Ball Corporation

Patrick M Westfeldt, Jr

Gary G Sanford

Farzin Lalezari

Robert E Munson

Russell W Johnson

Michael G Munson

Brian J Cox

A multiple-layer microstrip assembly having an inter-layer connection for transitioning electrical signals between analogous surfaces of separate layers, comprising a plurality of layers, each having a top surface and a bottom surface; first top circuitry disposed on the first top surface of a first layer; first bottom circuitry disposed on the first bottom surface of the first layer; connecting means for electrically connecting the first top circuitry to the first bottom circuitry; second top circuitry disposed on the second top surface of a second layer; and binding means to hold the two layers together, wherein the first bottom circuitry is sufficiently adjacent and overlapping the second top circuitry to form an electrical connection therebetween, thereby forming a signal transition between the first top surface of the first layer and the second top surface of the second layer.

Multiple-layer microstrip assembly with inter-layer connections

An electronically reconfigurable antenna includes individual antenna elements which can be reconfigured as active or parasitic elements in the process of variable mode operation. In the antenna, an active subset of antenna elements excites a wave on a parasitic subset of antenna elements, which are controlled by a plurality of electronically variable reactances. The plurality of electronically variable reactances is used to provide the reconfigurable array, which may operate in a plurality of modes of wave propagation. Furthermore, the plurality of variable reactances allow compensation for the inherently narrow operating bandwidth of the high-gain surface wave antennas.

Electronically reconfigurable antenna

A directional scanning antenna includes a circular array of a plurality of antenna elements extending several wavelengths in diameter. The number of antenna elements are sufficient to form a plurality of directionally-oriented subsets of active antenna elements and associated subsets of parasitic antenna elements. An antenna feed system provides connections to each one of the plurality of antenna elements that include connections to electronically variable reactances and connections to a source or receiver of electromagnetic energy. The antenna feed system is controllable to provide connections between the subsets of active antenna elements providing wave propagation and reception in one or more directions and to provide connections between a plurality of the remainder of antenna elements in associated subsets of parasitic antenna elements to assist the directionality of the antennas.

Directional scanning circular phased array antenna

The subject invention relates to antennas having substantially greater bandwidth and low angle gain of the type for the transceiving of circularly/elliptically polarized electromagnetic waves. The antenna structure comprises a ground plane, a source of linearly-polarized wave energy field associated with said ground plane, and a plurality of conductive elements having an L-shape, said elements equally spaced from one another and equiangularly disposed about the sources, said plurality of elements being in a form of a circular arrangements, each element being so disposed as to fall on the circumference of the circular arrangement, each element lying in a common plane orthogonal to the linearly-polarized wave energy field provided by said source. The subject invention has special utility in motor and marine craft for communication and navigation.

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Boulder, CO, United States of America

Patrick M Westfeldt, Jr