EP1647070B1 - Antenne - Google Patents

Antenne Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1647070B1
EP1647070B1 EP04743481A EP04743481A EP1647070B1 EP 1647070 B1 EP1647070 B1 EP 1647070B1 EP 04743481 A EP04743481 A EP 04743481A EP 04743481 A EP04743481 A EP 04743481A EP 1647070 B1 EP1647070 B1 EP 1647070B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
antenna
antenna according
conducting elements
conducting
dielectric medium
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
EP04743481A
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English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1647070A1 (de
Inventor
David Hayes
Richard Brooke Keeton
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.)
Plasma Antennas Ltd
Original Assignee
Plasma Antennas Ltd
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 Plasma Antennas Ltd filed Critical Plasma Antennas Ltd
Publication of EP1647070A1 publication Critical patent/EP1647070A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1647070B1 publication Critical patent/EP1647070B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q1/00—Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
    • H01Q1/36—Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; Particular materials used therewith
    • H01Q1/38—Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; Particular materials used therewith formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q15/00—Devices for reflection, refraction, diffraction or polarisation of waves radiated from an antenna, e.g. quasi-optical devices
    • H01Q15/02—Refracting or diffracting devices, e.g. lens, prism

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an antenna.
  • WO-02/089250-A1 discloses how the incorporation of distributed switches along a propagation path of an electromagnetic microstrip structure is able to be used to control the time delay of a signal through the structure.
  • the switches are of a semiconductor medium which is subject to electrical carrier stimulation through optical illumination, or through electrical carrier injection by electrical means.
  • WO-02/01671 A1 discloses that electromagnetic energy may be reflected or absorbed by the control of conducting elements within a guiding medium.
  • a microwave antenna comprising essentially parallel conducting plates that enclose an intrinsic semiconductor medium. Conducting elements may be generated between wave guiding conductors. The conducting elements are used to simulate reflective or absorptive geometries. Alternatively, the conducting elements may be of a mechanical nature in the form of metallic filaments positioned in the semiconductor medium. Different patterns of the conducting elements are able to influence the directivity of the antenna. Generally, the conducting elements are produced by optical or electrical stimulation in selected regions of the semiconductor medium.
  • an antenna comprising:
  • the antenna of the present invention may be a compact, high efficiency, directable monolithic antenna which is appropriate for use throughout and beyond the microwave and millimetric radio spectrum.
  • the antenna may be produced as a rugged, low cost, adaptive antenna with high coverage in elevation and steerable in azimuth.
  • the antenna has widespread applications, including telecommunications, radar and tracking.
  • the antenna of the present invention may have the following advantageous characteristics.
  • the antenna may be one in which the conducting plates extend parallel to each other.
  • the dielectric medium may be a semiconductor dielectric medium, a gaseous dielectric medium, or a vacuum dielectric medium.
  • the antenna may be one in which the conducting elements are each a plasma generating PIN diode device, capable of changing its states from transparent to absorptive to reflective by increasing the current flow through the device and hence the level of carrier concentration from ⁇ 10 ⁇ 13 carriers per cm ⁇ 3, which is a mostly transparent state, to ⁇ 3 x 10 ⁇ 15 carriers per cm ⁇ 3, which is a mostly absorptive state, and to >10 ⁇ 15 carriers per cm ⁇ 3, which is a mostly reflective state.
  • the conducting elements are each a plasma generating PIN diode device, capable of changing its states from transparent to absorptive to reflective by increasing the current flow through the device and hence the level of carrier concentration from ⁇ 10 ⁇ 13 carriers per cm ⁇ 3, which is a mostly transparent state, to ⁇ 3 x 10 ⁇ 15 carriers per cm ⁇ 3, which is a mostly absorptive state, and to >10 ⁇ 15 carriers per cm ⁇ 3, which is a mostly reflective state.
  • the antenna may be one in which the conducting elements are each a micro-actuator device capable of introducing transparent, absorbing and reflective materials between the conducting plates.
  • the redirecting means may be an electromagnetic redirecting means.
  • the redirecting means may be a reflective redirecting means or a refractive redirecting means.
  • the associated radiating means may be a horn, a lens, or a slotted waveguide reflector. Other types of associated radiating means may be employed.
  • the antenna may include electromagnetic means for producing a desired illumination pattern.
  • the electromagnetic- means for producing the desired illumination pattern may be a reflector, a lens, or a horn.
  • the antenna may be one in which the control means enables the disposition of the conducting elements to be such as selectively to steer the direction of the reflected energy within the antenna.
  • the antenna may be one in which the pattern of the conducting elements is formed in electrical conductors or in electrical resistors.
  • the antenna may include a shaped dielectric medium at an external surface of the antenna, whereby electromagnetic coupling between the antenna and an external medium is enhanced.
  • the antenna may be one in which the radio frequency energy is of wavelengths characterised by electro-optical dimension rather than millimetric.
  • the antenna may also be one in which the radio frequency energy is received rather than emitted by the antenna.
  • a plurality of the antennas of the present invention may be excited cooperatively in order to effect control of the direction of the emitted, or received, electromagnetic energy.
  • a plurality of the antennas may be configured to enable sectoral or omni-directional operation.
  • the antenna may be such that it enables the means to illuminate, or receive from, a wide angle in elevation and with a controllable azimuthal angle.
  • the antenna may afford a high efficiency, low sidelobe performance from a compact design without moving parts.
  • the compact size of the antenna may be used to advantage in that the antenna may readily be incorporated into mobile and low maintenance applications.
  • the antenna may be especially applicable for millimetric or terahertz technologies within the fields of telecommunications, radar, sensing and dynamic tracking.
  • the antenna comprises a parallel assembly of two narrowly spaced conducting plates, across which conducting and absorbing elements may be generated and influenced.
  • the elements may be in the form of locally injected or generated charge carriers, or alternatively mechanical elements.
  • the disposition of the elements may be such as to reflect illuminating electromagnetic energy from a focal point source to a prismatic deflector. Energy refracted by the prismatic deflector radiates orthogonally to the guidance plane and illuminates a sector of a mechanical reflector. This enables an illuminating beam to be generated. By reciprocity, the antenna is able to receive electromagnetic energy and focus it upon the focal point.
  • the antenna may generate an electromagnetic wavefront that is characterised by a designated elevational coverage, and that may be electronically steered in azimuthal angle by a monolithic antenna having no moving mechanical parts.
  • the antenna may operate both in a receiving mode and in a transmitting mode.
  • a plurality of the antennas of the present invention may be used together to enable azimuthal coverage extending through 360°.
  • Figures 1 - 3 show how electromagnetic energy from a feed point 1 is radiated within the volume of a radiated beam 7. This volume will usually be a dielectric medium, although it may also be a gaseous medium.
  • Selectable reflectors 2b are illustrated. These selectable reflectors 2b may comprise filamentary volumes of electrical carriers, or they may comprise mechanical reflectors such as MEMS Mechanical Electromagnetic Switches. The selectable reflectors 2b are configured to direct electromagnetic energy toward the illustrated forward edge of a parallel plate waveguide 2.
  • a directed feed 1 is employed to illuminate a metallic fixed reflector 6, thereby enabling selective volumetric illumination by the electromagnetic energy in the radiated beam 7. It will be appreciated that generally the efficiency of coupling energy between a dielectric medium and something else, such as free space, will be enhanced by the incorporation of an appropriate intermediary impedance matching medium.
  • element generation means in the form of a set to absorber 2a
  • element generating means in the form of a set to reflector 2b
  • element control means 3 The element generating means can be either a plasma generating PIN diode or a micro-actuator device.
  • the element generating means has transparent, absorbing and a reflective settings.
  • the change in state is effected simply by changing the current flow through the device to change the level of carrier concentration. That is below 10 ⁇ 13 carriers per cm ⁇ 3, PIN device is transparent to microwaves. Between 10 ⁇ 13 carriers per cm ⁇ 3 to 10 ⁇ 15 carriers per cm ⁇ 3 the PIN device is absorbing. Above 10 ⁇ 15 the PIN device is reflective.
  • transparent, absorbing the reflective materials are introduced between the plates electromechanically.
  • Extended angular coverage may be achieved by the use of multiple emitters.
  • Figure 4 shows how a single feed point 8 may be directed by the selectable reflector 9 in such a configuration that a plurality of fixed reflectors 10 may be separately illuminated to enable broad coverage.
  • a plurality of selectable reflectors 11 are used to illuminate fixed reflectors 12. By these means, the antenna provides simultaneous wide angle coverage.
  • the plurality of fixed reflectors 12 may be four or eight in number, or any other suitable and appropriate number.
  • the controllable position of the selectable reflector facilitates steering of the electromagnetic energy.
  • Figure 6 shows that as the curvature of the selectable reflector 13 is rotated about its axis the reflected energy 14 is able to be directed.
  • the relationship between the angular rotation of the selectable reflector and the resultant beam steering at the transition to free-space may be readily anticipated through the application of classical physics as exemplified by Snell's laws of refraction.
  • ⁇ steer Sin - 1 ( ⁇ . Sin ⁇ rotate ) ⁇ ⁇ . ⁇ rotate ⁇ for small ⁇ ⁇ rotate
  • ⁇ steer and ⁇ rotate are the beam pointing angle (15) and the rotation angle of the parabola (16) respectively.
  • Figure 8 illustrates that the limitation in steering that may be achieved by the means of Figure 7 , is reached at a so-called critical angle at which total internal reflection 17 occurs.
  • a silicon medium would limit the steering by this means to approximately 17° from axis.
  • the boundaries of the dielectric medium may include absorptive regions to reduce the otherwise harmful effects of reflections in undesirable directions.
  • Figure 9 shows selective antenna patterns that may be employed to effect beam steering.
  • reflectors are disposed with angular offsets 19 in such a manner that each locus of reflecting points is independent. The angle and focal length of each selectable pattern is different.
  • Figure 9 also illustrates a design in which the selectable reflector patterns 20 have a common focal length and are rotated about a common point 21. This design has the advantage of being compact and efficient but-does require that some areas of reflection are common to all of the plurality of reflectors, as is illustrated in Figure 10 in the region 22.
  • the present invention may be advantageously constructed in the form shown in Figure 11 .
  • a fixed reflector 23 illuminates a secondary selectable planar reflector 24.
  • the secondary selectable planar reflector 24 is controlled such as to determine the direction of the emitted beam.
  • Emitting areas 25 may be excited independently or, as shown in Figure 13 , in conjunction with neighbouring areas 26.
  • Contiguous areas may be selected to operate in union, thereby effectively increasing the emitter effective area and thereby producing a reduced beamwidth.
  • Individual phasing of the illuminations of the contiguous areas may be employed to enhance performance.
  • the adjacent area may be operated independently 27.
  • Figure 14 shows an example of a method of transferring energy from a planar waveguiding medium to an illuminating fixed reflector 28.
  • a metallic transition is used to reflect energy orthogonally in either one direction 29 toward an offset parabola, or alternatively in both orthogonal directions 30 to illuminate a symmetrical centre fed reflector.
  • Figure 15 shows a dual plate waveguide with offset reflectors (31) providing independent time delays at a feed point 33.
  • the resultant wavefront may by these means be electrically steered, as illustrated at 32.
  • the illustrated concept may have application to so-called monopulse radar systems.
  • Figure 16 illustrates schematically a method by which a mechanical means may be employed to directly transfer electromagnetic energy from a parallel plate waveguide 34 to freespace 35.
  • a plurality of the antennas of the present invention may be operated in unison to enable broad spatial coverage and enhanced signal strength.
  • Figure 17 shows by way of example three adjacent emitters 36. Improved uniformity of cover may be obtained by stacking overlapped modules as illustrated in Figure 18 .
  • an electromagnetic antenna may be designed and implemented for the transmission and reception of millimetric radio waves.
  • the present invention is especially directed at miniaturised monolithics steerable antennas applicable throughout the presently exploited microwave spectrum and extendable to frequencies well in excess of 100 GHz.
  • the antenna may be used in telephony, data links, mobile telecommunications and radar systems.

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  • Aerials With Secondary Devices (AREA)
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  • Details Of Aerials (AREA)

Claims (14)

  1. Eine Antenne, aufweisend:
    (a) ein Paar von räumlich getrennten leitenden Platten (2), die durch einen Hohlraum, der ein dielektrisches Medium enthält, getrennt sind;
    (b) Hochfrequenzzuführeinrichtungen (1), die Hochfrequenz in, oder aus, dem Hohlraum, der durch die leitenden Platten gebildet wird, koppeln;
    (c) Erzeugungseinrichtungen (2a, 2b), die wählbare Muster von leitenden Elementen zu entweder durchscheinenden, absorbierenden oder reflektierenden Zuständen bilden, wobei die Muster von leitenden Elementen zwischen Oberflächen der leitenden Platten angeordnet sind und dadurch eine elektromagnetische Wellenfront zu einem Rand des Hohlraumes hin zu fokussieren;
    (d) Steuereinrichtungen (3), die besagte Muster von leitenden Elementen steuern und dadurch eine elektromagnetische Wellenfront zu richten oder sonst zu beeinflussen; und
    (e) Rückrichtungseinrichtungen (5), die die elektromagnetische Wellenfront rückrichten um eine zugehörige Strahlungseinrichtung (6) zu belichten, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass besagte leitende Elemente entweder jedes eine plasmaerzeugende PIN-Dioden-Vorrichtung oder jedes eine Mikro-Betätiger-Vorrichtung sind.
  2. Eine Antenne nach Anspruch 1, in der die leitenden Platten sich parallel zueinander erstrecken.
  3. Eine Antenne nach Anspruch 1 oder Anspruch 2, in der das dielektrische Medium ein halbleiter-dielektrisches Medium, ein gasförmiges dielektrisches Medium oder ein vakuum-dielektrisches Medium ist.
  4. Eine Antenne nach irgendeinem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, in der die leitenden Elemente alle eine plasmaerzeugende PIN-Dioden-Vorrichtung sind, die in der Lage ist, ihre Zustände von transparent auf absorbierend auf reflektierend zu ändern, indem sie den Stromfluss durch die Vorrichtung und somit den Pegel an Trägerdichte von <1013 Träger pro cm3, was ein überwiegend transparenter Zustand ist, auf <3x1015 Träger pro cm3, was ein überwiegend absorptiver Zustand ist, bis >1015 Träger pro cm3, was ein überwiegend reflektierender Zustand ist, erhöht.
  5. Eine Antenne nach irgendeinem der Ansprüche 1-3, in der die leitenden Elemente alle eine Mikro-Betätiger-Vorrichtung sind, die in der Lage ist, transparente, absorbierende und reflektierende Materialien zwischen die leitenden Platten einzuführen.
  6. Eine Antenne nach irgendeinem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, in der die rückrichtende Einrichtung eine reflektierende rückrichtende Einrichtung oder eine brechende rückrichtende Einrichtung ist.
  7. Eine Antenne nach irgendeinem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, in der die zugehörige Strahlungseinrichtung ein Trichter, eine Linse oder ein geschlitzter Wellenleiter-Reflektor ist.
  8. Eine Antenne nach irgendeinem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche und aufweisend elektromagnetische Einrichtungen zum Erzeugen eines gewünschten Belichtungsmusters.
  9. Eine Antenne nach Anspruch 8, in der die elektromagnetischen Einrichtungen zum Erzeugen des gewünschten Belichtungsmusters ein Reflektor, eine Linse oder ein Trichter sind.
  10. Eine Antenne nach irgendeinem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, in der die Steuereinrichtungen der Anordnung der leitenden Elemente so zu sein erlaubt, als daß sie die Richtung der reflektierten Energie innerhalb der Antenne selektiv steuert.
  11. Eine Antenne nach irgendeinem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, in der das Muster der leitenden Elemente in elektrischen Leitern oder in elektrischen Widerständen gebildet wird.
  12. Eine Antenne nach irgendeinem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche und aufweisend ein geformtes dielektrisches Medium an einer äußeren Oberfläche der Antenne, wodurch elektromagnetische Kopplung zwischen der Antenne und einem äußeren Medium erhöht wird.
  13. Eine Antenne nach irgendeinem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, in der die Funkfrequenzenergie Wellenlängen hat, die durch ihre elektro-optische Dimension statt einer millimetrischen gekennzeichnet sind.
  14. Eine Antenne nach irgendeinem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, in der die Funkfrequenzenergie von der Antenne eher empfangen als von ihr ausgesandt wird.
EP04743481A 2003-07-22 2004-07-19 Antenne Expired - Lifetime EP1647070B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB0317121.2A GB0317121D0 (en) 2003-07-22 2003-07-22 An antenna
PCT/GB2004/003146 WO2005013416A1 (en) 2003-07-22 2004-07-19 An antenna

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1647070A1 EP1647070A1 (de) 2006-04-19
EP1647070B1 true EP1647070B1 (de) 2008-03-19

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EP04743481A Expired - Lifetime EP1647070B1 (de) 2003-07-22 2004-07-19 Antenne

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EP (1) EP1647070B1 (de)
AT (1) ATE389959T1 (de)
DE (1) DE602004012565T2 (de)
GB (1) GB0317121D0 (de)
WO (1) WO2005013416A1 (de)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB0701087D0 (en) * 2007-01-19 2007-02-28 Plasma Antennas Ltd A displaced feed parallel plate antenna
GB201620121D0 (en) * 2016-11-28 2017-01-11 Plasma Antennas Ltd A surface array antenna

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
KR20030015214A (ko) * 2000-03-20 2003-02-20 사르노프 코포레이션 재구성 안테나
GB0015895D0 (en) * 2000-06-28 2000-08-23 Plasma Antennas Limited An antenna
US6597327B2 (en) * 2000-09-15 2003-07-22 Sarnoff Corporation Reconfigurable adaptive wideband antenna

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2005013416A1 (en) 2005-02-10
ATE389959T1 (de) 2008-04-15
GB0317121D0 (en) 2003-08-27
DE602004012565T2 (de) 2009-04-02
DE602004012565D1 (de) 2008-04-30
EP1647070A1 (de) 2006-04-19

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