Antenna with dielectric having geometric patterns
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
InventorsKenneth L. Dudley, Holly A. Elliott, Robin L. Cravey, John W. Connell, Sayata Ghose, Kent A. Watson, Joseph G. Smith, Jr.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An antenna includes a ground plane, a dielectric disposed on the ground plane, and an electrically-conductive radiator disposed on the dielectric. The dielectric includes at least one layer of a first dielectric material and a second dielectric material that collectively define a dielectric geometric pattern, which may comprise a fractal geometry. The radiator defines a radiator geometric pattern, and the dielectric geometric pattern is geometrically identical, or substantially geometrically identical, to the radiator geometric pattern.
Claims20
An antenna comprising:
- a ground plane;
- a dielectric member disposed on said ground plane and including a first layer of a first dielectric material and a second dielectric material that collectively define a dielectric geometric pattern, said first dielectric material characterized by a relative permittivity that is at least twice that of said second dielectric material, said first dielectric material and said second dielectric material being further characterized by a loss quantity that yields an antenna efficiency of at least 70 percent;
- and
- an electrically-conductive radiator disposed on said dielectric member.
A dielectric antenna comprising:
- a ground plane;
- a dielectric layer disposed on said ground plane and including a first dielectric material and a second dielectric material that collectively define a fractal geometry that extends fully through said dielectric layer, said first dielectric material characterized by a relative permittivity that is at least twice that of said second dielectric material, said first dielectric material and said second dielectric material being further characterized by a loss quantity that yields an antenna efficiency of at least 70 percent;
- and
- an electrically-conductive radiator disposed on said dielectric layer.
A microstrip antenna comprising:
- a ground plane;
- a dielectric layer disposed on said ground plane and including at least one layer of a first dielectric material and a second dielectric material that collectively define a dielectric geometric pattern, said first dielectric material characterized by a relative permittivity that is at least twice that of said second dielectric material, said first dielectric material and said second dielectric material being further characterized by a loss quantity that yields an antenna efficiency of at least 70 percent;
- and
- an electrically conductor disposed on said dielectric layer and adapted to be exposed to a free space environment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.