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US 9,000,996 B2Granted
Modular wideband antenna array
AssigneeThe Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsSteven S. Holland, Marinos N. Vouvakis, Daniel H. Schaubert
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A modular wideband antenna element for connection to a feed network. There is a ground plane, and first and second flared fins above the ground plane. The fins each define a connection location that is relatively close to the ground plane and tapering to a free end located farther from the ground plane. The connection location of the first fin is electrically coupled to the feed network and the connection location of the second fin is electrically coupled to the ground plane. There are one or more additional first traces electrically connecting the first fin to the ground plane and one or more additional second traces electrically connecting the second fin to the ground plane.
Claims19
A modular wideband antenna element for connection to a feed network, comprising:
- a ground plane;
- a first flared fin having an outer flare that tapers exponentially from the to of the fin to the bottom of the fin and an inner flare that tapers exponentially from the to of the fin to the bottom of the fin;
- a second flared fin having an outer flare that tapers exponentially from the top of the fin to the bottom of the fin and an inner flare that tapers exponentially from the to of the fin to the bottom of the fin, wherein the inner flares of the first and second flared fins form a radiating tapered slot;
- a base of the first fin is electrically connected to an unbalanced line of the feed network by a feed stem of the first fin that extends through the ground plane;
- a base of the second fin is electrically connected to the ground plane by a ground stem of the second fin, wherein the feed stem and the ground stem form an unbalanced transverse electric and magnetic mode two conductor transmission line;
- the base of the first fin is electrically connected to the ground plane by one or more grounding strips of the first fin;
- and
- the base of the second fin is electrically connected to the ground plane by one or more grounding strips of the second fin.
5 more elements
A modular wideband antenna array for connection to a feed network, comprising:
- a plurality of antenna elements, each antenna element comprising:
- a ground plane;
- a first flared fin above the ground plane having an outer flare that tapers exponentially from the to of the fin to the bottom of the fin and an inner flare that tapers exponentially from the to of the fin to the bottom of the fin;
- a second flared fin above the ground plane having an outer flare that tapers exponentially from the to of the fin to the bottom of the fin and an inner flare that tapers exponentially from the to of the fin to the bottom of the fin, wherein the inner flares of the first and second flared fins form a radiating tapered slot;
- a base of the first fin is electrically connected to an unbalanced line of the feed network by a feed stem of the first fin that extends through the ground plane;
- a base of the second fin is electrically connected to the ground plane by a ground stem of the second fin, wherein the feed stem and the ground stem form an unbalanced transverse electric and magnetic mode two conductor transmission line;
- the base of the first fin is electrically connected to the ground plane by one or more grounding strips of the first fin;
- and
- the base of the second fin is electrically connected to the ground plane by one or more grounding strips of the second fin;
- wherein the first and second fins, the feed stem of the first fin, the ground stem of the second fin, and the one or more grounding strips of the first and second fins comprise a single metallization later;
- and
- wherein the antenna elements are arranged as a single polarized array in which the first and second fins of the antenna elements are located in a plurality of parallel planes.
9 more elements
A modular wideband antenna array for connection to a feed network, comprising:
- a plurality of antenna elements, each antenna element comprising:
- a ground plane;
- a first flared fin above the ground plane having an outer flare that tapers exponentially from the to of the fin to the bottom of the fin and an inner flare that tapers exponentially from the top of the fin to the bottom of the fin;
- a second flared fin above the ground plane having an outer flare that tapers exponentially from the to of the fin to the bottom of the fin and an inner flare that tapers exponentially from the to of the fin to the bottom of the fin, wherein the inner flares of the first and second flared fins form a radiating tapered slot;
- a base of the first fin is electrically connected to an unbalanced line of the feed network by a feed stem of the first fin that extends through the ground plane;
- a base of the second fin is electrically connected to the ground plane by a ground stem of the second fin, wherein the feed stem and the ground stem form an unbalanced transverse electric and magnetic mode two conductor transmission line;
- the outer taper of the first fin is electrically connected to the ground plane by one or more grounding strips of the first fin;
- and
- the outer taper of the second fin is electrically connected to the ground plane by one or more grounding strips of the second fin;
- wherein the first and second fins, the feed stem of the first fin, the ground fin of the second fin, and the one or more grounding strips comprise a single metallization later;
- and
- wherein the antenna elements are arranged as a dual-polarized array in which the first and second fins of one group of antenna elements are located in a plurality of first parallel planes and the first and second fins of another group of antenna elements are located in a plurality of second parallel planes that are orthogonal to first parallel planes.
9 more elements
A modular wideband antenna element for connection to a feed network, comprising:
- a ground plane;
- a first flared fin above the ground plane having an outer flare that tapers exponentially from the top of the fin to the bottom of the fin and an inner flare that tapers exponentially from the top of the fin to the bottom of the fin;
- a second flared fin above the ground plane having an outer flare that tapers exponentially from the top of the fin to the bottom of the fin and an inner flare that tapers exponentially from the top of the fin to the bottom of the fin, wherein the inner flares of the first and second flared fins form a radiating tapered slot;
- a base of the first fin is electrically connected to an unbalanced line of the feed network by a feed stem of the first fin that extends through the ground plane;
- a base of the second fin is electrically connected to the ground plane by a ground stem of the second fin, wherein the feed stem and the ground stem form an unbalanced transverse electric and magnetic mode two conductor transmission line;
- the outer taper of the first fin is electrically connected to the ground plane by one or more grounding strips of the first fin, wherein the one or more grounding strips comprise a lumped impedance;
- and
- the outer taper of the second fin is electrically connected to the ground plane by one or more grounding strips of the second fin.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.