Patent Application
20230282984
The subject matter herein relates generally to antennas.
Antennas are used in many applications, such as cellular communication applications. For example, Fabry-Perot cavity antennas, lens/reflector antennas, or array antennas are used for high gain antenna applications, such as 5G cellular or mmWave applications. In some applications, microstrip patch antennas are used due to compact design and compatibility with PCB manufacturing. However, each radiating element of the microstrip patch antenna needs to be fed individually, requiring complicated and often lossy feed networks. Additionally, isolation between radiating elements needs to be managed, typically with larger element-to-element spacing. Conventional patch antenna designs have natural limits in terms of gain for a given size or compactness for required gain.
A need remains for a compact, high gain broadband antenna.
In one embodiment, an antenna assembly is provided and includes a metasurface antenna unit including a radiating structure, a feeding structure coupled to the radiating structure, and a grounding structure between the radiating structure and the feeding structure. The radiating structure includes radiating elements arranged in an m×n grid of m rows of radiating elements and n columns of radiating elements, where n is greater than m. The radiating elements are separated by radiating slots with edges of the radiating elements facing each other across the radiating slots. The grounding structure includes a ground plane having a coupling aperture therethrough. The feeding structure includes a single strip feedline for feeding the radiating elements. The strip feedline passes across the coupling aperture and feeds the radiating structure through the coupling aperture. At least one of the radiating elements is fed through at least one other radiating element across the corresponding radiating slot.
In another embodiment, an antenna assembly is provided and includes a plurality of metasurface antenna units forming an antenna annular around an antenna pocket. The metasurface antenna units include first and second horizontal polarity metasurface antenna units on opposite sides of the antenna pocket and first and second vertical polarity metasurface antenna units on opposite sides of the antenna pocket. Each metasurface antenna unit includes a radiating structure, a feeding structure coupled to the radiating structure, and a grounding structure between the radiating structure and the feeding structure. The radiating structure includes radiating elements arranged in an m×n grid of m rows of radiating elements and n columns of radiating elements, where n is greater than m. The radiating elements are separated by radiating slots with edges of the radiating elements facing each other across the radiating slots. The grounding structure includes a ground plane having a coupling aperture therethrough, and the feeding structure includes a single strip feedline for feeding the radiating elements. The strip feedline passes across the coupling aperture and feeds the radiating structure through the coupling aperture. At least one of the radiating elements is fed through at least one other radiating element across the corresponding radiating slot. First and second subsets of the radiating elements of the first horizontal polarity metasurface antenna unit are shared with corresponding radiating elements of the first and second vertical polarity metasurface antenna units. First and second subsets of the radiating elements of the second horizontal polarity metasurface antenna unit are shared with corresponding radiating elements of the first and second vertical polarity metasurface antenna units.
In a further embodiment, an antenna assembly is provided and includes an antenna substrate having a radiating substrate at an upper portion of the antenna substrate and a feeding substrate at a lower portion of the antenna substrate. The antenna substrate includes a first quadrant, a second quadrant, a third quadrant, and a fourth quadrant. The antenna assembly includes a first antenna annular in the first quadrant, a second antenna annular in the second quadrant, a third antenna annular in the third quadrant, and a fourth antenna annular in the fourth quadrant. Each of the antenna annulars include a plurality of metasurface antenna units forming a square annular around an antenna pocket. The metasurface antenna units include first and second horizontal polarity metasurface antenna units on opposite sides of the antenna pocket and first and second vertical polarity metasurface antenna units on opposite sides of the antenna pocket. Each metasurface antenna unit includes a radiating structure, a feeding structure coupled to the radiating strcture, and a grounding structure between the radiating structure and the feeding structure. The radiating structure includes radiating elements arranged in an m×n grid of m rows of radiating elements and n columns of radiating elements, where n is greater than m. The radiating elements are separated by radiating slots with edges of the radiating elements facing each other across the radiating slots. The grounding structure includes a ground plane having a coupling aperture therethrough, and the feeding structure includes a single strip feedline for feeding the radiating elements. The strip feedline passes across the coupling aperture and feeds the radiating structure through the coupling aperture. At least one of the radiating elements is fed through at least one other radiating element across the corresponding radiating slot. First and second subsets of the radiating elements of the first horizontal polarity metasurface antenna unit are shared with corresponding radiating elements of the first and second vertical polarity metasurface antenna units. First and second subsets of the radiating elements of the second horizontal polarity metasurface antenna unit are shared with corresponding radiating elements of the first and second vertical polarity metasurface antenna units.
In an exemplary embodiment, the metasurface antenna unit 200 is received in a cover cavity 104 of the cover 102. The cover cavity 104 is formed by an upper cover 106 and a lower cover 108. The lower cover 108 includes a base wall 110 and side walls 112. The upper cover 106 is supported by the side walls 112. In an exemplary embodiment, the upper cover 106 is spaced apart from the metasurface antenna unit 200 by a gap 114. The gap 114 may be an air gap. The size of the gap 114 affects operation and performance of the metasurface antenna unit 200. In various embodiments, the lower cover 108 may include one or more choke cavities 116 at the base wall 110 to control operation and performance of the metasurface antenna unit 200.
The metasurface antenna unit 200 includes a radiating structure 202, a feeding structure 204 coupled to the radiating structure 202, and a grounding structure 206 between the radiating structure 202 and the feeding structure 204. The radiating structure 202 includes a plurality of radiating elements 210, also known as mushroom cells, arranged in an m×n grid of m rows of radiating elements 210 and n columns of radiating elements 210. The rows of radiating elements 210 extend in an X direction (H-plane) and the columns of radiating elements extend in a Y direction (E-plane). In an exemplary embodiment, n is greater than m. For example, n may be greater than twice m. Providing a greater number of radiating elements 210 in the E-plane forms an electrically large antenna element. The metasurface antenna unit 200 forms a composite right/left-handed (CRLH) antenna element that may perform well in dual-mode operation. In the illustrated embodiment, the radiating structure 202 includes three rows of the radiating elements 210 and eight columns of the radiating elements 210. The radiating structure 202 may include greater or fewer rows and/or greater or fewer columns in alternative embodiments. The metasurface antenna unit 200 includes the array of radiating elements 200 (for example, mushroom cells). The radiating elements 200 provide a CRLH dispersion relation having an increased number of radiating elements 200 in the E-plane (thus the length of the antenna element in E-plane) to achieve high gain over a desired operating band. The aperture coupling of the radiating structure 202 is used to excite the metasurface antenna unit 200 with dual operating modes, achieving broad bandwidth with a low profile.
Edges 212 of the radiating elements 210 face each other across radiating slots 214. The radiating elements 210 are capacitively coupled to each other across the radiating slots 214. The antenna signals are fed across the radiating structure 202 from radiating element 210 to radiating element 210 by capacitive coupling, such as to a single feed location. For example, at least one of the radiating elements 210 is fed through at least one of the radiating elements 210 across the corresponding radiating slot 214. As such, each radiating element 210 does not include a separate feed element from the feeding structure 204. The feeding network can be greatly simplified by such feeding arrangement of the metasurface antenna unit 200. In an exemplary embodiment, the metasurface antenna unit 200 has a central feed location and the antenna signals are fed outward from column to column and/or row to row. The whole metasurface structure radiates to operate the antenna at the global resonance of the whole metasurface structure.
In an exemplary embodiment, the metasurface antenna unit 200 is a layered structure. The metasurface antenna unit 200 includes an antenna substrate 220 having a plurality of layers. The antenna substrate 220 includes a radiating substrate 222 at an upper portion 224 of the antenna substrate 220 and a feeding substrate 226 at a lower portion 228 of the antenna substrate 220.
Circuits may be printed on one or more layers of the antenna substrate 220. The radiating structure 202 may include one or more circuits. For example, the radiating structure 202 may include traces, pads, vias, planes, or other types of circuits. In an exemplary embodiment, the radiating elements 210 are circuits printed on the upper surface of the radiating substrate 222. The radiating substrate 222 may include one or more ground planes, such as at the upper surface and/or the lower surface and/or intermediate layers. The radiating substrate 222 may include plated vias extending through the radiating substrate 222. The grounding structure 206 may be formed on the radiating substrate 222 and/or the feeding substrate 226. For example, the grounding structure 206 may include one or more ground planes 230, such as a ground plane formed on the lower surface of the radiating substrate 222 or the upper surface of the feeding substrate 226. Alternatively, the grounding structure 206 may be a separate metal plate and/or printed circuit layer sandwiched within the antenna substrate stack. The feeding structure 204 may include one or more circuits. For example, the feeding structure 204 may include traces, pads, vias, planes, or other types of circuits.
In an exemplary embodiment, the radiating elements 210 are arranged in the array of rows and columns. Each radiating element 210 includes a pad 216 and a via 218 extending from the corresponding pad 216 through the radiating structure 202 to a ground plane, such as the ground plane 230. The radiating slots 214 separate the pads 216. In an exemplary embodiment, each pad 216 is rectangular having the edges 212 orthogonal to each other. Optionally, each pad 216 may be square having the edges 212 in the X direction and the Y direction having equal lengths. In an exemplary embodiment, the pads 216 are tightly packaged along the upper surface of the antenna substrate 220 with the edges 212 of adjacent radiating elements 210 parallel to each other and closely positioned across the radiating slots 214. The radiating elements 210 may be strongly capacitively coupled to each other to allow the antenna signals to feed from one radiating element 210 to the next radiating element 210 along the surface of the antenna substrate 220. The tight spacing of the radiating elements 210 form a capacitive feeding network along the radiating structure 202. Widths of the radiating slots 214 may be selected to control the efficiency of the capacitive feeding network. Optionally, the widths of each of the radiating slots 214 may be the same and uniform. Alternatively, the widths of the radiating slots 214 may differ between various rows and/or columns of the radiating elements 210. In an exemplary embodiment, the vias 218 may be centered relative to the pads 216. However, in alternative embodiments, at least some of the vias 218 may be offset from the center of the pads 216. The vias 218 may be offset in the X direction and/or the Y direction relative to the center of the pads 216. The vias 218 may be offset to control radiation patterns of the radiating elements 210, such as in the E-plane (containing the electric field vector) and/or the H-plane (containing the magnetic field vector). In an exemplary embodiment, the enlarged length of the radiating structure 202 in the E-plane (for example, greater number of radiating elements in the X direction than the Y direction) contributes to high gain.
The grounding structure 206 includes the ground plane 230. Optionally, the ground plane 230 may cover the entire antenna substrate 220. The ground plane 230 may be a printed circuit. Alternatively, the ground plane 230 may be a film or plate coupled to the antenna substrate 220. In an exemplary embodiment, the ground plane 230 is planar and parallel to the surface of the radiating elements 210. In an exemplary embodiment, the grounding structure 206 includes a coupling aperture 232 through the ground plane 230. The coupling aperture 232 is an opening through the ground plane 230. The coupling aperture 232 extends from a first end 234 to a second end 235. The coupling aperture 232 is electrically large and affects the antenna characteristics of the antenna element. The coupling aperture 232 forms an opening to allow the antenna signals between the feeding structure 204 and the radiating structure 202. In an exemplary embodiment, the grounding structure 206 includes a via cavity 236 of vias 238 through the metasurface structure. The vias 238 extend between the ground planes 230, such as an upper ground plane and a lower ground plane. The via cavity 236 surrounds the coupling aperture 232. The via cavity 236 of vias 238 control the antenna signaling through the coupling aperture 232. The via cavity 236 of vias 238 provide shielding around the coupling aperture 232.
The feeding structure 204 includes a strip feedline 240 for feeding the antenna signals for the metasurface antenna unit 200. In an exemplary embodiment, the feeding structure 204 includes a single strip feedline 240 for the metasurface antenna unit 200. The strip feedline 240 is formed by a trace circuit along a layer of the feeding substrate 226. The strip feedline 240 is configured to be aligned with the coupling aperture 232 such that the strip feedline 240 bypasses or traverses across the coupling aperture 232. In an exemplary embodiment, the strip feedline 240 extends perpendicular to the coupling aperture 232. For example, the strip feedline 240 extends in the X direction. The strip feedline 240 extends to an input port 242. A feed cable may be electrically connected to the strip feedline 240 at the input port 242. For example, the feed cable may be soldered to the input port 242. In an exemplary embodiment, the feeding structure 204 includes a ground plane 244 at a bottom of the feeding substrate 226. The ground plane 244 is parallel to the ground plane 230. In an exemplary embodiment, the feeding structure 204 includes a via cavity 246 of vias 248 through the feeding substrate 226. The via cavity 246 surrounds the strip feedline 240. For example, the strip feedline 240 is located inside the via cavity 246. The vias 248 are electrically connected between the ground plane 244 and the ground plane 230. The via cavity 246 of vias 248 provide shielding around the strip feedline 240. In an exemplary embodiment, the via cavity 246 suppresses undesired higher order modes and parallel plate modes in the strip feedline 240. The via cavity 246 may block edge diffraction and undesired residents for a lower backward radiation. In the illustrated embodiment, the input port 242 is located exterior of the via cavity 246.
In an exemplary embodiment, the antenna element 300 is a compact, high gain, broadband antenna. The antenna element 300 has a low profile. The antenna element 300 provides a compact arrangement of the radiating elements 210. The compact arrangement allows a single strip feedline 240 to excite the array of radiating elements 210 (for example, 3×8 array) forming the single radiating structure 202, which greatly simplifies the feed network design and insertion losses. The radiating elements 210 in the metasurface antenna unit 200 are extending in a radiating direction (for example, the array may be elongated in the Y-direction, such as in the E-plane) to achieve high gain. The antenna element 300 forms a broadband antenna from a single feed. In an exemplary embodiment, the antenna element 300 has broad bandwidth from two resonant modes (for example, TMio and antiphase TM20 modes). In the illustrated embodiment, the metasurface antenna unit 200 has a large electrical aperture of 0.625λ×1.675λ and a low profile of 0.03λ.
In an exemplary embodiment, the metasurface antenna unit 200 has a non-uniform design to control the radiation performance. For example, the metasurface antenna unit 200 may be tuned to improve half-power beamwidth (HPBW), sidelobe level (SLL), front-to-back ratio (FBR), and directivity/gain. The radiation pattern may be controllable with great freedom by changing physical characteristics of the radiating structure 202, the feeding structure 204, and the ground structure 206. For example, a smaller center radiating slot width can be used to achieve the higher FBR and directivity, and narrower HPBW in the E-plane. Radiating slot offsets and/or via offsets can be used for improved antenna directivity, FBR, and SLL in the E-plane. A via wall (plurality of spaced apart vias) may be added around the perimeter of the metasurface antenna unit 200 to increase the gain and improve the operation of the metasurface antenna unit 200.
In various embodiments, the radiating substrate 222 may be manufactured from a different material compared to the feeding substrate 226. For example, the radiating substrate 222 may be manufactured from a dielectric material having a different dielectric constant compared to the feeding substrate 226. The different dielectric materials may have different thermal expansion characteristics, which could cause warping of the metasurface antenna unit 200 if laminated together. As such, an air gap may be provided between the radiating substrate 222 and the feeding substrate 226 in various embodiments.
The radiating structure 202 includes the radiating elements 210 arranged along an upper surface of the radiating substrate 222. The radiating elements 210 are formed from the pads 216 with the radiating slots 214 therebetween. The vias 218 extend from the corresponding pad 216 through the radiating structure 202 to the ground plane 230. Widths of the radiating slots 214 may be selected to control the efficiency of the capacitive feeding network.
The grounding structure 206 includes the ground plane 230. The coupling aperture 232 is an opening through the ground plane 230 that allows the antenna signals between the feeding structure 204 and the radiating structure 202. Optionally, the coupling aperture 232 may be aligned with one of the radiating slots 214, such as at a center of the array of radiating elements 210. The antenna signals are fed from the feeding structure 204 to the center of the radiating structure 202 through the coupling aperture 232. Optionally, a width of the coupling aperture 232 may be approximately equal to the widths of the radiating slots 214. However, the width of the coupling aperture 232 may be wider than the widths of the radiating slots 214. The dimensions of the coupling aperture 232 are used for impedance matching.
The feeding structure 204 includes the strip feedline 240 for feeding the antenna signals for the metasurface antenna unit 200. In the illustrated embodiment, the strip feedline 240 is located at an internal layer of the feeding substrate 226. The strip feedline 240 traverses across the coupling aperture 232 (for example, located directly below the coupling aperture 232 and extending from one side of the coupling aperture 232 to another side of the coupling aperture 232). The feeding structure 204 includes the vias 248 electrically connected between the ground plane 244 and the ground plane 230. The via cavity 246 of the vias 248 surround the strip feedline 240 (for example, the strip feedline 240 extends with the via cavity 246). In the illustrated embodiment, the input port 242 is located exterior of the via cavity 246.
In an exemplary embodiment, the center radiating slot 214 forms a feeding radiating slot 214a. The feeding radiating slot 214a is configured to be aligned with the coupling aperture 232 (shown in
In an exemplary embodiment, the radiating slots 214 may be offset (for example, shifted left or right) by a slot offset (os) to vary widths of the radiating elements 210. In the illustrated embodiment, the metasurface antenna unit 200 is shown to includ offset radiating slots 214b, 214c. The radiating elements 210 on one side of the offset radiating slot is thus wider and the radiating elements 210 on the opposite sides of the offset radiating slot are narrower. Providing the slot offset may change the mode frequency of the antenna element, which may improve the SLL of the E-plane over a broad bandwidth. Providing the slot offset may increase antenna directivity and/or provide a wider HPBW in the E-plane and/or provide a lower FBR.
In an exemplary embodiment, the vias 218 may be offset (for example, shifted left or right) by a via offset (ov) to vary centerline spacings between various vias 218. In the illustrated embodiment, the metasurface antenna unit 200 is shown to include offset vias 218a, 218b, which changes centerline spacings between the vias 218 to one side of the offset vias 218a, 218b compared to the vias 218 to the other side of the offset vias 218a, 218b. Providing the via offset may change the mode frequency of the antenna element, which may improve the SLL of the E-plane over a broad bandwidth. Providing the via offset may increase antenna directivity and/or improve FBR.
In an exemplary embodiment, for the electrically large, nonuniform metasurface antenna unit, the smaller center radiating slot can be used to achieve the higher FBR and gain. The positive slot offset and negative via offset can be used to improve directivity and SLL in the E-plane.
The cover 102 includes the upper cover 106 and the lower cover 108 forming the cover cavity 104. The lower cover 108 includes choke cavities 116 at the base wall 110, such as along all four sides of the base wall 110, to control operation and performance of the metasurface antenna unit 200. The choke cavities 116 may be quarter wavelength choke cavities 116. The choke cavities 116 increase FBR.
In an exemplary embodiment, the structures of the metasurface antenna units 200 may be combined into combined structures. For example, the radiating structures 202, feeding structures 204, and grounding structures 206 of the multiple metasurface antenna units 200 are combined such that the antenna element 300 includes a single radiating structure 202 (for example, substrate and circuits), a single feeding structure 204 (for example, substrate and circuits), and a single grounding structure 206 (for example, circuit and/or plate and/or substrate).
The radiating structure 202 includes a plurality of radiating elements 210 arranged in grids or arrays. The radiating elements 210 are in rows and columns. In the illustrated embodiment, a plurality of the metasurface antenna units 200 (shown in
In an exemplary embodiment, the antenna element 300 is dual polarized achieved by the orthogonal arrangement of the metasurface antenna units 200 (four metasurface antenna units 200 arranged in the square annular 310). Each square annular 310 has two sets of coupling apertures for dual polarization. The square annulars 310 are repeated in each of the four quadrants to further increase the electrical size and achieve very high gain, such as 17dB gain. The antenna element 300 has four feed ports and a simplified feeding network for feeding the four square annulars 310. The feed ports are arranged along different sides of the antenna element 300 and have high port isolation. The feeding network is simplified due to the electrically large metasurface antenna element.
In various embodiments, the radiating substrate 222 may be manufactured from a different material compared to the feeding substrate 226. For example, the radiating substrate 222 may be manufactured from a dielectric material having a different dielectric constant compared to the feeding substrate 226. The radiating substrate 222 may be manufactured from a material having a lower dielectric constant. The dielectric materials may be different for enhanced electrical performance and/or lower cost of the antenna element 300. The different dielectric materials may have different thermal expansion characteristics, which could cause warping of the metasurface antenna unit 200 if laminated together. As such, an air gap may be provided between the radiating substrate 222 and the feeding substrate 226 in various embodiments to manage lamination warpage due to the difference in thermal expansion. Fasteners, such as screws, may be used to hold the assembly together.
The feeding structure 204 includes at least one strip feedline 240. In the illustrated embodiment, the same strip feedline 240 is used for both of the square annular antenna elements 302, 304. The grounding structure 206 includes the ground plane 230 having one of the coupling apertures 232 for each square annular antenna element 302, 304. The radiating structure 202 includes corresponding radiating elements 210 for each square annular antenna element 302, 304. The radiating elements 210 are formed from the pads 216 with the radiating slots 214 therebetween. The vias 218 extend from the corresponding pad 216 through the radiating structure 202 to the ground plane 230. The antenna signals are transmitted through the coupling aperture 232 between the strip feedline 240 and the radiating elements 210.
In an exemplary embodiment, the square annular 310 is used for dual linear polarization, such as horizontal polarization and vertical polarization. In other various embodiments, the square annular 310 is used for dual circular polarization, such as left-hand polarization and right-hand polarization. The first metasurface antenna unit 200a is a first horizontal polarity metasurface antenna unit 200a. The second metasurface antenna unit 200b is a second horizontal polarity metasurface antenna unit 200b. The third metasurface antenna unit 200c is a first vertical polarity metasurface antenna unit 200c. The fourth metasurface antenna unit 200d is a second vertical polarity metasurface antenna unit 200d.
In an exemplary embodiment, each metasurface antenna unit 200 includes overlapping regions 314, 316 and a non-overlapping region 318 between the overlapping regions 314, 316. For example, the first metasurface antenna unit 200a overlaps with the third metasurface antenna unit 200c and the fourth metasurface antenna unit 200d at the overlapping regions 314, 316 and the second metasurface antenna unit 200b overlaps with the third metasurface antenna unit 200c and the fourth metasurface antenna unit 200d at the overlapping regions 314, 316. The radiating elements 210 in the overlapping regions 314, 316 are shared. For example, the radiating elements 210 in the overlapping regions 314, 316 are radiated by both corresponding metasurface antenna units and thus have both horizontal polarization and vertical polarization. In the illustrated embodiment, the overlapping regions 314, 316 are 3×3 grid areas. The non-overlapping regions 318 are 3×2 grid areas between the overlapping regions 314, 316. In an exemplary embodiment, the non-overlapping regions 318 are centered along the metasurface antenna unit 200. In an exemplary embodiment, the feeding radiating slots 214a are centered within the non-overlapping regions 318, such as centered within the 3×2 grid area. The antenna signals are fed into the metasurface antenna units 200 at the feeding radiating slots 214a, such as at the centers of the 3×2 grid areas of the non-overlapping regions 318. The first and second horizontal polarity metasurface antenna units 200a, 200b are fed along the X-axis. The first and second vertical polarity metasurface antenna units 200c, 200d are fed along the Y-axis.
In an exemplary embodiment, the radiating slots 214 may be offset (for example, shifted left or right or up or down) to vary widths of the radiating elements 210. In various embodiments, the metasurface antenna unit 200 may include offset radiating slots. The radiating elements 210 on one side of the offset radiating slot is thus wider and the radiating elements 210 on the opposite sides of the offset radiating slot are narrower. Providing the slot offset may change the mode frequency of the antenna element, which may improve the SLL of the E-plane over a broad bandwidth. Providing the slot offset may increase antenna directivity and/or provide a wider HPBW in the E-plane and/or provide a lower FBR.
In an exemplary embodiment, the vias 218 may be offset (for example, shifted left or right or up or down) to vary centerline spacings between various vias 218. In the illustrated embodiment, the metasurface antenna unit 200 is shown to include offset vias 218a, 218b, which changes centerline spacings between the vias 218 to one side of the offset vias 218a, 218b compared to the vias 218 to the other side of the offset vias 218a, 218b. Providing the via offset may change the mode frequency of the antenna element, which may improve the SLL of the E-plane over a broad bandwidth. Providing the via offset may increase antenna directivity and/or improve FBR.
In an exemplary embodiment, for the electrically large, nonuniform metasurface antenna unit, the smaller center radiating slot can be used to achieve the higher FBR and gain. The positive slot offset and negative via offset can be used to improve directivity and SLL in the E-plane.
In an exemplary embodiment, each feeding circuit 250 includes a strip feedline 240 for each of the metasurface antenna units 200. The strip feedline 240 is configured to be located vertically below, and traverse across, the corresponding coupling aperture 232 (shown in
In an exemplary embodiment, the strip feedlines 240 associated with the first and second horizontal polarity metasurface antenna units 200a, 200b are fed from a common input and may be part of a common feed strip line. The strip feedlines 240 associated with the first and second vertical polarity metasurface antenna units 200c, 200d are fed from a common input and may be part of a common feed strip line.
In an exemplary embodiment, the feeding structure 204 includes a first horizontal feed input 260, a second horizontal feed input 262, a first vertical feed input 264, and a second vertical feed input 266. In an exemplary embodiment, each feed input 260, 262, 264, 266 feds multiple strip feedlines 240. The first horizontal feed input 260 feeds the strip feedlines 240 associated with the first and second antenna annulars 302, 304. The second horizontal feed input 262 feeds the strip feedlines 240 associated with the third and fourth antenna annulars 306, 308. The first vertical feed input 264 feeds the strip feedlines 240 associated with the second and third antenna annulars 304, 306. The second vertical feed input 266 feeds the strip feedlines 240 associated with the first and fourth antenna annulars 302, 308. In the illustrated embodiment, the first and second horizontal feed inputs 260, 262 are located at opposite sides of the feeding structure 204, such as the top and bottom and the first and second vertical feed input 264, 266 are located at opposite sides of the feeding structure 204, such as the right and left. The feed inputs 260, 262, 264, 266 branch outward at branch locations 270, such as T-junctions, to feed different square annular antenna elements 310 and/or metasurface antenna units 200. The feeding structure 204 has a simple feeding network for feeding many radiating elements. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, four feed inputs are provided feeding a total of two-hundred forty (240) radiating elements 210 (for example, each square annular 310 includes sixty radiating elements 210).
It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-described embodiments (and/or aspects thereof) may be used in combination with each other. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its scope. Dimensions, types of materials, orientations of the various components, and the number and positions of the various components described herein are intended to define parameters of certain embodiments, and are by no means limiting and are merely exemplary embodiments. Many other embodiments and modifications within the spirit and scope of the claims will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. In the appended claims, the terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and “wherein.” Moreover, in the following claims, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third,” etc. are used merely as labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on their objects. Further, the limitations of the following claims are not written in means-plus-function format and are not intended to be interpreted based on 35 U.S.C. § 112(f), unless and until such claim limitations expressly use the phrase “means for” followed by a statement of function void of further structure.
