1. Field of the Invention
The subject invention relates generally to a patch antenna. Specifically, the subject invention relates to a patch antenna for receiving circularly-polarized radio frequency signals from a satellite.
2. Description of the Related Art
Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service (SDARS) providers use satellites to broadcast RF signals, particularly circularly polarized RF signals, back to receiving antennas on Earth. The elevation angle between a satellite and an antenna is variable depending on the location of the satellite and the location of the antenna. Within the continental United States, this elevation angle may be as low as 20° from the horizon. Accordingly, specifications of the SDARS providers require a relatively high gain at elevation angles as low as 20° from the horizon.
SDARS reception is primarily desired in vehicles. SDARS compliant antennas are frequently bulky, obtuse-looking devices mounted on a roof of a vehicle. SDARS compliant patch antennas typically have a square-shaped radiating element with sides about equal to ½ of the effective wavelength of the SDARS RF signal. When the radiating element is disposed on a window of the vehicle, this large “footprint” often obstructs the view of the driver. Therefore, these patch antennas are not typically disposed on the windows of the vehicle.
However, even when these patch antennas are disposed on the windows of the vehicle, certain parts of the vehicle, such as a roof, may block RF signals and prevent the RF signals from reaching the antenna at certain elevation angles. Even if the roof does not block the RF signals, the roof may mitigate the RF signals, which may cause the RF signal to degrade to an unacceptable quality. When this happens, the antenna is unable to receive the RF signals at those elevation angles and the antenna is unable to maintain its intrinsic radiation pattern characteristic. Thus, antenna performance is severely affected by the roof obstructing reception of the RF signals, especially for elevation angles below 30 degrees. In order to overcome this, a radiation beam tilting technique can be used to compensate for signal mitigation caused by the vehicle body. Since antennas capable of receiving RF signals in SDARS frequency bands are typically physically smaller than those antennas receiving signals in lower frequency bands, it becomes challenging to tilt the antenna radiation main beam from the normal direction to the antenna plane, which is substantially parallel to the glass where the antenna is mounted.
Various patch antennas for receiving RF signals are well known in the art. Examples of such antennas are disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,887,089 (the '089 patent) to Shibata et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 6,252,553 (the '553 patent) to Soloman.
The '089 patent discloses a patch antenna having a radiating element. A first feed line and a second feed line are electrically connected to the radiating element at a first and second feed port, respectively. A switching mechanism connects a signal to either the first feed line or the second feed line. A horizontally polarized (i.e., linearly polarized) radiation beam is generated by the patch antenna in a higher order mode. However, the patch antenna of the '089 patent does not generate a circularly polarized radiation beam and is therefore of little value in the reception of circularly polarized RF signals broadcast from satellites.
The '553 patent also discloses a patch antenna having a radiating element. The antenna includes a plurality of feed lines electrically connected to the radiating element at a plurality of feed ports. The antenna also includes at least one phase shift circuit to shift a base signal and produce at least one phase-shifted electromagnetic signal. A circularly polarized radiating beam is generated by the patch antenna in both a fundamental mode and a higher order mode. The patch antenna of the '553 patent does not generate the circularly polarized radiation beam solely in a higher order mode. As such, the radiating element of the patch antenna of the '553 patent defines a large “footprint”.
There remains an opportunity to introduce a patch antenna that aids in the reception of a circularly polarized RF signal from a satellite at a low elevation, especially when the patch antenna is disposed on an angled pane of glass, such as the window of a vehicle. There also remains an opportunity to introduce a patch antenna which significantly reduces the required “footprint” of the antenna's radiating element when compared to other prior art patch antennas. There further remains an opportunity to introduce a patch antenna that can overcome interference caused by a roof of the vehicle.
The invention provides a patch antenna including a radiating element formed of a conductive material. A plurality of feed lines is electrically connected to the radiating element at a plurality of feed ports. At least one phase shift circuit is electrically connected to at least one of the plurality of feed lines for phase shifting a base signal to achieve a phase-shifted signal. The feed ports are spaced apart from one another such that the radiating element is excitable to generate a circularly polarized radiation beam solely in a higher order mode at a desired frequency.
By generating the circularly polarized radiation beam solely in a higher order mode, the maximum gain of the radiation beam is tilted away from an axis perpendicular to the radiating element. This tilting-effect is very beneficial when attempting to receive the circularly polarized RF signals from a satellite at a low elevation angle. Furthermore, the dimensions of the radiating element are much smaller than many prior art radiating elements. This is very desirous to automotive manufacturers and suppliers who wish to mount the radiating element on a window of a vehicle and still maintain good visibility for a driver through the glass.
The invention also provides a patch antenna including a radiating element formed of a conductive material and a plurality of feed lines electrically connected to the radiating element at a plurality of feed ports. At least one phase shift circuit is electrically connected to at least one of the plurality of feed lines for phase shifting a base signal to achieve a phase-shifted signal. The feed ports are spaced apart from one another such that the radiating element is excitable to generate a circularly polarized radiation beam in a higher order mode at a desired frequency. In this embodiment, the patch antenna also includes at least one parasitic structure disposed adjacent to the radiating element and separated from the radiating element.
The at least one parasitic structure also acts to tilt the radiation beam away from an axis perpendicular to the radiating element. Therefore, the patch antenna provides exceptional reception of circularly polarized RF signals from a satellite at a low elevation angle.
Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:
Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, a patch antenna 20 is disclosed.
Preferably, the antenna 20 is utilized to receive a circularly polarized radio frequency (RF) signal from a satellite. Specifically, the antenna 20 is utilized to receive a left-hand circularly polarized (LHCP) RF signal like those produced by a Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service (SDARS) provider, such as XM® Satellite Radio or SIRIUS® Satellite Radio. However, those skilled in the art understand that the antenna 20 may also receive a right-hand circularly polarized (RHCP) RF signal. Furthermore, in addition to receiving the LCHP and/or RHCP RF signals, the antenna 20 may also be used to transmit the circularly polarized RF signal. The antenna 20 will be described hereafter mainly in terms of receiving the LHCP RF signal, but this should not be read as limiting in any way.
Referring to
The window 22 preferably includes at least one pane of glass 28. The pane of glass 28 is preferably automotive glass and more preferably soda-lime-silica glass, which is well known for use in panes of glass of vehicles 24. The pane of glass 28 functions as a radome to the antenna 20. That is, the pane of glass 28 protects the components of the antenna 20, as described in detail below, from moisture, wind, dust, etc. that are present outside the vehicle 24. The pane of glass 28 defines a thickness between 1.5 and 5.0 mm, preferably 3.1 mm. The pane of glass 28 also has a relative permittivity between 5 and 9, preferably 7. Of course, the window 22 may include more than one pane of glass 28. Those skilled in the art realize that automotive windows 22, particularly windshields, typically include two panes of glass sandwiching a layer of polyvinyl butyral (PVB).
Referring to
The antenna 20 also includes a ground plane 32 formed of an electrically conductive material including, but not limited to, copper. The ground plane 32 is disposed substantially parallel to and spaced from the radiating element 30. It is preferred that the ground plane 32 also defines a generally rectangular shape, specifically a square shape. The ground plane 32 preferably measures about 60 mm×60 mm. However, the ground plane 32 may be implemented with various shapes and sizes.
At least one dielectric layer 34 is preferably disposed between the radiating element 30 and the ground plane 32. Said another way, the at least one dielectric layer 34 is sandwiched between the radiating element 30 and the ground plane 32. A preferred implementation of the at least one dielectric layer 34 is described in greater detail below.
In the first embodiment, as shown in
Referring now to
In the first embodiment, the antenna 20 is implemented with four feed lines 36, 38, 40, 42 electrically connected to the radiating element 30 at four feed ports 44, 46, 48, 50. Specifically, a first feed line 36 is electrically connected to the radiating element 30 at a first feed port 44, a second feed line 38 is electrically connected to the radiating element 30 at a second feed port 46, a third feed line 40 is electrically connected to the radiating element 30 at a third feed port 48, and a fourth feed line 42 is electrically connected to the radiating element 30 at a fourth feed port 50.
The feed ports 44, 46, 48, 50 of the first embodiment are disposed with relationship to one another such that the feed ports 44, 46, 48, 50 define corners of a square shape. Of course, the square shape is merely a hypothetical construct for easily showing the physical relationship between the feed ports 44, 46, 48, 50. Those skilled in the art realize that the feed ports 44, 46, 48, 50 of the preferred embodiment also define a circle shape with each feed port 44, 46, 48, 50 about equidistant along a periphery of the circle shape from adjacent feed ports 44, 46, 48, 50 and a diameter equal to the diagonals of the square shape. For ease in labeling, the feed ports 44, 46, 48, 50 are assigned sequentially counter-clockwise around the square or circle shape, staring in the upper left. For example, if the feed port 43 in the upper, left-hand corner of the square shape is the first feed port 44, then the second feed port 46 is in the lower, left-hand corner, the third feed port 48 is in the lower, right-hand corner, and the fourth feed port 50 is in the upper, right-hand corner.
Preferably, the antenna 20 also includes at least one phase shift circuit 51 for shifting the phase of a base signal. The base signal is provided to a low noise amplifier (LNA) 25 and/or a receiver 26 from the antenna 20. Alternatively, where the antenna 20 is used to transmit, the base signal is provided by a transmitter (not shown). The base signal, since it is not phase shifted, may be referred to as being offset by zero degrees (0°).
In the first embodiment, as shown in
Preferably, the plurality of feed ports 43 are spaced apart from one another such that the radiating element 30 is excitable at the feed ports 43 to generate a circularly polarized radiation beam solely in a higher order mode at a desired frequency. Said another way, the circularly polarized radiation beam is not generated in a fundamental mode, but only in the higher order mode. That is, the operating mode of the antenna 20 consists of a higher order mode. The higher order mode is preferably a transverse magnetic mode. More preferably, the higher order mode is a TM22 mode. However, those skilled in the art realize that the other higher order modes besides the TM22 mode may achieve acceptable results. Furthermore, in other embodiments, the radiation beam may also be generated in both the higher order and fundamental modes.
Generating the circularly polarized radiation beam solely in a higher order mode is accomplished due to the application of the base signal and the phase-shifted signals to the radiating element 30 along with the spacing of the feed ports 43 with respect to one another. In the first and second embodiments, each side of the square shape defined by the feed ports 44, 46, 48, 50 measures about 16.6 mm. Said another way, each feed port 44, 46, 48, 50 is separated from two other feed ports 44, 46, 48, 50 by about 16.6 mm, and consequently, separated from the diagonally-opposed feed port 44, 46, 48, 50 by about 23.5 mm. These measurements are dependent on the desired operating frequency of the antenna 20, which, in the preferred embodiment, is about 2.338 GHz. Within the teaching of the present invention, the dimensions may be modified by one skilled in the art for alternative operating frequencies.
In the first and second embodiments, when the radiation beam is generated, a null is established in the LHCP radiation beam at an axis perpendicular to the radiating element 30. Said another way, the pattern of the radiation beam shows a null in the broadside direction as is shown in
Referring again to
In both the first and second embodiments, the feed line network 58 is also utilized to shift the phase of a signal applied to the feed lines 36, 38, 40, 42, thus, acting as the phase shift circuits 51 described above. This phase shifting is accomplished due to the inductive and capacitive properties of the conductive strips 59 of the feed line network 58. The inductive and capacitive properties of the conductive strips 59 are determined by the impedance and length of each conductive strip 59. The impedance of each conductive strip 59 is determined by the frequency of operation, the width of each conductive strip 59, the dielectric constant of the first dielectric layer 60, and the distance between the conductive strips 59 and the ground plane 32.
In the described embodiments, a conductive strip 59 width of about 1/60 of the effective wavelength yields an impedance of about 70.71 ohms and a width of about 1/35 of the effective wavelength yields an impedance of about 50 ohms.
The feed line network 58 shown in
The antenna 20 may also include at least one parasitic structure 66 for further directing and/or tilting the radiation beam. Referring now to
As stated above, the radiating element 30 defines a generally rectangular shape and preferably a square shape. The radiating element 30, therefore, defines fours sides: a first side 68, a second side 70, a third side 72, and a fourth side 74. These sides 68, 70, 72, 74 are sequentially situated around the radiating element 30 such that the first side 68 is disposed opposite the third side 72 and the second side 70 is disposed opposite the fourth side 74. The numbering of the sides 68, 70, 72, 74 is done for convenience purposes only to assist with relationship between the radiating element 30, parasitic structures 66, and other components of the antenna 20. Those skilled in the art realize other ways of labeling the sides of the radiating element 30.
The at least one parasitic structure 66 may be implemented as a first parasitic structure 76 and a second parasitic structure 78. The first parasitic structure 76 is disposed adjacent one of the sides 68, 70, 72, 74 of the radiating element 30 and the second parasitic structure 78 disposed adjacent another of the sides 70, 72, 74, 68 of the radiating element 30. In the third embodiment, the first parasitic structure 76 is disposed adjacent the first side 68 and the second parasitic structure 78 is disposed adjacent the second side 70. The strips 67 of the third embodiment are disposed spaced from and substantially parallel to one another. The strips 67 preferably have a length about equal to a length of each side 68, 70, 72, 74 of the radiating element 30.
In a fourth embodiment, as shown in
Referring now to
In the third and fourth embodiments, the at least one phase shift circuit 51 is implemented as the first phase shift circuit 52. The first phase shift circuit 52 shifts the base signal by about 90 degrees to produce the first phase-shifted signal. The first phase shift circuit 52 is electrically connected to the second feed line 38 and provides the first phase-shifted signal to the second feed port 46. As shown in
Referring to
Those skilled in the art realize that many of the Figures are not drawn to scale. This is particularly evident in the cross-sectional representations of the various embodiments of the antenna 10 in
The present invention has been described herein in an illustrative manner, and it is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Obviously, many modifications and variations of the invention are possible in light of the above teachings. The invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described within the scope of the appended claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/868,436, filed Dec. 4, 2006.
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