Raytheon Company

Richard E Hodges

James M Irion, Ii

Nicholas A Schuneman

John Charles Ehmke

R Thomas Dover

James M Irion Ii

Allan R Logan

An antenna apparatus () includes an antenna element () that has conductive material with a recess therein. The recess includes a balun hole (), and a tapered slot () communicating at its narrow end with the balun hole. The balun hole is approximately rectangular, has a peripheral edge defined by conductive material, and contains air. The tapered slot has a shape which is optimized as a function of factors that include the balun hole design. Each slot edge follows a predetermined curve other than a first-order exponential curve.

Slot for decade band tapered slot antenna, and method of making and configuring same

Balun and groundplanes for decade band tapered slot antenna, and method of making same

Decade band tapered slot antenna, and method of making same

An antenna element ( ) has two dielectric layers ( ), which separate three ground planes ( ). The three ground planes have respective slots ( ), which collectively define a slotline communicating at an inner end with a balun hole ( ) that extends through all of the ground planes and dielectric layers. Two capacitive switches ( ) are supported within the balun hole, and each have terminals respectively coupled to the same ground plane on opposite sides of the balun hole. The capacitive switches are independently and selectively operated to dynamically vary the impedance characteristic of the overall balun structure that includes the balun hole and two switch assemblies, and which gives the antenna element good electrical performance over a wide bandwidth. The antenna element includes a stripline ( ), and a stripline to a slotline transition exists at the end of the slotline adjacent the balun hole.

Method and apparatus for increasing bandwidth of a stripline to slotline transition

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Corona, CA, United States of America

Richard E Hodges