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
  • H01Q9/0428—Substantially flat resonant element parallel to ground plane, e.g. patch antenna radiating a circular polarised wave
• • 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
• • 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
  • H01Q9/0428—Substantially flat resonant element parallel to ground plane, e.g. patch antenna radiating a circular polarised wave
  • H01Q9/0435—Substantially flat resonant element parallel to ground plane, e.g. patch antenna radiating a circular polarised wave using two feed points
• • 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
• • 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

Definitions

• the subject matter disclosed herein relates generally to antennas, and more particularly to patch antennas.
• Satellite navigation systems are well known for providing autonomous geo- spatial positioning. Satellite navigation systems typically include a constellation of satellites that orbit the earth. The constellation of satellites enables an electronic receiver to determine its location (e.g., longitude, latitude, and altitude) using time signals that are transmitted by radio frequency (RF) waves from the orbiting satellites. Satellite navigation systems with global coverage are commonly referred to as global navigation satellite systems (GNSSs). Although GNSSs have global coverage, different GNSSs may serve different regions. For example, different GNSSs may serve the United States, Europe, and Russia. Each different GNSS includes its own constellation of satellites that operates within its own frequency bands. In other words, different GNSSs that serve different regions may operate within different frequency bands.
• GNSSs global navigation satellite systems
• a patch antenna is a type of antenna that typically includes a flat sheet, or patch, of metal that is mounted over a ground plane.
• Known patch antennas are not without disadvantages. For example, the frequency band of at least some known patch antennas may be too narrow to enable the patch antenna to communicate with one or more of the different GNSS satellite constellations.
• the patch antenna operates over a relatively narrow frequency band that does not overlap the frequency band of one or more of the different GNSS satellite constellations.
• the patch antenna therefore cannot communicate with such a GNSS satellite constellation because the patch antenna does not operate within the frequency band of the GNSS satellite constellation.
• the frequency band of a patch antenna may overlap, or fall entirely within, the frequency band of a first GNSS satellite constellation that serves a region.
• the frequency band of the patch antenna may be too narrow to overlap the frequency band of a second GNSS satellite constellation that serves a different region. Accordingly, the patch antenna is capable of
• the frequency band of at least some known patch antennas may be so narrow that the patch antenna is limited to communicating with a particular GNSS satellite constellation using only portion (i.e., a sub-band) of the frequency band of the GNSS satellite.
• a single electronic receiver may be associated with a plurality of patch antennas that are grouped together in an array.
• there may be a limited amount of space for containing the array of patch antennas which may limit the number of patch antennas that can be included within the array.
• the width and/or a similar dimension (e.g., diameter and/or the like) of at least some known patch antennas limits the number of patch antennas that can be arranged side -by-side in the available space.
• a patch antenna includes a dielectric substrate having a body that extends a thickness from a first side to a second side that is opposite the first side.
• the body of the substrate has a perimeter that is defined by at least one side wall that extends along the thickness of the substrate from the first side to the second side.
• the body of the substrate has a dielectric constant that is greater than the dielectric constant of air.
• the patch antenna also includes a radiating patch positioned on the first side of the body of the substrate, a ground plane positioned on the second side of the body of the substrate, and at least three feed probes electromagnetically coupled to the radiating patch such that the patch antenna is configured to generate a circularly polarized radiation pattern.
• the feed probes are positioned relative to the body of the substrate such that adjacent feed probes are spaced apart from each other along the body.
• the feed probes are configured to feed the radiating patch at at least three points with approximately equal power amplitude.
• a patch antenna in another embodiment, includes a dielectric substrate having a body that extends a thickness from a first side to a second side that is opposite the first side.
• the body of the substrate has a perimeter that is defined by at least one side wall that extends along the thickness of the substrate from the first side to the second side.
• the body of the substrate has a dielectric constant that is greater than the dielectric constant of air.
• the patch antenna also includes a radiating patch positioned on the first side of the body of the substrate, a ground plane positioned on the second side of the body of the substrate, and four feed probes electromagnetically coupled to the radiating patch such that the patch antenna is configured to generate a circularly polarized radiation pattern.
• the feed probes are positioned relative to the body of the substrate such that adjacent feed probes are spaced apart from each other by approximately 90° along the body.
• the feed probes are configured to feed the radiating patch at four points with approximately equal power amplitude and a progressive 90° phase shift.
• an antenna system in another embodiment, includes a feed network configured to be operatively connected to a receiver and/or a transmitter, and a patch antenna operatively connected to the feed network for receiving radio frequency (RF) waves from the feed network and/or delivering RF waves to the feed network.
• the patch antenna includes a dielectric substrate having a body that extends a thickness from a first side to a second side that is opposite the first side. The body of the substrate has a dielectric constant that is greater than the dielectric constant of air.
• the patch antenna also includes a radiating patch positioned on the first side of the body of the substrate, a ground plane positioned on the second side of the body of the substrate, and four feed probes electromagnetically coupled to the radiating patch such that the patch antenna is configured to generate a circularly polarized radiation pattern.
• the feed probes are positioned relative to the body of the substrate such that adjacent feed probes are spaced apart from each other along the body.
• the feed probes are configured to feed the radiating patch at four points with approximately equal power amplitude.
• a patch antenna in another embodiment, includes a dielectric substrate having a body that extends a thickness from a first side to a second side that is opposite the first side.
• the body of the substrate includes thru openings that extend through the thickness of the body.
• the patch antenna also includes a radiating patch positioned on the first side of the body of the substrate.
• the radiating patch includes holes that are aligned with corresponding thru openings of the body of the substrate.
• a ground plane is positioned on the second side of the body of the substrate. At least three feed probes are
• Each feed probe includes a conductive path that extends within a corresponding thru opening of the body of the substrate from the second side of the body to the first side of the body. Each conductive path is exposed along the first side of the body via the holes of the radiating patch.
• the feed probes are positioned relative to the body of the substrate such that adjacent feed probes are spaced apart from each other along the body. The feed probes are configured to feed the radiating patch at at least three points with approximately equal power amplitude.
• a patch antenna in another embodiment, includes at least first and second dielectric substrates each having a body that extends a thickness from a first side to a second side that is opposite the first side.
• the body of each of the at least first and second substrates includes openings that extend along the thickness of the body.
• a ground plane is positioned on the second side of the body of the first substrate.
• a first radiating patch is positioned on the first side of the body of the first substrate.
• the body of the second substrate is positioned on the first radiating patch such that the second side of the body of the second substrate faces the first radiating patch.
• the first radiating patch includes first holes that are aligned with corresponding openings of the body of the first substrate.
• a second radiating patch is positioned on the first side of the body of the second substrate.
• the second radiating patch includes second holes that are aligned with corresponding openings of the body of the second substrate.
• the patch antenna includes at least three feed probes that are electromagnetically coupled to the first and second radiating patches such that the antenna is configured to generate a circularly polarized radiation pattern.
• Each feed probe includes a conductive path that extends within a corresponding opening of the body of at least one of the first or second substrates.
• the feed probes are configured to feed the first and second radiating patches at at least three points with approximately equal power amplitude.
• a patch antenna in another embodiment, includes at least first, second, and third dielectric substrates each having a body that extends a thickness from a first side to a second side that is opposite the first side.
• the body of at least the first and second substrates of the at least first, second, and third substrates includes openings that extend through the thickness of the body.
• a ground plane is positioned on the second side of the body of the first substrate.
• a first radiating patch is positioned on the first side of the body of the first substrate.
• the body of the second substrate is positioned on the first radiating patch such that the second side of the body of the second substrate faces the first radiating patch.
• the first radiating patch includes first holes that are aligned with corresponding openings of the body of the first substrate.
• a second radiating patch is positioned on the first side of the body of the second substrate.
• the body of the third substrate is positioned on the second radiating patch such that the second side of the body of the third substrate faces the second radiating patch.
• the second radiating patch includes second holes that are aligned with corresponding openings of the body of the second substrate.
• the patch antenna includes at least three feed probes that are electromagnetically coupled to the first and second radiating patches such that the antenna is configured to generate a circularly polarized radiation pattern.
• Each feed probe includes a conductive path that extends within a corresponding opening of the body of at least one of the first, second, or third substrates.
• the feed probes are configured to feed the first and second radiating patches at at least three points with approximately equal power amplitude.
• Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of an antenna system.
• Figure 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a patch antenna of the antenna system shown in Figure 1.
• Figure 3 is a plan view of the patch antenna shown in Figure 2.
• Figure 4 is a plan view of another exemplary embodiment of a patch antenna.
• Figure 5 is a plan view of another exemplary embodiment of a patch antenna.
• Figure 6 is a plan view of another exemplary embodiment of a patch antenna.
• Figure 7 is a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a patch antenna.
• Figure 8 is a perspective view of yet another exemplary embodiment of a patch antenna.
• Figure 92 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a patch antenna of the antenna system shown in Figure 1.
• Figure 10 is an elevational view of the patch antenna shown in Figure 9.
• Figure 11 is a plan view of the patch antenna shown in Figures 9 and 10.
• Figure 12 is a plan view of another exemplary embodiment of a patch antenna.
• Figure 13 is a plan view of another exemplary embodiment of a patch antenna.
• Figure 14 is a plan view of another exemplary embodiment of a patch antenna.
• Figure 15 is an elevational view of another exemplary embodiment of a patch antenna.
• Figure 16 is a plan view of the patch antenna shown in Figure 15.
• Figure 17 is an elevational view of another exemplary embodiment of a patch antenna.
• Figure 18 is an elevational view of yet another exemplary embodiment of a patch antenna.
• FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of an antenna system 10.
• the antenna system 10 includes a plurality of feed networks 12 and an antenna assembly 14.
• the antenna assembly 14 includes a ground plane 16 and one or more patch antennas 18 positioned on the ground plane 16.
• the antenna system 10 includes a plurality of feed networks 12 and an antenna assembly 14.
• the antenna assembly 14 includes a ground plane 16 and one or more patch antennas 18 positioned on the ground plane 16.
• the antenna assembly 14 includes an array 20 of four patch antennas 18. But, the array 20 may include any number of patch antennas 18, the antenna assembly 14 may include any number of the arrays 20, and the antenna assembly 14 may include any number of patch antennas 18 overall. In some
• the antenna assembly 14 includes only a single patch antenna 18.
• the patch antennas 18 may be arranged within the array 20 in any other pattern than is shown in Figure 1.
• the antenna system 10 may function as a transmitting antenna system that transmits RF waves into the environment (e.g., the atmosphere) of the antenna system 10, as a receiving antenna system that receives RF waves from the environment of the antenna system 10, or as a combination of a transmitting and a receiving antenna system 10.
• Each patch antenna 18 is operatively connected to a corresponding feed network 12 for receiving RF waves from the corresponding feed network 12 and/or for delivering RF waves to the corresponding feed network 12.
• each feed network 12 is operatively connected to one or more processing systems 22, which may or may not be considered a component of the antenna system 10.
• Each feed network 12 may include one or more components (not shown) for converting RF waves received by the patch antennas 18 into RF electrical signals for delivery to the processing system 22, and/or vice versa.
• another electrical circuit (not shown) is operatively connected between the feed networks 12 and the processing system 22 for combining the RF electrical signals that correspond to a plurality of patch antenna 18 and feed network 12 pairs.
• the processing system 22 includes one or more transmitters 24, one or more receivers 26, and/or one or more transceivers 28.
• the inclusion of any transmitters 24, any receivers 26, and any transceivers 28 may depend on whether the antenna system 10 functions as a transmitting antenna system, as a receiving antenna system, or as a combination of a transmitting and a receiving antenna system.
• the processing system 22 may include any number of the transmitters 24, any number of the receivers 26, and any number of the transceivers 28, the number of each of which may or may not correspond to the number of patch antennas 18.
• the processing system 22 may include other components in addition to the transmitters 24, receivers 26, and transceivers 28.
• Each patch antenna 18 may function as a receiving antenna, a transmitting antenna, or as both a receiving and a transmitting antenna.
• each of the patch antennas 18 may transmit RF waves into the environment, may receive RF waves from the environment, or may both transmit RF waves and receive RF waves.
• all of the patch antennas 18 are receiving antennas that do not transmit RF waves.
• all of the patch antennas 18 are transmitting antennas that do not receive RF waves from the environment, or all of the patch antennas 18 are transceiving antennas that both transmit RF waves and receive RF waves.
• the antenna assembly 14 includes a combination of one or more receiving patch antennas 18 that do not transmit RF waves, one or more transmitting patch antennas 18 that do not receive RF waves, and/or one or more transceiving patch antennas 18 that both transmit and receive RF waves.
• the ground plane 16 is shown as being common to all of the patch antennas 18. In other words, all of the patch antennas 18 are positioned on the same ground plane 16.
• the antenna assembly 14 includes more than one ground plane 16, with each ground plane 16 having one or more corresponding patch antennas 18 positioned thereon.
• each patch antenna 18 is positioned on a different ground plane 16 than each other patch antenna 18.
• the ground plane(s) 16 may be considered to be a component of any patch antennas 18 that are positioned thereon.
• the antenna system 10 may be any type of antenna system having any application, such as, but not limited to, a controlled reception pattern antenna (CRPA), a fixed reception pattern antenna (FRPA), a global positioning system (GPS) antenna, a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) antenna, and/or the like.
• CRPA controlled reception pattern antenna
• FRPA fixed reception pattern antenna
• GPS global positioning system
• GNSS global navigation satellite system
• FIG 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of one of the patch antennas 18.
• the patch antenna 18 extends a height H along a central axis 30.
• the patch antenna 18 includes a dielectric substrate 32, a radiating patch 34 positioned on the substrate 32, and a plurality of feed probes 36.
• the ground plane 16 is shown in Figure 2 and may or may not be considered a component of the patch antenna 18.
• the feed probes 36 are electrically connected to the feed network 12 ( Figure 1) for exciting (i.e., energizing) the radiating patch 34. When excited by the feed probes 36, the patch antenna 18 is resonant and thereby transmits and/or receives RF waves.
• the substrate 32 of the patch antenna 18 has a body 38 that includes opposite sides 40 and 42.
• the substrate body 38 extends a thickness T along the central axis 30 from the side 40 to the side 42.
• the substrate body 38 has a diameter DIAi.
• the substrate body 38 includes one or more side walls 44 that extend along the thickness T of the body 38 from the side 40 to the side 42.
• a cross section of the substrate body 38 taken along an x-y plane (which extends approximately perpendicular to central axis 30) has the shape of a circle.
• the substrate body 38 includes a single continuous side wall 44 in the exemplary embodiment. But, the substrate body 38 may include a greater number of side walls 44 in embodiments wherein the substrate body 38 has a different cross-sectional shape taken along the x-y plane.
• the side 40 of the substrate body 38 may be referred to herein as a "first" side, while the side 42 may be referred to herein as a "second" side.
• the side wall 44 of the substrate body 38 has an exterior surface 48 that defines a perimeter 50 of the substrate body 38.
• the perimeter 50 is a radial perimeter wherein the exterior surface 48 defines the portions of the body 38 that extend radially outermost relative to the central axis 30. It should be understood that the perimeter 50 will be defined by the exterior surfaces 48 of a plurality of side walls 44 in embodiments wherein the cross-sectional shape of substrate body 38 provides the body 38 with more than one side wall 44.
• the body 38 of the substrate 32 is a solid body.
• a solid body it is meant that the material of at least a majority of the substrate body 38 is in the solid phase.
• the solid body 38 of the substrate 30 can be distinguished from a non-solid body wherein a majority of the material of the body is in gaseous and/or liquid phase.
• a "solid body” may include one or more portions having material that is in the gaseous phase (e.g., air and/or the like) and/or may include one or more portions having material that is in the liquid phase (e.g., water and/or the like), for example contained within one or more internal pockets (not shown) of the solid body.
• the material of an approximate entirety of the material substrate body 38 is in the solid phase.
• the body 38 of the substrate 32 may alternatively include one or more pockets of a gaseous and/or a liquid material and still be considered a "solid body".
• the substrate body 38 has a dielectric constant that is greater than the dielectric constant of air. Specifically, air has a dielectric constant of approximately 1.001.
• the substrate body 38 may have any dielectric constant that is greater than approximately 1.001.
• the body 38 of the substrate 32 has a dielectric constant of greater than approximately 2.0, greater than approximately 5.0, and/or greater than approximately 10.0.
• the substrate body 38 may be fabricated from any material that provides the substrate body 38 with a dielectric constant that is greater than air. Examples of suitable materials for the substrate body 38 include, but are not limited to, ceramic, rubber, fluoropolymer, composite material, fiber-glass, plastic, and/or the like.
• the substrate body 38 is fabricated from a ceramic and has a dielectric constant of approximately 13.0.
• a cross section of the substrate body 38 taken along an x- y plane has the shape of a circle in the exemplary embodiment of the substrate 32.
• the substrate body 38 may additionally or alternatively have any other cross-sectional shape taken along an x-y plane.
• Other examples of the cross-sectional shape of the substrate body 38 taken along an x-y plane include, but are not limited to, square, rectangular, oval, closed curves, triangular, trapezoidal, shapes having more than four sides, and/or the like.
• the diameter DIAi of the substrate body 38 may alternatively be variable along the thickness T.
• the diameter DIAi of the substrate body 38 may be variable within a cross section of the substrate body 38 taken along an x-z and/or a y-z plane.
• the substrate body 38 may be tapered such that the diameter DIAi gets progressively smaller or progressively larger as the thickness T extends from the ground plane 16 toward the radiating patch 34.
• Examples of the cross-sectional shape of the substrate 32 taken along an x-z and/or a y-z plane include, but are not limited to, trapezoidal, triangular, hourglass shapes, and/or the like.
• the substrate 32 of the patch antenna 18 is positioned on the ground plane 16 such that the side 42 of the substrate body 38 is engaged in physical contact with the ground plane 16.
• the ground plane 16 is positioned on the side 42 of the substrate body 38.
• the radiating patch 34 is positioned on the side 40 of the substrate body 38 that is opposite the side 42.
• the thickness T of the substrate body 38 thus spaces the radiating patch 34 apart from the ground plane 16.
• the radiating patch 34 has a diameter DIA and a thickness ⁇ .
• the radiating patch 34 is electrically conductive and may be fabricated from any electrically conductive material, such as, but not limited to, copper, gold, silver, aluminum, tin, and/or the like.
• the diameter DIA and the thickness ⁇ of the radiating patch 34 may each have any suitable value that enables the patch antenna 18 to function as described and/or illustrated herein.
• the radiating patch 34 may be larger or smaller than the substrate body 38 in the x direction and/or may be larger or smaller than the substrate body 38 in the y direction.
• the diameter DIA of the radiating patch 34 is shown has having approximately the same value as the diameter DIAi of the substrate body 38, the diameter DIA of the radiating patch 34 may be greater or less than the diameter DIAi of the substrate body 38.
• the radiating patch 34 may alternatively have a different cross- sectional shape than the substrate body 38 taken along an x-y plane.
• Other examples of the cross-sectional shape of the radiating patch 34 taken along an x-y plane include, but are not limited to, square, rectangular, oval, closed curves, triangular, trapezoidal, shapes having more than four sides, and/or the like.
• the ground plane 16 may be fabricated from any electrically conductive material, such as, but not limited to, copper, gold, silver, aluminum, tin, and/or the like. In the exemplary embodiment of the patch antenna 18, the ground plane 16 is larger than the radiating patch 34 in both the x and y directions. But, the ground plane 16 may be smaller or approximately the same size as the radiating patch 34 in the x direction and/or may be smaller or approximately the same size as the radiation patch 34 in the y direction.
• the ground plane 16 may have any size in the x direction and any size in the y direction relative to the radiating patch 34 that enables the patch antenna 18 to function as described and/or illustrated herein, whether or not the ground plane 16 is common to more than one patch antenna 18 of the antenna assembly 14 ( Figure 1). Although shown as having a circular cross- sectional shape taken along an x-y plane, the ground plane 16 may alternatively have a different cross-sectional shape taken along an x-y plane, such as, but not limited to, square, rectangular, oval, closed curves, triangular, trapezoidal, shapes having more than four sides, and/or the like.
• each feed probe 36 is electrically connected to the feed network 12 for exciting the radiating patch 34.
• each feed probe 36 includes an L-shaped pin 52 that extends a length from an end 54 to an opposite end 56.
• the L-shape of the pin 52 is defined by two segments 58 and 60 of the pin 52 that are angled with respect to each other.
• the segments 58 and 60 are angled at approximately 90° relative to each other.
• each pin 52 may be angled at any other angle that enables the feed probe 36 to function as described and/or illustrated herein, for example an angle that is between approximately 0° and approximately 90° or an angle that is between approximately 90° and approximately 180°.
• each pin 52 includes the ends 54 and 56, respectively.
• the end 54 of each pin 52 is electrically connected to the feed network 12.
• the segment 58 of each pin 52 extends through a
• each pin 52 is thus exposed on a side 64 of the ground plane 16 for electrical connection to the feed network 12.
• Other arrangements of the pin segments 58 for electrical connection to the feed network may be used in other embodiments.
• the ground plane 16 may include any number of the thru-openings 62 for any number of pins 52.
• each pin 52 interfaces with the substrate 32.
• the end 56 of each pin 52 is received within a corresponding opening 64 of the substrate body 38 in the exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 2.
• the body 38 of the substrate 32 includes a plurality of the openings 64, which extend into the side wall 44 at spaced apart locations along the perimeter 50 of the substrate body 38.
• Each opening 64 extends a depth DEP into the substrate body 38.
• the openings 64 extend into the substrate body 38 at an approximately perpendicular angle relative to the central axis 30.
• each opening 64 may extend into the substrate body 38 at any other angle relative to the central axis 30 that enables the feed probe 36 to function as described and/or illustrated herein, for example an angle that is between approximately 0° and approximately 90° with respect to the central axis 30 or an angle that is between approximately 90° and approximately 180° with respect to the central axis 30.
• the depth DEP of each opening 64 may have any suitable value.
• the segment 60 of each pin 52 extends into the corresponding opening 64 such that the end 56 of the pin 52 is received within the opening 64.
• the segment 60 of each pin 52 extends a depth DEPi into the corresponding opening 64.
• the depth DEPi of each segment 60 may have any value, which may be approximately equal to or less than the depth DEP of the corresponding opening 64. In the exemplary embodiment of the feed probes 36, the depth DEPi of each segment 60 is less than depth DEP of the corresponding opening 64. Moreover, the openings 64 are positioned along the thickness T of the substrate body 38 at a height Hi relative to the ground plane 16 such that the segments 60 of the pins 52 interface with the substrate 32 at the height Hi. The height Hi may have any value. In the exemplary embodiment of the patch antenna 18, the height Hi is greater than approximately half of the thickness T of the substrate body 38.
• the segment 60 of each pin 52 is disengaged from physical contact with the substrate body 38 within the corresponding opening 64.
• the segments 60 do not engage the interior walls of the substrate body 38 that define the openings 64.
• the segment 60 of one or more pins 52 is engaged in physical contact with the substrate body 38 within the corresponding opening 64.
• each of the pins 52 may include any other cross-sectional shape, such as, but not limited to, square, rectangular, oval, closed curves, shapes having more than four sides, and/or the like.
• each of the openings 64 may each have any cross-sectional shape, whether or not the cross-sectional shape of the opening 64 is the same as the cross-sectional shape of the corresponding pin 52.
• FIG 3 is a plan view of the patch antenna 18 shown in Figure 2.
• the feed probes 36 are electromagnetically coupled to the radiating patch 34 for generating a circularly polarized radiation pattern, which causes the patch antenna 18 to radiate circularly polarized electromagnetic waves.
• the term “electromagnetically coupled” is intended to indicate that the feed probes 36 do not physically contact the radiating patch 34.
• the exemplary embodiment of the patch antenna 18 includes four feed probes 36a, 36b, 36c, and 36d that are positioned relative to the substrate body 38 such that adjacent feed probes 36 are spaced apart from each other along the substrate body 38.
• the four feed probes 36a, 36b, 36c, and 36d are positioned around the perimeter 50 of the substrate body 38 in the spaced apart relationship from each other, as can be seen in Figure 3.
• the openings 64 of the side wall 44 are spaced apart from each other along the perimeter 50 in the exemplary embodiment of the patch antenna 18.
• the segments 60 of the feed probes 36 that extend into the openings 64 are spaced apart from each other along the perimeter 50.
• each of the four feed probes 36a, 36b, 36c, and 36d are selected to generate a circularly polarized radiation pattern.
• the four feed probes 36a, 36b, 36c, and 36d feed the radiating patch 34 at four respective locations 66a, 66b, 66c, and 66d of approximately equal power amplitude, with each location being progressively delayed in phase (e.g., by approximately 90°).
• the feed network 12 may include one or more various components (not shown) for controlling the phase of each of the feed probes 36a, 36b, 36c, and 36d, such as, but not limited to, baluns, hybrid couplers, delay lines, and/or the like.
• the relative spacing and phase delay of the four feed probes 36a, 36b, 36c, and 36d excites two different modes (e.g., orthogonal modes such as, but not limited to, ⁇ and ⁇ ⁇ ) that are of approximately equal power amplitude but are delayed in phase with respect to each other.
• the different modes radiate separately and combine to generate electromagnetic fields that rotate in time, thereby generating circularly polarized electromagnetic waves.
• the relative spacing and phase delay of the four feed probes 36a, 36b, 36c, and 36d excite a single mode (e.g., modes such as, but not limited to, TMno, M 210 , TM310, or ⁇ 41 ⁇ ) with a circular field distribution.
• a single mode e.g., modes such as, but not limited to, TMno, M 210 , TM310, or ⁇ 41 ⁇
• the rotation of the electromagnetic fields in time generates circularly polarized electromagnetic waves.
• Patch antennas of other x-y cross sections create rotating electromagnetic fields through exciting a combination of multiple modes.
• the spacing along the substrate body 38 and the phase delay between the locations of adjacent feed probes 36 may be selected to configure the patch antenna 18 to operate at one or more predetermined modes.
• the patch antenna 18 may operate at any mode, such as, but not limited to, TMno, TM 210 , TM310, and/or ⁇ 41 ⁇ , and/or the like.
• circular polarization for the mode of TMno is achieved by spacing the feed probes 36 apart by approximately 90° along the perimeter 50 of the substrate 32 and controlling the phases of the feed probes 36 such that the feed probes 36 are configured to feed the radiating patch 34 with a progressive 90° phase shift.
• the feed probes 36 are spaced apart along the perimeter 50 with an approximate equal spacing from one another and the center of the radiating patch 34 such that adjacent feed probes 36 along the perimeter are delayed by a phase shift of approximately 90° with respect to each other.
• the feed probes 36a, 36b, 36c, and 36d have angular orientations of approximately 0°, approximately 90°, approximately 180°, and approximately 270°, respectively, and the feed probes 36a, 36b, 36c, and 36d have phases of approximately 0°, approximately 90°, approximately 180°, and approximately 270°, respectively.
• the exemplary embodiment of the patch antenna 18 includes four feed probes 36a, 36b, 36c, and 36d to excite the radiating patch 34, it is contemplated that the patch antenna 18 could alternatively use only three feed probes 36 or a greater number of feed probes 36 than four.
• the feed probes 36 may be spaced apart along the substrate body 38 with an approximate equal spacing from one another and the center of the radiating patch 34 such that adjacent feed probes 36 along the perimeter are delayed by a predetermined phase shift.
• the patch antenna 18 may include one or more additional electrically conductive pins positioned within the substrate body 38, for example the electrically conductive pin 39 shown in Figure 3.
• the conductive pin 39 extends a length that extends along the central axis 30. Although shown as being aligned with the central axis 30 such that the conductive pin 39 is positioned at the center of the substrate body 38, the conductive pin 39 may be positioned at any other x-y location along the substrate body 38. Moreover, the conductive pin 39 may extend any length and may be positioned at any position along the thickness T ( Figure 2) of the substrate body 38. In the exemplary embodiment of the conductive pin 39, the conductive pin 39 extends along an approximate entirety of the thickness T from the side 40 to the side 42. The conductive pins 39 have any orientation within the substrate body 38 relative to the central axis 30.
• FIG. 4 is a plan view of another exemplary embodiment of a patch antenna 118.
• the patch antenna 118 includes a dielectric substrate 132, a radiating patch 134 positioned on the substrate 132, and four feed probes 136, namely feed probes 136a, 136b, 136c, and 136d.
• a ground plane 116 may or may not be considered a component of the patch antenna 118.
• the four feed probes 136a, 136b, 136c, and 136d are positioned around a perimeter 150 of a body 138 of the substrate 132 in a spaced apart relationship, as can be seen in Figure 4.
• the spacing along the perimeter 150 and the phase delay between the feed probes 136 is selected to configure the patch antenna 18 to operate at the mode ⁇ 2 ⁇ Circular polarization for the mode of ⁇ 2 ⁇ is achieved by spacing the feed probes 136 apart along the perimeter 150 and controlling the phases of the feed probes 136 such that: the feed probes 136a, 136b, 136c, and 136d have angular orientations of approximately 0°, approximately 135°, approximately 180°, and approximately 315°, respectively; and the feed probes 136a, 136b, 136c, and 136d have phases of approximately 0°, approximately 90°, approximately 0°, and approximately 90°, respectively.
• FIG. 5 is a plan view of another exemplary embodiment of a patch antenna 218 configured to operate in the mode ⁇ 31 ⁇ .
• the patch antenna 218 includes a dielectric substrate 232, a radiating patch 234 positioned on the substrate 232, and four feed probes 236.
• the four feed probes 236a, 236b, 236c, and 236d are positioned around a perimeter 250 of a body 238 of the substrate 232 in a spaced apart relationship. The spacing along the perimeter 250 and the phase delay between the feed probes 236 is selected to configure the patch antenna 218 to operate at the mode ⁇ 31 ⁇ .
• Circular polarization for the mode of ⁇ 31 ⁇ is achieved by spacing the feed probes 236 apart along the perimeter 250 and controlling the phases of the feed probes 236 such that: the feed probes 236a, 236b, 236c, and 236d have angular orientations of approximately 0°, approximately 150°, approximately 180°, and approximately 335°, respectively; and the feed probes 236a, 236b, 236c, and 236d have phases of
• a ground plane 216 may or may not be considered a component of the patch antenna 218.
• FIG. 6 is a plan view of another exemplary embodiment of a patch antenna 318 configured to operate in the mode ⁇ 41 ⁇ .
• the patch antenna 318 includes a dielectric substrate 332, a radiating patch 334 positioned on the substrate 332, and four feed probes 336.
• the four feed probes 336a, 336b, 336c, and 336d are positioned around a perimeter 350 of a body 338 of the substrate 332 in a spaced apart relationship. The spacing along the perimeter 350 and the phase delay between the feed probes 336 is selected to configure the patch antenna 318 to operate at the mode ⁇ 41 ⁇ .
• Circular polarization for the mode of ⁇ 41 ⁇ is achieved by spacing the feed probes 336 apart along the perimeter 350 and controlling the phases of the feed probes 336 such that: the feed probes 336a, 336b, 336c, and 336d have angular orientations of approximately 0°, approximately 112.5°, approximately 180°, and approximately 292.5°, respectively; and the feed probes 236a, 236b, 236c, and 236d have phases of approximately 0°, approximately 90°, approximately 0°, and approximately 90°, respectively.
• a ground plane 316 may or may not be considered a component of the patch antenna 318.
• the patch antenna 18 transmits RF waves into the environment and/or receives RF waves from the environment.
• the patch antenna 18 resembles a dielectric loaded cavity.
• the electric and magnetic fields within the patch antenna 18 can be found by treating the patch antenna 18 as a cavity resonator.
• the feed probes 36 may be configured to efficiently excite the desired cavity mode while suppressing undesirable cavity modes.
• the desired cavity mode of the patch antenna 18 is well excited when the feed probes 36 are relatively well coupled to the patch antenna 18 at the maxima of the desired mode's field distribution within the cavity.
• the feed probes 36 may provide a relatively efficient impedance match between the patch antenna 18 and the processing system 22 ( Figure 1).
• the feed probes 36 may be configured such that the input reactance of the feed probes 36 is minimized. Additional length L of the feed probes 36 increases feed probe inductance, while the distance of the feed probes 36 to the radiating patch 34 and/or the ground plane 16 increase the capacitance of the feed probes 36. Adjusting the length L of the feed probes 36 and/or the height Hi may enable the reactance of the feed probes 36 to be minimized, which may increase the performance of the patch antenna 18.
• Performance of the patch antenna 18 is intended to mean the ability of the patch antenna 18 to excite the desirable mode but still suppress any undesirable modes (e.g., higher-order modes).
• the patch antenna 18 may operate at any frequencies. By “operate”, it is meant that the patch antenna 18 is capable of transmitting and/or receiving RF waves at the particular frequencies. Examples of the operating frequencies of the patch antenna 18 include, but are not limited to, frequencies above approximately 0.50 GHz, frequencies above approximately 1.00 GHz, frequencies below approximately 3.00 GHz, frequencies below approximately 2.00 GHz, frequencies between approximately 1.00 GHz and 2.00 GHz, and/or the like.
• the patch antenna 18 may operate over a frequency band having any bandwidth. Examples of the bandwidth of the operational frequency band of the patch antenna 18 include, but are not limited to, approximately 100 MHz, approximately 400 MHz, approximately 500 MHz, approximately 600 MHz, and/or the like.
• the patch antenna 18 may have an increased bandwidth as compared to at least some known patch antennas 18. For example, some known patch antennas 18 have a bandwidth of only approximately 5 MHz, while other known patch antennas 18 may have a bandwidth of up to 24 MHz.
• Various parameters of the patch antenna 18 may be selected to provide the patch antenna 18 with predetermined operating frequencies and/or with a predetermined bandwidth.
• the diameter DIA of the radiating patch 34, the diameter(s) DIAi of the substrate body 38 (which may be variable or constant along the thickness T as is described above), the value of the thickness T of the substrate body 38, and/or the dielectric constant of the substrate body 38 may be selected to provide the patch antenna 18 with predetermined operating frequencies and/or with a predetermined bandwidth, for example to provide the increased bandwidth and/or reduced size relative to at least some known patch antennas.
• the thickness T of the substrate body 38 is at least approximately 0.2 times the wavelength in the substrate 32.
• Substrate thicknesses T of the patch antenna 18 that are greater than approximately 0.05 wavelengths to approximately 0.7 wavelengths may facilitate increasing the bandwidth of the patch antenna 18 over the bandwidth of at least some known patch antennas 18.
• the bandwidth of the patch antenna 18 is inversely proportional to the square root of the dielectric constant of the substrate body 38, and directly proportional to the thickness T of the substrate body 38.
• various parameters of the feed probes 36 may be selected to provide the patch antenna 18 with predetermined operating frequencies and/or with a predetermined bandwidth.
• various parameters of the feed probes 36 include, but are not limited to, the number of feed probes 36 used, the depth DEPi that each feed probe 36 extends into the substrate body 38, the height Hi of the openings 64, the angle that the pins 52 extend into the substrate body 38, the size (e.g., diameter) of the pins 52, whether the pins 52 engage the substrate body 38 within the openings 64, the amount of space between the pins 52 and the substrate body 38 within the openings 64, and/or the like.
• the inclusion of four feed probes 36 may facilitate providing the patch antenna 18 with a greater bandwidth than at least some known patch antennas 18.
• the inclusion of four feed probes 36 may reduce mutual coupling between patch antennas 18 a greater amount than including only two feed probes 36.
• the inclusion of four feed probes 36 may suppress undesirable modes (e.g., higher-order modes), which may lead to an improvement in radiation purity.
• the patch antenna 18 may have any size.
• the overall x dimension of the patch antenna 18, the overall y dimension of the patch antenna 18, the diameter DIA of the radiating patch 34 and the diameter(s) DIAi of the substrate body 38 may each have any value.
• Examples of the values of each of the overall x dimension of the patch antenna 18, the overall y dimension of the patch antenna 18, the diameter DIA of the radiating patch 34, and the diameter(s) DIAi of the substrate body 38 include, but are not limited to, less than approximately 102 mm (4.0 inches), less than approximately 76 mm (3.0 inches), less than approximately 51 mm (2.0 inches), between approximately 25 mm (1 inch) and approximately 76 mm (3.0 inches), between approximately 51 mm (2.0 inches) and approximately 102 mm (4.0 inches), between approximately 35.6 mm (1.4 inches) and approximately 40.6 mm (1.6 inches), and/or the like.
• the exemplary dimensions described herein of the diameters DIA and DIAi are applicable to any lengths and/or widths of the patch antenna 18 in embodiments wherein the patch antenna 18 has a cross-sectional shape along the x-y plane that is non-circular.
• the patch antenna 18 may be smaller than at least some known patch antennas.
• at least some known patch antennas 18 have a width, length, and/or diameter that is at least 76 mm (3.0 inches).
• Various parameters of the patch antenna 18 may be selected to provide the patch antenna 18 with a predetermined size, for example with predetermined values for the diameters DIA and DIAi.
• the dielectric constant of the substrate body 38 may be selected to provide the patch antenna 18 with the predetermined size, for example to provide the reduced size as compared to at least some known patch antennas.
• the diameter DIA of the radiating patch 34 is inversely proportional to the square root of the dielectric constant of the substrate body 38 such that as the dielectric constant is increased, the size of the patch antenna 18 is reduced.
• the width, length, and/or diameter of the patch antenna 18 is approximately one half of a wavelength at the center of the frequency band.
• the wavelength of the patch antenna 18 is reduced, thereby enabling the overall x and/or y dimensions (e.g., an overall length, an overall width, and/or an overall diameter) of the patch antenna 18 to be reduced.
• the bandwidth of a patch antenna is inversely related to the dielectric constant of the substrate of the patch antenna such that as the dielectric constant is increased, the bandwidth of the patch antenna is reduced. But, in the patch antenna 18, such a loss in bandwidth can be compensated for by increasing the thickness T of the substrate body 38.
• FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a patch antenna 418 illustrating another exemplary embodiment of an arrangement of the interface between feed probes 436 and a substrate 432 of the patch antenna 418.
• the patch antenna 418 extends a height along a central axis 430 and includes a dielectric substrate 432, a radiating patch 434 positioned on the substrate 432, and a plurality of feed probes 436.
• the ground plane 416 shown in Figure 7 and may or may not be considered a component of the patch antenna 418.
• the substrate 432 of the patch antenna 418 has a body 438 that includes opposite sides 440 and 442.
• the substrate body 438 extends a thickness along the central axis 430 from the side 440 to the side 442.
• the substrate body 438 includes one or more side walls 444 that extend along the thickness of the body 438 from the side 440 to the side 442.
• the side wall 444 of the substrate body 438 has an exterior surface 448 that defines a perimeter 450 of the substrate body 438.
• the substrate 432 is positioned on the ground plane 416 such that the side 442 of the substrate body 438 is engaged in physical contact with the ground plane 416.
• the radiating patch 434 is positioned on the side 440 of the substrate body 438 that is opposite the side 442.
• the side 440 of the substrate body 438 may be referred to herein as a "first" side, while the side 442 may be referred to herein as a "second" side.
• the substrate 432 includes electrically conductive strips 470 positioned on the side wall 444 of the body 438.
• the strips 470 are spaced apart along the perimeter 450 of the substrate body 438, as is shown in Figure 7.
• each feed probe 436 includes an approximately straight pin 452 that extends a length from an end 454 to an opposite end 456. Only one of the ends 454 is shown in Figure 7.
• the end 454 of each pin 452 is electrically connected to the feed network 12 ( Figure 1).
• the end 454 of each pin 452 is exposed on a side 464 of the ground plane 416 for electrical connection to the feed network 12.
• the pins 452 interface with the substrate 432 along segments 472 of the pins 452 that extend on a side 474 of the ground plane 416 that is opposite the side 464.
• the lengths of the pins 452 extend along the central axis 430 and thus along the thickness of the body 438.
• the pins 452 are positioned around the perimeter 150 of the substrate body 438 such that the segment 472 of each pin 452 is electrically connected to a
• the segments 472 of the pins 452 are soldered to the corresponding strip 470 to electrically connect the pin 452 to the corresponding strip 470.
• the pin segments 472 may be electrically connected to the corresponding strips 470 using any other arrangement, such as, but not limited to, physical contact, an electrically conductive epoxy, and/or the like.
• FIG 8 is a perspective view of yet another exemplary embodiment of a patch antenna 518 illustrating another exemplary embodiment of an arrangement of the interface between feed probes 536 and a substrate 532 of the patch antenna 518.
• the patch antenna 518 includes a dielectric substrate 532, a radiating patch 534 positioned on the substrate 532, and a plurality of feed probes 536.
• the ground plane 516 shown in Figure 8 may or may not be considered a component of the patch antenna 518.
• the substrate 532 of the patch antenna 518 has a body 538 that extends a thickness along a central axis 530 from a side 540 of the substrate body 538 to an opposite side 542 of the substrate body 538.
• the substrate body 538 includes one or more side walls 544 that extend from the side 540 to the side 542.
• the side wall 544 of the substrate body 538 has an exterior surface 548 that defines a perimeter 550 of the substrate body 538.
• the substrate 532 is positioned on the ground plane 516 such that the side 542 of the substrate body 538 is engaged in physical contact with the ground plane 516.
• the radiating patch 534 is positioned on the side 540 of the substrate body 538 that is opposite the side 542.
• the side 540 of the substrate body 538 may be referred to herein as a "first" side, while the side 542 may be referred to herein as a "second" side.
• the substrate body 538 includes openings 564 that extend into the side 542 of the substrate body 538.
• the structure of some of the openings 564 is only partially shown in Figure 8 for clarity.
• the openings 564 are spaced apart from each other along the perimeter 550 of the substrate body 538, as is shown in Figure 8.
• Each opening 564 may extend any depth into the substrate body 538.
• the openings 564 extend into the substrate body 538 at an approximately parallel angle relative to the central axis 530.
• each opening 564 may extend into the substrate body 538 at any other angle relative to the central axis 530 that enables the corresponding feed probe 536 to function as described and/or illustrated herein, for example an angle that is between approximately 0° and approximately 90° with respect to the central axis 530 or an angle that is between approximately 90° and approximately 180° with respect to the central axis 530.
• each feed probe 536 includes an approximately straight pin 552 that extends a length from an end 554 to an opposite end 556. Only some of the ends 554 are shown in Figure 8 for clarity.
• the end 554 of each pin 552 is electrically connected to the feed network 12 ( Figure 1).
• the end 554 of each pin 552 is exposed on a side 564 of the ground plane 516 for electrical connection to the feed network 12.
• the pins 552 extend through corresponding thru-opening 562 of the ground plane 516.
• the structure of some of the openings 562 is only partially shown in Figure 8 for clarity.
• the ends 556 of the pins 552 interface with the substrate 532.
• ends 556 of the pins 552 are positioned relative to the substrate body 538 such that adjacent feed probes are spaced apart from each other along the substrate body 538, as can be seen in Figure 8.
• the end 556 of each pin 552 is received within a corresponding opening 564 of the substrate body 538.
• Each pin 552 extends into the corresponding opening 564 such that the end 556 of the pin 552 is received within the opening 564.
• each pin 552 extends into the substrate body 538 through the side 542 of the substrate body 538.
• Each pin 552 may extend any depth into the corresponding opening 564.
• Each pin 552 may be disengaged from physical contact with the substrate body 538 within the corresponding opening 564 or may engage the substrate body 538 within the corresponding opening 564.
• FIG 9 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of one of the patch antennas 18.
• Figure 10 is an elevational view of the patch antenna 18 shown in Figure 9. Referring now to Figures 9 and 10, the patch antenna 18 extends a height H along a central axis 30.
• the patch antenna 18 includes a dielectric substrate 32, a radiating patch 34 positioned on the substrate 32, and a plurality of feed probes 36.
• the ground plane 16 is shown in Figures 9 and 10 and may or may not be considered a component of the patch antenna 18.
• the feed probes 36 are electrically connected to the feed network 12 ( Figure 1) for exciting (i.e., energizing) the radiating patch 34. When excited by the feed probes 36, the patch antenna 18 is resonant and thereby transmits and/or receives RF waves.
• the substrate 32 of the patch antenna 18 has a body 38 that includes opposite sides 40 and 42.
• the substrate body 38 extends a thickness T along the central axis 30 from the side 40 to the side 42.
• the substrate body 38 has a diameter DIA (not labeled in Figure 9).
• the substrate body 38 includes one or more side walls 44 that extend along the thickness T of the body 38 from the side 40 to the side 42.
• a cross section of the substrate body 38 taken along an x-y plane (which extends approximately perpendicular to central axis 30) has the shape of a circle. Accordingly, the substrate body 38 includes a single continuous side wall 44 in the exemplary embodiment.
• the substrate body 38 may include a greater number of side walls 44 in embodiments wherein the substrate body 38 has a different cross-sectional shape taken along the x-y plane.
• the side 40 of the substrate body 38 may be referred to herein as a "first" side, while the side 42 may be referred to herein as a "second" side.
• the side wall 44 of the substrate body 38 has an exterior surface 48 that defines a perimeter 50 of the substrate body 38.
• the perimeter 50 is a radial perimeter wherein the exterior surface 48 defines the portions of the body 38 that extend radially outermost relative to the central axis 30. It should be understood that the perimeter 50 will be defined by the exterior surfaces 48 of a plurality of side walls 44 in embodiments wherein the cross-sectional shape of substrate body 38 provides the body 38 with more than one side wall 44.
• the substrate body 38 includes thru openings 52 that extend through the thickness T of the body 38. Specifically, each thru opening 52 extends through the sides 40 and 42 and completely through the body 38 between the sides 40 and 42. As will be described below, the thru openings 52 are configured to receive the feed probes 36 therein. Although shown as having a cylindrical shape (i.e., a circular cross-sectional shape), each of the thru openings 52 may include any other cross-sectional shape
• the substrate body 38 may include any number of the thru openings 52 for receiving any number of feed probes 36.
• the body 38 of the substrate 32 is a solid body.
• a solid body it is meant that the material of at least a majority of the substrate body 38 is in the solid phase.
• the solid body 38 of the substrate 30 can be distinguished from a non-solid body wherein a majority of the material of the body is in gaseous and/or liquid phase.
• a "solid body” may include one or more portions having material that is in the gaseous phase (e.g., air and/or the like) and/or may include one or more portions having material that is in the liquid phase (e.g., water and/or the like), for example contained within one or more internal pockets (not shown) of the solid body.
• the material of an approximate entirety of the material substrate body 38 is in the solid phase.
• the body 38 of the substrate 32 may alternatively include one or more pockets of a gaseous and/or a liquid material and still be considered a "solid body".
• the substrate body 38 optionally has a dielectric constant that is greater than the dielectric constant of air. Specifically, air has a dielectric constant of approximately 1.001. In some embodiments, the substrate body 38 may have any dielectric constant that is greater than approximately 1.001. In some embodiments, the body 38 of the substrate 32 has a dielectric constant of greater than approximately 2.0, greater than approximately 6.0, and/or greater than approximately 10.0. In other embodiments, the substrate body 38 has a dielectric constant that is approximately equal to the dielectric constant of air.
• the substrate body 38 may be fabricated from any material.
• suitable materials for the substrate body 38 include, but are not limited to, ceramic, rubber, fluoropolymer, composite material, fiber-glass, a polymer, polystyrene, plastic, and/or the like.
• the substrate body 38 is fabricated from a ceramic and has a dielectric constant of approximately 13.0.
• a cross section of the substrate body 38 taken along an x- y plane has the shape of a circle in the exemplary embodiment of the substrate 32.
• the substrate body 38 may additionally or alternatively have any other cross-sectional shape taken along an x-y plane.
• Other examples of the cross-sectional shape of the substrate body 38 taken along an x-y plane include, but are not limited to, square, rectangular, oval, closed curves, triangular, trapezoidal, shapes having more than four sides, and/or the like.
• the diameter DIA of the substrate body 38 may alternatively be variable along the thickness T.
• the diameter DIA of the substrate body 38 may be variable within a cross section of the substrate body 38 taken along an x-z and/or a y-z plane.
• the substrate body 38 may be tapered such that the diameter DIA gets progressively smaller or progressively larger as the thickness T extends from the ground plane 16 toward the radiating patch 34.
• the cross-sectional shape of the substrate 32 taken along an x-z and/or a y-z plane include, but are not limited to, trapezoidal, triangular, hourglass shapes, and/or the like.
• the substrate 32 of the patch antenna 18 is positioned on the ground plane 16 such that the side 42 of the substrate body 38 is engaged in physical contact with the ground plane 16.
• the ground plane 16 is positioned on the side 42 of the substrate body 38.
• the radiating patch 34 is positioned on the side 40 of the substrate body 38 that is opposite the side 42.
• the thickness T of the substrate body 38 thus spaces the radiating patch 34 apart from the ground plane 16.
• the radiating patch 34 has a diameter DIAi (not labeled in Figure 9) and a thickness ⁇ .
• the radiating patch 34 is electrically conductive and may be fabricated from any electrically conductive material, such as, but not limited to, copper, gold, silver, aluminum, tin, and/or the like.
• the diameter DIAi and the thickness ⁇ of the radiating patch 34 may each have any suitable value that enables the patch antenna 18 to function as described and/or illustrated herein.
• the radiating patch 34 may be larger or smaller than the substrate body 38 in the x direction and/or may be larger or smaller than the substrate body 38 in the y direction.
• the diameter DIAi of the radiating patch 34 is shown has having approximately the same value as the diameter DIA of the substrate body 38, the diameter DIAi of the radiating patch 34 may be greater or less than the diameter DIA of the substrate body 38.
• the radiating patch 34 may alternatively have a different cross- sectional shape than the substrate body 38 taken along an x-y plane.
• Other examples of the cross-sectional shape of the radiating patch 34 taken along an x-y plane include, but are not limited to, square, rectangular, oval, closed curves, triangular, trapezoidal, shapes having more than four sides, and/or the like.
• the radiating patch 34 includes holes 54 that extend through the thickness ⁇ of the radiating patch 34. As can be seen in Figures 9 and 10, each hole 54 of the radiating patch 34 is aligned with a corresponding thru opening 52 of the substrate body 38. Although shown as having a cylindrical shape (i.e., a circular cross-sectional shape), each of the holes 54 may include any other cross-sectional shape, such as, but not limited to, square, rectangular, oval, closed curves, shapes having more than four sides, and/or the like. In the exemplary embodiment of the radiating patch 34, the radiating patch 34 includes four holes 54, as can be seen in Figure 9. But, the radiating patch 34 may include any number of the holes 54.
• the ground plane 16 may be fabricated from any electrically conductive material, such as, but not limited to, copper, gold, silver, aluminum, tin, and/or the like. In the exemplary embodiment of the patch antenna 18, the ground plane 16 is larger than the radiating patch 34 in both the x and y directions. But, the ground plane 16 may be smaller or approximately the same size as the radiating patch 34 in the x direction and/or may be smaller or approximately the same size as the radiating patch 34 in the y direction.
• the ground plane 16 may have any size in the x direction and any size in the y direction relative to the radiating patch 34 that enables the patch antenna 18 to function as described and/or illustrated herein, whether or not the ground plane 16 is common to more than one patch antenna 18 of the antenna assembly 14 ( Figure 1). Although shown as having a circular cross- sectional shape taken along an x-y plane, the ground plane 16 may alternatively have a different cross-sectional shape taken along an x-y plane, such as, but not limited to, square, rectangular, oval, closed curves, triangular, trapezoidal, shapes having more than four sides, and/or the like.
• the ground plane 16 has a thickness T 2 .
• the ground plane 16 includes holes 56 that extend through the thickness T 2 of the ground plane 16.
• Each hole 56 of the ground plane 16 is aligned with a corresponding thru opening 52 of the substrate body 38.
• the ground plane 16 includes four holes 56, as shown in Figure 9.
• the ground plane 16 may include any number of the holes 56.
• each of the holes 56 may include any other cross-sectional shape, such as, but not limited to, square, rectangular, oval, closed curves, shapes having more than four sides, and/or the like.
• each feed probe 36 is electrically connected to the feed network 12 for exciting the radiating patch 34.
• Each feed probe 36 includes an electrically conductive path 58 that extends within a corresponding thru opening 52 of the substrate body 38 from the second side 42 of the substrate body 38 to the first side 40 of the substrate body 38.
• Each conductive path 58 thereby extends along an approximate entirety of the thickness T of the substrate body 38.
• each conductive path 58 is an approximately straight electrically conductive pin 58 that extends a length from an end 60 to an opposite end 62.
• the end 60 and/or the end 62 of each conductive pin 58 extends past the respective side 40 and 42 of the substrate body 38.
• Each conductive pin 58 may have any length.
• the conductive path 58 of each feed probe 36 may be defined by an electrical via (e.g., the plated electrical vias 658 shown in Figure 18), such as, but not limited to, a plated electrical via, a filled electrical via, and/or the like.
• Each hole 54 of the radiating patch 34 exposes the end 60 of the corresponding conductive pin 58 along the side 40 of the substrate body 38.
• the ends 60 of the conductive pins 58 are exposed along the side 40 of the substrate body 38 via the holes 54.
• electrically conductive pads 64 are positioned on the side 40 of the substrate body 38.
• Each conductive pad 64 is positioned within a corresponding hole 54 and is electrically connected (e.g., engaged in physical contact with, soldered to, and/or the like) the end 60 of the corresponding conductive pin 58.
• each radial clearance 66 extends between a sidewall 68 of the corresponding conductive pad 64 and a sidewall 70 of the radiating patch 34 that defines the corresponding hole 54.
• the holes 54, conductive pads 64, and radial clearances 66 may each have any size overall and any size relative to each other.
• Each hole 56 of the ground plane 16 exposes the end 62 of the corresponding conductive pin 58 along the side 42 of the substrate body 38.
• the ends 62 of the conductive pins 58 are exposed along the side 42 of the substrate body 38 via the holes 56.
• the exposure of the ends 62 along the side 42 enables the conductive pins 64 to be electrically connected to the feed network 12.
• the ends 62 of the conductive pins 58 are configured to be electrically connected to the feed network 12.
• the ends 62 of the conductive pins 58 extend through the holes 56 of the ground plane 16 such that the ends 62 are exposed on a side 72 of the ground plane 16 for electrical connection to the feed network 12.
• electrically conductive pads are positioned within the holes 56 in electrical connection with (e.g., engaged in physical contact with, soldered to, and/or the like) the ends 62 of the conductive pins 58 in a substantially similar manner and configuration to the conductive pads 64 described above.
• the conductive pads that extend within the holes 56 can be electrically connected to the feed network 12 to electrically connect the conductive pins 58 to the feed network 12.
• the conductive pads may be spaced apart from the ground plane 16 within the holes 56 by radial clearances (not shown) that extend between the conductive pads and the ground plane 16.
• the holes 56, any conductive pads, and any radial clearances may each have any size overall, any size relative to each other, and any shape.
• the ground plane 16 may include any number of the holes 56 for any number of conductive pins 58.
• each of the conductive pins 58 may include any other cross-sectional shape, such as, but not limited to, square, rectangular, oval, closed curves, shapes having more than four sides, and/or the like.
• FIG 11 is a plan view of the patch antenna 18 shown in Figures 9 and 10.
• the conductive pins 58 of the feed probes 36 are electromagnetic ally coupled to the radiating patch 34 for generating a circularly polarized radiation pattern, which causes the patch antenna 18 to radiate circularly polarized electromagnetic waves.
• a "circularly polarized radiation pattern” and “circularly polarized electromagnetic waves”, as used herein each also include radiation patterns and electromagnetic waves, respectively, that do not have perfectly circular shapes, such as, but not limited to, elliptical shapes and/or the like.
• the term "electromagnetically coupled” is intended to indicate that the conductive pins 58 of the feed probes 36 do not physically contact the radiating patch 34.
• the exemplary embodiment of the patch antenna 18 includes four feed probes 36a, 36b, 36c, and 36d that are positioned relative to the substrate body 38 such that adjacent feed probes 36 are spaced apart from each other along the substrate body 38.
• the excitation phase and the angular orientation (i.e., the spacing pattern along the substrate body 38) of each of the four feed probes 36a, 36b, 36c, and 36d are selected to generate a circularly polarized radiation pattern.
• the four feed probes 36a, 36b, 36c, and 36d feed the radiating patch 34 at four respective locations 74a, 74b, 74c, and 74d of approximately equal power amplitude, with each location being progressively delayed in phase (e.g., by approximately 90°).
• the feed network 12 may include one or more various components (not shown) for controlling the phase of each of the feed probes 36a, 36b, 36c, and 36d, such as, but not limited to, baluns, hybrid couplers, delay lines, and/or the like.
• the relative spacing and phase delay of the four feed probes 36a, 36b, 36c, and 36d excites two different modes (e.g., orthogonal modes such as, but not limited to, ⁇ and ⁇ ⁇ ) that are of approximately equal power amplitude but are delayed in phase with respect to each other.
• the different modes radiate separately and combine to generate electromagnetic fields that rotate in time, thereby generating circularly polarized electromagnetic waves.
• the relative spacing and phase delay of the four feed probes 36a, 36b, 36c, and 36d excite a single mode (e.g., modes such as, but not limited to, TMno, M 210 , TM310, or ⁇ 41 ⁇ ) with a circular field distribution.
• the rotation of the electromagnetic fields in time generates circularly polarized electromagnetic waves.
• Patch antennas of other x-y cross sections create rotating electromagnetic fields through exciting a combination of multiple modes.
• the spacing along the substrate body 38 and the phase delay between the locations of adjacent feed probes 36 may be selected to configure the patch antenna 18 to operate at one or more predetermined modes.
• the patch antenna 18 may operate at any mode, such as, but not limited to, TMno, TM 210 , TM310, and/or ⁇ 41 ⁇ , and/or the like.
• circular polarization for the mode of TMno is achieved by spacing the feed probes 36 apart by approximately 90° along the substrate body 38 and controlling the phases of the feed probes 36 such that the feed probes 36 are configured to feed the radiating patch 34 with a progressive 90° phase shift.
• the feed probes 36 are spaced apart along the substrate body 38 with an approximate equal spacing from one another and the center of the radiating patch 34 such that adjacent feed probes 36 along the perimeter are delayed by a phase shift of approximately 90° with respect to each other.
• the feed probes 36a, 36b, 36c, and 36d have angular orientations of approximately 0°, approximately 90°, approximately 180°, and approximately 270°, respectively, and the feed probes 36a, 36b, 36c, and 36d have phases of approximately 0°, approximately 90°, approximately 180°, and approximately 270°, respectively.
• the exemplary embodiment of the patch antenna 18 includes four feed probes 36a, 36b, 36c, and 36d to excite the radiating patch 34, it is contemplated that the patch antenna 18 could alternatively use only three feed probes 36 or a greater number of feed probes 36 than four. In embodiments wherein three or more than four feed probes 36 are used, the feed probes 36 may be spaced apart along the substrate body 38 with an approximate equal spacing from one another and the center of the radiating patch 34 such that adjacent feed probes 36 along the perimeter are delayed by a predetermined phase shift.
• the patch antenna 18 may include one or more additional electrically conductive paths (e.g., an electrically conductive pin, a plated electrical via, a filled electrical via, and/or the like) positioned within the substrate body 38, for example the electrically conductive pin 39 shown in Figure 11.
• the conductive pin 39 extends a length that extends along the central axis 30. Although shown as being aligned with the central axis 30 such that the conductive pin 39 is positioned at the center of the substrate body 38, the conductive pin 39 may be positioned at any other x-y location along the substrate body 38. Moreover, the conductive pin 39 may extend any length and may be positioned at any position along the thickness T ( Figures 9 and 10) of the substrate body 38.
• the exemplary electrically conductive paths e.g., an electrically conductive pin, a plated electrical via, a filled electrical via, and/or the like
• the conductive pin 39 extends along an approximate entirety of the thickness T from the side 40 to the side 42.
• the conductive pin 39 has any orientation within the substrate body 38 relative to the central axis 30.
• FIG. 12 is a plan view of another exemplary embodiment of a patch antenna 118.
• the patch antenna 118 includes a dielectric substrate 132, a radiating patch 134 positioned on the substrate 132, and four feed probes 136 having conductive paths 158, namely feed probes 136a, 136b, 136c, and 136d.
• a ground plane 116 may or may not be considered a component of the patch antenna 118.
• the four feed probes 136a, 136b, 136c, and 136d are positioned along a body 138 of the substrate 132 in a spaced apart relationship, as can be seen in Figure 12.
• the spacing along the substrate body 138 and the phase delay between the feed probes 136 is selected to configure the patch antenna 118 to operate at the mode ⁇ 21 ⁇ .
• Circular polarization for the mode of ⁇ 21 ⁇ is achieved by spacing the feed probes 136 apart along the substrate body 138 and controlling the phases of the feed probes 136 such that: the feed probes 136a, 136b, 136c, and 136d have angular orientations of approximately 0°, approximately 135°,
• feed probes 136a, 136b, 136c, and 136d have phases of approximately 0°, approximately 90°, approximately 0°, and approximately 90°, respectively.
• FIG. 13 is a plan view of another exemplary embodiment of a patch antenna 218 configured to operate in the mode ⁇ 31 ⁇ .
• the patch antenna 218 includes a dielectric substrate 232, a radiating patch 234 positioned on the substrate 232, and four feed probes 236 having conductive paths 258.
• the four feed probes 236a, 236b, 236c, and 236d are positioned along a body 238 of the substrate 232 in a spaced apart relationship. The spacing along the substrate body 238 and the phase delay between the feed probes 236 is selected to configure the patch antenna 218 to operate at the mode ⁇ 31 ⁇ .
• Circular polarization for the mode of ⁇ 31 ⁇ is achieved by spacing the feed probes 236 apart along the substrate body 238 and controlling the phases of the feed probes 236 such that: the feed probes 236a, 236b, 236c, and 236d have angular orientations of approximately 0°, approximately 150°, approximately 180°, and approximately 335°, respectively; and the feed probes 236a, 236b, 236c, and 236d have phases of approximately 0°, approximately 90°, approximately 180°, and approximately 270°, respectively.
• a ground plane 216 may or may not be considered a component of the patch antenna 218.
• FIG 14 is a plan view of another exemplary embodiment of a patch antenna 318 configured to operate in the mode ⁇ 41 ⁇ .
• the patch antenna 318 includes a dielectric substrate 332, a radiating patch 334 positioned on the substrate 332, and four feed probes 336 having conductive paths 358.
• the four feed probes 336a, 336b, 336c, and 336d are positioned along a body 338 of the substrate 332 in a spaced apart relationship. The spacing along the substrate body 338 and the phase delay between the feed probes 336 is selected to configure the patch antenna 318 to operate at the mode ⁇ 41 ⁇ .
• Circular polarization for the mode of ⁇ 41 ⁇ is achieved by spacing the feed probes 336 apart along the perimeter 350 and controlling the phases of the feed probes 336 such that: the feed probes 336a, 336b, 336c, and 336d have angular orientations of approximately 0°, approximately 112.5°, approximately 180°, and approximately 292.5°, respectively; and the feed probes 236a, 236b, 236c, and 236d have phases of approximately 0°,
• a ground plane 316 may or may not be considered a component of the patch antenna 318.
• the patch antenna 18 transmits RF waves into the environment and/or receives RF waves from the environment.
• the patch antenna 18 resembles a dielectric loaded cavity.
• the electric and magnetic fields within the patch antenna 18 can be found by treating the patch antenna 18 as a cavity resonator.
• the feed probes 36 may be configured to efficiently excite the desired cavity mode while suppressing undesirable cavity modes.
• the desired cavity mode of the patch antenna 18 is well excited when the feed probes 36 are relatively well coupled to the patch antenna 18 at the maxima of the desired mode's field distribution within the cavity.
• the feed probes 36 may provide a relatively efficient impedance match between the patch antenna 18 and the processing system 22 ( Figure 1).
• the feed probes 36 may be configured such that the input reactance of the feed probes 36 is minimized. Additional length of the conductive pins 58 increases feed probe inductance, while the size of any radial clearances (e.g., the radial clearances 66), the size of the holes 54, and/or the size of the holes 56 increases the capacitance of the feed probes 36. Adjusting the length of the conductive pins 58, the size of any radial clearances, the size of the holes 54, and/or the size of the holes 56 may enable the reactance of the feed probes 36 to be minimized, which may increase the performance of the patch antenna 18.
• any radial clearances e.g., the radial clearances 66
• the size of the holes 54, and/or the size of the holes 56 may enable the reactance of the feed probes 36 to be minimized, which may increase the performance of the patch antenna 18.
• the patch antenna 18 may operate at any frequencies. By “operate”, it is meant that the patch antenna 18 is capable of transmitting and/or receiving RF waves at the particular frequencies. Examples of the operating frequencies of the patch antenna 18 include, but are not limited to, frequencies above approximately 0.50 GHz, frequencies above approximately 1.00 GHz, frequencies below approximately 3.00 GHz, frequencies below approximately 2.00 GHz, frequencies between approximately 1.00 GHz and 2.00 GHz, and/or the like.
• the patch antenna 18 may operate over a frequency band having any bandwidth.
• the bandwidth of the operational frequency band of the patch antenna 18 examples include, but are not limited to, approximately 100 MHz, approximately 400 MHz, approximately 500 MHz, approximately 600 MHz, and/or the like.
• the patch antenna 18 may have an increased bandwidth as compared to at least some known patch antennas. For example, some known patch antennas have a bandwidth of only approximately 5 MHz, while other known patch antennas may have a bandwidth of up to 24 MHz.
• the patch antenna 18 may have less bandwidth but more gain in the operating band than a similar patch antenna that includes L- shaped feed probes (not shown) that extend into the exterior surface 48 of the substrate body 38.
• Various parameters of the patch antenna 18 may be selected to provide the patch antenna 18 with predetermined operating frequencies and/or with a predetermined bandwidth.
• the diameter DIAi of the radiating patch 34, the diameter(s) DIA of the substrate body 38 (which may be variable or constant along the thickness T as is described above), the value of the thickness T of the substrate body 38, and/or the dielectric constant of the substrate body 38 may be selected to provide the patch antenna 18 with predetermined operating frequencies and/or with a predetermined bandwidth, for example to provide the increased bandwidth and/or reduced size relative to at least some known patch antennas.
• the thickness T of the substrate body 38 is at least approximately 0.2 times the wavelength in the substrate 32.
• Substrate thicknesses T of the patch antenna 18 that are greater than approximately 0.05 wavelengths to approximately 0.7 wavelengths may facilitate increasing the bandwidth of the patch antenna 18 over the bandwidth of at least some known patch antennas 18.
• the bandwidth of the patch antenna 18 is inversely proportional to the square root of the dielectric constant of the substrate body 38, and directly proportional to the thickness T of the substrate body 38.
• various parameters of the feed probes 36 may be selected to provide the patch antenna 18 with predetermined operating frequencies and/or with a predetermined bandwidth.
• various parameters of the feed probes 36 include, but are not limited to, the number of feed probes 36 used, the lengths of the conductive pins 58, the size (e.g., diameter) of the conductive pins 58, whether the conductive pins 58 engage the substrate body 38 within the thru openings 52, the amount of space between the conductive pins 58 and the substrate body 38 within the thru openings 52, and/or the like.
• the inclusion of four feed probes 36 may facilitate providing the patch antenna 18 with a greater bandwidth than at least some known patch antennas 18.
• the inclusion of four feed probes 36 may reduce mutual coupling between patch antennas 18 a greater amount than including only two feed probes 36.
• the inclusion of four feed probes 36 may suppress undesirable modes (e.g., higher-order modes), which may lead to an
• the patch antenna 18 may have any size.
• the overall x dimension of the patch antenna 18, the overall y dimension of the patch antenna 18, the diameter DIAi of the radiating patch 34 and the diameter(s) DIA of the substrate body 38 may each have any value.
• Examples of the values of each of the overall x dimension of the patch antenna 18, the overall y dimension of the patch antenna 18, the diameter DIAi of the radiating patch 34, and the diameter(s) DIA of the substrate body 38 include, but are not limited to, less than approximately 102 mm (4.0 inches), less than approximately 76 mm (3.0 inches), less than approximately 51 mm (2.0 inches), between approximately 25 mm (1 inch) and approximately 76 mm (3.0 inches), between approximately 51 mm (2.0 inches) and approximately 102 mm (4.0 inches), between approximately 35.6 mm (1.4 inches) and approximately 40.6 mm (1.6 inches), and/or the like.
• the exemplary dimensions described herein of the diameters DIA and DIAi are applicable to any lengths and/or widths of the patch antenna 18 in embodiments wherein the patch antenna 18 has a cross-sectional shape along the x-y plane that is non-circular.
• the patch antenna 18 may be smaller than at least some known patch antennas.
• at least some known patch antennas 18 have a width, length, and/or diameter that is at least 76 mm (3.0 inches).
• Various parameters of the patch antenna 18 may be selected to provide the patch antenna 18 with a predetermined size, for example with predetermined values for the diameters DIA and DIAi.
• the dielectric constant of the substrate body 38 may be selected to provide the patch antenna 18 with the predetermined size, for example to provide the reduced size as compared to at least some known patch antennas.
• the diameter DIAi of the radiating patch 34 is inversely proportional to the square root of the dielectric constant of the substrate body 38 such that as the dielectric constant is increased, the size of the patch antenna 18 is reduced.
• the width, length, and/or diameter of the patch antenna 18 is approximately one half of a wavelength at the center of the frequency band.
• the wavelength of the patch antenna 18 is reduced, thereby enabling the overall x and/or y dimensions (e.g., an overall length, an overall width, and/or an overall diameter) of the patch antenna 18 to be reduced.
• the bandwidth of a patch antenna is inversely related to the dielectric constant of the substrate of the patch antenna such that as the dielectric constant is increased, the bandwidth of the patch antenna is reduced. But, in the patch antenna 18, such a loss in bandwidth can be compensated for by increasing the thickness T of the substrate body 38.
• FIG 15 is an elevational view of another exemplary embodiment of a patch antenna 418.
• Figure 9 is a plan view of the patch antenna shown 418.
• the patch antenna 418 extends a height along a central axis 430 and includes two dielectric substrates 432 and 476, two radiating patches 434 and 478, and a plurality of feed probes 436.
• the substrate 432 is positioned on a ground plane 416.
• the radiating patch 434 positioned on the substrate 432.
• the substrate 476 is positioned on the radiating patch 434, and the radiating patch 478 is positioned on the substrate 476.
• the ground plane 416 may or may not be considered a component of the patch antenna 418.
• the substrate 432 may be referred to herein as a "first” substrate, while the substrate 476 may be referred to herein as a "second substrate”.
• the radiating patch 434 may be referred to herein as a "first" radiating patch, while the radiating patch 478 may be referred to herein as a "second" radiating patch.
• Each of the substrates 432 and 476 includes a respective body 438 and 480.
• the body 438 of the substrate 432 extends a thickness from a side 440 (not labeled in Figure 9) of the body 438 to an opposite side 442 (not labeled in Figure 9) of the body 438.
• the body 438 of the substrate 432 includes thru openings 452 that extend through the thickness of the body 438.
• the body 480 of the substrate 476 extends a thickness from a side 482 (not labeled in Figure 16) to an opposite side 484 (not labeled in Figure 16) of the body 480.
• the body 480 of the substrate 476 includes thru openings 486 that extend through the thickness of the body 480.
• the thru openings 452 of the substrate 432 are aligned with corresponding thru openings 486 of the substrate 476.
• the side 440 of the substrate body 438 may be referred to herein as a "first" side, while the side 442 may be referred to herein as a "second" side.
• the side 482 of the substrate body 480 may be referred to herein as a "first" side, while the side 484 may be referred to herein as a "second" side.
• the ground plane 416 is positioned on the side 442 of the body 438 of the substrate 432, while the radiating patch 434 is positioned on the opposite side 440 of the substrate body 438.
• the body 480 of the substrate 476 is positioned on the radiating patch 434 such that the side 484 of the body 480 faces the radiating patch 434.
• the radiating patch 478 is positioned on the side 482 of the body 480 of the substrate 476.
• the feed probes 436 include feed probes 436a that are configured to be electrically connected to the feed network 12 (Figure 1) for exciting the radiating patch 434 and feed probes 436b that are configured to be electrically connected to the feed network 12 for exciting the radiating patch 478.
• each feed probe 436a includes an approximately straight conductive pin 458 that extends within a corresponding thru opening 452 of the substrate 432.
• each feed probe 436b includes an approximately straight conductive pin 458 that extends within a corresponding thru opening 486 of the substrate 476.
• the patch antenna 418 may include any number of the feed probes 436a and any number of the feed probes 436b.
• the ground plane 416 includes holes 456 that extend through the thickness of the ground plane 416. As can be seen in Figure 15, each hole 456 of the ground plane 416 is aligned with a corresponding thru opening 452 of the substrate body 438.
• the radiating patch 434 includes holes 454 that extend through the thickness of the radiating patch 434. Each hole 454 of the radiating patch 434 is aligned with a corresponding thru opening 452 of the substrate body 438 and with a corresponding thru opening 486 of the substrate body 480.
• the radiating patch 478 includes holes 488 that extend through the thickness of the radiating patch 478. Each hole 488 is aligned with a corresponding thru opening 486 of the substrate body 480.
• the holes 454 may be referred to herein as "first" holes, while the holes 488 may be referred to herein as "second" holes.
• electrically conductive pads 464 are positioned within the holes 454 of the radiating patch 434 and/or electrically conductive pads 490 are positioned within the holes 488 of the radiating patch 478.
• Each conductive pad 464 is electrically connected (e.g., engaged in physical contact with, soldered to, and/or the like) to the conductive pin 458 of the corresponding feed probe 436a and the conductive pin 458 of the corresponding feed probe 436b.
• the conductive pads 464 thereby electrically connect the conductive pins 458 of the feed probes 436a to the conductive pins 458 of the corresponding feed probes 436b.
• Each conductive pad 490 is electrically connected (e.g., engaged in physical contact with, soldered to, and/or the like) to the conductive pin 458 of the corresponding feed probe 436b.
• the conductive pins 458 and the conductive pads 490 and 464 define electrical paths that extend along an approximate entirety of the height of the patch antenna 418.
• the patch antenna 418 does not include the conductive pads 490 and/or the conductive pads 464 and the electrical paths that extend along the approximate entirety of the height of the patch antenna 418 are defined solely by: (1) the conducive pins 458; (2) the conductive pins 458 and the conductive pads 464; or (3) the conductive pins 458 and the conductive pads 490.
• a single conductive pin 458 may extend within both a thru opening 452 of the substrate 432 and the corresponding (i.e., aligned) thru opening 486 of the substrate 476.
• discrete conductive pins 458 of corresponding thru openings 452 and 486 may abut in physical contact with each other.
• a single electrical via (e.g., a plated electrical via, a filled electrical via, and/or the like) may extend within both a thru opening 452 of the substrate 432 and the corresponding thru opening 486 of the substrate 476 in alternative to a single conductive pin 458 that extends within corresponding thru openings 452 and 486.
• Each of the radiating patches 434 and 478 may operate at any frequencies. In some embodiments, the radiating patches 434 and 478 operate at different frequency ranges, which may or may not overlap.
• openings 486 do not extend all the way through the thickness of the substrate body 480. Specifically, the openings 486 do not extend through the side 482 of the substrate body 480 in such alternative embodiments such that the corresponding end (i.e., the proximate end) of the corresponding conductive pin 458 is spaced apart from the side 482 in a direction toward the side 484 by material of the substrate body 480.
• the patch antenna 418 may include any number of dielectric substrates and any number of radiating patches, whether or not the number of radiating patches is the same as the number of substrates.
• Figure 17 is an elevational view of another exemplary embodiment of a patch antenna 518.
• the patch antenna 518 is similar to the patch antenna 418 shown in Figures 15 and 16.
• the patch antenna 518 includes two dielectric substrates 532 and 576, two radiating patches 534 and 578, and a plurality of feed probes 536a, 536b, and 536c that include approximately straight conductive pins 558.
• the substrate 532 is positioned on a ground plane 516.
• the radiating patch 534 positioned on the substrate 532.
• the substrate 576 is positioned on the radiating patch 534, and the radiating patch 578 is positioned on the substrate 576.
• the patch antenna 518 also includes another dielectric substrate 592 that is positioned on the radiating patch 578.
• the ground plane 516 may or may not be considered a component of the patch antenna 518.
• the substrate 532 may be referred to herein as a "first" substrate, the substrate 576 may be referred to herein as a "second” substrate, and the substrate 592 may be referred to herein as a "third” substrate.
• the radiating patch 534 may be referred to herein as a "first" radiating patch, while the radiating patch 578 may be referred to herein as a "second" radiating patch.
• the substrate 592 includes body 594 that extends a thickness from a side 596 of the body 594 to an opposite side 598 of the body 594.
• the substrate 592 is positioned on the radiating patch 578 such that the side 598 of the substrate body 594 faces the radiating patch 578.
• the body 594 of the substrate 592 includes thru openings 600 that extend through the thickness of the body 594.
• the thru openings 600 are aligned with corresponding thru openings 586 of the substrate 576.
• the side 596 of the substrate body 594 may be referred to herein as a "first" side, while the side 598 may be referred to herein as a "second" side.
• the ground plane 516 includes holes 556 that extend through the thickness of the ground plane 516. Each hole 556 of the ground plane 516 is aligned with a corresponding thru opening 552 of the substrate 532.
• the radiating patch 534 includes holes 554 that extend through the thickness of the radiating patch 534. Each hole 554 of the radiating patch 534 is aligned with a corresponding thru opening 552 of the substrate 532 and with a corresponding thru opening 586 of the substrate 576.
• the radiating patch 578 includes holes 588 that extend through the thickness of the radiating patch 578. Each hole 588 is aligned with a corresponding thru opening 586 of the substrate 576 and with a corresponding thru opening 600 of the substrate body 594.
• the holes 554 may be referred to herein as "first" holes, while the holes 588 may be referred to herein as “second” holes.
• the holes 556 of the ground plane 516 may be referred to herein as “third” holes.
• the conductive pins 558 of the feed probes 536c extend within corresponding thru openings 600 of the substrate 592 and are electrically connected to optional electrically conductive pads 590 that are positioned on the substrate 576 within the radiating patch 578.
• electrically conductive pads 602 are positioned on the side 596 of the substrate body 594 in electrical connection with the conductive pins 558 of the corresponding feed probes 536c. As shown in Figure 17, the exemplary
• the patch antenna 518 includes optional electrically conductive pads 564 that are positioned on the substrate 532 within the radiating patch 534.
• the patch antenna 518 may include any number of the feed probes 536a, any number of the feed probes 536b, and any number of the feed probes 536c.
• the conductive pins 558 and the conductive pads 564, 590, and 602 define electrical paths that extend along an approximate entirety of the height of the patch antenna 518.
• the patch antenna 518 does not include the conductive pads 564, the conductive pads 590, and/or the conductive pads 602 and the electrical paths that extend along the approximate entirety of the height of the patch antenna 518 are defined solely by: (1) the conducive pins 558; (2) the conductive pins 558 and the conductive pads 564; (3) the conductive pins 558 and the conductive pads 590; or (4) the conductive pins 558 and the conductive pads 602.
• a single conductive pin 558 may extend within a thru opening 552 of the substrate 432, within the corresponding (i.e., aligned) thru opening 586 of the substrate 476, and within the corresponding thru opening 600 of the substrate 592.
• discrete conductive pins 558 of corresponding thru openings 552, 586, and 600 may abut in physical contact with each other.
• a single electrical via may extend within a thru opening 552 of the substrate 532, within the corresponding thru opening 586 of the substrate 576, and within the corresponding thru opening 600 of the substrate 592.
• openings 586 do not extend all the way through the thickness of the body of the substrate 576.
• the openings 586 do not extend through the side of the substrate 576 on which the radiating patch 578 is positioned in such alternative embodiments, such that the corresponding end (i.e., the proximate end) of the corresponding conductive pin 558 of the corresponding feed probe 536b is spaced apart from the side on which the radiating patch 578 is positioned by material of the body of the substrate 576.
• the thru openings 600 of the body 594 of the substrate 592 may not extend all the way through the thickness of the substrate body 594.
• the openings 600 may not extend through the side 596 of the substrate body 594 such that the corresponding end (i.e., the proximate end) of the corresponding conductive pin 558 of the corresponding feed probe 536c is spaced apart from the side 596 of the substrate body 594 in a direction toward the side 598 by material of the substrate body 594.
• the patch antenna 518 may include any number of dielectric substrates and any number of radiating patches, whether or not the number of radiating patches is the same as the number of substrates.
• a radiating patch (not shown) may be positioned on the side 596 of the body 594 of the substrate 592.
• FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of yet another exemplary embodiment of a patch antenna 618 illustrating another exemplary embodiment of the feed probes 36 ( Figures 9 to 11).
• the patch antenna 618 includes a dielectric substrate 632, a radiating patch 634 positioned on the substrate 632, and a plurality of feed probes 636.
• the ground plane 616 shown in Figure 18 may or may not be considered a component of the patch antenna 618.
• the substrate 632 of the patch antenna 618 has a body 638 that extends a thickness along a central axis 630 from a side 640 of the substrate body 638 to an opposite side 642 of the substrate body 638.
• the substrate body 638 includes thru openings 652 that extend through the thickness of the body 638.
• the feed probes 636 include electrical vias 658 that are formed within the thru openings 652.
• one or more interior walls 704 of each thru opening 652 is plated and/or otherwise formed with an electrically conductive material 706 to form the corresponding electrical via 658.
• the electrical vias 658 define electrically conductive paths that extend within the thru openings 652.
• the patch antenna 518 may include any number of the feed probes 636. Each electrical via 658 may be referred to herein as a "conductive path".
• the embodiments described and/or illustrated herein may provide a patch antenna that operates over a wider frequency band than at least some known patch antennas.
• the embodiments described and/or illustrated herein may provide a patch antenna having a frequency band that overlaps the different frequency bands of two or more different GNSS satellite constellations.
• the embodiments described and/or illustrated herein may provide a patch antenna that is capable of communicating with two or more different GNSS satellite constellations that operate over different frequency bands.
• the embodiments described and/or illustrated herein may provide a patch antenna that operates in a plurality of different frequency sub-bands of the frequency band of a particular GNSS satellite constellation. In other words, the embodiments described and/or illustrated herein may provide a patch antenna having coverage over multiple frequency bands for a single satellite constellation.
• the embodiments described and/or illustrated herein may provide a patch antenna that is smaller than at least some known patch antennas.
• the embodiments described and/or illustrated herein may provide a patch antenna that includes a smaller width, length, diameter, radius, and/or the like than at least some known patch antennas.
• the embodiments described and/or illustrated herein may provide an array that is capable of including more patch antennas than at least some known arrays of patch antennas.

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• 2014
  • 2014-01-15 BR BR112015016488A patent/BR112015016488A2/pt not_active Application Discontinuation
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  • 2014-01-15 JP JP2015552684A patent/JP6382844B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2014-01-15 WO PCT/US2014/011745 patent/WO2014113513A2/en active Application Filing
• 2015
  • 2015-07-08 IL IL239839A patent/IL239839B/en active IP Right Grant

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