EP0252779A1 - Antennenelement mit einem Streifen, der zwischen zwei selbsttragenden und mit untereinanderliegenden strahlenden Schlitzen vorgesehenen Grundplatten hängt und Verfahren zur Herstellung desselben - Google Patents

Antennenelement mit einem Streifen, der zwischen zwei selbsttragenden und mit untereinanderliegenden strahlenden Schlitzen vorgesehenen Grundplatten hängt und Verfahren zur Herstellung desselben Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0252779A1
EP0252779A1 EP87401252A EP87401252A EP0252779A1 EP 0252779 A1 EP0252779 A1 EP 0252779A1 EP 87401252 A EP87401252 A EP 87401252A EP 87401252 A EP87401252 A EP 87401252A EP 0252779 A1 EP0252779 A1 EP 0252779A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
antenna element
element according
antenna
plates
slots
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.)
Granted
Application number
EP87401252A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0252779B1 (de
Inventor
Emmanuel Rammos
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.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
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
Family has litigation
First worldwide family litigation filed litigation Critical https://patents.darts-ip.com/?family=26225288&utm_source=google_patent&utm_medium=platform_link&utm_campaign=public_patent_search&patent=EP0252779(A1) "Global patent litigation dataset” by Darts-ip is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Priority claimed from FR8608106A external-priority patent/FR2599899B1/fr
Priority claimed from FR8700181A external-priority patent/FR2609577B2/fr
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to AT87401252T priority Critical patent/ATE95635T1/de
Publication of EP0252779A1 publication Critical patent/EP0252779A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0252779B1 publication Critical patent/EP0252779B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q21/00—Antenna arrays or systems
    • H01Q21/24—Combinations of antenna units polarised in different directions for transmitting or receiving circularly and elliptically polarised waves or waves linearly polarised in any direction
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q21/00—Antenna arrays or systems
    • H01Q21/0006—Particular feeding systems
    • H01Q21/0075—Stripline fed arrays
    • H01Q21/0081—Stripline fed arrays using suspended striplines
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q21/00—Antenna arrays or systems
    • H01Q21/0087—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing antenna arrays
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q21/00—Antenna arrays or systems
    • H01Q21/06—Arrays of individually energised antenna units similarly polarised and spaced apart
    • H01Q21/061—Two dimensional planar arrays

Definitions

  • the object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive method of manufacturing a microwave antenna of the type intended in particular for the terrestrial reception of television broadcasts by satellite.
  • the antenna described in French patent application 81 08 780 of May 4, 1981 relates to a "stripline" type antenna intended to operate in circular polarization, and has the drawback of involving the use of an expensive solid dielectric material.
  • the prior device described proposes to produce two separate supply lines located in the same plane.
  • a supply system is only possible when the planar network consists only of a small number of elements.
  • the planar network consists only of a small number of elements.
  • the planar network consists only of sixteen elements out of sixteen, owing to the fact that some of the lines must cross.
  • the system described is therefore relatively expensive and incapable of serving as a principle for achieving a network for satellite DBS (direct telecommunications satellite for radio or television broadcasting), which commonly comprises systems of 500 to 1000 elements.
  • DBS direct telecommunications satellite for radio or television broadcasting
  • the present invention proposes to produce a network antenna making it possible in particular to remedy the drawbacks mentioned above of the known devices.
  • a first object of the invention is to provide a network antenna of simple construction, thanks to the original arrangement of the supply lines, and with low tolerancing requirements.
  • a second object of the invention is to produce the radiating elements integrated into the structure of the supply lines, also for reasons of simplicity of construction.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide such a network antenna which operates over a wide band, by virtue of the grouping, in pairs (or in greater number), of radiating slots electromagnetically coupled to the supply lines.
  • a complementary object of the invention is to provide a highly efficient antenna (thanks to a low-loss feed system), which can also operate in double circular polarization.
  • the present invention also sets out several variants of a simple and inexpensive method of manufacturing such antennas involving shaping and assembly processes with mild tolerancing adapted to mass production.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide such manufacturing methods allowing maximum standardization of the constituent elements of each antenna.
  • An additional object of the invention is to provide methods of manufacturing and assembling several standardized antenna modules, with the aim of achieving large radiating surfaces at low cost price.
  • an antenna or antenna element of the type comprising a central conductor interposed between two ground planes, and cooperating with circular slots formed in the planes of mass and aligned in pairs, characterized in that said central conductor is a microstrip conductor carried by a dielectric support sheet suspended between the upper and lower ground planes, in that said ground planes are produced by self-supporting metal plates, and in that the spacing between the suspended central conductor and the metal plates is maintained by means of spaced positioning pads.
  • This structure characterizing the antenna according to the invention then makes it possible to obtain operation over a wide band, in particular if the two recesses of the same pair do not have quite the same diameter, and if the triplate structure is overcome by '' an additional plate also hollowed out.
  • the support sheet for the microstrip can be produced in an inexpensive dielectric without drawbacks.
  • the triplate structure A formed of said support sheet of the supply circuit and of the two metal plates is completed by a reflective lower plate, said reflective lower plate being separated from the triplate structure A by a distance equivalent to approximately a quarter. wavelength.
  • the antenna also comprises closed rear cavities and / or open front cavities, in alignment with at least some of the pairs of radiating slots, said cavities being produced by shaping methods with low tolerancing.
  • the adjacent input modules of a modular antenna assembly according to the invention cooperate with common inputs / outputs of the signal in the form of low loss waveguides.
  • the objectives of the invention are also achieved using a method of manufacturing the antennas characterized in that the shaping of each of said ground plates is carried out by a stamping / stamping operation on the one hand pierce said radiating slots and on the other hand push spacing stops on the face of the plates facing the dielectric supporting the central conductor, in that said antenna is assembled by simply resting non-conductive areas of the dielectric support plate of the conductor printed against the repellents facing the lower and upper ground plates so as to project the terminations of the conductive circuit between pairs of aligned slots, and by overlapping said triplate thus produced above a metal plate bottom located at the back of the antenna, and in that one immobilizes with respect to the other and secures the bottom metal plate and the es elements of said triplate thus assembled by fixing means.
  • the method includes a step of manufacturing cavities, and a step of assembling each cavity to the rear of the antenna in correspondence with a pair of radiating slots.
  • said cavities are produced in particular by a stamping / stamping operation of a metal plate, or by construction of a grid formed by an interlacing of blades on the field defining between them rectangular cells closed by the bottom plate , or by mounting cylinder trunks on the bottom plate, or finally by fitting a metal lining against the walls of cells formed in a block of non-metallic material.
  • the means for fixing the elements of the antenna ensuring their relative immobilization and their joining consist of a set of tightening bolts of the assembly, or also of a housing reception of the superimposed elements of the antenna, the raised edges of which are integral with the base plate of the antenna.
  • the method includes a step of manufacturing an additional coupling ring consisting of bottomless cavities produced in particular in a similar manner to the closed cavities situated at the rear of the antenna, and a step assembly of said crown on the radiating face of the antenna, so as to align each bottomless cavity with a pair of radiating slots.
  • the method according to the invention also includes a step of assembling several antenna modules manufactured according to one of the preceding methods, in which several elements of plate plates are juxtaposed mass, and possibly several elements of rear cavities and / or front crowns in coupling with a single conductive circuit.
  • This manufacturing process by reducing the size of the metal elements to be shaped, and allowing their standardization, makes it possible to further reduce the cost price of the antenna.
  • the modularity of the antenna is particularly advantageous for applications for reception of television broadcasts by satellite, for which the receiving surface is for example around 0.3 m2 (individual antenna), as presented below.
  • each module consists of an independent conductive circuit cooperating with ground plates, rear cavities and specific front rings.
  • the method of coupling the modules is then for example characterized in that the input / output of the antenna is carried out by waveguide, either by coupling the conductive circuits of at least two modules by "T" link with single termination on common waveguide, either by separately performing the input / output of each module on independent waveguides coupled by power divider (s) in waveguide (s).
  • Standardization of manufacturing of modular conductive circuits is advantageously obtained when the antenna manufacturing process consists in using support plates of the identical conductive circuit for each module, the support plates being alternately turned front and back when they are inserted between the plates. stamped mass from adjacent modules.
  • the antenna according to the invention is of the suspended microstrip line type, consisting of a central conductor 22 carried by a dielectric support sheet 12 suspended between two upper metal plates 11 and lower 13
  • the plates 11, 13 are each provided with recesses 20a, 20b aligned in pairs at the projecting endings 30 of the conductor 22.
  • the antenna structure is also completed by a reflective metal base plate 14.
  • the relative positioning of the planes 11, 12, 13, 14, the dimensioning of the recesses 20a, 20b, and the length 1 of the projecting termination 30 of the conductor 22 are chosen so that the recesses 20a, 20b play the role of coupled radiating slots electromagnetically, for a relatively wide operating frequency band.
  • the recesses 20a, 20b of the same pair have their centers aligned on a vertical axis, and may have an equal diameter. However, it is preferable that the diameters of the recesses of the same pair are slightly different to improve the bandwidth.
  • each recess depends essentially on its dimensions, and if the two recesses of the same pair have a slightly different central operating frequency, the total bandwidth is increased.
  • the diameter of the recesses is of the order of 0.3 to 0.7 wavelength.
  • the spacing between two consecutive recesses on a row or a column can be equal to 0.7 to 0.9 wavelength.
  • the bottom reflecting plate 14 makes it possible to give a direction to the radiated energy, and is located at a distance from the triplate structure A of the order of a quarter wavelength.
  • the distance between this bottom reflecting plate and the structure of the triplate is very important since it gives the possibility of optimizing the operation in conjunction with the dimensions of the supply line 22.
  • FIG. 10 represents another embodiment of an antenna mode according to the present invention, consisting of the successive stacking of a stamped bottom plate 14 forming closed cavities 26, of a bottom ground plate 13 stamped , of a support plate 12 of the conductive circuit 22 and of a stamped upper ground sheet 11 and of a stamped upper crown 25 forming open cavities 27.
  • this embodiment of the antenna exclusively involves a metal sheet stamping technology for the manufacture of the four plates 11, 13, 14, 25.
  • the stamping operation makes it possible on the one hand to release the recesses 20a, 20b forming each radiating pair, and forming bulges or stops 31 forming positioning pads. These bulges 31 come to bear on the dielectric intermediate plate 12, and define the spacing between the three plates of the structure A.
  • a supply circuit of the "suspended" type is thus obtained, while producing the radiating elements themselves .
  • This type of antenna is therefore particularly suitable for mass production, at reduced cost price.
  • stamped sheet 25 can also be placed upside down (upside down), relative to its position in fig.10).
  • Figure 10 does not in any way account for the proportion of spacings and thicknesses of the plates. Indeed the distances Hu and Hl in particular have been considerably oversized for reasons of clarity.
  • the adaptation of this element is a function of the length 1 of penetration of the termination 30 between the slots 20a, 20b, of the distance d f between the triplate 11, 12, 13 and the bottom of the cavity 26, of the diameter D C of the cavity, of the diameter D e of the slots 20a, 20b, and the impedance Z O of the supply conductor.
  • Z O depends on the width w of the central conductor, on the thickness H of the dielectric plate 12, and on the distances H U and H L separating the electrical support plate 12 and the upper mass plate 11 and lower 13 respectively, as well as the dielectric constant R of the support plate 12.
  • FIG. 5 represents the calculations carried out on a line of the antenna (by the CAD program "Supercompact"), in which the central conductor has been moved between the two ground plates, keeping constant the distance b separating the ground plates.
  • the distance d separating the ground planes 11 and 13 is not very critical either for the resulting impedance of the system, whether for the S band or the X band.
  • the second important parameter is the efficiency of the antenna, that is to say its gain per unit area.
  • the antenna claimed has an almost constant gain over a very large bandwidth (12.5% on the 4x4 element prototype).
  • satellite reception antennas usable in Europe will only be asked for a bandwidth of around 7% (from 11.7 to 12.5 GHz). Consequently, there is a comfortable margin for adaptation of the antenna, which easily tolerates inaccuracies in shaping and mounting due to the rusticity of the manufacturing technologies employed for the invention.
  • the efficiency of the antenna is further increased by limiting the losses in each radiating element.
  • the claimed technology lends itself perfectly to optimization in this area. Indeed, the fact of using air as a dielectric between the support plate 12 and the two ground planes 11, 13 makes it possible to reduce the losses in comparison with an equivalent antenna of the "stripline” or "microstrip” type, where the central conductor is separated from two ground planes or from a single ground plane respectively, by an expensive dielectric solid material.
  • the dielectric of the support plate can be as thin as possible without affecting its mechanical stability. For example, it has been found that a thickness of 25 to 75 microns is perfectly suitable. The losses as presented in FIGS.
  • pairs of radiating slits 20a, 20b has the effect of concentrating the radiant energy in a zone lower than for example that obtained in embodiments where each conductive termination 30 is only coupled to cavities forming waveguide .
  • the width of a waveguide D L is greater than the width D e of the radiating slits. Due to the location of the radiating effect caused by the radiating slits, the distance between two adjacent elements (for example element A and element B of the antenna module of FIG. 10) can be reduced for a value tolerable minimum decoupling between lines.
  • FIG. 3 An exemplary embodiment of the supply circuit 22 is shown in FIG. 3.
  • the impedance of the supply circuit 22 depends on the width that it has in each of its conductive portions, for a distance b given between the plates 11 and 13.
  • the power dividers of circuit 22, as shown in FIG. 3, can be easily produced so as to obtain that the two decoupled outputs 41, 43 are adapted. This is achieved if the power ratio released by the two outputs 41, 43 is equal to or close to unity. It is therefore not necessary to provide a fourth output (for example in the form of a Wilkinson resistor bridged between the two decoupled outputs).
  • the power divider of FIG. 3 is for example of the type with two adapted output sections 44, 45, of a quarter wavelength, with a width W of the doors producing an impedance Zo and a width W ⁇ of said sections having a characteristic impedance equal to 2 1/2 ZO.
  • FIGS 16, 17, 18 show optimized embodiments for modules of 16 x 16 elements (two adjacent modules are shown in each figure).
  • Each of the embodiments shown is particularly advantageous insofar as each of the 512 elements of the antenna is located at exactly the same electrical distance from the input / output of the antenna, and the resulting drawing emerges, on the support plate of the conductor, non-conductive areas 90 where the pushed-in positioning studs 31 of the ground planes can rest without inconvenience.
  • the polarization of the antenna according to the invention depends on the polarization of each of the radiating elements.
  • the polarization is linear with an electric field E parallel to the excitation lines.
  • Circular polarization can be obtained by using a printed plane polarizer (for example a meandering line polarizer) placed above the triplate.
  • a printed plane polarizer for example a meandering line polarizer
  • Another method of obtaining a circular polarization consists in exciting two perpendicular linear polarizations in each of the radiating elements.
  • FIG. 6 represents an embodiment of the invention, in which the two independent supply lines serving to excite each of the radiating elements of the network are at two different levels 51, 52.
  • the structure A of the antenna therefore consists of five superimposed plates, namely three metallized plates 53, 54, 55 pierced with aligned recesses 20A, 20B, 20C, between which the two dielectric sheets 51, 52 carrying the supply circuits 56, 57.
  • the middle ground plate 54 is used by the two circuits 56, 57.
  • the two external recesses 20A, 20C have the same diameter.
  • each excitation line is obtained by adjusting the length of their termination advancing opposite said recesses, and the distance to the reflective bottom plate 58.
  • a phase shift at + 90 ° or -90 ° at the excitation lines, one can obtain a right or left circular polarization. If a hybrid - 3dB is used to combine the signals from the two outputs linear polarization, we can obtain a double circular polarization.
  • FIGS. 7 and 8 present variants of the antenna shown in FIG. 1.
  • the suspended triplate A in FIG. 7, is surmounted by an additional coupling element 60.
  • the triplate A is surmounted by an additional plate 70 provided with a recess 71 substantially in alignment with the recesses 20A, 20B.
  • the additional plate 71 can also be stamped, and separated from the triplate A by dielectric spacers 72 or stops formed by stamping.
  • FIGS. 7 and 8 make it possible to increase the bandwidth, that of FIG. 8 being probably better from an electrical point of view.
  • the dielectric plate 12 carrying the supply circuit 22 is not located between the two metallized plates 11, 13.
  • This embodiment is produced in FIG. 9.
  • the array antenna then consists of a succession of plates in a different order from that of FIG. 1, the upper plate 11 and the lower plate 13 being separated by a spacer 80.
  • the dielectric plate 12 carrying the circuit 22 is next to the outside of the double plate thus formed, on the side of the plate bottom 14.
  • the supply circuit 22 is in the form of an inverted printed circuit. In any event, the dielectric plate 12 prevents any contact between the circuit 22 and the metallized plate 13.
  • Figures 11, 12, 13, 14 illustrate four technologies for manufacturing the front and rear cavities, for a ground plane antenna module 11, 13.
  • FIG. 11 is an exploded view of a module with 4 x 4 elements of an antenna of the type shown in FIG. 10.
  • the module simply consists of the stack of stamped sheets 14, 13, 11, 25, in the middle of which is placed the support plate 12 of the conductive circuit 22.
  • the plates 11 and 13 can be eliminated.
  • the stack thus produced can be held in place either by means of bolts 26 passing through all the plates (FIG. 2), or by producing the bottom plate 14 in the form of a housing.
  • the stack can either be placed on the housing, or introduced at least partially inside the housing. In all cases, a predetermined spacing d f must be obtained between the triplate and the bottom of the housing.
  • the housing can be stamped, or machined by any other means, or even produced by metallization of a non-metallic housing.
  • the assembly and the locking of the assembly are carried out by screwing, gluing, welding or other.
  • FIG. 11 can, if necessary, be produced with a flat bottom plate 14, possibly forming a support housing, and kept at a distance from the triplate 11, 12, 13.
  • the crown 25 with open cavities 27 is optional.
  • a non-metallic support box B for example: plastic
  • the closed rear cavities 26 can also be in the form of individual stamped cabochons 72 (FIG. 11a) and attached by soldering, bonding or other points to the lower mass plate 13, facing the pairs of radiating slots.
  • FIG. 12 represents another embodiment of an antenna module according to the invention in which the rear closed cavities 26, and the front cavities 27 are produced by metal rings 150, mounted by any means on the bottom plate full 14, and an added plate 151 respectively.
  • the fixing of the rings 150 on the metal bottom plate 14 is carried out by welding, gluing or the like.
  • the perforated plate 151 can be metallic or non-metallic, and the rings 150 can also be glued or otherwise on the plates 14,151.
  • the housing B serves as a housing for a set of cylindrical metal rings 150 on which the triplate 11, 12, 13 will come to rest. 14 and 25 have become useless.
  • the rings 150 are mounted by any means on the bottom plate of the housing and / or on the lower ground plate 13.
  • the fixing of the rings 150 on the metal or metallized plate of the bottom of the housing and / or on the ground plate 13 is carried out by welding, gluing or the like.
  • the housing B serves as a housing for a set of intercrossed blades 160 placed on the field, and forming a grid on which the triplate 11, 12 will come to rest, 13.
  • the grid is formed of blades provided with notches 161, and intended to fit into one another as shown in FIG. 13B.
  • the intersection of the blades defines cavities 162 each corresponding to one of the radiating elements of the triplate.
  • shape of the cavities of the antenna module is not a limiting characteristic of the invention, as is the shape of the radiating slots 20a, 20b.
  • Circular, square, elliptical, rectangular, polygonal sections as required may be suitable.
  • the rectangular openings are advantageous for freeing up more space for the passage of the conductor 22.
  • FIG. 14 illustrates a fourth embodiment of the invention, according to which the closed rear cavities 26 are produced by placing a metal covering on the non-opening recess walls 170 formed in a non-metallic bottom block 171.
  • the bottom block can be made of plastic, and the metallization of the cavities can be performed using aluminum foil.
  • the support box B of FIG. 14 can be omitted.
  • the bottom block can also be replaced by a juxtaposition of elementary blocks, each having one or more cavities. In the case where the recesses are through, the metal bottom plate closes the cavities.
  • FIGS. 11 to 14 can be combined and in particular that the antenna modules of FIGS. 13 and 14 can be provided with a front crown of the type with stamped plates, or with rings 150.
  • the adding open front cavities 27 increases the gain of the antenna.
  • the cavity height is preferably greater than 0.1 times the emission wavelength. For example, a height of the open cavities of 5 mm to 10 mm would give an increase in gain of the order of 2 dB depending on the geometry, for an operating frequency of 12 GHz.
  • the modules can then be coated with an electromagnetically neutral material of the type of an expanded or molded plastic, for example expanded polyurethane.
  • This coating has the particular advantage of protecting the module against bad weather when the antenna is to be used outside.
  • an antenna can be produced by combining several modules.
  • this technique has the advantage of reducing the manufacturing cost, by reducing the size of the tools used.
  • the savings made can be significant; furthermore, the reduction in the size of the tools makes it possible to better control the precision of shaping of the stamped plates.
  • FIG. 15 shows a first embodiment of a modular antenna, in which the single conductor circuit 80 covers two modules 81, 82 produced according to any one of the embodiments described above. More specifically, the left part of the support plate 80 is inserted for example between an upper mass plate 11A, and a mass plate lower 13A mounted in a housing Ba as regards the first module 81, and between corresponding components 11B, 13B, B b as regards the second module 82.
  • the conductive circuit 80 is for example of the type shown in FIG. 16.
  • This embodiment is relatively satisfactory, but has the drawback that the input / output section 83 of the antenna conductor runs along the intersection of the modules.
  • the junction gap can be closed with a thin sheet of metal, for example copper self-adhesive or others.
  • the conductor 83 is therefore produced in the form of two decoupled parallel lines, on either side of the junction plane of two adjacent antenna modules.
  • each antenna element is at an identical electrical distance from the entry / exit point of the conductive circuit.
  • the two modules have identical conductive circuits oriented in the same direction (without having symmetry with respect to the junction line).
  • the supply sections 110 run along the entire edge concerned support plates 22a, 22b, in order to standardize their manufacture; in this case, the parasitic half-sections are disconnected by notch over their entire width, preferably at 45 °, at their connection with the vertical lines.
  • the input / output of the adjacent modules is preferably carried out in waveguides as shown in FIG. 19 or 20.
  • the use of an output directly in waveguide is advantageous compared to the use of a coaxial which constitutes a more expensive solution.
  • FIG. 19 illustrates an input / output waveguide in the case where the two adjacent conductive circuits are electrically connected by T-divider to present a single termination 120.
  • openings 121a, 121b, 122a, 122b are made on the joining edges of the upper plates 11a and 11b and lower 13a, 13b of the adjacent modules.
  • the pair of openings thus produced after joining the modules is completed by an upper cover 123 forming a closed waveguide element, and returning to an input / output waveguide 124 located on the other side of the triplate .
  • the upper reflective cover 123 is made for example of metallized plastic, or of a stamped metal sheet. Its height is for example of the order of a quarter wavelength.
  • the input / output waveguide 124 can for example be screwed, glued or the like onto the lower metal ground plates 13a, 13b.
  • This embodiment is suitable both for a single printed circuit cooperating with two modules (case of FIG. 15) as for two separate modules, the respective conductive circuits of which are only subsequently electrically connected to a termination. unique.
  • the electrical connection of the two conductors can for example be carried out as shown in FIG. 21, or the two support plates 12a, 12b of the adjacent modules overlap at their junction, so as to overlap the input / output termination of their respective conducting circuit 22a, 22b.
  • the conductive circuits 22a, 22b of two adjacent modules are produced from two identical printed support plates, one of which is used on the front, and the other on the back.
  • the printed circuit of one of the support plates is on the upper face, while the other printed circuit is on the lower face.
  • the slight offset which results therefrom does not, however, present any drawback, since the low sensitivity of the impedance Z O of the antenna according to the invention has been noted above, and therefore of its adaptation to small variations in the position of the printed circuit. between the two ground planes.
  • the dielectric material support plate which carries the printed conductive circuit 22a, 22b can be very thin, for example of the order of 50 microns.
  • the electrical connection of FIG. 21 can be carried out by drilling right through the support plates 12 a , 12 b at the terminations of input / output 140a, 140b of circuits corresponding conductors, then soldering of the circuits through said holes.
  • FIG. 20 shows another embodiment of the combined input / output device of the conductive circuits of two adjacent modules. In this case, no electrical connection is made, and the combination is made through a power divider 130, in an angled waveguide, so as to return the signal along the bottom of the antenna.
  • Each adjacent triplate is then provided with a pair of outlet slots (131a, 131b), to which is attached a double closed cover 132.
  • the double cover 132, as well as the single cover 123 in FIG. 19 can be produced at least partially by stamping the upper plates 11a, 11b of the adjacent modules of the antenna.
  • Parasitic coupling of the two adjacent modules can also be effectively avoided by providing between the modules an interval greater than the wavelength between the radiating elements (84, 85) adjacent to each other (81, 82) .
  • This free interval advantageously allows the passage of the central supply conductors, eliminating the risks of coupling and without affecting the radiation pattern too much.
  • Tests were carried out on an antenna module formed from a single element as shown in FIG. 22 in order to determine the bandwidth obtained with the implementation of the invention.
  • the excitation termination 30 of the conductor penetrates 5.0 mm between the slots 20a, 20b. Finally, a closed cylindrical cavity 26 with a diameter of 20 mm and a height of 9.2 mm has been aligned under the pair of radiating slots 20a, 20b.
  • This demonstration element is optimized to operate around frequencies around 11 GHz.
  • the TOS was measured on the band 10.4 GHz-12.4 GHz for a standard conductor produced by lithography.
  • FIG. 23a reproduces the measurements obtained, which demonstrate a remarkable behavior of the element having a TOS less than 1.4 over a bandwidth greater than 20%.
  • Figure 23b shows that the measured cross polarization is very low (less than -30 dB) in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the elementary antenna.
  • the useful radiation of the element takes place in linear polarization with an electric field parallel to the excitation line.
  • the second test carried out on the element consisted in replacing the excitation conductor 22 manufactured by lithography, by a conductor cut by hand (with a scalpel) for an impedance of 75 ohms from a line of 50 ohms.
  • the TOS measurement did not show any difference compared to the standard line produced by lithography.
  • a second series of tests was carried out on an antenna module with 16 elements, with a drawing of the conducting circuits as shown in FIG. 24.
  • trunks of glued cylinders were used to form the closed rear cavities.
  • the spacing studs 31 were not formed by stamping, but by bonding sheet metal studs to the ground plates 11, 13.
  • test measurements were also carried out in the anechoic chamber of the CHL laboratory. These measurements confirm the good results already observed during the test of the single antenna element, and are moreover more reliable than the previous tests of the fact that a module of 16 elements is less sensitive to measurement conditions than a single item.
  • Graph 25a indicates that the maximum gain obtained is 20 dB, and that the gain is greater than 19 dB on a frequency band greater than 10% (from 10.25 to 11.5 GHz).
  • the measured TOS is less than 2 on a frequency band wider than 2 GHz ( Figure 25b).
  • the 11 GHz radiation diagram in Figure 25c confirms the absence of cross polarization in the main direction of radiation.
  • the first cross polarization lobes are approximately -25 dB from the maximum main radiation.
  • the antenna modules according to the invention make it possible to obtain excellent performance with manufacturing processes with low tolerancing corresponding to mass production at low cost price.
  • the invention can be used to manufacture antennas for receiving television broadcasts by satellite, in the X band.
  • these antennas consist of two adjacent modules each formed from 16 x 16 elements .
  • This preferential application corresponds to the drawings of the conductive circuit represented in FIGS. 16, 17, 18.
  • the polarization of the emission is circular, it is possible either to lace an adequate printed plane polarizer above the antenna, or to superimpose on the antenna an additional stage with excitation terminations perpendicular to the terminations 30 of the base stage, as illustrated in FIG. 6.
  • the operating frequency band can for example be the X band (3 cm), the S band (1500 to 5200 MHz), or the L band (390 to 1550 MHz).
  • the antenna according to the invention can also in principle operate in higher frequency bands, its structure makes it more advantageous for use at frequencies of the X band and lower, due to the even less demanding tolerancing constraints which make it even easier manufacturing.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Waveguide Aerials (AREA)
EP19870401252 1986-06-05 1987-06-04 Antennenelement mit einem Streifen, der zwischen zwei selbsttragenden und mit untereinanderliegenden strahlenden Schlitzen vorgesehenen Grundplatten hängt und Verfahren zur Herstellung desselben Expired - Lifetime EP0252779B1 (de)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT87401252T ATE95635T1 (de) 1986-06-05 1987-06-04 Antennenelement mit einem streifen, der zwischen zwei selbsttragenden und mit untereinanderliegenden strahlenden schlitzen vorgesehenen grundplatten haengt und verfahren zur herstellung desselben.

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR8608106 1986-06-05
FR8608106A FR2599899B1 (fr) 1986-06-05 1986-06-05 Antenne plane a reseau avec conducteurs d'alimentation imprimes a faible perte et paires incorporees de fentes superposees rayonnantes a large bande
FR8700181A FR2609577B2 (fr) 1987-01-09 1987-01-09 Antenne plane a reseau avec conducteurs d'alimentation imprimes a faible perte et paires incorporees de fentes superposees rayonnantes a large bande
FR8700181 1987-01-09

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0252779A1 true EP0252779A1 (de) 1988-01-13
EP0252779B1 EP0252779B1 (de) 1993-10-06

Family

ID=26225288

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19870401252 Expired - Lifetime EP0252779B1 (de) 1986-06-05 1987-06-04 Antennenelement mit einem Streifen, der zwischen zwei selbsttragenden und mit untereinanderliegenden strahlenden Schlitzen vorgesehenen Grundplatten hängt und Verfahren zur Herstellung desselben

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0252779B1 (de)
DE (1) DE3787681T2 (de)
ES (1) ES2046211T3 (de)

Cited By (18)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0312989A2 (de) * 1987-10-19 1989-04-26 Sony Corporation Mikrowellenantenne
GB2224603A (en) * 1988-08-30 1990-05-09 British Satellite Broadcasting Flat plate array antenna
EP0383597A2 (de) * 1989-02-15 1990-08-22 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Ebene Antenne
EP0384780A2 (de) * 1989-02-24 1990-08-29 GEC-Marconi Limited Ebene Mikrowellen-Antenne
GB2241831A (en) * 1990-03-07 1991-09-11 Stc Plc Antenna
EP0445453A1 (de) * 1990-03-07 1991-09-11 Stc Plc Antenne
EP0476675A1 (de) * 1990-09-20 1992-03-25 Hughes Aircraft Company Resonator-gespeistes Verteilungsnetzwerk für den EHF Bereich.
DE4139245A1 (de) * 1991-11-26 1993-05-27 Ekkehard Dr Ing Richter Mikrowellenschlitzantennen
EP0317414B1 (de) * 1987-11-13 1995-04-12 Emmanuel Rammos Flache Antenne mit SSL-Speisenetzwerk, bestehend aus selbsttragenden, mit dicken strahlenden Schlitzen ausgerüsteten Masseflächen ohne Positionierungsstifte
WO1995029519A1 (en) * 1994-04-22 1995-11-02 Continental Microwave Satellite Tv Limited Microwave planar antenna
GB2296385A (en) * 1994-12-20 1996-06-26 Northern Telecom Ltd Antenna
FR2743199A1 (fr) * 1996-01-03 1997-07-04 Europ Agence Spatiale Antenne reseau plane hyperfrequence receptrice et/ou emettrice, et son application a la reception de satellites de television geostationnaires
WO1998026642A2 (de) * 1997-03-25 1998-06-25 Pates Technology Patentverwertungsgesellschaft Für Satelliten- Und Moderne Informationstechnologien Mbh Breitband-planarstrahler
ES2180425A1 (es) * 2001-04-16 2003-02-01 Univ Madrid Politecnica Agrupamiento de antenas impresas de banda ancha situadas sobre cavidades y excitadas mediante sonda coaxial capacitiva
WO2005004284A1 (en) * 2003-07-07 2005-01-13 Raysat Cyprus Limited Flat microwave antenna
EP1521332A1 (de) * 2003-09-30 2005-04-06 Lucent Technologies Network Systems GmbH Kompakte Mehrbandantenne
RU2449435C1 (ru) * 2011-02-07 2012-04-27 Государственное образовательное учреждение высшего профессионального образования Новгородский государственный университет имени Ярослава Мудрого Плоская решетка антенн дифракционного излучения и делитель мощности, используемый в ней
JP2018207478A (ja) * 2017-05-31 2018-12-27 ザ・ボーイング・カンパニーＴｈｅ Ｂｏｅｉｎｇ Ｃｏｍｐａｎｙ 広帯域アンテナシステム

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102016014385A1 (de) 2016-12-02 2018-06-07 Kathrein-Werke Kg Dual polarisierter Hornstrahler

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2007919A (en) * 1977-11-11 1979-05-23 Raytheon Co Microwave termating structure
EP0064313A1 (de) * 1981-05-04 1982-11-10 Laboratoires D'electronique Et De Physique Appliquee L.E.P. Mikrowellenstrahlerelement für Zirkularpolarisation und ebene Mikrowellenantenne mit einer Gruppe solcher Elemente
EP0123350A1 (de) * 1983-04-22 1984-10-31 Laboratoires D'electronique Et De Physique Appliquee L.E.P. Flache Mikrowellenantenne mit einer völlig hängenden Mikrostreifengruppe
EP0228742A1 (de) * 1985-12-20 1987-07-15 Philips Composants Ebene Mikrowellenantenne mit Leitergruppe mit getragenem Substrat und Herstellungsverfahren
EP0089084B1 (de) * 1982-03-12 1988-03-02 Laboratoires D'electronique Et De Physique Appliquee L.E.P. Flache Höchstfrequenz Antennenstruktur

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2007919A (en) * 1977-11-11 1979-05-23 Raytheon Co Microwave termating structure
EP0064313A1 (de) * 1981-05-04 1982-11-10 Laboratoires D'electronique Et De Physique Appliquee L.E.P. Mikrowellenstrahlerelement für Zirkularpolarisation und ebene Mikrowellenantenne mit einer Gruppe solcher Elemente
EP0089084B1 (de) * 1982-03-12 1988-03-02 Laboratoires D'electronique Et De Physique Appliquee L.E.P. Flache Höchstfrequenz Antennenstruktur
EP0123350A1 (de) * 1983-04-22 1984-10-31 Laboratoires D'electronique Et De Physique Appliquee L.E.P. Flache Mikrowellenantenne mit einer völlig hängenden Mikrostreifengruppe
EP0228742A1 (de) * 1985-12-20 1987-07-15 Philips Composants Ebene Mikrowellenantenne mit Leitergruppe mit getragenem Substrat und Herstellungsverfahren

Cited By (29)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0312989A3 (en) * 1987-10-19 1990-07-04 Sony Corporation Microwave antenna structure
EP0312989A2 (de) * 1987-10-19 1989-04-26 Sony Corporation Mikrowellenantenne
EP0317414B1 (de) * 1987-11-13 1995-04-12 Emmanuel Rammos Flache Antenne mit SSL-Speisenetzwerk, bestehend aus selbsttragenden, mit dicken strahlenden Schlitzen ausgerüsteten Masseflächen ohne Positionierungsstifte
GB2224603A (en) * 1988-08-30 1990-05-09 British Satellite Broadcasting Flat plate array antenna
EP0383597A3 (de) * 1989-02-15 1991-01-02 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Ebene Antenne
EP0383597A2 (de) * 1989-02-15 1990-08-22 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Ebene Antenne
EP0384780A3 (de) * 1989-02-24 1991-01-02 GEC-Marconi Limited Ebene Mikrowellen-Antenne
GB2230386A (en) * 1989-02-24 1990-10-17 Marconi Co Ltd Planar microwave antenna
US5119107A (en) * 1989-02-24 1992-06-02 The Marconi Company Limited Planar microwave antenna slot array with common resonant back cavity
EP0384780A2 (de) * 1989-02-24 1990-08-29 GEC-Marconi Limited Ebene Mikrowellen-Antenne
GB2241831A (en) * 1990-03-07 1991-09-11 Stc Plc Antenna
EP0445453A1 (de) * 1990-03-07 1991-09-11 Stc Plc Antenne
GB2241831B (en) * 1990-03-07 1994-05-25 Stc Plc Antenna
EP0476675A1 (de) * 1990-09-20 1992-03-25 Hughes Aircraft Company Resonator-gespeistes Verteilungsnetzwerk für den EHF Bereich.
DE4139245A1 (de) * 1991-11-26 1993-05-27 Ekkehard Dr Ing Richter Mikrowellenschlitzantennen
WO1995029519A1 (en) * 1994-04-22 1995-11-02 Continental Microwave Satellite Tv Limited Microwave planar antenna
GB2296385A (en) * 1994-12-20 1996-06-26 Northern Telecom Ltd Antenna
FR2743199A1 (fr) * 1996-01-03 1997-07-04 Europ Agence Spatiale Antenne reseau plane hyperfrequence receptrice et/ou emettrice, et son application a la reception de satellites de television geostationnaires
EP0783189A1 (de) 1996-01-03 1997-07-09 Agence Spatiale Europeenne Flache Mikrowellen-Gruppenantenne für die Kommunikation mit geostationären Fernsehsatelliten
US5872545A (en) * 1996-01-03 1999-02-16 Agence Spatiale Europeene Planar microwave receive and/or transmit array antenna and application thereof to reception from geostationary television satellites
WO1998026642A2 (de) * 1997-03-25 1998-06-25 Pates Technology Patentverwertungsgesellschaft Für Satelliten- Und Moderne Informationstechnologien Mbh Breitband-planarstrahler
WO1998026642A3 (de) * 1997-03-25 1998-09-17 Pates Tech Patentverwertung Breitband-planarstrahler
ES2180425A1 (es) * 2001-04-16 2003-02-01 Univ Madrid Politecnica Agrupamiento de antenas impresas de banda ancha situadas sobre cavidades y excitadas mediante sonda coaxial capacitiva
WO2005004284A1 (en) * 2003-07-07 2005-01-13 Raysat Cyprus Limited Flat microwave antenna
US7307586B2 (en) 2003-07-07 2007-12-11 Raysat Cyprus Limited Flat microwave antenna
EP1521332A1 (de) * 2003-09-30 2005-04-06 Lucent Technologies Network Systems GmbH Kompakte Mehrbandantenne
US7034765B2 (en) 2003-09-30 2006-04-25 Lucent Technologies Inc. Compact multiple-band antenna arrangement
RU2449435C1 (ru) * 2011-02-07 2012-04-27 Государственное образовательное учреждение высшего профессионального образования Новгородский государственный университет имени Ярослава Мудрого Плоская решетка антенн дифракционного излучения и делитель мощности, используемый в ней
JP2018207478A (ja) * 2017-05-31 2018-12-27 ザ・ボーイング・カンパニーＴｈｅ Ｂｏｅｉｎｇ Ｃｏｍｐａｎｙ 広帯域アンテナシステム

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE3787681D1 (de) 1993-11-11
EP0252779B1 (de) 1993-10-06
DE3787681T2 (de) 1994-05-05
ES2046211T3 (es) 1994-02-01

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP0252779B1 (de) Antennenelement mit einem Streifen, der zwischen zwei selbsttragenden und mit untereinanderliegenden strahlenden Schlitzen vorgesehenen Grundplatten hängt und Verfahren zur Herstellung desselben
EP0205212B1 (de) Modulare Mikrowellenantenneneinheiten und Antenne mit solchen Einheiten
EP0783189A1 (de) Flache Mikrowellen-Gruppenantenne für die Kommunikation mit geostationären Fernsehsatelliten
EP0205393A1 (de) Zylindrische Rundstrahlantenne
LU86727A1 (fr) Antennes a microbandes a couplage electromagnetique,a plaquettes de transmission couplees capacitivement a des lignes de transmission
FR2584872A1 (fr) Antenne plate a large bande a polarisation circulaire, utilisations d'une telle antenne, applications, et procede de fabrication
EP3073569A1 (de) Butler matrix compact, bi-dimensionales planare beam-former und planarantenne mit einer solchen butler matrix
EP0134611B1 (de) Sende- oder Empfangsstrahlergruppe einer Mikrowellenflachantenne und Sende- oder Empfangseinrichtung von Mikrowellensignalen mit einer solchen Flachantenne
EP4012834B1 (de) Antennenquelle für eine direkt strahlende gruppenantenne, strahlplatte und antenne mit mehreren antennenquellen
EP2664030A1 (de) Gedruckte schlitzrichtantenne und system mit einer gruppe aus bedruckten schlitzrichtantennen
CA2869648A1 (fr) Repartiteur de puissance compact bipolarisation, reseau de plusieurs repartiteurs, element rayonnant compact et antenne plane comportant un tel repartiteur
FR2751471A1 (fr) Dispositif rayonnant a large bande susceptible de plusieurs polarisations
EP0317414B1 (de) Flache Antenne mit SSL-Speisenetzwerk, bestehend aus selbsttragenden, mit dicken strahlenden Schlitzen ausgerüsteten Masseflächen ohne Positionierungsstifte
EP0520908B1 (de) Lineare Gruppenantenne
FR3105611A1 (fr) Antenne à double polarisation
EP2009735A1 (de) Mehrpolige Antenne zur Übertragung bzw. zum Empfang von Audio- oder Videosignalen
CA2808511C (fr) Antenne plane pour terminal fonctionnant en double polarisation circulaire, terminal aeroporte et systeme de telecommunication par satellite comportant au moins une telle antenne
EP4046241B1 (de) Grupenantennen
EP2432072B1 (de) Breitband-Symmetrieüberträger auf mehrlagigem Schaltkreis für eine Netzantenne
FR2552273A1 (fr) Antenne hyperfrequence omnidirectionnelle
FR2609577A2 (fr) Antenne plane a reseau avec conducteurs d'alimentation imprimes a faible perte et paires incorporees de fentes superposees rayonnantes a large bande
WO1991018428A1 (fr) Antenne orientable plane, fonctionnant en micro-ondes
FR2599899A1 (fr) Antenne plane a reseau avec conducteurs d'alimentation imprimes a faible perte et paires incorporees de fentes superposees rayonnantes a large bande
EP0557176B1 (de) Vorrichtung zur Speisung für eine Plattenantenne mit zwei gekreuzten Polarisationen und Gruppenantenne mit einer solchen Vorrichtung
EP4092831A1 (de) Antenne mit lückenhaftem verteilungsnetz

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE ES FR GB IT LI LU NL SE

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19880705

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19901116

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE ES FR GB IT LI LU NL SE

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 95635

Country of ref document: AT

Date of ref document: 19931015

Kind code of ref document: T

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 3787681

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19931111

ITF It: translation for a ep patent filed

Owner name: JACOBACCI CASETTA & PERANI S.P.A.

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FG2A

Ref document number: 2046211

Country of ref document: ES

Kind code of ref document: T3

GBT Gb: translation of ep patent filed (gb section 77(6)(a)/1977)

Effective date: 19940113

EPTA Lu: last paid annual fee
PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed
EAL Se: european patent in force in sweden

Ref document number: 87401252.9

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: ES

Payment date: 20000628

Year of fee payment: 14

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LU

Payment date: 20000629

Year of fee payment: 14

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Payment date: 20000630

Year of fee payment: 14

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: BE

Payment date: 20000704

Year of fee payment: 14

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: CH

Payment date: 20000705

Year of fee payment: 14

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: AT

Payment date: 20000706

Year of fee payment: 14

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LU

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20010604

Ref country code: AT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20010604

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: ES

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20010605

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20010630

Ref country code: CH

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20010630

Ref country code: BE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20010630

BERE Be: lapsed

Owner name: RAMMOS EMMANUEL

Effective date: 20010630

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20020101

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: IF02

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

NLV4 Nl: lapsed or anulled due to non-payment of the annual fee

Effective date: 20020101

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20020527

Year of fee payment: 16

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SE

Payment date: 20020619

Year of fee payment: 16

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20020619

Year of fee payment: 16

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: THE PATENT HAS BEEN ANNULLED BY A DECISION OF A NATIONAL AUTHORITY

Effective date: 20030506

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FD2A

Effective date: 20020203

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20030604

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20030605

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20030704

Year of fee payment: 17

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20030604

EUG Se: european patent has lapsed
PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20040227

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES;WARNING: LAPSES OF ITALIAN PATENTS WITH EFFECTIVE DATE BEFORE 2007 MAY HAVE OCCURRED AT ANY TIME BEFORE 2007. THE CORRECT EFFECTIVE DATE MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM THE ONE RECORDED.

Effective date: 20050604