Inmarsat Limited

Keith M Keen

A folded dipole microstrip antenna is disclosed herein. The microstrip antenna includes a dielectric substrate for defining a first mounting surface and a second mounting surface substantially parallel thereto. A folded dipole radiative element is mounted on the second mounting surface. The microstrip antenna further includes a microstrip feed line, mounted on the first surface, for exciting the radiative element in response to an excitation signal. In a preferred implementation of the microstrip antenna an excitation signal is applied to the microstrip feed line through a coaxial cable. In such a preferred implementation the folded dipole radiative element includes a continuous dipole arm arranged parallel to first and second dipole arm segments separated by an excitation gap. The feed element is mounted in alignment with the excitation gap and is electrically connected to the continuous dipole arm. The antenna may additionally include a ground plane reflector separated from the folded dipole radiative element by a dielectric spacer for projecting, in a predetermined direction, electromagnetic energy radiated by the folded dipole radiative element. The thickness of the dielectric spacer between the ground plane reflector and the folded dipole radiative element is selected such that the impedance presented by the antenna to the coaxial cable is approximately fifty ohms.

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Billingshurst, United Kingdom

Keith M Keen