Crossed-dipole antenna array structure

摘要

The invention is directed to a crossed-dipole antenna structure that, in one embodiment, is comprised of: (a) a first planar dielectric substrate with a feed portion and an antenna portion that supports a first dipole antenna and (b) a second planar dielectric substrate that supports a second dipole antenna or substantial portion of such an antenna. The first and second planar dielectric substrates are positioned substantially perpendicular to one another and so as to form a crossed-dipole antenna from the first and second dipole antennas. The feed portion of the first planar dielectric substrate is electrically and mechanically connected to the second planar substrate by a plurality of solder joints established in the corners defined by the intersections of the first and second planar dielectric substrates.

主权项

1. A crossed-dipole antenna array structure comprising:
a dipole card having a first dipole card surface, a second dipole card surface that is separated from and substantially parallel to the first surface, and a dipole card edge that extends between the first dipole card surface and the second dipole card surface and defines the lateral extent of the dipole card; wherein a reflector line defines the position of a reflector surface disposed adjacent to the dipole card and extends between a first location on the dipole card edge and a second location on the dipole card edge; wherein the dipole card includes an antenna portion that is located to one side of the reflector line and an antenna feed portion that is located to other side of the reflector line; wherein multiple dipole antennas are associated with the dipole card, located in the antenna portion of the dipole card, and extend outward from the first dipole card surface and/or second dipole card surface; a plurality of crossing dipole cards with each of the plurality of crossing dipole cards associated with one of the multiple dipole antennas of the dipole card; wherein each of the plurality of crossing dipole cards has a first crossing dipole card surface, a second crossing dipole card surface that is separated from and substantially parallel to the first crossing dipole card surface, and a crossing dipole card edge that extends between the first crossing dipole card surface and the second crossing dipole card surface and defines the lateral extent of the crossing dipole card; wherein each of the plurality of crossing dipole cards has at least a portion of a crossing dipole antenna that extends outward from the first crossing dipole card surface and/or second crossing dipole card surface; wherein each of the crossing dipole cards extends substantially perpendicular to the dipole card; wherein each of the at least a portion of a crossing dipole antenna associated with one of the crossing dipole cards is combined with one of the multiple dipole antennas associated with the dipole card to form a crossed-dipole antenna that is located on the same side of the reflector line as the antenna portion of the dipole card; wherein the plurality of crossed-dipole antennas form an array of crossed-dipole antennas; wherein each of crossing dipole cards and the dipole card define an intersection line and, when viewed from the same perspective and in a clockwise direction, consecutively define first, second, third, and fourth corners; wherein a plurality of electrical connections are established between each of the crossing dipole cards and the dipole card by multiple solder joints with each solder joint located in one of the first, second, third, and fourth corners; circuitry/electronics for processing an electrical signal to be provided to or received from each of the crossed-dipole antennas, the circuitry/electronics located in and/or on the antenna feed portion of the dipole card; a reflector with a reflector surface that extends along the reflector line; and a frame for supporting the dipole card, crossing dipole cards, and the reflector.