Patent Application
20200235473
The invention concerns an antenna on a ferromagnetic substrate. In particular, the invention concerns an antenna on an ultracompact ferromagnetic substrate in the vertical plane compared with the wavelength, which could be used in reception or in emission in the kilometric (30-300 kHz), hectometric (0.3-3 MHz), decametric (3-30 MHz) and metric (30-300 MHz) frequency bands.
The antenna is particularly suitable, for example, in broadband or narrowband emission systems with a medium to high-power conveying information in the form of signals modulated or not and which are spread by radio. According to certain embodiments, the antenna favours the propagation of the wave in a favoured direction (directive antenna).
Electrically small antennas have an impedance presenting a strong reactive component which does not allow their use in an effective and direct manner in standardised real impedance systems (typically 50Ω).
The adaptation of impedance of this type of antenna is often difficult and generally allows matching only on a narrow band of frequencies. The narrow bandwidth of such an antenna is often unstable which is particularly problematic upon emission, in particular for high-power applications.
Solutions have been sought to stabilise this variation of impedance and thus increase the bandwidth of the antenna. However, these solutions significantly decrease the effectiveness of the antenna, thus making it unusable under the desired conditions.
In the article entitled “Magnetic tuning of a microstrip antenna on a ferrite substrate” published in Electronic Letters, 9 Jun. 1998, Vol. 24, No. 12, pp. 730-731 (referenced D1 below), D. M. Pozar and V. Sanchez describe impedance matching of a microstrip antenna on a ferrite substrate for high-frequencies applications, i.e. greater than 2.8 GHz. For this, the application of a magnetic field to said substrate constituted of YIG G-113 of ferrimagnetic type and presenting low losses at high frequencies is described. It has been observed that the use of this material limits the miniaturisation factor of the antenna.
In the article entitled, “Magneto-dielectric properties of doped ferrite based nanosized ceramics over very high frequency range”, published in Engineering Science and Technology, an International Journal 19 (2016) pp. 911-916, Ashish Saini et al. describe a magneto-dielectric material of which they seek to reduce the dielectric and magnetic losses to miniaturise radar antennas operating at around 100 MHz.
The invention aims to overcome at least some of the disadvantages of known electrically small antennas.
In particular, the invention aims to provide, in at least one embodiment of the invention, an antenna with ultracompact vertical polarisation in the vertical plane and broadband which can operate upon emission.
The invention also aims to provide, in at least one embodiment, an antenna ensuring a good radiation effectiveness while conserving a broad bandwidth by stabilising the variation of the impedance.
The invention also aims to provide, in at least one embodiment of the invention, a directional antenna (or directive antenna).
To do this, the invention concerns an antenna, comprising:
characterised in that the substrate is a dispersive ferromagnetic substrate, called dispersive ferrite, presenting as magnetic features, a relative high magnetic permeability comprised between 10 and 10,000 and a high tangent of magnetic losses greater than 0.1, said antenna comprising means for locally modifying the magnetic features of the dispersive ferrite, such that the relative magnetic permeability and the magnetic losses of the dispersive ferrite are gradually and locally reduced.
By definition, a dispersive ferrite presents high dielectric losses and/or high magnetic losses. The dispersive ferromagnetic substrate used in the scope of the present invention is constituted, in particular, of spinel ferrite which is well-adapted to the production of magnetic antennas with a broad bandwidth and small. An antenna according to the invention therefore makes it possible, thanks to the use of a partially saturated dispersive ferromagnetic substrate (dispersive ferrite) (i.e. of which the magnetic losses and the relative magnetic permeability are locally and gradually reduced), to ensure a good radiation effectiveness while conserving a broad bandwidth by stabilising the variation of the impedance. Indeed, the dispersive ferrite makes it possible for this stabilisation of the impedance, but highly reduces the radiation. In addition, the dispersive ferrite can see a rapid heating and a degradation of performances in the vicinity of the Curie point during long-duration and high-power emissions. The gradual and local modification of the features of the ferrite makes it possible to compensate for this radiation reduction in order to achieve a suitable gain, while conserving the stabilisation of the impedance, and with a reduced heating in emission mode.
The antenna thus produced is an antenna with an ultracompact vertical polarisation in the vertical plane (height of λ/1400 for example at λ=30 MHz) and broadband which can operate upon emission. The terms “vertical plane” and “horizontal plane” are understood by considering the antenna in its arrangement during its preferable operation in vertical polarisation, the antenna could, of course, have a different orientation when it is not operating and/or when the desired polarisation is different (in particular, horizontal).
A high relative magnetic permeability is typical from ferromagnetic materials, and is broadly greater than 1, in particular comprised between 10 and 10,000. The high tangent of magnetic losses, corresponding to high magnetic losses, is often designated by the symbol tan δ of which the value is greater than 0.1. The tangent of magnetic losses corresponds to the ratio of the imaginary portion over the real portion of the relative magnetic permeability. The high value of these magnetic features depends on the frequency used. These values are provided at the working frequency of the antenna, i.e. at a frequency within a band of frequencies on which the adaptation of impedance of the antenna is achieved. In the scope of the present invention, it is reminded that the antenna is adapted to receive or emit at a frequency within kilometric (30-300 kHz), hectometric (0.3-3 MHz), decametric (3-30 MHz) or metric (30-300 MHz) frequency bands. Thus, the maximum working frequency of the antenna is of around 300 MHz (i.e. corresponding to the upper limit of the metric frequency band 30-300 MHz).
At these frequencies, in particular at frequencies located at the bottom of the bands (i.e. 30 kHz, 0.3 MHz or 30 MHz), the high relative magnetic permeability of the dispersive ferrite makes it possible to increase the miniaturisation factor of the antenna. For example, the antenna illustrated in
By comparison, the maximum dimension of the radiating portion of the antenna of D1 would be limited to 0.22λ, at this same working frequency. Such a limitation comes from the fact that only the increased permittivity of the material YIG G-113 contributes to reducing the size of the antenna. On the contrary, the magnetic permeability and the relative permeability of the dispersive ferrite according to the specifics of the invention both contribute to increasing the miniaturisation factor of the antenna and with the particularity that the contribution of the magnetic permeability is higher than that of the permittivity. The gradual and local modification makes it possible to locally and gradually reduce these values, in particular until a relative magnetic permeability less than the permeability of the ferrite, typically comprised between 1 and 100 and always greater than 1, and a tangent of lower magnetic losses. The dispersive ferrite is thus non-homogenous.
The antenna furthermore presents a directivity in the horizontal plane, without requiring being put in a network with other antennas nor resorting to one or more external parasitic elements.
The non-ferrous metal forming the plates is, for example, copper, brass, aluminium, etc.
According to the embodiments, the local modification means of the magnetic features of the dispersive ferrite are a magnet (permanent magnet or electromagnet), or at least one material part having a low relative magnetic permeability and a low loss tangent.
The magnet is arranged on a metal plate of the antenna, preferably on the radiating portion.
When the magnet is an electromagnet, it is supplied by a direct current generator, preferably variable, thus making it possible to modify the force of the magnetic field generated by the electromagnet, thus modifying the performances of the antenna (parameters S, gain and form of the radiation diagram). The gain can, for example, vary on command, or the impedance can be adjusted to reach that desired in the system to which the antenna is connected, for example 50Ω.
The material part(s) inserted are included in producing the ferrite. The arrangement of the parts can be configured to reach desired performances.
Advantageously and according to the invention, the dispersive ferrite presents a size in the horizontal plane greater than the size of the metal plates.
According to this aspect of the invention, the size of the ferrites greater than the metal plates makes it possible to improve the effectiveness of the radiation. If the antenna is of the monopole type, this feature also makes it possible to increase the directivity. The size of the ferrites can be greater in one single direction.
Advantageously and according to the invention, the antenna comprises at least one short-circuit connecting the mass plane and the radiating portion, in contact with an edge of the dispersive ferrite.
According to this aspect of the invention, an antenna with no short-circuit is an antenna of the monopole type, an antenna presenting a short-circuit is an antenna of the semi-open type, and an antenna presenting a short-circuit arranged opposite the excitor at the level of the edge of the dispersive ferrite forms an antenna of the loop type.
Advantageously and according to the invention, the antenna comprises a succession of dispersive ferrite and of magnets stacked alternatively between the radiating portion and the mass plane.
According to this aspect of the invention, the antenna thus forms a stacked antenna.
The stacked antennas make is possible to achieve greater gains. Furthermore, it is possible to make the degree of saturation of the dispersive ferrites vary according to the layers, thus making it possible for a modification of the adaptation, of the gain and of the radiation.
Advantageously and according to the latter aspect of the invention, the radiating portion comprises a metal plate between each ferrite and magnet.
Advantageously and according to the latter aspect of the invention, the metal plates are connected between them.
The invention also concerns an antenna, characterised in combination by all or some of the features mentioned above or below.
Other aims, features and advantages of the invention will appear upon reading the following description given only in a non-limiting manner and which refers to the appended figures, wherein:
The following embodiments are examples. Although the description refers to one or more embodiments, this does not necessarily mean that each reference concerns the same embodiment, or that the features apply only to one single embodiment. Simple features of different embodiments can also be combined to provide other embodiments. In the figures, the scales and the proportions are not strictly respected and this, for purposes of illustration and clarity.
The magnetic induction values of the magnets is expressed in Gauss in this application, 1 Gauss (with symbol G) worth 10−4 Tesla (with symbol T).
The antennas represented are arranged according to their preferable operating mode with a vertical polarisation. λ means the wavelength with the main frequency (central frequency if emission on a frequency band) for emission or reception from the antenna.
The antenna comprises two non-ferrous metal plates (for example, copper, brass, aluminium, etc.), a first plate forming a radiating portion 4H and a second plate forming a mass plane 4B. Between the two metal plates, a dispersive ferromagnetic substrate is arranged, called dispersive ferrite 1. The metal plates and the dispersive ferrite 1 are presented in a flat form extending mainly according to a horizontal plane, so as to present a minimum vertical size for an antenna with vertical polarisation.
The radiating portion 4H totally or partially covers the dispersive ferrite 1, and can be composed of several parts having different forms connected between them. The radiating portion 4H can also be presented in several complex forms, for example a maze as represented in reference to
In this embodiment, the dispersive ferrite 1 presents a horizontal size greater than the metal plates, in particular according to a length (the plates are square while the dispersive ferrite 1 is rectangular), which makes it possible to improve the radiation (greater gain). According to other embodiments, the ferrite and the plates have the same size in the horizontal plane or of different forms.
The dispersive ferrite 1 comprises an orifice 8 making it possible to pass through an excitor 6 connected to a connector 7. When the connector 7 is a coaxial type socket, its core is connected to the excitor 6 and its outer conductor is connected to the mass plane. The radiating portion and the mass plane are not directly connected by a conductive element such as a short-circuit, the antenna thus formed being a monopole antenna.
The antenna comprises local modification means of the magnetic features of the dispersive ferrite, here a magnet 5 arranged on one of the metal plates, preferably the radiating portion as represented in this embodiment. By arranging the magnet 5 on the radiating portion of the antenna, it is possible to achieve a greater antenna efficiency with a greater gain in a given direction.
For example, the magnet 5 has a rectangular form. It has a length of 47 mm, a width of 22 mm and a height of 12 mm. The substrate is constituted by a ferrite tile made of material referenced 4S60. The tile is of square form. It has a length of 100 mm, a width of 100 mm and a thickness of 7 mm. Thus, the magnet 5 has a surface area corresponding to around 10.34% of the total surface area of the substrate. Such proportions ensure, in particular, a local and gradual modification of the magnetic features of the dispersive ferrite by the magnet.
The distance between the radiating portion and the mass plane, corresponding to the thickness of the ferrite, is generally comprised between λ/50,000 and λ/500 according to the frequency used.
The second embodiment is identical to the first embodiment of the invention, except for the presence of a short-circuit 2 connecting the radiating portion to the mass plane, the short-circuit 2 being extended from the excitor 6 so as to form an antenna of the semi-open type (or semi-open loop) thanks to the absence of any short-circuit at the level of the zone 3 opposite the short-circuit 2.
This embodiment is similar to the second embodiment wherein the excitor 6 is no longer arranged at the centre of the ferrite and passing through it, but on an edge of the ferrite so as to extend between the mass plane 4B and the radiating portion 4H, at the level of the opening of the second embodiment. The excitor 6, the radiating portion 4H, the short-circuit 2 and the mass plane 4B thus form a loop, the antenna also being an antenna of the loop type.
In
To form this dissymmetry, the magnet 5 is advantageously arranged off-centred with respect to the excitor 6. Preferably, the magnet 5 abuts one of the sides of the ferrite substrate 1. For example, when the antenna is of the monopole type, the magnet 5 is preferably arranged in one of the four zones 51, 52, 53, 54, as illustrated in
In the example described above in reference to
The dispersive ferrite with no local modification of the features makes it possible to stabilise the variation of the impedance of the antenna and thus increase the bandwidth of the antenna, but leads to a drop in radiation effectiveness. The local modification of the features makes it possible to conserve this advantage in stabilising the impedance variation and increasing bandwidth while compensating for the drop in radiation effectiveness so as to obtain an efficient antenna.
Similar results can be obtained with other dispersive ferrites, in particular spinel ferrites, both presenting a high relative magnetic permeability comprised between 10 and 10,000 and a high magnetic loss tangent greater than 0.1. It is reminded that the relative magnetic permeability and the magnetic loss tangent depend not only on the material, but also on the working frequency of the antenna in question. In the scope of the present invention, the working frequency remains less than 300 MHz.
Real and imaginary portions of the relative magnetic permeability are commonly designated respectively by the symbols μ′ and μ″.
The magnetic loss tangent (often designated by the symbol tan δ) is the ratio of the imaginary portion over the real portion of the relative magnetic permeability.
The magnetic loss tangent and the real and imaginary portions of the relative magnetic permeability are measured in the dispersive ferrite at the level of the zones where the magnetic features of the dispersive ferrite are modified.
As can be seen in the graphs, in the presence of a magnet, the magnetic losses and the relative magnetic permeability decrease, making it possible to obtain the effects on the gain and the radiation described above. This reduction is greater than the magnetic induction value of the magnet.
In the graphs of
The dispersive spinel ferrites, in particular NiZn, known for presenting a high magnetic permeability are generally used to form coatings intended to absorb electromagnetic waves, in particular the walls of the anechoic chambers operating at frequencies up to 1000 MHz. In the scope of the present invention, advantageously this type of ferrite is used.
The antenna with no magnet is an omnidirectional antenna of low gain, while the antenna of the monopole type with a magnet according to the invention is directional and has a greater gain in all directions.
The antenna with no magnet is a directional antenna of low gain, while the semi-open antenna with a magnet according to the invention has a substantially similar diagram but presents a greater gain in all directions.
Generally, the diagram of radiation of the antenna such as represented in
The inserted parts 10 are material parts having a low relative magnetic permeability and of low magnetic losses inserted in the dispersive ferrite and which lead to a gradual and local reduction of the magnetic permeability and of the magnetic losses of the dispersive ferrite.
By low relative magnetic permeability, relative magnetic permeability values are understood to be less than 10. By low magnetic losses, magnetic loss tangent values are understood to be less than 0.1. As indicated above, these values are to be considered at the working frequency of the antenna, i.e. at a frequency within a frequency band on which the impedance adaptation of the antenna is achieved.
The inserted part(s) 10 can take the place of the magnet (permanent or electromagnet) in all the embodiments of the antenna described above. Like the magnet, they can take different forms, like for example those presented in
Like for the magnet, the forms can act on the features of the antenna, in particular its directivity.
A stacked antenna according to the invention comprises several dispersive ferrites and several magnets stacked between the mass plane and at least one metal plate of the radiating portion.
In this fourth embodiment of the invention, the radiating portion 4H is formed of several metal plates connected in an S-shape or in a zigzag, between which are alternatively located, a dispersive ferrite or a magnet, such that there are as many dispersive ferrites as magnets. For example, here, the antenna comprises two dispersive ferrites 11 and 12 and two permanent magnets 51 and 52. The radiating portion 4H is connected to the plane 4B by a short-circuit 2. The excitor 6 passes through all the ferrites and magnets and does not affect the upper plate of the radiating portion 4H.
The antenna of this embodiment is identical to the fourth embodiment, except for the excitor being moved instead of the short-circuit and supplies the antenna between the mass plane 4B and the plate of the portion 4H which is closer to the mass plane 4B.
The antenna of this embodiment is identical to the fourth embodiment, except for it not comprising any short-circuit 2.
In this embodiment, the antenna comprises one single metal plate forming the radiating portion 4H, and between the radiating portion 4H and the mass plane 4B, a stack of dispersive ferrites and alternate magnets are located, here two dispersive ferrites 11 and 12 and two permanent magnets 51 and 52.
In this embodiment, the antenna comprises several metal plates 4H1, 4H2, 4H3 and 4H4 forming the radiating portion. Each metal plate is connected to the excitor 6. Between the mass plane 4B and the plate 4H4, a dispersive ferrite 12 is located, between the plate 4H4 and the plate 4H3 a magnet 52 is located, between the plate 4H3 and the plate 4H2 a dispersive ferrite 11 is located, and between the plate 4H2 and the plate 4H1 a magnet 51 is located.
The antenna of this embodiment is similar to the eighth embodiment of the invention, in that it contains a plurality of metal plates 4H1, 4H2, 4H3, 4H4, 4H5, 4H6, 4H7 and 4H8 of circular form, forming the radiation portion and connected to the excitor 6. Between the metal plate, alternatively a dispersive ferrite 11, 12, 13 or 14 of circular form or a magnet 51, 52, 53 or 54 of circular form are located.
The antenna of this embodiment is similar to the first embodiment in that it comprises a magnet arranged on the radiating portion 4H of the antenna, this being separated from the mass plane 4B by the dispersive ferrite substrate 1.
According to a particularity of this embodiment, the second plate forming the radiating portion 4H is cut so as to form a rectangular flat spiral. For example, this spiral is centred on the excitor 6 of the antenna.
The invention is not limited only to the embodiments described. In particular, the dispersive ferrites, the magnets, the inserted parts or the metal plates can take different forms. The magnets can present values different from those indicated in the graphs. The stacked antennas can contain more layers.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1759284 | Oct 2017 | FR | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/FR2018/052456 | 10/4/2018 | WO | 00 |
