Antenna arrays, including transmitarrays and reflectarrays, are used in many fields, including satellite communications systems, military communications systems, and civilian communication systems. Existing arrays are generally narrowband, with a bandwidth of around 6%, and are also typically flat.
Embodiments of the subject invention provide novel and advantageous antenna arrays (e.g., reflectarrays and transmitarrays) with three-dimensional (3D) radiating elements, as well as methods of manufacturing and methods of using the same. An array can include a ground plane and a plurality of radiating elements disposed thereon, and at least a portion of the radiating elements of the plurality of radiating elements can be 3D radiating elements. The array can optionally include a substrate disposed on the ground plane and having holes for the radiating elements. The 3D radiating elements can include, for example, conical elements such as a hollow conical element, a full conical element, a hollow and discretized conical element, or a combination thereof. The conical elements can either be standard (with the side having the smaller radius or width of the cross-sectional shape of the element being on the ground plane) or inverted (with the side having the larger radius or width of the cross-sectional shape of the element being on the ground plane). The final radiating elements can comprise a conductive material, including but not limited to copper, silver, aluminium, gold, platinum, palladium, and/or steel. The array can be made by, for example, printing it (e.g., 3D printing) with a polymer (e.g., a plastic such as a thermoplastic and/or amorphous polymer such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)) or a similar material. The array can then be metallized with one or more metals (e.g., copper, silver, aluminium, gold, platinum, palladium, and/or steel).
In an embodiment, an antenna array can comprise: a ground plane; and a plurality of 3D radiating elements disposed on the ground plane, each 3D radiating element comprising a conductive material. The antenna array can be a reflectarray or a transmitarray. Each 3D radiating element of the plurality of 3D radiating elements can comprise a polymer coated with the conductive material. The conductive material can comprise, for example, at least one of copper, silver, aluminium, gold, platinum, palladium, and steel. The polymer can be a thermoplastic and/or an amorphous polymer. The ground plane can comprise a plurality of unit cells, each unit cell of the plurality of unit cells comprising exactly one 3D radiating element of the plurality of 3D radiating elements. Each 3D radiating element of the plurality of 3D radiating elements can be a conical element. For example, each 3D radiating element of the plurality of 3D radiating elements can be: a) a hollow conical element disposed on the ground plane such that a greatest width of a cross section of the hollow conical element, taken parallel to an upper surface of the ground plane, increases as it moves away from the ground plane; b) a filled-in conical element disposed on the ground plane such that a greatest width of a cross section of the hollow conical element, taken parallel to an upper surface of the ground plane, increases as it moves away from the ground plane; c) a hollow conical element disposed on the ground plane such that a greatest width of a cross section of the hollow conical element, taken parallel to an upper surface of the ground plane, decreases as it moves away from the ground plane; or d) a filled-in conical element disposed on the ground plane such that a greatest width of a cross section of the hollow conical element, taken parallel to an upper surface of the ground plane, decreases as it moves away from the ground plane. In each case (a-d), the cross section of each 3D radiating element of the plurality of 3D radiating elements can be a circle, with the greatest width being a diameter of the circle, or the cross section of each 3D radiating element of the plurality of 3D radiating elements can be a polygon (e.g., a hexagon). The antenna array can further comprise a substrate (e.g., a printed circuit board (PCB) substrate or a dielectric substrate) disposed on the ground plane and having a plurality of holes therein for the plurality of 3D radiating elements, respectively. The substrate can be in direct physical contact with the ground plane, the plurality of 3D radiating elements, or both.
In another embodiment, a method of fabricating an antenna array that comprises a ground plane and a plurality of 3D radiating elements disposed on the ground plane can comprise the steps of: using a 3D printer to print the ground plane and the plurality of 3D radiating elements with a polymer; and metallizing the ground plane and the plurality of 3D radiating elements with a conductive metal. The antenna array can be a reflectarray or a transmitarray. The conductive metal can comprise, for example, at least one of copper, silver, aluminium, gold, platinum, palladium, and steel. The polymer can be a thermoplastic and/or an amorphous polymer. The ground plane can comprise a plurality of unit cells, each unit cell of the plurality of unit cells comprising exactly one 3D radiating element of the plurality of 3D radiating elements. Each 3D radiating element of the plurality of 3D radiating elements can be a conical element. For example, each 3D radiating element of the plurality of 3D radiating elements can be: a) a hollow conical element disposed on the ground plane such that a greatest width of a cross section of the hollow conical element, taken parallel to an upper surface of the ground plane, increases as it moves away from the ground plane; b) a filled-in conical element disposed on the ground plane such that a greatest width of a cross section of the hollow conical element, taken parallel to an upper surface of the ground plane, increases as it moves away from the ground plane; c) a hollow conical element disposed on the ground plane such that a greatest width of a cross section of the hollow conical element, taken parallel to an upper surface of the ground plane, decreases as it moves away from the ground plane; or d) a filled-in conical element disposed on the ground plane such that a greatest width of a cross section of the hollow conical element, taken parallel to an upper surface of the ground plane, decreases as it moves away from the ground plane. In each case (a-d), the cross section of each 3D radiating element of the plurality of 3D radiating elements can be a circle, with the greatest width being a diameter of the circle, or the cross section of each 3D radiating element of the plurality of 3D radiating elements can be a polygon (e.g., a hexagon). The method can further comprise disposing a substrate (e.g., a PCB substrate or a dielectric substrate) on the ground plane, the substrate having a plurality of holes therein for the plurality of 3D radiating elements, respectively. The substrate can be disposed to be in direct physical contact with the ground plane, the plurality of 3D radiating elements, or both.
Embodiments of the subject invention provide novel and advantageous antenna arrays (e.g., reflectarrays and transmitarrays) with three-dimensional (3D) radiating elements, as well as methods of manufacturing and methods of using the same. An array can include a ground plane and a plurality of radiating elements disposed thereon, and at least a portion of the radiating elements of the plurality of radiating elements can be 3D radiating elements. The array can optionally include a substrate disposed on the ground plane and having holes for the radiating elements. The 3D radiating elements can include, for example, conical elements such as a hollow conical element, a full conical element, a hollow and discretized conical element, or a combination thereof. The conical elements can either be standard (with the side having the smaller radius or width of the cross-sectional shape of the element being on the ground plane) or inverted (with the side having the larger radius or width of the cross-sectional shape of the element being on the ground plane). The final radiating elements can comprise a conductive material, including but not limited to copper, silver, aluminium, gold, platinum, palladium, and/or steel. The array can be made by, for example, printing it (e.g., 3D printing) with a polymer (e.g., a plastic such as a thermoplastic and/or amorphous polymer such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS)) or a similar material. The array can then be metallized with one or more metals (e.g., copper, silver, aluminium, gold, platinum, palladium, and/or steel).
The array (e.g., the ground plane of the array) can include a plurality of unit cells, each unit cell including a single radiating element disposed on the ground plane. Some or all of the radiating elements can be 3D radiating elements.
Referring to
The reflection phase of the 3D radiating elements of embodiments of the subject invention has a linear response versus frequency (see, e.g.,
Embodiments of the subject invention provide arrays with 3D radiating elements that can provide broadband operation while having a low-cost and easy fabrication. These arrays can be used in several fields, including but not limited to 5G communications, multi-functional communications, terrestrial communications, extra-terrestrial communications, and satellite communication systems.
The term 3D radiating element, as used herein, requires that the radiating element extends significantly (e.g., a distance that is at least 30% of a diameter or greatest width of the radiating element) above the surface of the ground plane on which it is disposed. That is, while traditional patch-style radiating elements may in some cases have some incidental amount of conductive material that extends above the surface of the ground plane, this will be negligible in height compared to the width of the patch element and, therefore, patch radiating elements are not included in the term 3D radiating elements.
When the term “about” is used herein, in conjunction with a numerical value, it is understood that the value can be in a range of 95% of the value to 105% of the value, i.e. the value can be +/−5% of the stated value. For example, “about 1 kg” means from 0.95 kg to 1.05 kg.
A greater understanding of the embodiments of the subject invention and of their many advantages may be had from the following examples, given by way of illustration. The following examples are illustrative of some of the methods, applications, embodiments, and variants of the embodiments of the subject invention. They are, of course, not to be considered as limiting the invention. Numerous changes and modifications can be made with respect to the invention.
A unit cell of a reflectarray as shown in
A unit cell of a reflectarray as shown in
It should be understood that the examples and embodiments described herein are for illustrative purposes only and that various modifications or changes in light thereof will be suggested to persons skilled in the art and are to be included within the spirit and purview of this application.
All patents, patent applications, provisional applications, and publications referred to or cited herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety, including all figures and tables, to the extent they are not inconsistent with the explicit teachings of this specification.
This invention was made with government support under FA9550-19-1-0290 awarded by Air Force Office of Scientific Research. The government has certain rights in the invention.
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