1. Field of the Invention
The subject invention relates to an antenna, specifically a microstrip patch antenna, for receiving and/or transmitting a circularly polarized radio frequency (RF) signal.
2. Description of the Related Art
Patch antennas for receiving circularly polarized RF signals are well known in the art. One example of such an antenna is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,270,722 (the '722 patent) to Delestre. The '722 patent discloses an antenna including a first radiating layer and a second radiating layer disposed substantially parallel to and apart from each other. Each radiating layer is almost square in shape but two opposite sides are slightly concave (with the other two opposite sides being straight). The second radiating layer is rotated 90° with respect to the first radiating layer such that the concave sides of the second radiating layer align with the straight sides of the first radiating layer, and vice versa. A first transmission line is connected to a center of one of the straight sides of the first radiating layer and a second transmission line is connected to a center of one of the straight sides of the second radiating layer. Because two sides of the second radiating layer are concave, the first transmission line may approach the first radiating layer perpendicularly without coming into contact with the second radiating layer.
Although the antenna of the '722 patent can receive and/or transmit circularly polarized RF signals, the antenna requires a pair of transmission lines to feed the antenna. There remains an opportunity for a patch antenna having two radiating layers which requires only one transmission line.
The subject invention provides an antenna including a first radiating layer defining at least one perturbation feature. A second radiating layer is disposed substantially parallel to and apart from the first radiating layer. The second radiating layer defines at least one perturbation feature. The antenna further includes a feed line layer disposed substantially parallel to the radiating layers, apart from the radiating layers, and between the radiating layers. The feed line layer allows for connection of a single transmission line to the antenna and for electromagnetically connecting the radiating layers to the transmission line.
The antenna of the subject invention allows transmission of RF signals to a receiver and/or from a transmitter with only the single transmission line. This single transmission line implementation provides cost savings and a reduction in complexity over prior art antennas. Obviously, this advantage will provide greater use of circular-polarized antennas having a pair of radiating layers to receive RF signals from satellites.
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, an antenna is shown generally at 10. In the preferred embodiment, the antenna 10 is utilized to receive a circularly polarized radio frequency (RF) signal from a satellite. Those skilled in the art realize that the antenna 10 may also be used to transmit the circularly polarized RF signal. Specifically, the preferred embodiment of the antenna 10 receives 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, it is to be understood that the antenna 10 may also receive a right-hand circularly polarized (RHCP) RF signal. Furthermore, the antenna 10 may also be utilized to transmit or receive a linearly polarized RF signal.
Referring to
In the preferred embodiment, the nonconductive pane 16 is implemented as at least one pane of glass 18. Of course, the window 12 may include more than one pane of glass 18. Those skilled in the art realize that automotive windows 12, particularly windshields, may include two panes of glass sandwiching a layer of polyvinyl butyral (PVB).
The pane of glass 18 is preferably automotive glass and more preferably soda-lime-silica glass. The pane of glass 18 defines a thickness between 1.5 and 5.0 mm, preferably 3.1 mm. The pane of glass 18 also has a relative permittivity between 5 and 9, preferably 7. Those skilled in the art, however, realize that the nonconductive pane 16 may be formed from plastic, fiberglass, or other suitable nonconductive materials.
Referring now to
The antenna 10 includes a first radiating layer 20 defining at least one perturbation feature 22. In the preferred embodiment, the first radiating layer 20 is disposed on the nonconductive pane 16. The first radiating layer 20 is also commonly referred to by those skilled in the art as a “patch” or a “patch element”. The first radiating layer 20 is formed of an electrically conductive material. Preferably, the first radiating element comprises a silver paste as the electrically conductive material disposed directly on the nonconductive pane 16 and hardened by a firing technique known to those skilled in the art. Alternatively, the first radiating layer 20 could comprise a flat piece of metal, such as copper or aluminum, adhered to the nonconductive pane 16 using an adhesive.
The antenna 10 also includes a second radiating layer 24 also defining at least one perturbation feature 22. The second radiating layer 24 is disposed substantially parallel to and apart from the first radiating layer 20. Like the first radiating layer 20, the second radiating layer 24 is also commonly referred to by those skilled in the art as a “patch” or a “patch element” and is formed of an electrically conductive material.
The first and second radiating layers 20, 24 each include a periphery and a center. The periphery of the first and second radiating layers 20, 24 may define one of many shapes. For example, the first and second radiating layers 20, 24 may define circular shapes, as shown in
The at least one perturbation feature 22 of each of the first and second radiating layers 20, 24 causes a “disturbance” in an electromagnetic field radiated by the radiating elements. The perturbation features 22 may be embodied in various quantities, configurations, shapes, and positions. Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
The at least one perturbation feature 22 of the radiating layers 20, 24 defines at least one dimension corresponding to a desired frequency range and axial ratio of the RF signal being received and/or transmitted. Preferably, the axial ratio of the antenna 10 is about 0 dB, such that horizontal polarization and vertical polarization are about equivalent.
Referring to
Referring again to
The antenna 10 also includes a feed line layer 28 disposed substantially parallel to the radiating layers 20, 24, apart from the radiating layers 20, 24, and between the radiating layers 20, 24. The feed line layer 28 allows for connection of a single transmission line 30. Thus, the feed line layer 28 electromagnetically connecting both radiating layers 20, 24 to the transmission line 30 such that both radiating layers 20, 24 can be fed by the single transmission line 30. Therefore, the complexity and cost of the antenna 10 is reduced from a prior art antenna 10 requiring a pair of transmission lines 30.
In the preferred embodiment, referring to
The coplanar wave guide 32 is preferably rectangular shaped and most preferably square shaped. The first region 36 is preferably rectangular shaped having a proximate end and a distal end. The distal end of the first region 36 is preferably disposed above/below a center of the first and second radiating layers 20, 24. Of course, those skilled in the art realize other suitable shapes and dimensions for the coplanar wave guide 32. Furthermore, the shapes and dimensions of the coplanar wave guide 32 may be adjusted to tune the antenna 10 for optimizing impedance matching and other performance characteristics.
In the preferred embodiment, the antenna 10 includes a ground plane layer 44. The ground plane layer 44 is disposed substantially parallel to the radiating layers 20, 24 and separated from the first radiating layer 20 and the feed line layer 28 by the second radiating layer 24. Said another way, the ground plane layer 44 is disposed underneath the radiating layers 20, 24 and furthest away from the nonconductive pane 16. The ground plane layer 44 assists in directing the RF signal towards the radiating element (when receiving) or away from the radiating elements (when transmitting).
Referring again to
The dielectric layers 46, 48, 50 are formed of nonconductive materials and isolate the radiating layers 20, 24, feed line layer 28, and ground plane layer 44 from each other. Therefore, the radiating layers 20, 24, feed line layer 28, and ground plane layer 44 are not electrically connected to one another by an electrically conductive material. Those skilled in the art realize that the dielectric layers 46, 48, 50 could be formed of a non-conductive fluid, such as air.
The dielectric layers 46, 48, 50 may each have the same relative permittivity. Additionally, the three dielectric layers 46, 48, 50 may be formed of a single piece of dielectric material having a uniform relative permittivity. Alternatively, each of the dielectric layers 46, 48, 50 may have different relative permittivities. Furthermore, each dielectric layer may be non-uniform, i.e., having a different relative permittivity at different points along the dielectric layer.
In the preferred embodiment, the feed line layer 28 is sized and positioned such that an edge extends past edges of the first and second dielectric layers 46, 48, as shown in
The antenna, in one implementation of the preferred embodiment, is configured for operation at a resonant frequency of about 2,338 MHz, which corresponds to the center frequency used by XM® Satellite Radio. Those skilled in the art realize that the antenna 10 may be configured for other implementations, which correspond to different applications in different frequency ranges. For example, the antenna 10 may be configured for electronic toll collection applications in the 5.8 GHz band.
In the one implementation, each radiating layer 20, 24 is square-shaped with opposite corners truncated, as is shown in
The feed line layer 28 of the one implementation of the preferred embodiment is also square-shaped with each side having a length of about 60 mm. As stated above, the feed line layer is implemented as a coplanar wave guide 32. The slot 34 extends about 30 mm into the coplanar wave guide 32 from one of the sides and has a width of about 0.2 mm. The first region 36 defines a width of about 4.5 mm. The radiating layers 20, 24 and the feed line layer 28 are centered with respect to one another, such that a distal end of the first region 36 is centered with respect to the radiating layers 20, 24.
The ground plane layer 44 of the one implementation is also square-shaped with each side having a length of about 60 mm Each dielectric layer 46, 48, 50 of the one implementation has a thickness of about 1.6 mm, a loss tangent of 0.0022, and a relative permittivity of 2.6. The overall thickness of the antenna 10 measures about 4.8 mm.
The one implementation of the antenna 10 provides excellent performance at the desired resonant frequency of 2,338 MHz. The antenna 10 provides a maximum return loss of 23.7 dB at the desired resonant frequency. Furthermore, the LHCP gain of the antenna is 4.5 dBic while the RHCP gain, which is undersired, is −21.1 dBic. The axial ratio of the one implementation measures 1.36 dB at 2,338 MHz.
The antenna 10 may be integrated in an antenna module (not shown) along with other RF devices (not shown), such as an amplifier (not shown). The amplifier may be in close proximity to and/or directly connected to the feed line layer 28 of the antenna 10 to generate an amplified signal. Therefore, the amplified signal will be less susceptible to RF noise and interference than non-amplified signals, providing a less error-prone signal to the receiver.
Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present 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.
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