EP3340384A1 - Réseau d'antennes à ultra-large bande constante sur toute la largeur de bande de fréquence de fonctionnement - Google Patents

Réseau d'antennes à ultra-large bande constante sur toute la largeur de bande de fréquence de fonctionnement Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3340384A1
EP3340384A1 EP17202685.8A EP17202685A EP3340384A1 EP 3340384 A1 EP3340384 A1 EP 3340384A1 EP 17202685 A EP17202685 A EP 17202685A EP 3340384 A1 EP3340384 A1 EP 3340384A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
antenna
antenna elements
spacing
symmetry
axis
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP17202685.8A
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German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
John Howard
Chuck Wah Fung
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Individual
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Individual
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Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US15/388,509 external-priority patent/US9905936B2/en
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP3340384A1 publication Critical patent/EP3340384A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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    • 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
    • H01Q21/20—Arrays of individually energised antenna units similarly polarised and spaced apart the units being spaced along or adjacent to a curvilinear path
    • H01Q21/205—Arrays of individually energised antenna units similarly polarised and spaced apart the units being spaced along or adjacent to a curvilinear path providing an omnidirectional coverage
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q13/00—Waveguide horns or mouths; Slot antennas; Leaky-waveguide antennas; Equivalent structures causing radiation along the transmission path of a guided wave
    • H01Q13/08—Radiating ends of two-conductor microwave transmission lines, e.g. of coaxial lines, of microstrip lines
    • H01Q13/085—Slot-line radiating ends
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q11/00—Electrically-long antennas having dimensions more than twice the shortest operating wavelength and consisting of conductive active radiating elements
    • H01Q11/02—Non-resonant antennas, e.g. travelling-wave antenna
    • H01Q11/10—Logperiodic antennas

Definitions

  • This application relates to ultra-broadband antenna arrays.
  • Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to antennas and, more particularly, relate to circular, spherical, conformal ultra-broadband antenna arrays having a substantially constant beamwidth throughout a band of operation.
  • an antenna array which includes a plurality of antenna elements configured in a flare such that each of the plurality of antenna elements is uniformly spaced apart from at least one adjacent antenna element.
  • Each of the plurality of antenna elements is coupled in a common area, and each of the plurality of antenna elements extends radially outward from the common area.
  • the plurality of antenna elements may be configured in at least one of a circle, half circle, sphere, and plane. At least one of the plurality of antenna elements may include at least one of a bow tie antenna, log-periodic antenna, and Vivaldi antenna.
  • the antenna array may include an axis of symmetry extending through the common area, and at least one of the plurality of antenna elements may include a planar area, which includes an edge that is disposed non-parallel to the axis of symmetry when viewed normal to the axis of symmetry.
  • the antenna array may include an axis of symmetry, and at least one of the plurality of antenna elements may be disposed at a tilt with respect to the axis of symmetry.
  • the feed may be disposed in the common area and operatively coupled to at least one of the plurality of antenna elements.
  • a method of arranging antenna elements in an antenna array includes configuring a plurality of antenna elements in a flare such that each antenna element is uniformly spaced apart from at least one adjacent antenna element, and each of the plurality of antenna elements extends radially outward from a common area; and coupling each of the plurality of antenna elements in the common area.
  • the method may include configuring the plurality of antenna elements in at least one of a circle, half circle, sphere, and plane. At least one of the plurality of antenna elements may include at least one of a bow tie antenna, log-periodic antenna, and Vivaldi antenna.
  • the antenna array may include an axis of symmetry extending through the common area, and at least one of the plurality of antenna elements may include a planar area.
  • the planar area may include an edge, and the method may include disposing the edge non-parallel to the axis of symmetry when viewed normal to the axis of symmetry.
  • the antenna array may include an axis of symmetry, and the method may include disposing at least one of the plurality of antenna elements at a tilt with respect to the axis of symmetry.
  • the antenna array may include a feed, and the method may include disposing the feed in the common area, and operatively coupling the feed to at least one of the plurality of antenna elements.
  • an antenna array which includes a plurality of antenna elements.
  • the plurality of antenna elements is coupled in a common area and extends radially outward from the common area.
  • At least one of the plurality of antenna elements includes a first antenna portion and a second antenna portion.
  • the first antenna portion and the second antenna portion are arranged in a configuration such that a gap is formed between the first antenna portion and the second antenna portion.
  • the gap includes a first spacing and a second spacing.
  • the first spacing is associated with a first operating frequency and a first operating wavelength
  • the second spacing is associated with a second operating frequency and a second operating wavelength.
  • a proportion of the first spacing to the first wavelength is substantially equal to a proportion of the second spacing to the second wavelength, thereby providing a constant beamwidth over an operating frequency band.
  • the plurality of antenna elements may be configured in at least one of a circle, half circle, sphere, and/or plane. At least one of the plurality of antenna elements may include at least one of a bow tie antenna, log periodic antenna, and/or Vivaldi antenna. An axis of symmetry may extend through the common area, at least one of the plurality of antenna elements may include a planar area, and the planar area may include an edge disposed non-parallel to the axis of symmetry when viewed in a direction that is normal to the axis of symmetry and coplanar with the planar area.
  • At least one of the plurality of antenna elements may be disposed at a tilt with respect to the axis of symmetry when viewed in a direction that is normal to the axis of symmetry and coplanar with the planar area.
  • the antenna array may include a feed disposed in the common area, which is operatively coupled to at least one of the plurality of antenna elements.
  • the gap may include a serpentine configuration.
  • a method of arranging a plurality of antenna elements in an antenna array includes coupling a plurality of antenna elements in a common area, and configuring at least one of the plurality of antenna elements to comprise a first antenna portion and a second antenna portion.
  • the plurality of antenna elements extend radially outward from the common area, and the first antenna portion and the second antenna portion are arranged in a configuration such that a gap is formed between the first antenna portion and the second antenna portion.
  • the gap includes a first spacing and a second spacing.
  • the first spacing is associated with a first operating frequency and a first operating wavelength
  • the second spacing is associated with a second operating frequency and a second operating wavelength.
  • a proportion of the first spacing to the first wavelength is substantially equal to a proportion of the second spacing to the second wavelength, thereby providing a constant beamwidth over an operating frequency band.
  • the method may include configuring the plurality of antenna elements in at least one of a circle, half circle, sphere, and/or plane.
  • the method may include configuring the at least one of the plurality of antenna elements to comprise at least one of a bow tie antenna, log periodic antenna, and/or Vivaldi antenna.
  • the method may include configuring the antenna array to include an axis of symmetry extending through the common area, and configuring at least one of the plurality of antenna elements to comprise a planar area.
  • the planar area may include an edge disposed non-parallel to the axis of symmetry when viewed in a direction that is normal to the axis of symmetry and coplanar with the planar area.
  • the method may include disposing at least one of the plurality of antenna elements at a tilt with respect to the axis of symmetry when viewed in a direction that is normal to the axis of symmetry and coplanar with the planar area.
  • the method may include configuring the antenna array to comprise a feed, disposing the feed in the common area, and coupling the feed being operatively to at least one of the plurality of antenna elements.
  • the method may include configuring the gap to include a serpentine configuration.
  • a circular antenna array is an antenna, which includes antenna elements arranged in a circle.
  • a conformal antenna array is an antenna that is designed to conform or follow a predetermined shape.
  • elements on the circular and/or conformal array are spaced at a certain distance in relation to an operating wavelength ⁇ or operating band of wavelengths. This spacing remains constant from element to element at all frequencies of operation.
  • Figure 1 shows a circular antenna array 10 with bow tie antenna elements 12 arranged in a vertical polarization. Although bow tie antenna elements 12 are shown in the circular antenna array 10, any type of antenna element may be used in the illustrated configuration.
  • Embodiments disclosed herein include ultra-broadband antenna arrays, in connection with which large frequency bands are used that can result in large fluctuations in beamwidth.
  • ultra-broadband operation includes a wide band of frequencies
  • the corresponding frequency f changes substantially, which causes the wavelength ⁇ to change significantly as the frequency f changes.
  • the antenna elements in the broadband antenna array are flared to maintain adequate spacing in relation to the wavelength ⁇ throughout the frequency range of operation. Since the minimum and maximum operating frequencies of the broadband antenna array are known, the distance between each element at the minimum and maximum operating frequency can be calculated using equation (1).
  • the flare between antenna elements for this example is as shown in Figure 6 , in which antenna elements 11 are separated at one end by dimension 13, which is approximately 1 meter, and separated at another end by dimension 15, which is approximately 0.1 meter.
  • the view of the antenna elements 11 shown in Figure 6 is essentially a top view, which is similar to the view of the antenna elements 16 shown in Figure 2D and the view of the antenna elements 26, 28 shown in Figure 4C .
  • flares 14, 15 of antenna elements 16 are used as shown in Figures 2A-D . These flares 14, 15 maintain inter-element distance between the antenna elements 16 with respect to the wavelength ⁇ of the operating signal, which results in a constant beamwidth over the operating frequency range.
  • Figures 2A and 2B show a flare 14 of antenna elements configured as a circular and conformal antenna array.
  • Figures 2C and 2D show a flare 15 of antenna elements configured as a half circular and conformal antenna array.
  • the antenna elements 16 are configured in the flare 14, 15 such that each of the plurality of antenna elements 16 is uniformly spaced apart from at least one adjacent antenna element 16, each of the plurality of antenna elements 16 is coupled in a common area 46, and each of the plurality of antenna elements extends radially outward from a common area 46.
  • the antenna elements in the flare are spaced apart from each other based on the high and low frequencies in the operational frequency bandwidth.
  • the quantity of antenna elements can be increased or decreased to form a circle, which can be result in a semi-sphere 52 shown in Figure 7A and 7B , a sphere 54, as shown in Figures 8A and 8B , and/or a conformal shape to provide azimuth and/or elevation coverage up to 360 degrees.
  • the disclosed embodiments utilize one or more broadband antenna elements.
  • the flare refers to an antenna array in which the antenna elements are configured such that each antenna element is uniformly spaced apart from at least one adjacent antenna element, and each antenna element extends radially outward from a common central area.
  • the antenna elements can be separately fed, which results in lower gain than when using a beam forming network.
  • the beam forming network can be used to provide 360 degree coverage. Multiple beams can be generated using the beam forming network at, for example 0, 45, 90, 135, 180 degrees, each of which has substantially the same beamwidth due to the flare.
  • the antenna elements are fed from the common central area, from which the antenna elements radiate outward.
  • log periodic antennas are fed in the opposite direction since the antenna elements radiate in the opposite direction, that is, towards the common central area.
  • an opposing antenna element will be at -45 degrees, and since the antenna elements are spaced 90 degrees apart, the antenna elements will be orthogonal, and thus will not be blocked by radiation from opposing elements in such a configuration.
  • Embodiments disclosed herein also provide for a planar antenna array 18 shown in Figure 3A , or a circular antenna array 19 shown in Figure 3B using antenna elements 20 that are cross-polarized.
  • Cross-polarization refers to the antenna elements 18 not being disposed in a straight-up configuration, as shown in Figure 1 , but instead being disposed at a 45° or -45° tilt from a vertical straight line or axis of symmetry 22, 23.
  • Figures 3A and 3B illustrate this 45° tilt concept. Although a 45° tilt is shown, alternative angles may be used to define the degree of tilt including, but not limited to, 15°, 30°,60°, and 75° while remaining within the intended scope of the embodiments disclosed herein.
  • Figures 4A-C show isometric, side, and top views, respectively, of a flare 24 of antenna elements configured as a circular antenna array.
  • opposing front and rear antenna elements 26, 28 are disposed at a 90° difference in orientation, thereby making the antenna elements 26, 28 orthogonal with respect to each other, as shown in Figures 4A-C .
  • An axis of symmetry 42 is shown in Figures 4A-C , which extends through a common area 47.
  • the tilt concept is also illustrated by at least one of the plurality of antenna elements including a planar area, which has an edge 50 that is disposed non-parallel to the axis of symmetry 42 when viewed normal to the axis of symmetry 42.
  • Figure 5 identifies pairs of opposing antenna elements (26, 28), (30, 32), (34, 36), and (38, 40). By configuring these antenna elements at a 45 degree tilt in a circle, an inward antenna element propagates through the corresponding opposing antenna element disposed on the opposing side of the circle. As indicated above, log periodic antennas are fed in the opposite direction because the antenna elements radiate in the opposite direction. That is, the antenna elements will radiate inward towards the center of the circle.
  • the opposing antenna element disposed on the opposite side of the circle will be flared at a -45 degree angle, and since the antenna elements are 90 degrees apart, the opposing antenna elements will be orthogonal to each other, and thus opposing antenna elements will not block their respective radiations.
  • an antenna array includes a plurality of tapered slot antenna elements.
  • Each of the tapered slot antenna elements 16 includes a first antenna portion 56 and a second antenna portion 58, which are arranged in a serpentine configuration such that a gap 60 is formed therebetween, as shown in Figure 9 .
  • the serpentine configuration provides for a plurality of different distances between the first and second antenna portions 56, 58, which enables the beamwidths of the antenna element to remain constant at all frequencies of operation.
  • Figures 10A-B show an embodiment of a serpentine antenna element including a first antenna portion 62 and a second antenna portion 64, which is configured to have, for example, four (4) different spacings 66, 68, 70, 72 therebetween, Each of the spacings 66, 68, 70, 72 corresponds to one of four (4) different operating frequencies F1-4 with one of four (4) different wavelengths.
  • the different spacings 66, 68, 70, 72 between antenna portions 62, 64 are configured to have a value that is in constant proportion to the wavelength at the corresponding operating frequency.
  • the corresponding spacing 72 for the operating frequency F1 could be 1 meter, and the corresponding spacing 74 for the operating frequency F2 could be 0.1. meter, which would maintain a constant 1:1 proportion or ratio between the spacing and the corresponding operating wavelength or and/or frequency.
  • Figures 11A-B show an embodiment of a serpentine antenna element including a first antenna portion 74 and a second antenna portion 76, which is configured to have, for example, five (5) different spacings 78, 80, 82, 86, 88 therebetween, Each of the spacings 78, 80, 82, 86, 88 corresponds to one of five (5) different operating frequencies F1-5 with one of five (5) different wavelengths.
  • the plurality of tapered slot antenna elements 16 may be configured in, for example, at least one of a circle, half circle, sphere, cylinder, plane, and/or the like. At least one of the plurality of tapered slot antenna elements 16 may include at least one of a log-periodic antenna and/or Vivaldi antenna.
  • Figures 12A-D show different configurations of tapered slot antennas for use in the disclosed embodiments. Specifically, Figure 12A shows an exponentially tapered slot antenna 88, Figure 12B shows a linear tapered slot antenna 90, Figure 12C shows a continuous width slot antenna 92, and Figure 12D shows a dual exponentially tapered slot antenna 94.
  • Broadband antenna elements such as, but not limited to, log-periodic and Vivaldi antenna elements can be used in the embodiments disclosed above.

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  • Variable-Direction Aerials And Aerial Arrays (AREA)
EP17202685.8A 2016-12-22 2017-11-21 Réseau d'antennes à ultra-large bande constante sur toute la largeur de bande de fréquence de fonctionnement Withdrawn EP3340384A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US15/388,509 US9905936B2 (en) 2013-09-05 2016-12-22 Ultra-broadband antenna array with constant beamwidth throughout operating frequency band

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EP3340384A1 true EP3340384A1 (fr) 2018-06-27

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Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6219001B1 (en) * 1998-12-18 2001-04-17 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Tapered slot antenna having a corrugated structure
US20050012672A1 (en) * 2001-08-24 2005-01-20 Fisher James Joseph Vivaldi antenna
FR2903235A1 (fr) * 2006-06-28 2008-01-04 Thomson Licensing Sas Perfectionnement aux antennes a rayonnement longitudinal de type fente
US20090251377A1 (en) * 2008-04-05 2009-10-08 Sheng Peng Wideband high gain dielectric notch radiator antenna
US20150061955A1 (en) * 2013-09-05 2015-03-05 John Howard Ultra-Broadband Antenna Array with Constant Beamwidth Throughout Operating Frequency Band

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6219001B1 (en) * 1998-12-18 2001-04-17 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Tapered slot antenna having a corrugated structure
US20050012672A1 (en) * 2001-08-24 2005-01-20 Fisher James Joseph Vivaldi antenna
FR2903235A1 (fr) * 2006-06-28 2008-01-04 Thomson Licensing Sas Perfectionnement aux antennes a rayonnement longitudinal de type fente
US20090251377A1 (en) * 2008-04-05 2009-10-08 Sheng Peng Wideband high gain dielectric notch radiator antenna
US20150061955A1 (en) * 2013-09-05 2015-03-05 John Howard Ultra-Broadband Antenna Array with Constant Beamwidth Throughout Operating Frequency Band

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
DEGUCHI H ET AL: "A compact low-cross-polarization horn antenna with serpentine-shaped taper", IEEE ANTENNAS AND PROPAGATION SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM. 2001 DIGEST. APS. BOSTON, MA, JULY 8 - 13, 2001; [IEEE ANTENNAS AND PROPAGATION SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM], NEW YORK, NY : IEEE, US, vol. 2, 8 July 2001 (2001-07-08), pages 320 - 323, XP010564093, ISBN: 978-0-7803-7070-8, DOI: 10.1109/APS.2001.959728 *

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