US3681771A - Retroflector dipole antenna array and method of making - Google Patents

Retroflector dipole antenna array and method of making Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3681771A
US3681771A US21879A US3681771DA US3681771A US 3681771 A US3681771 A US 3681771A US 21879 A US21879 A US 21879A US 3681771D A US3681771D A US 3681771DA US 3681771 A US3681771 A US 3681771A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
balun
circuit board
printed circuit
baluns
ground plane
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US21879A
Inventor
Bernard L Lewis
James E Macdowell
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
MACDOWELL ASSOCIATES Inc
Original Assignee
MACDOWELL ASSOCIATES Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by MACDOWELL ASSOCIATES Inc filed Critical MACDOWELL ASSOCIATES Inc
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3681771A publication Critical patent/US3681771A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01QANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q15/00Devices for reflection, refraction, diffraction or polarisation of waves radiated from an antenna, e.g. quasi-optical devices
    • H01Q15/14Reflecting surfaces; Equivalent structures
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01PWAVEGUIDES; RESONATORS, LINES, OR OTHER DEVICES OF THE WAVEGUIDE TYPE
    • H01P5/00Coupling devices of the waveguide type
    • H01P5/08Coupling devices of the waveguide type for linking dissimilar lines or devices
    • H01P5/10Coupling devices of the waveguide type for linking dissimilar lines or devices for coupling balanced with unbalanced lines or devices
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01QANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q21/00Antenna arrays or systems
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10TTECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T29/00Metal working
    • Y10T29/49Method of mechanical manufacture
    • Y10T29/49002Electrical device making
    • Y10T29/49016Antenna or wave energy "plumbing" making

Definitions

  • a method of making an antenna array and an antenna array apparatus of a low-cost wide angle retroreflector in which a printed circuit board has a plurality of antenna elements etched] on one side thereof and a ground plane on the other separated by dielectric material of a predetermined thickness. Baluns are attached through the printed circuit board to each antenna element and to the ground plane and transmission lines of equal length connect spaced pairs of antenna elements utilizing the balun and matching the transmission line to the antenna element.
  • the present invention relates to a reflector composed of antenna elements so arranged and interconnected by transmission lines that when a signal is received on one set it is reradiated back in phasein the direction of incidence for all angles of incidence.
  • the present reflector is directed towards a replacement for dielectric reflectors such as Luneberg lenses and is a wide angle retroreilector utilizing individual dipoles tuned to a desired frequency.
  • SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION board may be copper separated by dielectric material with the thickness of dielectric material dependent upon the frequency to which the array is to be used.
  • a machined balun which may be made of brass and produced in an automatic screw machine, is attached through holes drilled through the printed circuit board and one balun is attached to each antenna element and also to the ground plane. Transmission lines having'the same electrical length are cut and each end is inserted in a pair of spaced antenna elements with a balun attached, and each transmission line is attached to the antenna element and to the balun to provide a wide angle retroreflector apparatus.
  • FIG. 1 shows a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, with dash lines illustrating the inter-connection of the antenna element;
  • FIG. 2 shows a top sectional view of one antenna element
  • no. 3 is a view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 4 is a view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;
  • FIG. 5 shows an exploded view with a balun separated from the printed circuit board.
  • a wide angle retroreflector 10 can be seen having a printed circuit board 11 with dipoles 12 etched on one surface thereof, which dipoles are tuned to a desired frequency. Pairs of dipoles l2are interconnectedby transmission line 13 shown as dotted lines which run beneath the printed circuit board 11. All the transmission lines 13 will have the same electrical lengths and the opposite side of the printed circuit board 11 from the dipoles.12 will have a ground plane separated from the dipoles by dielectric material. The groundplane could for instance be the copper coating on the other side of the printed circuit 11 not having any material etched away.
  • the thickness of the dielectric material will be dependent upon the frequency to which the array is to be used and a double copper-clad .baseplate.
  • printedcircuit board material is used having a predetermined thickness and dielectric constant.
  • the printed circuit board 11 has holes 14 drilled in it at each dipole 12 with a balun 15 attached to each dipole 12 and extending below the printedcircuit board 11.
  • Each transmission line 13 is inserted through the drilled holes 14 and attached to the balun 15 with the center wire 16 being attached to one side of the dipole l2.
  • Balun in this application is defined as an acronym for balanced-to-unbalanced and includes matching an unbalanced transmission line such as a coaxial cable to abalanced line orsystem such as a two wire line in which the terminals have equal impedances to ground.
  • the dipole section of the printed circuit board 10 is illustrated in the portion of the circuit board 11 having a dipole 12 being connected such as by soldering a center line 16 of the coaxial line 13 which has been inserted up through the balun l5. Itcan also be seen that the dipole 12 is $01- dered at 17 to the balun I5, and that the balun 15 has a slotted area 18, as will be described in more detail.
  • FIG. 3 shows a sectional view more clearly illustrating the transmission line 13 having an outer conductive braid 20 enclosing a dielectric material such as teflon 21 and beingattached to the balun 15 with solder at 22.
  • the balun can be seen attached to the ground plate 23 at 24 and having a dielectric material 25 separated from the dipole antenna element 12.
  • the center line conductorl6 is shown soldered to the dipole 12 and the dipole element 12 is also soldered to the balun 15.
  • the braid 20 has a very close and tight fit on the balun 15 and that the slot 18 is slotted to a point just about even with the bottom surface of the ground plane 23 and that the center line conductor 16 forms a very tight and smooth bend to one dipole element 12, where it is soldered to the dipole element and to the balun 15.
  • FIG. 4 is taken along line 4-4 and shows a balun l5 having slot 18 passing through insulating material 25 with the transmission line 13 having the teflon insulating material 21 passing through the balun 15 along with the center conductor 16 passing through the teflon material 21.
  • FIG. 5 shows an exploded view with balun being removed from the printed circuit board 11 and having the slot 18 therein.
  • This balun 15 is machined to the desired length as required by the mechanical and electrical characteristics of the cable used and is slotted so that the slot length is one-quarter wavelength of the frequency to which the array will be resonant.
  • the slot length is critical in that the required length to provide an impedance match to the cable is necessary.
  • This particular balun is especially desirable because it may be easily mass-produced by machinery such as an automatic screw machine which assures impedance matching due to the uniformity in the balun.
  • the hole 14 is drilled so as to center on the two one-quarter wave dipoles l2.
  • the method for producing the present antenna ray requires that a printed circuit board clad on both sides with copper and having the desired thickness and dielectric constance be selected andcut to the proper size.
  • the printed circuit board may then be coated with a material such as wax utilizing a process such as silkscreening so that the ground plane will not be touched by the acid in which the etching is performed, and the plane having the dipoles will etch away all the copper except the dipoles at the desired location.
  • the board can then be drilled either singularly or preferably multiple drillings in a jig fixture for drilling in the center of each of the two one-quarter wave dipoles.
  • the baluns may be made of a material such as a brass tubing which may be-produced in an automatic screw machine, or the like, and having the desired length and slot for a one-quarter wavelength of the frequency the antenna wave is to have.
  • the baluns are then inserted in the drilled holes in the printed circuit board and adjusted for depth and then soldered to the ground plane which soldering may desirably be performed in a flow soldering machine making connections with all the baluns and the ground plane.
  • the transmission lines or cables are selected in accordance with the desired frequency of operation and are cut to the desired length. Cables are then inserted into the baluns with the cable shield slipped overthe end of the baluns and soldered at that point.
  • center conductor of the coaxial cable is then left sticking above the balun where it is bent over the appropriate dipole and soldered.
  • the center conductors may all be soldered in a flow soldering machine making the connection not only of the center conductor to the appropriate dipole, but also the balun to the dipole.
  • Applicant of course does not wish to be limited to any particular design or shape, but one embodiment of the present invention which has been successfully operated utilizes a dielectric printed circuit board having a thickness of 0.375 inch of Rexolite or a polystyrene with a copper coating on either side of 0.010 inch, having a balun which is 0.880 inch in length with a slot extending from one end into the balun 0.375 inch and having an inside diameter of 0.1 18 and an outside diameter of 0. l 55 l 2.
  • the coaxial cable may have a teflon inner insulator with the braid portion removed to expose a 0.630 inch length of teflon with the center conductor extending another 0.250 inch above the teflon.
  • the coaxial cable will have a length of an even number of wavelengths.
  • a method of making a retroreflector apparatus comprising the steps of:
  • etching a printed circuit board with a plurality of antenna elements at predetermined locations on one side; said printed circuit board having a ground plane on a second side thereof;
  • each of said plurality of transmission lines between spaced pairs of baluns one end of each said transmission line being attached to only one balun and said baluns being located in predetermined spaced relationship to each other whereby a wide angle retroreflector apparatus is produced.
  • baluns are attached to each antenna element by flow soldering .said baluns following attaching said baluns to said ground plane.
  • a retroreflector apparatus comprising in combination:
  • each said transmission line is a coaxial cable having each end thereof of said transmission line braid attached to one said balun and each end of each center conductor attached to one said antenna element.

Abstract

A method of making an antenna array and an antenna array apparatus of a low-cost wide angle retroreflector is provided in which a printed circuit board has a plurality of antenna elements etched on one side thereof and a ground plane on the other separated by dielectric material of a predetermined thickness. Baluns are attached through the printed circuit board to each antenna element and to the ground plane and transmission lines of equal length connect spaced pairs of antenna elements utilizing the balun and matching the transmission line to the antenna element.

Description

United States Patent Lewis et al.
[451 I Aug. 1,1972
[54] RETROFLECTOR DIPOLE ANTENNA ARRAY AND METHOD OF MAKING [72] Inventors: Bernard L. Lewis; James E. Mac- Dowell, both of Brevard County, Fla.
73 Assignee: -MacDowell Associates, Inc.
22 Filed: March 23,1970
21 Appl. No.: 21,879
[52] US. Cl. ..343/8l7, 343/755, 343/821,
29/600 [51] Int. Cl. ..H0lq 21/00 [58] Field of Search ..343/753, 754, 755, 853, 854, 343/817, 821; 29/600, 60]
[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,953,781 9/1960 Donnellan et a] ..343/853 3,110,030 11/1963 Cole ..343/853 3,222,677 12/1965 Fink ..343/854 3,276,023 9/1966 Dorne et al. ..343/854 3,386,092 4/1968 Hyltin ..343/854 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 860,826 4/1971 Great Britain ..343/753 Primary Examiner-Eli Lieberman AtI0rney--Duckworth and Hobby [5 1 a ABSTRACT A method of making an antenna array and an antenna array apparatus of a low-cost wide angle retroreflector is provided in which a printed circuit board has a plurality of antenna elements etched] on one side thereof and a ground plane on the other separated by dielectric material of a predetermined thickness. Baluns are attached through the printed circuit board to each antenna element and to the ground plane and transmission lines of equal length connect spaced pairs of antenna elements utilizing the balun and matching the transmission line to the antenna element.
11 Claim, 5 Drawing; Figures PATENTEDAUB 1 1912 BERNARD L. LEWIS JAMES E. MACDOVIELL INVENTORS ATTY'S FIG-l FIG.3
RETROFLECTOR DIPOLE ANTENNA ARRAY AND The invention described herein was made in the performance of work undera NASA contract and issubject to the provisions of Section 305 of the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958, Public Law 85-568 (72 Stat. 435, 42 U.S.C. 2457).
The present invention relates to a reflector composed of antenna elements so arranged and interconnected by transmission lines that when a signal is received on one set it is reradiated back in phasein the direction of incidence for all angles of incidence. Thus the present reflector is directed towards a replacement for dielectric reflectors such as Luneberg lenses and is a wide angle retroreilector utilizing individual dipoles tuned to a desired frequency.
In the past it has been suggested to interconnect antenna elements with transmission lines to provide a new type of dielectric reflector. However, this type of reflector has not been widely used because of the lack of development of an operational array based on the overall general principle. The present invention is directed toward an operational array of this type and a method of manufacturing such an array while assuring uniformity of impedance match and ease of producing the array at a high volume and at a low cost. There have of course been a great number of other types of reflectors utilized in the past.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION board may be copper separated by dielectric material with the thickness of dielectric material dependent upon the frequency to which the array is to be used. A machined balun, which may be made of brass and produced in an automatic screw machine, is attached through holes drilled through the printed circuit board and one balun is attached to each antenna element and also to the ground plane. Transmission lines having'the same electrical length are cut and each end is inserted in a pair of spaced antenna elements with a balun attached, and each transmission line is attached to the antenna element and to the balun to provide a wide angle retroreflector apparatus.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from a study of the written description and the drawings in which:
FIG. 1 shows a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, with dash lines illustrating the inter-connection of the antenna element;
FIG. 2 shows a top sectional view of one antenna element;
no. 3 is a view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2; FIG. 4 is a view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3; and
FIG. 5 shows an exploded view with a balun separated from the printed circuit board.
' DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1 a wide angle retroreflector 10 can be seen having a printed circuit board 11 with dipoles 12 etched on one surface thereof, which dipoles are tuned to a desired frequency. Pairs of dipoles l2are interconnectedby transmission line 13 shown as dotted lines which run beneath the printed circuit board 11. All the transmission lines 13 will have the same electrical lengths and the opposite side of the printed circuit board 11 from the dipoles.12 will have a ground plane separated from the dipoles by dielectric material. The groundplane could for instance be the copper coating on the other side of the printed circuit 11 not having any material etched away. The thickness of the dielectric material will be dependent upon the frequency to which the array is to be used and a double copper-clad .baseplate. printedcircuit board material is used having a predetermined thickness and dielectric constant. The printed circuit board 11 has holes 14 drilled in it at each dipole 12 with a balun 15 attached to each dipole 12 and extending below the printedcircuit board 11. Each transmission line 13 is inserted through the drilled holes 14 and attached to the balun 15 with the center wire 16 being attached to one side of the dipole l2.
Balun in this application is defined as an acronym for balanced-to-unbalanced and includes matching an unbalanced transmission line such as a coaxial cable to abalanced line orsystem such as a two wire line in which the terminals have equal impedances to ground.
Turning now to FIG. 2, the dipole section of the printed circuit board 10 is illustrated in the portion of the circuit board 11 having a dipole 12 being connected such as by soldering a center line 16 of the coaxial line 13 which has been inserted up through the balun l5. Itcan also be seen that the dipole 12 is $01- dered at 17 to the balun I5, and that the balun 15 has a slotted area 18, as will be described in more detail.
FIG. 3 shows a sectional view more clearly illustrating the transmission line 13 having an outer conductive braid 20 enclosing a dielectric material such as teflon 21 and beingattached to the balun 15 with solder at 22. The balun can be seen attached to the ground plate 23 at 24 and having a dielectric material 25 separated from the dipole antenna element 12. The center line conductorl6 is shown soldered to the dipole 12 and the dipole element 12 is also soldered to the balun 15.
It should be noted at this point that the braid 20 has a very close and tight fit on the balun 15 and that the slot 18 is slotted to a point just about even with the bottom surface of the ground plane 23 and that the center line conductor 16 forms a very tight and smooth bend to one dipole element 12, where it is soldered to the dipole element and to the balun 15. These techniques are mentioned since providing an efficient reflector requires many techniques which may seem small but which the sum total can produce desired results.
FIG. 4 is taken along line 4-4 and shows a balun l5 having slot 18 passing through insulating material 25 with the transmission line 13 having the teflon insulating material 21 passing through the balun 15 along with the center conductor 16 passing through the teflon material 21.
FIG. 5 shows an exploded view with balun being removed from the printed circuit board 11 and having the slot 18 therein. This balun 15 is machined to the desired length as required by the mechanical and electrical characteristics of the cable used and is slotted so that the slot length is one-quarter wavelength of the frequency to which the array will be resonant. The slot length is critical in that the required length to provide an impedance match to the cable is necessary. This particular balun is especially desirable because it may be easily mass-produced by machinery such as an automatic screw machine which assures impedance matching due to the uniformity in the balun. The hole 14 is drilled so as to center on the two one-quarter wave dipoles l2.
The method for producing the present antenna ray requires that a printed circuit board clad on both sides with copper and having the desired thickness and dielectric constance be selected andcut to the proper size. The printed circuit board may then be coated with a material such as wax utilizing a process such as silkscreening so that the ground plane will not be touched by the acid in which the etching is performed, and the plane having the dipoles will etch away all the copper except the dipoles at the desired location. The board can then be drilled either singularly or preferably multiple drillings in a jig fixture for drilling in the center of each of the two one-quarter wave dipoles. The baluns may be made of a material such as a brass tubing which may be-produced in an automatic screw machine, or the like, and having the desired length and slot for a one-quarter wavelength of the frequency the antenna wave is to have. The baluns are then inserted in the drilled holes in the printed circuit board and adjusted for depth and then soldered to the ground plane which soldering may desirably be performed in a flow soldering machine making connections with all the baluns and the ground plane. Next, the transmission lines or cables are selected in accordance with the desired frequency of operation and are cut to the desired length. Cables are then inserted into the baluns with the cable shield slipped overthe end of the baluns and soldered at that point. The center conductor of the coaxial cable is then left sticking above the balun where it is bent over the appropriate dipole and soldered. As with the baluns, the center conductors may all be soldered in a flow soldering machine making the connection not only of the center conductor to the appropriate dipole, but also the balun to the dipole.
Applicant of course does not wish to be limited to any particular design or shape, but one embodiment of the present invention which has been successfully operated utilizes a dielectric printed circuit board having a thickness of 0.375 inch of Rexolite or a polystyrene with a copper coating on either side of 0.010 inch, having a balun which is 0.880 inch in length with a slot extending from one end into the balun 0.375 inch and having an inside diameter of 0.1 18 and an outside diameter of 0. l 55 l 2. The coaxial cable may have a teflon inner insulator with the braid portion removed to expose a 0.630 inch length of teflon with the center conductor extending another 0.250 inch above the teflon. The coaxial cable will have a length of an even number of wavelengths.
It should be made clear at this point that while dipoles are commonly used in these arrays because of their omnidirectional characteristics which gives the array the broadest wide angle coverage, it is anticipated that the use of spirals, helixes, horns, and the like, could also be used as desired without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It should also be noted that the configuration illustrated has a circular polarization but that horizontally polarized dipoles and other variations are anticipated as being within the scope of the present invention, and while a group of dipoles on a square planed surface has been illustrated, it should be realized that this is one example where the same principles could be constructed on a cylindrical, spherical, rectangular or circular surface, without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly this invention is not to be construed as limited to the particular forms disclosed herein since these are -to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive.
We claim:
1. A method of making a retroreflector apparatus comprising the steps of:
a. etching a printed circuit board with a plurality of antenna elements at predetermined locations on one side; said printed circuit board having a ground plane on a second side thereof;
b. attaching a balun to each said antenna element on one side of said printed circuit board;
c. attaching each said balun to said ground plane on said second side of said printed circuit board;
d. cutting a plurality of transmission lines to the approximate same electrical length for connection between spaced baluns;
e. attaching each of said plurality of transmission lines between spaced pairs of baluns one end of each said transmission line being attached to only one balun and said baluns being located in predetermined spaced relationship to each other whereby a wide angle retroreflector apparatus is produced.
2. The method in accordance with claim 1 but including the step of drilling holes in said printed circuit board at predetermined locations for inserting said balun in prior to attaching each saidbalun to each side of said printed circuit board.
3. The method in accordance with claim 2 but including the step of attaching said baluns to said printed circuit board by positioning each balun in a hole in said printed circuit board and flow soldering said balun to a ground plane of said printed circuit board on the op posite side from said antenna elements.
4. The method in accordance with claim 3 in which said baluns are attached to each antenna element by flow soldering .said baluns following attaching said baluns to said ground plane.
5. The method in accordance with claim 4 which includes attaching the center conductor of said transmission line to one said antenna element.
6; The method in accordance with claim 5 but including the step of machining baluns from tubing prior to attaching a balun to each said antenna element.
7. A retroreflector apparatus comprising in combination:
a. a printed circuit board having antenna elements etched on one side thereof and a ground plane on the other side thereof;
angle retroreflector array is provided with pairs of spaced interconnected antenna elements. 8. The apparatus according to claim 7 in which each said transmission line is a coaxial cable having each end thereof of said transmission line braid attached to one said balun and each end of each center conductor attached to one said antenna element.
9. The apparatus according to claim 8 in which said antenna elements are dipoles.
10. The apparatus according to claim 9 in which said printed circuit board has a copper clad ground plane and copper clad antenna elements.
11. The apparatus according to claim 10 in which said dipoles are aligned in intermittent rows with said elements in each row running perpendicular to the elements in each preceding row.

Claims (11)

1. A method of making a retroreflector apparatus comprising the steps of: a. etching a printed circuit board with a plurality of antenna elements at predetermined locations on one side; said printed circuit board having a ground plane on a second side thereof; b. attaching a balun to each said antenna element on one side of said printed circuit board; c. attaching each said balun to said ground plane on said second side of said printed circuit board; d. cutting a plurality of transmission lines to the approximate same electrical length for connection between spaced baluns; e. attaching each of said plurality of transmission lines between spaced pairs of baluns one end of each said transmission line being attached to only one balun and said baluns being located in predetermined spaced relationship to each other whereby a wide angle retroreflector apparatus is produced.
2. The method in accordance with claim 1 but including the step of drilling holes in said printed circuit board at predetermined locations for inserting said balun in prior to attaching each said balun to each side of said printed circuit board.
3. The method in accordance with claim 2 but including the step of attaching said baluns to said printed circuit board by positioning each balun in a hole in said printed circuit board and flow soldering said balun to a ground plane of said printed circuit board on the opposite side from said antenna elements.
4. The method in accordance with claim 3 in which said baluns are attached to each antenna element by flow soldering said baluns following attaching said baluns to said ground plane.
5. The method in accordance with claim 4 which includes attaching the center conductor of said transmission line to one said antenna element.
6. The method in accordance with claim 5 but including the step of machining baluns from tubing prior to attaching a balun to each said antenna element.
7. A retroreflector apparatus comprising in combination: a. a printed circuit board having antenna elements etched on one side thereof and a ground plane on the other side thereof; b. said printed circuit board having tubular shaped baluns with parallel slots in the walls of one end thereof, said slots being of a length corresponding to approximately one quarter of the frequency of said retroreflector and each said balun being attached to said ground plane and to one said antenna element; and c. a plurality of transmission lines of approximately equal lengths; each said transmission line being connected between a pair of spaced baluns and each end of each said transmission line being attached to only one spaced balun whereby a wide angle retroreflector array is provided with pairs of spaced interconnected antenna elements.
8. The apparatus according to claim 7 in which each said transmission line is a coaxial cable having each end thereof of said transmission line braid attached to one said balun and each end of each center conductor attached to one said antenna element.
9. The apparatus according to claim 8 in which said antenna elements are dipoles.
10. The apparatus according to claim 9 in which said printed circuit board has a copper clad ground plane and copper clad antenna elements.
11. The apparatus according to claim 10 in which said dipoles are aligned in intermittent rows with said elements in each row running perpendicular to the elements in each preceding row.
US21879A 1970-03-23 1970-03-23 Retroflector dipole antenna array and method of making Expired - Lifetime US3681771A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US2187970A 1970-03-23 1970-03-23

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3681771A true US3681771A (en) 1972-08-01

Family

ID=21806640

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US21879A Expired - Lifetime US3681771A (en) 1970-03-23 1970-03-23 Retroflector dipole antenna array and method of making

Country Status (1)

Country Link
US (1) US3681771A (en)

Cited By (22)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4011566A (en) * 1975-07-25 1977-03-08 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Air Force In-line coax-to waveguide transition using dipole
US4081803A (en) * 1975-11-20 1978-03-28 International Telephone And Telegraph Corporation Multioctave turnstile antenna for direction finding and polarization determination
US5191351A (en) * 1989-12-29 1993-03-02 Texas Instruments Incorporated Folded broadband antenna with a symmetrical pattern
US5274391A (en) * 1990-10-25 1993-12-28 Radio Frequency Systems, Inc. Broadband directional antenna having binary feed network with microstrip transmission line
US5345197A (en) * 1993-01-11 1994-09-06 International Business Machines Battery powered magnetic pen having oscillator with improved efficiency and low power consumption
US5818397A (en) * 1993-09-10 1998-10-06 Radio Frequency Systems, Inc. Circularly polarized horizontal beamwidth antenna having binary feed network with microstrip transmission line
US6034649A (en) * 1998-10-14 2000-03-07 Andrew Corporation Dual polarized based station antenna
US6072439A (en) * 1998-01-15 2000-06-06 Andrew Corporation Base station antenna for dual polarization
US6239764B1 (en) 1998-06-09 2001-05-29 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Wideband microstrip dipole antenna array and method for forming such array
US6285336B1 (en) 1999-11-03 2001-09-04 Andrew Corporation Folded dipole antenna
US6317099B1 (en) 2000-01-10 2001-11-13 Andrew Corporation Folded dipole antenna
WO2002049148A2 (en) * 2000-12-15 2002-06-20 Atheros Communications, Inc. Methods of manufacturing and mounting a side stem or central-stem monopole antenna
US6538605B2 (en) 2000-12-15 2003-03-25 Atheros Communications, Inc. Method and system for mounting a monopole antenna
US6718619B2 (en) 2000-12-15 2004-04-13 Atheros Communications, Inc. Method of manufacturing a central stem monopole antenna
US6883227B2 (en) 2000-12-15 2005-04-26 Atheros Communications, Inc. Method of manufacturing a side stem monopole antenna
EP1933209A2 (en) * 1999-04-19 2008-06-18 Advantest Corporation Dipole antenna and method of manufacturing the same
US20120223851A1 (en) * 2010-04-08 2012-09-06 Elbit Systems Ew And Sigint - Elisra Ltd. Electronic counter measure system
US20140374616A1 (en) * 2013-06-24 2014-12-25 Raytheon Company Imaging Antenna and Related Techniques
EP2863478A1 (en) * 2013-10-15 2015-04-22 Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation Reflectarray antenna system
US10892549B1 (en) 2020-02-28 2021-01-12 Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation Phased-array antenna system
US10944164B2 (en) 2019-03-13 2021-03-09 Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation Reflectarray antenna for transmission and reception at multiple frequency bands
US11183769B2 (en) 2017-10-27 2021-11-23 Thales Canada Inc. Near-grazing retroreflectors for polarization

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2953781A (en) * 1959-11-30 1960-09-20 John R Donnellan Polarization diversity with flat spiral antennas
GB860826A (en) * 1956-08-24 1961-02-08 Secr Aviation Improvements in or relating to electromagnetic wave lenses and mirrors
US3110030A (en) * 1961-05-25 1963-11-05 Martin Marietta Corp Cone mounted logarithmic dipole array antenna
US3222677A (en) * 1960-01-04 1965-12-07 Litton Systems Inc Lobe switching directional antenna with directional couplers for feeding and phasing signal energy
US3276023A (en) * 1963-05-21 1966-09-27 Dorne And Margolin Inc Grid array antenna
US3386092A (en) * 1964-09-18 1968-05-28 Texas Instruments Inc Modular integrated electronics radar

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB860826A (en) * 1956-08-24 1961-02-08 Secr Aviation Improvements in or relating to electromagnetic wave lenses and mirrors
US2953781A (en) * 1959-11-30 1960-09-20 John R Donnellan Polarization diversity with flat spiral antennas
US3222677A (en) * 1960-01-04 1965-12-07 Litton Systems Inc Lobe switching directional antenna with directional couplers for feeding and phasing signal energy
US3110030A (en) * 1961-05-25 1963-11-05 Martin Marietta Corp Cone mounted logarithmic dipole array antenna
US3276023A (en) * 1963-05-21 1966-09-27 Dorne And Margolin Inc Grid array antenna
US3386092A (en) * 1964-09-18 1968-05-28 Texas Instruments Inc Modular integrated electronics radar

Cited By (29)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4011566A (en) * 1975-07-25 1977-03-08 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Air Force In-line coax-to waveguide transition using dipole
US4081803A (en) * 1975-11-20 1978-03-28 International Telephone And Telegraph Corporation Multioctave turnstile antenna for direction finding and polarization determination
US5191351A (en) * 1989-12-29 1993-03-02 Texas Instruments Incorporated Folded broadband antenna with a symmetrical pattern
US5274391A (en) * 1990-10-25 1993-12-28 Radio Frequency Systems, Inc. Broadband directional antenna having binary feed network with microstrip transmission line
US5345197A (en) * 1993-01-11 1994-09-06 International Business Machines Battery powered magnetic pen having oscillator with improved efficiency and low power consumption
US5818397A (en) * 1993-09-10 1998-10-06 Radio Frequency Systems, Inc. Circularly polarized horizontal beamwidth antenna having binary feed network with microstrip transmission line
US6072439A (en) * 1998-01-15 2000-06-06 Andrew Corporation Base station antenna for dual polarization
US6239764B1 (en) 1998-06-09 2001-05-29 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Wideband microstrip dipole antenna array and method for forming such array
US6034649A (en) * 1998-10-14 2000-03-07 Andrew Corporation Dual polarized based station antenna
EP1933209A3 (en) * 1999-04-19 2008-07-16 Advantest Corporation Dipole antenna and method of manufacturing the same
EP1933209A2 (en) * 1999-04-19 2008-06-18 Advantest Corporation Dipole antenna and method of manufacturing the same
US6285336B1 (en) 1999-11-03 2001-09-04 Andrew Corporation Folded dipole antenna
US6317099B1 (en) 2000-01-10 2001-11-13 Andrew Corporation Folded dipole antenna
US6718619B2 (en) 2000-12-15 2004-04-13 Atheros Communications, Inc. Method of manufacturing a central stem monopole antenna
WO2002049148A3 (en) * 2000-12-15 2003-05-01 Atheros Comm Inc Methods of manufacturing and mounting a side stem or central-stem monopole antenna
US6883227B2 (en) 2000-12-15 2005-04-26 Atheros Communications, Inc. Method of manufacturing a side stem monopole antenna
US6538605B2 (en) 2000-12-15 2003-03-25 Atheros Communications, Inc. Method and system for mounting a monopole antenna
WO2002049148A2 (en) * 2000-12-15 2002-06-20 Atheros Communications, Inc. Methods of manufacturing and mounting a side stem or central-stem monopole antenna
US20120223851A1 (en) * 2010-04-08 2012-09-06 Elbit Systems Ew And Sigint - Elisra Ltd. Electronic counter measure system
US8368580B2 (en) * 2010-04-08 2013-02-05 Elbit Systems EW and Sigint—Elisra Ltd. Electronic counter measure system
US20140374616A1 (en) * 2013-06-24 2014-12-25 Raytheon Company Imaging Antenna and Related Techniques
US9329255B2 (en) * 2013-06-24 2016-05-03 Raytheon Company Imaging antenna and related techniques
EP2863478A1 (en) * 2013-10-15 2015-04-22 Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation Reflectarray antenna system
US10263342B2 (en) 2013-10-15 2019-04-16 Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation Reflectarray antenna system
US11575214B2 (en) 2013-10-15 2023-02-07 Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation Reflectarray antenna system
US11183769B2 (en) 2017-10-27 2021-11-23 Thales Canada Inc. Near-grazing retroreflectors for polarization
US10944164B2 (en) 2019-03-13 2021-03-09 Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation Reflectarray antenna for transmission and reception at multiple frequency bands
US10892549B1 (en) 2020-02-28 2021-01-12 Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation Phased-array antenna system
US11251524B1 (en) 2020-02-28 2022-02-15 Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation Phased-array antenna system

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3681771A (en) Retroflector dipole antenna array and method of making
US4525720A (en) Integrated spiral antenna and printed circuit balun
KR101056310B1 (en) Single or double polarized molded dipole antenna with integral supply structure
US4843403A (en) Broadband notch antenna
US5581266A (en) Printed-circuit crossed-slot antenna
US4922263A (en) Plate antenna with double crossed polarizations
US4001834A (en) Printed wiring antenna and arrays fabricated thereof
US4486758A (en) Antenna element for circularly polarized high-frequency signals
US6133878A (en) Microstrip array antenna
US3887925A (en) Linearly polarized phased antenna array
EP0901181B1 (en) Microstrip to coax vertical launcher using conductive, compressible and solderless interconnects
US6271799B1 (en) Antenna horn and associated methods
US4087822A (en) Radio frequency antenna having microstrip feed network and flared radiating aperture
KR100841152B1 (en) Array antenna including a monolithic antenna feed assembly and related methods
US10236578B2 (en) Antenna structures and associated methods for construction and use
US20100271280A1 (en) Double balun dipole
JPH0758858B2 (en) Helical antenna and method of manufacturing the same
JPS58168304A (en) Antenna element
KR20190117689A (en) Bowtie Antenna Unit
US6091366A (en) Microstrip type antenna device
JPH088641A (en) Scanning cup dipole antenna with fixed dipole and rotary cup
US4573056A (en) Dipole radiator excited by a shielded slot line
US9997827B2 (en) Wideband array antenna and manufacturing methods
US6229498B1 (en) Helical antenna
US3971125A (en) Method of making an antenna array using printed circuit techniques