Ball Corporation

Other

Michel W Schnetzer

Robert E Munson

Dean A Paschen

Steven C Olson

A radiating tapered notch antenna (sometimes known as a Vivaldi antenna) is fed by a section of slotline, which in, turn is fed by a coplanar waveguide. The transition from the unbalanced coplanar waveguide to the balanced slotline is accomplished by an infinite balun, where the center conductor of the coplanar waveguide terminates on the slotline conductor opposite the ground conductor of the coplanar waveguide. One slot of the coplanar waveguide becomes the feeding slotline for the notch, and the other slot terminates in a slotline open circuit. All of the elements of the system are coplanar.

Tapered notch antenna using coplanar waveguide

A crossed-slot antenna having a reduced number of feed components to achieve circular polarization. The present invention provides a crossed-slot antenna capable of transceiving circularly polarized radiation and having a feed network comprising a ninety degree hybrid and at least one infinite balun. In one embodiment, a transmission line is used to feed a pair of antenna patch elements, one of which acts as a local ground plane for the microstrip line, thereby defining an infinite balun. The transmission line may comprise a microstrip line, the inner conductor of a coaxial cable, or a coplanar waveguide.

Crossed-slot antenna having infinite balun feed means

An inexpensive, efficient, broadband, slot-type antenna with unidirectional sensitivity includes a slot-forming means defining a plurality of substantially concentric and generally coplanar annular slots and a non-resonant antenna connection means for transmitting electromagnetic energy to and from the plurality of annular slots. The antenna connection means forms a plurality of non-resonant, radially-extending cavities that are adapted to combine electromagnetic energy received at a plurality of concentric annular slots for transmission from the slots generally in phase and along the central slot axis that lies perpendicular to the two concentric annular coplanar slots. The antenna may also include a plurality of impedance-forming portions distributed around the periphery of at least one or two of the substantially concentric annular slots to enhance both left-handed and right-handed circular polarization, to provide dual linear polarization, and enhance the unidirectional sensitivity of the antenna. Such a plurality of impedance-forming portions may be formed by the slot-forming means as openings or slots at a plurality of locations around one or two of the concentric annular slots and oriented and distributed around their peripheries to correct for variations to polarity and to suppress sideband energy to and from the antenna.

Dual polarization slotted antenna

An inexpensive, efficient, broadband, slot-type antenna with unidirectional sensitivity includes a slot-forming means defining a plurality of substantially concentric and generally coplanar annular slots and a non-resonant antenna connection means for transmitting electromagnetic energy to and from the plurality of annular slots. The antenna connection means forms a plurality of non-resonant, radially-extending cavities that are adapted to combine electromagnetic energy received at the plurality of concentric, annular slots substantially in phase and to divide electromagnetic energy between the plurality of concentric, annular slots for transmission from the slots generally in phase and along the central slot axis that lies perpendicular to the two concentric, annular, coplanar slots. The antenna may also include a plurality of polarizing antenna elements carried by the slot-forming means adjacent at least one or two of the substantially concentric, annular slots to enhance the unidirectional sensitivity of the antenna. Such a plurality of polarizers may be carried by the slot-forming means in a plurality of locations spaced above and over at least one or two of the concentric annular slots and oriented and distributed around their peripheries at locations to correct for variations to polarity and to suppress cross-polarization to and from the antenna.

Annular slot antenna

A multi-stage power divider particularly adapted for use in microwave circuits consists of a plurality of transmission lines and resistances uniquely arranged to achieve a wide range of power division and to give the power divider broad bandwidth and high isolation. The power divider is particularly easy to design and manufacture in stripline and microstrip constructions. The divider provides coupling in the range of 3 dB to 20 dB with high isolation and in a single-layer construction.

Growing community of inventors

Longmont, CO, United States of America

Michel W Schnetzer