Artificial dielectric antenna elements
AssigneeLockheed Martin Corporation
InventorErik Lier
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An artificial dielectric antenna structure for reducing the mass and insertion loss of an antenna is provided. The artificial dielectric antenna structure includes a plurality of layers of dielectric material. Each layer of dielectric material has a dielectric constant. The artificial dielectric antenna structure further includes a plurality of spacing layers interposed between the plurality of layers of dielectric material. Each of the plurality of spacing layers has a dielectric constant lower than the dielectric constant of any of the plurality of layers of dielectric material. The artificial dielectric antenna structure may be disposed within a horn antenna. The artificial dielectric antenna structure may alternately be disposed upon a transmission medium to form a dielectric resonator antenna.
Claims21
A horn antenna comprising:
- a conducting horn having an aperture, a throat and a longitudinal axis;
- a plurality of layers of dielectric material disposed within the conducting horn and substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the horn, each of the plurality of layers of dielectric material having a dielectric constant;
- and
- a plurality of spacing layers interposed between the plurality of layers of dielectric material, each of the plurality of spacing layers having a dielectric constant lower than the dielectric constant of any of the plurality of layers of dielectric material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.