• a patch electrode provided on a surface of the dielectric substrate opposing the ground plane and connected to current-teed means;
• a ground electrode disposed between the ground plane and the dielectric substrate;
• and
• redirection means for redirecting a direction of radiation from the patch antenna such that a direction in which the radiation is maximized is oblique to a direction perpendicular to the surface of the dielectric substrate.