The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 24, 2000
Filed:
Nov. 19, 1998
Johnson J Wang, Marietta, GA (US);
James K Tillery, Woodstock, GA (US);
Wang Electro-Opto Corporation, Marietta, GA (US);
Abstract
Disclosed is a broadband, miniaturized, slow-wave antenna for transmitting and receiving radio frequency (RF) signals. The slow-wave antenna comprises a dielectric substrate with a traveling wave structure mounted on one surface, and a conductive surface member mounted on the opposite surface. The traveling wave structure, for example, is of the broadband planar type such as various types of spirals and includes conductive arms which are coupled to feed lines which are routed through the dielectric substrate and the conductive surface member for connection to a transmitter or receiver. The dielectric substrate is of a predetermined thickness which is, for example, less than 0.04.lambda..sub.1, where .lambda..sub.1 is the free space wavelength of the lowest frequency f.sub.1 of the operating frequency range of the slow-wave antenna. Also, the dielectric constant of the dielectric substrate and the conductivity of the surface member are specified, along with the thickness of the dielectric substrate to ensure that a slow-wave launched in the traveling wave structure is tightly bound to the traveling wave structure, but not so tightly bound as to hinder radiation at a radiation zone of the traveling wave structure, while minimizing any propagation loss. The slow-wave antenna has a reduced phase velocity, which reduces the diameter of the radiation zone and, consequently, reduces the diameter of the slow-wave antenna.