High efficiency, broadband, trapped antenna system

摘要

The invention provides an efficient, broadband, antenna system for RF communications. The benefits of the invention include: a single integrated system for total band coverage; high system efficiency across the operating band; multiple instantaneous transmit and receive signal capability; and simple mechanical assemblies. The invention includes various configurations of multiple transceivers connected to a set of RF filters and associated impedance matching networks which are used to excite a plurality of trapped antenna elements. The new antenna system, offers control over the antenna's directivity and the antenna's driving point impedance by using sub-band systems as defined by a series of RF filters and traps which divide the physical antenna elements into various radiating lengths. Continuous coverage over the entire frequency band of interest is achieved by using different physical antenna elements for adjacent sub-bands. The utilization of sub-bands reduces the impedance matching network requirements and helps to more efficiently radiate energy over the entire frequency band of interest. The resultant higher antenna system efficiencies allow for moderate and feasible performance specifications for transmitters, receivers, and matching network components.