Ball Corporation

Xertex Technologies, Inc.

Centurion Wireless Technologies, Inc.

Other

Lockheed Martin Corporation

Ball Brothers Research Corporation

Robert E Munson

Blaine Rexel Bateman

Joseph Theofil Negler

Gary G Sanford

Hussain A Haddad

Farzin Lalezari

Randy Cecil Bancroft

Russell W Johnson

Ronald J Stockton

Dax Craig

Brian J Edward

Michel W Schnetzer

Bryan L Cleaveland

David P Charette

Patrick M Westfeldt, Jr

Martin Albert Huisjen

Thomas A Metzler

Lawrence R Murphy

Michael A Weiss

Bruce R Lanning

Michael G Munson

Alexis Uspenski

Stephen B Adams

Douglas Robert Deming

Douglas R B Deming

Harold T Buscher

Carson P Edwards

Edward Earl Ward

John W Hanlen

David D Liu

Ippalapalli Sreenivasiah

A transmit/receive antenna selectively operates to transmit or receive at one or more of a plurality of different frequencies in the MHz range. A planar transmission line diplexer or multiplexer that is selected from the group microstrip multiplexer diplexer/multiplexer and stripline diplexer/multiplexer connects an input/output port to a plurality of antenna ports that are physically spaced from each other and from the input/output port. One antenna element is connected to each of the antenna ports. The transmission line diplexer/multiplexer includes a plurality of individual microstrip/stripline elements that have a characteristic impedance and a length that are selected such that the transmission line diplexer/multiplexer automatically provides a matched impedance path between a given antenna element and the input/output port when an antenna-matching frequency is received by the given antenna element or when the antenna matching frequency is applied to the input/output port. At the same time, the transmission line diplexer/multiplexer automatically provides a very mismatched impedance path between all others of the antenna elements and the input/output port.

Multiband flat panel antenna providing automatic routing between a plurality of antenna elements and an input/output port

A small size, flat panel, &frac16;,wavelength antenna is provided. A flat copper-clad dielectric substrate is processed on a first flat side to produce a copper triangular or pseudo triangular-shaped radiating element having a linear copper feed line that extends from the triangle apex. The substrate is also processed on its opposite flat side to produce a rectangular-shaped first copper ground plane element that underlies at least a portion of the copper feed line, but does not underlie the copper radiating element. The first side of the substrate may also be processed to produce a second copper ground plane element that is out of physical engagement with both the copper feed line and the copper radiation element. Aligned through holes are formed in the first ground plane element and the substrate. The metal sheath of a coaxial cable connects to the copper ground plane member(s), and the cable center conductor penetrates the aligned through holes and connects to the copper feed line. The antenna substrate may be a portion of a printed circuit board, or the like, that is within a mobile wireless communication device, such as a laptop computer or a cellular telephone. The antenna ground plane element(s) may also function as the ground plane for another antenna, such as a GPS antenna.

Flat panel antenna

A Radio Frequency (RF) microstrip antenna employs a planar or curved radiator element that is mounted or supported in spaced relation to a planar or curved ground plane element A RF feed is attached near one edge of the radiator element for receiving and/or transmitting RF signals; in a lobe that is substantially perpendicular to the ground plane element. The radiator element and the ground plane element are maintained in a converging inclined or tilted physical relationship. When a coaxial cable is employed as the antenna feed, the cable's outer insulation is secured to the ground plane element, the cable's center conductor extends away from the ground plane element to provide a signal feed to the radiator element and to provide physical support for one edge of the radiator element, and two insulator posts extend away from the ground plane element to provide support for the opposite edge of the radiator element. A two-piece, snap-together, radome is provided, wherein a bottom half nonmovably supports the feed line and ground plane member and adjustably supports the inclined radiating element, wherein a top half snap-fits to the bottom half and wherein the top half includes internal extenting tabs that engage edge portions of the ground plane member.

Microstrip wide band antenna and radome

A small size, flat panel, 1/6.sup.th wavelength antenna is provided. A flat copper-clad dielectric substrate is processed on a first flat side to produce a copper triangular or pseudo triangular-shaped radiating element having a linear copper feed line that extends from the triangle apex. The substrate is also processed on its opposite flat side to produce a rectangular-shaped first copper ground plane element that underlies at least a portion of the copper feed line, but does not underlie the copper radiating element. The first side of the substrate may also be processed to produce a second copper ground plane element that is out of physical engagement with both the copper feed line and the copper radiation element. Aligned through holes are formed in the first ground plane element and the substrate. The metal sheath of a coaxial cable connects to the copper ground plane member(s), and the cable center conductor penetrates the aligned through holes and connects to the copper feed line. The antenna substrate may be a portion of a printed circuit board, or the like, that is within a mobile wireless communication device, such as a laptop computer or a cellular telephone. The antenna ground plane element(s) may also function as the ground plane for another antenna, such as a GPS antenna.

An antenna is formed from a single sheet of generally planar metal that is cut to provide four geometric antenna shapes that comprise a ground plane element, a two-section shorting element that is defined by two generally parallel fold lines, a radiating element, and an arm that has one end fixed to a generally central portion of the radiating element and has a free end that extends toward a fold line. Folding the metal sheet on the two fold lines positions the radiating element above the ground plane element. A transmit/receive coaxial cable is aligned with a gap that is formed between the two sections of the shorting element. The cable's outer metal sheath is connected to a metal tab, and the metal tab is secured to a surface of the ground plane element. The cable's center conductor is secured to a surface of the radiating element. A radome and its mounting tab complete the antenna assembly.

Wide band antenna having unitary radiator/ground plane

A photonically controlled antenna array is made of a plurality of stacked light waveguides made of a material such as silicon whereon each of which one or more photonically controlled antenna elements are mounted. Light is injected into ones of the light waveguides and reflects therein until it is absorbed by the antenna elements mounted thereon due to the higher refractive index of silicon. When the photonically controlled antenna elements are illuminated they are switched to a conductive state and can transmit and receive electromagnetic signals. When no light is injected into the light waveguide the photonically controlled antenna elements are not illuminated and are in a non-conductive state wherein they cannot receive or transmit electromagnetic signals. One edge of each of the light waveguides is adjacent to a ground plane, and the antenna elements on each light waveguide are spaced from said ground plane a distance equal to a quarter wavelength at the frequency at which each of said photonically controlled antenna elements is designed to operate. The antenna elements radiate and receive signals in a direction parallel to said waveguides that is opposite to said ground plane.

Photonically controlled antenna array

A Radio Frequency (RF) microstrip antenna employs a planar or curved radiator element that is mounted or supported in spaced relation to a planar or curved ground plane element. A RF feed is attached near one edge of the radiator element for receiving and/or transmitting RF signals in a lobe that is substantially perpendicular to the ground plane element. The radiator element and the ground plane element are maintained in a converging or tilted physical relationship. When a coaxial cable is employed as the antenna feed, the cable's outer insulation is secured to the ground plane element, the cable's center conductor extends away from the ground plane element to provide a signal feed to the radiator element and to provide physical support for one edge of the radiator element, and two insulator posts extend away from the ground plane element to provide support for the opposite edge of the radiator element.

Microstrip wide band 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

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.

Monopole/L-shaped parasitic elements for circularly/elliptically

A compact, easy to manufacture quarter-wavelength microstrip element especially suited for use as a mobile radio antenna has performance which is equal to or better than conventional quarter wavelength whip-type mobile radio antennas. The antenna is not visible to a passerby observer when installed, since it is literally part of the vehicle. The microstrip radiating element is conformal to a passenger vehicle, and may, for example, be mounted under a plastic roof between the roof and the headliner.

Near-isotropic low-profile microstrip radiator especially suited for use

Circular microstrip vehicular rf antenna

A viscous fluid timer is constructed with a cylindrical cavity formed by a housing that supports an axially aligned rotor unit having a rotor on a shaft within a first chamber filled with a viscous fluid. The first chamber communicates with a second chamber having a shaft seal through which the rotor shaft projects, the rotor shaft having a torsional connection to a spring means for rotating the rotor unit within the chamber, the first chamber being filled with a highly viscous fluid which impedes the rotation of the rotor.

Miniature rotary timer

A controllable dual input/output port power divider coupled with a controllable phase shifter feed a dual ported dual polarized microstrip antenna structure. By controlling the power divider and phase shifter, arbitrary orthogonal polarization (e.g., linear, circular or elliptical) radiated r.f. fields are obtained. Virtually the entire structure comprising the dual port power divider, phase shifter and microstrip radiator may be formed of shaped photo-chemically etched microstrip conductors disposed a very short distance (e.g., less than one-tenth wavelength) above a conductive reference surface.

Radio frequency antenna with controllably variable dual orthogonal

A relatively broadband printed circuit antenna structure includes a dielectric sheet having printed circuit-like conductive structures printed on both sides in predetermined registration with one another. A traditional non-radiating microstrip transmission line structure extends from a common r.f. feedpoint to at least one terminal end portion. However, apertures disposed within the underlying (or overlying) conductive reference surface of the double-cladded printed circuit board in the vicinity of each terminal end cause substantial r.f. radiation to occur over a relatively broader bandwidth than with a more traditional microstrip antenna radiator structure. In one embodiment, the aperture in the microstrip ground plane itself becomes a radiating aperture due to the transmission line currents flowing within the ground plane. In other embodiments, the terminal end portion of the microstrip transmission line becomes a monopole radiator when it is encompassed by an aperture or opening in the pattern of the printed ground plane. A conductive reflector surface may also be disposed about one-fourth wavelength behind the printed ground plane--unless radiation directed away from either side of the antenna structure is desired.

Growing community of inventors

Boulder, CO, United States of America

Robert E Munson