Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
  • H01Q9/00—Electrically-short antennas having dimensions not more than twice the operating wavelength and consisting of conductive active radiating elements
  • H01Q9/04—Resonant antennas
  • H01Q9/0407—Substantially flat resonant element parallel to ground plane, e.g. patch antenna
  • H01Q9/045—Substantially flat resonant element parallel to ground plane, e.g. patch antenna with particular feeding means
  • H01Q9/0457—Substantially flat resonant element parallel to ground plane, e.g. patch antenna with particular feeding means electromagnetically coupled to the feed line
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
  • H01Q1/00—Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
  • H01Q1/40—Radiating elements coated with or embedded in protective material
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
  • H01Q9/00—Electrically-short antennas having dimensions not more than twice the operating wavelength and consisting of conductive active radiating elements
  • H01Q9/04—Resonant antennas
  • H01Q9/0407—Substantially flat resonant element parallel to ground plane, e.g. patch antenna

Definitions

• the innovation relates to microst ⁇ p antennas which are intended to be used to measure the dielectric constant in a medium, preferably liquids.
• Another application is the measurement of oil content in water.
• Different kinds of antennas for measuring dielectric constants m liquids are well known today.
• a simple type of antenna is a single pole (coaxial) antenna.
• a serious drawback is however that it is difficult to get a large volume of the transmitted energy to reach the receiver antenna in order to get good measuring values.
• horn antenna Another well known type of antenna for measuring dielectric constants in liquids is the so called horn antenna.
• horn antenna Such an antenna works well but its mechanical design demands a relatively large space because the transmitted signals pass from air to liquid. The need for space is, in a number of different circumstances, a serious disadvantage, for example measurements made in a liquid which pass through a pipe with relatively small dimensions .
• patch antenna This is made up of a ground plane layer which normally consists of a copper plate, a middle layer which is in contact with the ground layer and a microstrip, connected with a so called patch which consists of a copper plate which lies next to the middle layer on a parallel plane with the ground layer. The signals are transmitted from this patch.
• patch antenna Such an antenna however, can only be used for measurements in air. The obtained reflection will be large if it is used in liquid. The liquid's dielectric constant cannot be measured with this antenna.
• micro- strip antenna This type of antenna, hereafter called the micro- strip antenna, has been developed to transfer radiation energy into a liquid and even to receive this energy without the majority of the energy being reflected.
• the patent refers to a microstrip antenna which is designed by putting several different layers on top of each other consisting of a base layer m the form of a first ground plane layer which consists of a block layer for electro-magnetic energy, a first substrate layer lying against this layer and an elongated microstrip feed line lying against the substrate layer and extending in a plane parallel with the first ground plane layer. What distinguishes this microstrip antenna is evident from the attached patent claims.
• Fig. 1 shows an exploded view of a first antenna design according to the patent
• FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of a second antenna design according to the patent
• Fig 3 shows the antenna n a composite state according to a third design.
• the microstrip antenna is made up of a first ground plane layer 1 with a rectangular shape.
• This layer 1 which can be made up of a copper plate constitutes the block layer (stop) for electro-magnetic radiation down along the figure.
• Attached to this ground plane layer 1 is a first substrate layer 2 with the same rectangular shape and with a defined dielectric constant and thickness.
• a feed line 3 lies close to the substrate layer 2 and extends from one of the short sides of the sub ⁇ strate layer 2 a length m towards the substrate layer.
• the antenna consists moreover of a second substrate layer 4, lying against a feed line 3 and the first substrate layer 2.
• Substrate layer 4 has the same shape and likewise defined diel ⁇ ectric constant and thickness.
• a second substrate layer 4 lies against a second ground plane layer 5 which likewise can be made up of a copper plate with a slit 6 which extends perpendicular to the length direction of the feed line 3.
• a third substrate 7 lies against the second ground layer 5 which has the same shape as the two other substrate layers 2, 4 .
• the sub ⁇ strate layer 7 should be of a material which gives small losses withm the microwave band when using a penetrating transmitter signal. An example of such a material is quartz or sapphire glass.
• the substrate layer 7 is adapted to finally shape one microwave signal fed from feed line 3, transmitted through slit 6 and layer 7.
• Substrate layer 7 can also provide mechanical wear protection against a passing liquid mixture, for example stock.
• This embodiment of the innovation is the simplest variation.
• the antenna is easy to manufacture and gives a broad band signal.
• Fig 2 shows a second variation of the innovation.
• a fourth substrate layer 8 is incorporated in this antenna design which is situated between the second ground plane layer 5 and the third substrate layer 7.
• the side of this fourth substrate layer 8 which lies against substrate layer 7 is provided with a metal plate 9, a so called patch.
• the patch is situated in such a way relative to the slit 6 that a longitudinal line through the slit divides the metal plate 8 in two halves.
• the antenna is somewhat more complicated but gives a narrow band signal and has a better gain than the antenna according to the first design description. Further it offers greater matching possibilities to achieve a low reflection.
• FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment in a composite state which is an alternative design to the microstrip antenna according to the innovation.
• the antenna is here made up of the first ground plane layer 1, the first substrate layer 2 with a feed line 3, the fourth substrate layer 8 provided with the metal plate 9 and the third substrate layer 7 which lies against the fourth substrate layer 8 and the metal plate 9.
• Feed line 3 and the metal plate 9 are according to this design electronically connected with each other via a conductor 10 which extends through the fourth substrate layer 8. A narrow band signal and good gain can be achieved even with this design of antenna.
• the microstrip antenna according to the innovation in all presented and described designs, is made up of a very compact unit which only takes up a small space and therefore can be mounted and used for a number of differ ⁇ ent applications.
• the antenna can transfer radiation energy into a liquid and receive same without a large proportion of the energy being reflected.
• ground plane layer 1 and 5 feed line 3 and plate 9 can be made in other material than copper, such as silver or gold.
• the antenna can even be designed in another way like that of a parallelepiped.

Landscapes

• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Electromagnetism (AREA)
• Waveguide Aerials (AREA)

Priority Applications (2)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=20400635

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Cited By (1)

Families Citing this family (1)

• 1995
  • 1995-12-19 SE SE9504529A patent/SE9504529L/ not_active IP Right Cessation
• 1996
  • 1996-12-16 WO PCT/SE1996/001662 patent/WO1997023018A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1996-12-16 CA CA 2240902 patent/CA2240902A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1996-12-16 EP EP96942711A patent/EP0871987A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 1996-12-16 AU AU11558/97A patent/AU1155897A/en not_active Abandoned

Non-Patent Citations (2)

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