WO2006031341A2 - Antenne multi-faisceau - Google Patents

Antenne multi-faisceau Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2006031341A2
WO2006031341A2 PCT/US2005/028662 US2005028662W WO2006031341A2 WO 2006031341 A2 WO2006031341 A2 WO 2006031341A2 US 2005028662 W US2005028662 W US 2005028662W WO 2006031341 A2 WO2006031341 A2 WO 2006031341A2
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
lens
antenna
electromagnetic
elements
patch
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2005/028662
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English (en)
Other versions
WO2006031341A3 (fr
Inventor
James P. Ebling
Gabriel M. Rebeiz
Original Assignee
Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
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Publication date
Application filed by Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc. filed Critical Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc.
Priority to JP2007525809A priority Critical patent/JP2008510390A/ja
Priority to EP05810106A priority patent/EP1779465A2/fr
Publication of WO2006031341A2 publication Critical patent/WO2006031341A2/fr
Publication of WO2006031341A3 publication Critical patent/WO2006031341A3/fr

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q3/00—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system
    • H01Q3/44—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system varying the electric or magnetic characteristics of reflecting, refracting, or diffracting devices associated with the radiating element
    • H01Q3/46—Active lenses or reflecting arrays
    • 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
    • H01Q19/00—Combinations of primary active antenna elements and units with secondary devices, e.g. with quasi-optical devices, for giving the antenna a desired directional characteristic
    • H01Q19/06—Combinations of primary active antenna elements and units with secondary devices, e.g. with quasi-optical devices, for giving the antenna a desired directional characteristic using refracting or diffracting devices, e.g. lens
    • H01Q19/062—Combinations of primary active antenna elements and units with secondary devices, e.g. with quasi-optical devices, for giving the antenna a desired directional characteristic using refracting or diffracting devices, e.g. lens for focusing
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q3/00—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system
    • H01Q3/26—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system varying the relative phase or relative amplitude of energisation between two or more active radiating elements; varying the distribution of energy across a radiating aperture
    • H01Q3/2658—Phased-array fed focussing structure

Definitions

  • FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of a first embodiment of a multi-beam antenna comprising an electromagnetic lens
  • FIG. 2 illustrates a fragmentary side cross-sectional view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 illustrates a fragmentary side cross-sectional view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, incorporating a truncated electromagnetic lens
  • FIG. 4 illustrates a fragmentary side cross-sectional view of an embodiment illustrating various locations of a dielectric substrate, relative to an electromagnetic lens
  • FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of a multi-beam antenna, wherein each antenna feed element is operatively coupled to a separate signal
  • FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of a multi-beam antenna, wherein the associated switching network is separately located from the dielectric substrate
  • FIG. 7 illustrates a top view of a second embodiment of a multi-beam antenna comprising a plurality of electromagnetic lenses located proximate to one edge of a dielectric substrate
  • FIG. 8 illustrates a top view of a third embodiment of a multi-beam antenna comprising a plurality of electromagnetic lenses located proximate to opposite edges of a dielectric substrate
  • FIG. 9 illustrates a side view of the third embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8, further comprising a plurality of reflectors
  • FIG. 10 illustrates a fourth embodiment of a multi-beam antenna, comprising an electromagnetic lens and a reflector
  • FIG. 11 illustrates a fifth embodiment of a multi-beam antenna
  • FIG. 12 illustrates a top view of a sixth embodiment of a multi-beam antenna comprising a discrete lens array
  • FIG. 13 illustrates a fragmentary side cross-sectional view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 12;
  • FIG. 14 illustrates a block diagram of a discrete lens array
  • FIG. 15a illustrates a first side of one embodiment of a planar discrete lens array
  • FIG. 15b illustrates a second side of one embodiment of a planar discrete lens array
  • FIG. 16 illustrates a plot of delay as a function of radial location on the planar discrete array illustrated in FIGS. 15a and 15b;
  • FIG. 17 illustrates a fragmentary cross sectional isometric view of a first embodiment of a discrete lens antenna element
  • FIG. 18 illustrates an isometric view of the first embodiment of a discrete lens antenna element illustrated in FIG. 17, isolated from associated dielectric substrates;
  • FIG. 19 illustrates an isometric view of a second embodiment of a discrete lens antenna element
  • FIG. 20 illustrates an isometric view of a third embodiment of a discrete lens antenna element, isolated from associated dielectric substrates;
  • FIG. 21 illustrates a cross sectional view of the third embodiment of the discrete lens antenna element
  • FIG. 22 illustrates a plan view of a second embodiment of a discrete lens array
  • FIG. 23 illustrates an isometric view of a fourth embodiment of a discrete lens antenna element, isolated from associated dielectric substrates;
  • FIG. 24a illustrates a cross sectional view of the fourth embodiment of the discrete lens antenna element of a third embodiment of a discrete lens array
  • FIG. 24b illustrates a cross sectional view of the fourth embodiment of a discrete lens antenna element of a fourth embodiment of a discrete lens array
  • FIG. 25 illustrates a fragmentary cross sectional isometric view of a fifth embodiment of a discrete lens antenna element of a reflective discrete lens array
  • FIG. 26 illustrates a seventh embodiment of a multi-beam antenna, comprising a discrete lens array and a reflector
  • FIG. 27 illustrates an eighth embodiment of a multi-beam antenna.
  • a multi-beam antenna 10, 10.1 comprises at least one electromagnetic lens 12 and a plurality of antenna feed elements 14 on a dielectric substrate 16 proximate to a first edge 18 thereof, wherein the plurality of antenna feed elements 14 are adapted to radiate or receive a corresponding plurality of beams of electromagnetic energy 20 through the at least one electromagnetic lens 12.
  • the at least one electromagnetic lens 12 has a first side 22 having a first contour 24 at an intersection of the first side 22 with a reference surface 26, for example, a plane 26.1.
  • the at least one electromagnetic lens 12 acts to diffract the electromagnetic wave from the respective antenna feed elements 14, wherein different antenna feed elements 14 at different locations and in different directions relative to the at least one electromagnetic lens 12 generate different associated different beams of electromagnetic energy 20.
  • the at least one electromagnetic lens 12 has a refractive index n different from free space, for example, a refractive index n greater than one (1).
  • the at least one electromagnetic lens 12 may be constructed of a material such as REXOLITETM, TEFLONTM, polyethylene, polystyrene or some other dielectric; or a plurality of different materials having different refractive indices, for example as in a Luneburg lens.
  • the shape and size of the at least one electromagnetic lens 12, the refractive index n thereof, and the relative position of the antenna feed elements 14 to the electromagnetic lens 12 are adapted in accordance with the radiation patterns of the antenna feed elements 14 to provide a desired pattern of radiation of the respective beams of electromagnetic energy 20 exiting the second side 28 of the at least one electromagnetic lens 12.
  • the at least one electromagnetic lens 12 is illustrated as a spherical lens 12' in FIGS. 1 and 2, the at least one electromagnetic lens 12 is not limited to any one particular design, and may, for example, comprise either a spherical lens, a Luneburg lens, a spherical shell lens, a hemispherical lens, an at least partially spherical lens, an at least partially spherical shell lens, an elliptical lens, a cylindrical lens, or a rotational lens.
  • one or more portions of the electromagnetic lens 12 may be truncated for improved packaging, without significantly impacting the performance of the associated multi-beam antenna 10, 10.1.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates an at least partially spherical electromagnetic lens 12" with opposing first 27 and second 29 portions removed therefrom.
  • the first edge 18 of the dielectric substrate 16 comprises a second contour 30 that is proximate to the first contour 24.
  • the first edge 18 of the dielectric substrate 16 is located on the reference surface 26, and is positioned proximate to the first side 22 of one of the at least one electromagnetic lens 12.
  • the dielectric substrate 16 is located relative to the electromagnetic lens 12 so as to provide for the diffraction by the at least one electromagnetic lens 12 necessary to form the beams of electromagnetic energy 20.
  • a multi-beam antenna 10 comprising a planar dielectric substrate 16 located on reference surface 26 comprising a plane 26.1, in combination with an electromagnetic lens 12 having a center 32, for example, a spherical lens 12'; the plane 26.1 may be located substantially close to the center 32 of the electromagnetic lens 12 so as to provide for diffraction by at least a portion of the electromagnetic lens 12.
  • the dielectric substrate 16 may also be displaced relative to the center 32 of the electromagnetic lens 12, for example on one or the other side of the center 32 as illustrated by dielectric substrates 16' and 16", which are located on respective reference surfaces 26' and 26".
  • the dielectric substrate 16 is, for example, a material with low loss at an operating frequency, for example, DUROIDTM, a TEFLONTM containing material, a ceramic material, or a composite material such as an epoxy/fiberglass composite.
  • the dielectric substrate 16 comprises a dielectric 16.1 of a circuit board 34, for example, a printed circuit board 34.1 comprising at least one conductive layer 36 adhered to the dielectric substrate 16, from which the antenna feed elements 14 and other associated circuit traces 38 are formed, for example, by subtractive technology, for example, chemical or ion etching, or stamping; or additive techniques, for example, deposition, bonding or lamination.
  • the plurality of antenna feed elements 14 are located on the dielectric substrate 16 along the second contour 30 of the first edge 18, wherein each antenna feed element 14 comprises a least one conductor 40 operatively connected to the dielectric substrate 16.
  • at least one of the antenna feed elements 14 comprises an end-fire antenna element 14.1 adapted to launch or receive electromagnetic waves in a direction 42 substantially towards or from the first side 22 of the at least one electromagnetic lens 12, wherein different end-fire antenna elements 14.1 are located at different locations along the second contour 30 so as to launch or receive respective electromagnetic waves in different directions 42.
  • An end-fire antenna element 14.1 may, for example, comprise either a Yagi- Uda antenna, a coplanar horn antenna (also known as a tapered slot antenna), a Vivaldi antenna, a tapered dielectric rod, a slot antenna, a dipole antenna, or a helical antenna, each of which is capable of being formed on the dielectric substrate 16, for example, from a printed circuit board 34.1, for example, by subtractive technology, for example, chemical or ion etching, or stamping; or additive techniques, for example, deposition, bonding or lamination.
  • the antenna feed elements 14 may be used for transmitting, receiving or both transmitting and receiving. Referring to FIG.
  • the direction 42 of the one or more beams of electromagnetic energy 20, 20', 20" through the electromagnetic lens 12, 12' is responsive to the relative location of the dielectric substrate 16, 16' or 16" and the associated reference surface 26, 26' or 26" relative to the center 32 of the electromagnetic lens 12.
  • the directions 42 of the one or more beams of electromagnetic energy 20 are nominally aligned with the reference surface 26.
  • the resulting one or more beams of electromagnetic energy 20' propagate in directions 42' below the center 32.
  • the resulting one or more beams of electromagnetic energy 20" propagate in directions 42" above the center 32.
  • the multi-beam antenna 10 may further comprise at least one transmission line 44 on the dielectric substrate 16 operatively connected to a feed port 46 of one of the plurality of antenna feed elements 14, for feeding a signal to the associated antenna feed element 14.
  • the at least one transmission line 44 may comprise either a stripline, a microstrip line, an inverted microstrip line, a slotline, an image line, an insulated image line, a tapped image line, a coplanar stripline, or a coplanar waveguide line formed on the dielectric substrate 16, for example, from a printed circuit board 34.1, for example, by subtractive technology, for example, chemical or ion etching, or stamping; or additive techniques, for example, deposition, bonding or lamination.
  • the multi-beam antenna 10 may further comprise a switching network 48 having at least one input 50 and a plurality of outputs 52, wherein the at least one input 50 is operatively connected — for example, via at least one above described transmission line 44 - - to a corporate antenna feed port 54, and each output 52 of the plurality of outputs 52 is connected — for example, via at least one above described transmission line 44 — to a respective feed port 46 of a different antenna feed element 14 of the plurality of antenna feed elements 14.
  • the switching network 48 further comprises at least one control port 56 for controlling which outputs 52 are connected to the at least one input 50 at a given time.
  • the switching network 48 may, for example, comprise either a plurality of micro- mechanical switches, PIN diode switches, transistor switches, or a combination thereof, and may, for example, be operatively connected to the dielectric substrate 16, for example, by surface mount to an associated conductive layer 36 of a printed circuit board 34.1.
  • a feed signal 58 applied to the corporate antenna feed port 54 is either blocked — for example, by an open circuit, by reflection or by absorption, — or switched to the associated feed port 46 of one or more antenna feed elements 14, via one or more associated transmission lines 44, by the switching network 48, responsive to a control signal 60 applied to the control port 56.
  • the feed signal 58 may either comprise a single signal common to each antenna feed element 14, or a plurality of signals associated with different antenna feed elements 14.
  • Each antenna feed element 14 to which the feed signal 58 is applied launches an associated electromagnetic wave into the first side 22 of the associated electromagnetic lens 12, which is diffracted thereby to form an associated beam of electromagnetic energy 20.
  • the associated beams of electromagnetic energy 20 launched by different antenna feed elements 14 propagate in different associated directions 42.
  • the various beams of electromagnetic energy 20 may be generated individually at different times so as to provide for a scanned beam of electromagnetic energy 20. Alternately, two or more beams of electromagnetic energy 20 may be generated simultaneously.
  • different antenna feed elements 14 may be driven by different frequencies that, for example, are either directly switched to the respective antenna feed elements 14, or switched via an associated switching network 48 having a plurality of inputs 50, at least some of which are connected to different feed signals 58.
  • the niulti-beam antenna 10, 10.1 may be adapted so that the respective signals are associated with the respective antenna feed elements 14 in a one-to- one relationship, thereby precluding the need for an associated switching network 48.
  • each antenna feed element 14 can be operatively connected to an associated signal 59 through an associated processing element 61.
  • the respective antenna feed elements 14 are used to receive electromagnetic energy, and the respective processing elements 61 comprise detectors.
  • the respective antenna feed elements 14 are used to both transmit and receive electromagnetic energy, and the respective processing elements 61 comprise transmit/receive modules or transceivers.
  • the switching network 48 if used, need not be collocated on a common dielectric substrate 16, but can be separately located, as, for example, may be useful for low frequency applications, for example, for operating frequencies less than 20 GHz, e.g. 1-20 GHz.
  • a multi-beam antenna 10' comprises at least first 12.1 and second 12.2 electromagnetic lenses, each having a first side 22.1, 22.2 with a corresponding first contour 24.1, 24.2 at an intersection of the respective first side 22.1, 22.2 with the reference surface 26.
  • the dielectric substrate 16 comprises at least a second edge 62 comprising a third contour 64, wherein the second contour 30 is proximate to the first contour 24.1 of the first electromagnetic lens 12.1 and the third contour 64 is proximate to the first contour 24.2 of the second electromagnetic lens 12.2.
  • the second edge 62 is the same as the first edge 18 and the second 30 and third 64 contours are displaced from one another along the first edge 18 of the dielectric substrate 16.
  • the second edge 62 is different from the first edge 18, and more particularly is opposite to the first edge 18 of the dielectric substrate 16.
  • a multi-beam antenna 10" comprises at least one reflector 66, wherein the reference surface 26 intersects the at least one reflector 66 and one of the at least one electromagnetic lens 12 is located between the dielectric substrate 16 and the reflector 66.
  • the at least one reflector 66 is adapted to reflect electromagnetic energy propagated through the at least one electromagnetic lens 12 after being generated by at least one of the plurality of antenna feed elements 14.
  • the third embodiment of the multi-beam antenna 10 comprises at least first 66.1 and second 66.2 reflectors wherein the first electromagnetic lens 12.1 is located between the dielectric substrate 16 and the first reflector 66.1, the second electromagnetic lens 12.2 is located between the dielectric substrate 16 and the second reflector 66.2, the first reflector 66.1 is adapted to reflect electromagnetic energy propagated through the first electromagnetic lens 12.1 after being generated by at least one of the plurality of antenna feed elements 14 on the second contour 30, and the second reflector 66.2 is adapted to reflect electromagnetic energy propagated through the second electromagnetic lens 12.2 after being generated by at least one of the plurality of antenna feed elements 14 on the third contour 64.
  • the first 66.1 and second 66.2 reflectors may be oriented to direct the beams of electromagnetic energy 20 from each side in a common nominal direction, as illustrated in FIG. 9.
  • the multi-beam antenna 10" as illustrated would provide for scanning in a direction normal to the plane of the illustration. If the dielectric substrate 16 were rotated by 90 degrees with respect to the reflectors 66.1, 66.2, about an axis connecting the respective electromagnetic lenses 12.1, 12.1, then the multi-beam antenna 10" would provide for scanning in a direction parallel to the plane of the illustration.
  • a multi-beam antenna 10", 10.4 comprises an at least partially spherical electromagnetic lens 12'", for example, a hemispherical electromagnetic lens, having a curved surface 68 and a boundary 70, for example a flat boundary 70.1.
  • the multi-beam antenna 10", 10.4 further comprises a reflector 66 proximate to the boundary 70, and a plurality of antenna feed elements 14 on a dielectric substrate 16 proximate to a contoured edge 72 thereof, wherein each of the antenna feed elements 14 is adapted to radiate a respective plurality of beams of electromagnetic energy 20 into a first sector 74 of the electromagnetic lens 12'".
  • the electromagnetic lens 12' has a first contour 24 at an intersection of the first sector 74 with a reference surface 26, for example, a plane 26.1.
  • the contoured edge 72 has a second contour 30 located on the reference surface 26 that is proximate to the first contour 24 of the first sector 74.
  • the multi-beam antenna 10", 10.4 further comprises a switching network 48 and a plurality of transmission lines 44 operatively connected to the antenna feed elements 14 as described hereinabove for the other embodiments.
  • At least one feed signal 58 applied to a corporate antenna feed port 54 is either blocked, or switched to the associated feed port 46 of one or more antenna feed elements 14, via one or more associated transmission lines 44, by the switching network 48 responsive to a control signal 60 applied to a control port 56 of the switching network 48.
  • Each antenna feed element 14 to which the feed signal 58 is applied launches an associated electromagnetic wave into the first sector 74 of the associated electromagnetic lens 12'".
  • the electromagnetic wave propagates through — and is diffracted by — the curved surface 68, and is then reflected by the reflector 66 proximate to the boundary 70, whereafter the reflected electromagnetic wave propagates through the electromagnetic lens 12'" and exits - - and is diffracted by — a second sector 76 as an associated beam of electromagnetic energy 20.
  • the reflector 66 substantially normal to the reference surface 26 — as illustrated in FIG. 10 — the different beams of electromagnetic energy 20 are directed by the associated antenna feed elements 14 in different directions that are nominally substantially parallel to the reference surface 26.
  • a multi-beam antenna 10"', 10.5 comprises an electromagnetic lens 12 and plurality of dielectric substrates 16, each comprising a set of antenna feed elements 14 and operating in accordance with the description hereinabove.
  • Each set of antenna feed elements 14 generates (or is capable of generating) an associated set of beams of electromagnetic energy 20.1, 20.2 and 20.3, each having associated directions 42.1, 42.2 and 42.3, responsive to the associated feed 58 and control 60 signals.
  • the associated feed 58 and control 60 signals are either directly applied to the associated switch network 48 of the respective sets of antenna feed elements 14, or are applied thereto through a second switch network 78 having associated feed 80 and control 82 ports, each comprising at least one associated signal.
  • the multi-beam antenna 10'", 10.5 provides for transmitting or receiving one or more beams of electromagnetic energy over a three-dimensional space.
  • the multi-beam antenna 10 provides for a relatively wide field-of-view, and is suitable for a variety of applications, including but not limited to automotive radar, point-to- point communications systems and point-to-multi-point communication systems, over a wide range of frequencies for which the antenna feed elements 14 may be designed to radiate, for example, frequencies in the range of 1 to 200 GHz.
  • the multi-beam antenna 10 may be configured for either mono-static or bi-static operation.
  • a dielectric electromagnetic lens 12 When relatively a narrow beamwidth, i.e. a high gain, is desired at a relatively lower frequency, a dielectric electromagnetic lens 12 can become relatively large and heavy.
  • the dielectric electromagnetic lens 12 may be replaced with a discrete lens array 100, e.g. a planar lens 100.1, which can beneficially provide for setting the polarization, the ratio of focal length to diameter, and the focal surface shape, and can be more readily be made to conform to a surface.
  • a discrete lens array 100 can also be adapted to incorporate amplitude weighting so as to provide for control of sidelobes in the associates beams of electromagnetic energy 20. For example, referring to FIGS.
  • the dielectric electromagnetic lens 12 of the first embodiment of the multi-beam antenna 10, 10.1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is replaced with a planar lens 100.1 comprising a first set of patch antennas 102.1 on a first side 104 of the planar lens 100.1, and a second set of patch antennas 102.2 on the second side 106 of the planar lens 100.1, where the first 104 and second 106 sides are opposite one another.
  • the individual patch antennas 102 of the first 102.1 and second 102.2 sets of patch antennas are in one-to-one correspondence. Referring to FIG.
  • each patch antenna 102, 102.1 on the first side 104 of the planar lens 100.1 is operatively coupled via a delay element 108 to a corresponding patch antenna 102, 102.2 on the second side 106 of the planar lens 100.1, wherein the patch antenna 102, 102.1 on the first side 104 of the planar lens 100.1 is substantially aligned with the corresponding patch antenna 102, 102.2 on the second side 106 of the planar lens 100.1.
  • electromagnetic energy that is radiated upon one of the patch antennas 102 e.g. a first patch antenna 102.1 on the first side 104 of the planar lens 100.1 is received thereby, and a signal responsive thereto is coupled via — and delayed by — the delay element 108 to the corresponding patch antenna 102, e.g. the second patch antenna 102.2, wherein the amount of delay by the delay element 108 is dependent upon the location of the corresponding patch antennas 102 on the respective first 104 and second 106 sides of the planar lens 100.1.
  • the signal coupled to the second patch antenna 102.2 is then radiated thereby from the second side 106 of the planar lens 100.1.
  • the planar lens 100.1 comprises a plurality of lens elements 110, wherein each lens element 110 comprises a first patch antenna element 102.1 operatively coupled to a corresponding second patch antenna element 102.2 via at least one delay element 108, wherein the first 102.1 and second 102.2 patch antenna elements are substantially opposed to one another on opposite sides of the planar lens 100.1.
  • the patch antennas 102.1, 102.2 comprise conductive surfaces on a dielectric substrate 112
  • the delay element 108 coupling the patch antennas 102.1, 102.2 of the first 104 and second 106 sides of the planar lens 100.1 comprise delay lines 114, e.g. microstrip or stipline structures, that are located adjacent to the associated patch antennas 102.1, 102.2 on the underlying dielectric substrate 112.
  • the first ends 116.1 of the delay lines 114 are connected to the corresponding patch antennas 102.1, 102.2, and the second ends 116.2 of the delay lines 114 are interconnected to one another with a conductive path, for example, with a conductive via 118 though the dielectric substrate 112.
  • FIGS. 15a and 15b illustrate the delay lines 114 arranged so as to provide for feeding the associated first 102.1 and second 102.2 sets of patch antennas at the same relative locations.
  • the amount of delay caused by the associated delay elements 108 is made dependent upon the location of the associated patch antenna 102 in the planar lens 100.1, and, for example, is set by the length of the associated delay lines 114, as illustrated by the configuration illustrated in FIGS. 15a and 15b, so as to emulate the phase properties of a convex electromagnetic lens 12, e.g. a spherical lens 12'.
  • the shape of the delay profile illustrated in FIG. 16 can be of various configurations, for example, 1) uniform for all radial directions, thereby emulating a spherical lens 12'; 2) adapted to incorporate an azimuthal dependence, e.g. so as to emulate an elliptical lens; or 3) adapted to provide for focusing in one direction only, e.g. in the elevation plane of the multi-beam antenna 10.6, e.g. so as to emulate a cylindrical lens.
  • a first embodiment of a lens element HO 1 of the planar lens 100.1 illustrated in FIGS. 15a and 15b comprises first 102.1 and second 102.2 patch antenna elements on the outer surfaces of a core assembly 120 comprising first
  • a first delay line 114.1 on the first side 104 of the planar lens 100.1 extends circumferentially from a first location 124.1 on the periphery of the first patch antenna element 102.1 to a first end 118.1 of a conductive via 118 extending through the core assembly 120
  • a second delay line 114.2 on the second side 106 of the planar lens 100.1 extends circumferentially from a second location 124.2 on the periphery of the second patch antenna element 102.2 to a second end 118.2 of the conductive via 118.
  • the combination of the first 114.1 and second 114.2 delay lines interconnected by the conductive via 118 constitutes the associated delay element 108 of the lens element 110, and the amount of delay of the delay element 108 is generally responsive to the cumulative circumferential lengths of the associated first 114.1 and second 114.2 delay lines and the conductive via 118.
  • the delay element 108 may comprise at least one transmission line comprising either a stripline, a microstrip line, an inverted microstrip line, a slotline, an image line, an insulated image line, a tapped image line, a coplanar stripline, or a coplanar waveguide line formed on the dielectric substrate(s) 112, 112.1, 112.2, for example, from a printed circuit board, for example, by subtractive technology, for example, chemical or ion etching, or stamping; or additive techniques, for example, deposition, bonding or lamination.
  • the first 102.1 and second 102.2 patch antenna elements may be interconnected with one another so as to provide for dual polarization, for example, as disclosed in the technical paper "Multibeam Antennas with Polarization and Angle Diversity” by Darko Popovic and Zoya Popovic in IEEE Transactions on Antenna and Propagation, Vol. 50, No. 5, May 2002, which is incorporated herein by reference.
  • a first location 126.1 on an edge of the first patch antenna element 102.1 is connected via first 128.1 and second 128.2 delay lines to a first location 130.1 on the second patch antenna element 102.2, and a second location 126.2 on an edge of the first patch antenna element
  • 128.2 delay lines are interconnected with a first conductive via 132.1 that extends through associated first 134.1 and second 134.2 dielectric substrates and through a conductive ground plane 136 located therebetween.
  • the third 128.3 and fourth 128.4 delay lines are interconnected with a second conductive via 132.2 that also extends through the associated first 134.1 and second 134.2 dielectric substrates and through the conductive ground plane 136.
  • the first location 126.1 on the first patch antenna element 102.1 is shown substantially orthogonal to the first location 130.1 on the second patch antenna element 102.2 so that the polarization of the radiation from the second patch antenna element 102.2 is orthogonal with respect to that of the radiation incident upon the first patch antenna element 102.1.
  • first locations 126.1 and 130.1 could be aligned with one another, or could be oriented at some other angle with respect to one another.
  • one or more delay lines 114 may be located between the first 102.1 and second 102.2 patch antenna elements — rather than adjacent thereto as in the first and second embodiments of the lens element HO 1 , 110 ⁇ — so that the delay lines 114 are shadowed by the associated first 102.1 and second 102.2 patch antenna elements.
  • the first patch antenna element 102.1 on a first side 136.1 of a first dielectric substrate 136 is connected with a first conductive via 138.1 through the first dielectric substrate 136 to a first end 140.1 of a first delay line 140 located between the second side 136.2 of the first dielectric substrate 136 and a first side 142.1 of a second dielectric substrate 142.
  • the second patch antenna element 102.2 on a first side 144.1 of a third dielectric substrate 144 is connected with a second conductive via 138.2 through the third dielectric substrate 144 to a first end 146.1 of a second delay line 146 located between the second side 144.2 of the third dielectric substrate 144 and a first side 148.1 of a fourth dielectric substrate 148.
  • a third conductive via 138.3 interconnects the second ends 140.2, 146.2 of the first 140 and second 146 delay lines, and extends through the second 142 and fourth 148 dielectric substrates, and through a conductive ground plane 150 located between the second sides 142.2, 148.2 of the second 142 and fourth 148 dielectric substrates.
  • the first 140 and second 146 delay lines are shadowed by the first 102.1 and second 102.2 patch antenna elements, and therefore do not substantially affect the respective radiation patterns of the first 102.1 and second 102.2 patch antenna elements.
  • the patch antennas 102 are hexagonally shaped so as to provide for a more densely packed discrete lens array 100'.
  • the particular shape of the individual patch antennas 102 is not limiting, and for example, can be circular, rectangular, square, triangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, or some other polygonal shape or an arbitrary shape.
  • FIGS. 13, 15a, 15b, and 17-21 illustrate a plurality of delay lines 114.1, 114.2, 128.1, 128.2, 128.3, 128.4, 140, 146 interconnecting the first 102.1 and second 102.2 patch antenna elements
  • a single delay line 114 - - e.g. located on a surface of one of the dielectric substrates 112, 134, 136, 142, 144 — could be used, interconnected to the first 102.1 and second 102.2 patch antenna elements with associated conductive paths.
  • the first 102.1 and second 102.2 patch antenna elements are interconnected with a delay line 152 located therebetweeen, wherein a first end 152.1 of the delay line 152 is connected with a first conductive via 154.1 to the first patch antenna element 102.1 and a second end 152.2 of the delay line 152 is connected with a second conductive via 154.2 to the second patch antenna element 102.2.
  • a delay line 152 located therebetweeen, wherein a first end 152.1 of the delay line 152 is connected with a first conductive via 154.1 to the first patch antenna element 102.1 and a second end 152.2 of the delay line 152 is connected with a second conductive via 154.2 to the second patch antenna element 102.2.
  • the first patch antenna element 102.1 is located on a first side 156.1 of a first dielectric substrate 156
  • the second patch antenna element 102.2 is located on a first side 158.1 of a second dielectric substrate 158.
  • the delay line 152 is located between the second side 156.2 of the first dielectric substrate 156 and a first side 160.1 of a third dielectric substrate 160 and the first conductive via 154.1 extends through the first dielectric substrate 156.
  • a conductive ground plane 162 is located between the second sides 158.2, 160.2 of the second 158 and third 160 dielectric substrates, respectively, and the second conductive via 154.2 extends through the second 158 and third 160 dielectric substrates and through the conductive ground plane 162.
  • a fourth embodiment of a planar lens 100.4 incorporates the fourth embodiment of a lens element 110 IV " illustrated in FIG. 23, without the third dielectric substrate 160 of the third embodiment of the planar lens 100.3 illustrated in FIG. 24a, wherein the delay line 152 and the conductive ground plane 162 are coplanar between the second sides 156.2, 158.2 of the first 156 and second 158 dielectric substrates, and are insulated or separated from one another.
  • the discrete lens array 100 does not necessarily have to incorporate a conductive ground plane 122, 136, 150, 162.
  • the conductive ground plane 162 is optional, particularly if a closely packed array of patch antennas 102 were used as illustrated in FIG. 22.
  • the first embodiment of a lens element HO 1 illustrated in FIG. 18 could be constructed with the first 102.1 and second 102.2 patch antenna elements on opposing sides of a single dielectric substrate 112. Referring to FIGS. 25 and 26, in accordance with the third aspect and a seventh embodiment of a multi-beam antenna 10 , 10.7, and a fifth embodiment of a lens element 110 v illustrated in FIG.
  • a reflective discrete lens array 164 comprises a plurality of patch antennas 102 located on a first side 166.1 of a dielectric substrate 166 and connected via corresponding delay lines 168 that are terminated either with an open or short circuit, e.g. by termination at an associated conductive ground plane 170 on the second side
  • the reflective discrete lens array 164 acts as a reflector and provides for receiving electromagnetic energy in the associated patch antennas 102, and then reradiating the electromagnetic energy from the patch antennas 102 after an associated location dependent delay, so as to provide for focusing the reradiated electromagnetic energy in a desired direction responsive to the synthetic structure formed by the phase front of the reradiated electromagnetic energy responsive to the location dependent delay lines.
  • the discrete lens array 100, 164 is adapted to cooperate with a plurality of antenna feed elements 14, e.g.
  • end-fire antenna element 14.1 located along the edge of a dielectric substrate 16 having an edge contour 30 adapted to cooperate with the focal surface of the associated discrete lens array 100, 164, wherein the antenna feed elements 14 are fed with a feed signal 28 coupled thereto through an associated switching network 48, whereby one or a combination of antenna feed elements 14 may be fed so as to provide for one or more beams of electromagnetic energy 20, the direction of which can be controlled responsive to a control signal 60 applied to the switching network 48.
  • the discrete lens array 100 can be adapted to cooperate with a plurality of dielectric substrates 16, each comprising a set of antenna feed elements 14 and operating in accordance with the description hereinabove.
  • Each set of antenna feed elements 14 generates or receives (or is capable of generating or receiving) an associated set of beams of electromagnetic energy 20.1, 20.2 and 20.3, each having associated directions 42.1, 42.2 and 42.3, responsive to the associated feed 58 and control 60 signals.
  • the associated feed 58 and control 60 signals are either directly applied to the associated switch network 48 of the respective sets of antenna feed elements 14, or are applied thereto through a second switch network 78 have associated feed 80 and control 82 ports, each comprising at least one associated signal. Accordingly, the multi-beam antenna 10.8 provides for transmitting or receiving one or more beams of electromagnetic energy over a three-dimensional space.
  • any of the above-described antenna embodiments can be used for either transmission or reception or both transmission and reception of electromagnetic energy.
  • the discrete lens array 100, 164 in combination with planar, end-fire antenna elements 14.1 etched on a dielectric substrate 16 provides for a multi-beam antenna 10 that can be manufactured using planar construction techniques, wherein the associated antenna feed elements 14 and the associated lens elements 110 are respectively economically fabricated and mounted as respective groups, so as to provide for an antenna system that is relatively small and relatively light weight.

Abstract

Une pluralité d'éléments d'alimentation d'antenne à rayonnement longitudinal (14, 14.1) disposés le long d'un pourtour (30) sur un substrat diélectrique (16) coopérant avec un réseau de lentilles distinctes (100). Une onde électromagnétique (20) lancée par un élément d'alimentation d'antenne (14, 14.1) est reçue par un premier ensemble d'antennes à plaque (102.1) sur un premier coté (104) du réseau (100), et les signaux reçus associés sont propagés par l'intermédiaire d'éléments de délais associés (108) vers un second ensemble correspondant d'antennes à plaque (102.2) sur le côté opposé (106) du réseau (100) à partir duquel les signaux reçus associés sont radiés à nouveau, les délais correspondants des éléments de délais associés (108) dépendent de l'emplacement de manière à émuler une lentille électromagnétique diélectrique (12) formant ainsi un faisceau associé d'énergie électromagnétique (20). Un signal appliqué sur un support d'alimentation d'entreprise (54) est commuté vers les éléments d'alimentation d'antenne (14, 14.1) par un réseau de commutation (48), différents éléments d'alimentation d'antenne (14, 14.1) générant différents faisceaux (20) d'énergie électromagnétique dans différentes directions (42).
PCT/US2005/028662 2004-08-11 2005-08-11 Antenne multi-faisceau WO2006031341A2 (fr)

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JP2007525809A JP2008510390A (ja) 2004-08-11 2005-08-11 マルチビームアンテナ
EP05810106A EP1779465A2 (fr) 2004-08-11 2005-08-11 Antenne multi-faisceau

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US52207704P 2004-08-11 2004-08-11
US60/522,077 2004-08-11

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GB2509112A (en) * 2012-12-20 2014-06-25 Canon Kk Antenna system electromagnetic lens arrangement
US9397407B2 (en) 2012-12-20 2016-07-19 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Antenna system

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US6198449B1 (en) * 1994-09-01 2001-03-06 E*Star, Inc. Multiple beam antenna system for simultaneously receiving multiple satellite signals
US20020003505A1 (en) * 1999-11-18 2002-01-10 Ebling James Paul Multi-beam antenna
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US6198449B1 (en) * 1994-09-01 2001-03-06 E*Star, Inc. Multiple beam antenna system for simultaneously receiving multiple satellite signals
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GB2509112A (en) * 2012-12-20 2014-06-25 Canon Kk Antenna system electromagnetic lens arrangement
GB2509112B (en) * 2012-12-20 2016-07-06 Canon Kk Antenna system
US9397407B2 (en) 2012-12-20 2016-07-19 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Antenna system

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JP2008510390A (ja) 2008-04-03
WO2006031341A3 (fr) 2006-08-24
EP1779465A2 (fr) 2007-05-02

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