ES2204035T3 - ANTENNA OF MULTIPLE STACKED TRAJECTS. - Google Patents

Abstract

A radiator plate (10) for use in a phase antenna system, comprising: a lower dielectric layer (20) having a ground plane (22) disposed on an exposed surface, which has first-way transitions and second (24a, 24b) formed through the lower dielectric layer; and a stacked disc radiator (80) comprising a dielectric pad (62) having an active radiator (64) formed on an upper surface, an upper dielectric layer (60) adjacent to the active radiator, an adjacent passive radiator (6) to the upper dielectric layer; characterized by: a coupling circuit layer (30) adjacent to the lower dielectric layer, comprising 90 degree hybrid coupler circuits (32, 33), coupled respectively to the first and second path transitions: a balun layer (50 ) adjacent to the coupling circuit layer, comprising upper and lower ground planes (52, 54) formed on opposite surfaces, 180 degree hybrid coupler circuits (53), a plurality of selectively connected RF transitions (47) between the 180 degree hybrid coupler circuits and the 90 degree hybrid coupler circuits, and a plurality of radiator-to-RF transitions (56) coupled to the 180 degree hybrid coupler circuits; a plurality of ground paths (55) that interconnect the lower and upper ground planes of the balun layer, a plurality of ground paths (34) that interconnect the lower ground plane of the balun layer stem, the ground plane of the lower dielectric layer, and a plurality of ground tracks (57) that surround each of the radiator to RF transitions; whose radiator (80) of stacked discs is adjacent to the balun layer, and by a pair of excitation probes (63) is coupled between the radiator transitions to RF and the active radiator.

Description

Antenna of multiple stacked paths.

The present invention relates to a platelet of radiator for use in a phase antenna system, which it comprises a lower dielectric layer that has a plane of land arranged on an exposed surface, and transitions of first and second path formed through the dielectric layer lower; a stacked disc radiator comprising a tablet dielectric that has an active radiator formed on a upper surface, an upper dielectric layer adjacent to the active radiator, and a passive radiator adjacent to the layer superior dielectric.

The present invention also relates to a antenna that has a plurality of radiator platelets integrated supported each other to form an antenna system directive, and each integrated radiator plate comprises a layer lower dielectric having a ground plane arranged on an exposed surface and first and second transitions tracks formed through the lower dielectric layer, a radiator of stacked discs comprising a dielectric tablet having an active radiator formed on an upper surface, a layer upper dielectric adjacent to the active radiator, and a radiator passive adjacent to the upper dielectric layer.

Said radiator plate and said antenna are known from US 5,880,694.

The document GB-A-2 261 118 describes a antenna combination for simultaneous communication with a satellite geostationary and a satellite in polar orbit. Antenna design it comprises a concentric stacking of circular discs and circularly polarized ring mounted radiators, mounted on a metallic reflection surface arranged horizontally by means of a central metal body. The uppermost resonator is fed by means of a conductor coaxial eccentrically through a central body, so that two orthogonal fundamental modes stimulated in phase quadrature In addition, the remaining resonators are configured as annular radiators, and are stimulated in more mode high through a printed supply network between the resonator lower and flat reflection surface, and by means of Four supply cables.

This document refers to a combination of antenna that provides two radiation characteristics simultaneously. A hemispherical feature is provided for communication with satellites in orbit, while a characteristic with zero position in the zenith direction is provided for communication with geostationary satellites (from European area). This document highlights that a combination of orthogonal modes advantageously provides a good decoupling of the two antenna systems, and that the system of antenna according to this document allows a good decoupling of two channels, a channel assigned to a geostationary satellite and the other assigned to a satellite with any desired orbit.

The present invention relates, in general, to a system of antennas in phase, and more particularly, to systems of low profile and flat phase antenna, which use radiators overlapping discs.

The assignee of the present invention has investigated the development of antenna systems in phase of frequency exceeds high, for use in various radar applications and of communications. Typical applications for such systems Antennas in phase exceeds high frequency systems include underwater communication, communications systems based on Earth, radar systems, satellite communication systems, and Similar.

To this end, the assignee of the present invention has developed several phase antenna systems that use disc radiator openings. U.S. Pat. number. 5,745,079, entitled "Stacked scanning disc radiators Wide / double band on stacking dielectric posts phase antenna systems ", provides an antenna that works over an octave bandwidth. U.S. Pat. number. 5,880,694 entitled "Antenna system in phase, scanning broad, broadband, low profile, and flat, which uses a stacked disc radiator, "provides an antenna that offers excellent performance while maintaining a low profile and flat.

Documents addressed to previous developments, which lead to the present invention. A publication of the International Impossible IEEE AP-S 1996, in Antimorales, Blandeare, pages. 1150 to 1153, titled "Phase antenna system radiator, circularly polarized, wide scan, broadband, and low profile, "exposes the subject matter contained in the document US-A-5,745,079 (patent application from the USA Serial No. 08 / 678,383). Another Impossible publication International IEEE 1997 in Entreacto, Canada, pages. 702 to 704, titled "Antenna system in phase, wide scan, band wide, low profile, and flat, which uses disc radiator stacked ", exposes the subject matter contained in the patent from the USA number. 5,880,694. The present invention constitutes a improvement of the invention described in US Pat. nº 5,880,694. Therefore, it is advantageous to have an element of enhanced antenna that allows the construction of antenna systems in phase, broad exploration, broadband, low profile, and flat.

Accordingly, an objective of the present invention is to provide an improved antenna element that can be used to build antenna systems in phase, profile Low and flat. Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved antenna that uses disk radiator elements stacked compact

This objective is achieved by the platelet of radiator mentioned at the beginning, which comprises a layer of coupling circuit adjacent to the lower dielectric layer, which in turn comprises 90 degree hybrid coupler circuits coupled respectively to the first and second transitions via; a balun layer adjacent to the circuit layer of coupling, which comprises lower ground planes and upper formed on opposite surfaces, coupler circuits 180 degree hybrids, a plurality of RF transitions selectively connected between hybrid coupler circuits 180 degree and 90 degree hybrid coupler circuits, and a plurality of radiator to RF transitions coupled to the 180 degree hybrid coupler circuits; a plurality of ground roads that interconnect the lower ground planes and top of the balun layer, a plurality of grounding paths that interconnect the lower ground plane of the layer rod balun to the ground plane of the lower dielectric layer, and a plurality of ground roads that surround each of the transitions from radiator to RF; in which the stacked disc radiator is arranged adjacent to the balun layer, and a pair of probes of excitation are coupled between radiator transitions to RF and  The active radiator.

This objective is also achieved through a antenna mentioned at the beginning, in which each radiator plate It is like the one mentioned in the preceding paragraph.

For the achievement of the exposed and other objectives, the present invention provides a phase antenna system circularly polarized, wide scan, and width of very wide frequency band, which uses radiator platelets integrated comprising stacked disc radiators. The present invention comprises a disk radiator configuration stacked in which the lower active radiator is powered by a pair of probes for each linear polarization, and a passive radiator It is separated from the active radiator by a dielectric material. The stacked disc radiator is integrated with its circuits Power in a very compact and versatile package. The integration of the stacked disc radiator and its power circuits Multicaule compacts are described here. Circuits of Power supply may include combines energy, circuits 90º hybrid couplers and hybrid coupler circuits 180º that couple double linear or double circular polarized energy to, and from, disc radiators.

The present invention can be used in ground-based communications systems, on board ships, of aircraft, radar, and satellite, working using broadband, broadband scanning antenna systems, with double linear or double circular polarization. Platelets integrated stacked disc radiator are ideal for use in applications of compliant phase antenna systems. In addition to provide broadband and broadband scanning performance, the Integrated radiator platelets are flat, low profile, and light weight, and can be produced inexpensively using printed circuit technology, and its form factor It allows systems to be easily maintained. Usually, integrated radiator platelets allow many applications compliant and platelet system architectures.

The present invention integrates the radiator (of stacked discs) with their power circuits. The package resulting, or integrated radiator plate, is very broadband (45% bandwidth), and provides a wide scan and good axial ratio (purity of circular polarization). The design of the integrated radiator plate provides diversity of Polarization. Therefore, the changing power circuits They can provide polarization capability, linear, double linear, and double circular.

The integrated radiator plate package is Compactly built, with the use of circuit technology Layered multilayer printing. Therefore, platelets Integrated radiator can be built so that they result Little expensive Dielectric materials that are stratified to produce the multi-layer integrated radiator plate They have comparable thermal expansion coefficients. Further, the use of the integrated radiator platelets of the present invention greatly improve the set and ability to maintenance of the antenna systems in phase that the employ

The power circuits and the number of circuit layers in the integrated radiator plate are function of the application in which said platelet is used. These aspects change depending on whether the plate has a linear or circular polarized configuration of whether the radiator of Stacked discs can be fed in block, if the design requires an external coaxial connected, and other similar details. The stacked disc radiator can provide a width of octave band The power circuits that excite the stacked disc radiator provide a means to get this octave bandwidth. The integrated radiator plate uses a bandwidth feed circuit that they are built in a compact way and integrated with the radiator of disks stacked in a low cost package. The bandwidth of power circuits and vertical RF transitions essentially determine the total bandwidth performance of the integrated radiator plate. Platelets have been built of integrated radiator that can cover a bandwidth of Four. Five%.

The various features and advantages of the The present invention can be more easily understood with reference to the detailed description that follows, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which the numbers of equal reference represent structural elements Similar. In these drawings:

- fig. 1 is an enlarged partial view of a cross section of an integrated radiator plate part, in accordance with the principles of the present invention, and that illustrates its construction in multiple layers;

- fig. 2nd illustrates a view from above enlarged of the integrated radiator plate of fig. one;

- fig. 2b illustrates a view from below enlarged of the integrated radiator plate of fig. one;

- fig. 3 illustrates an arrangement of power to get double circular polarization with use of the integrated radiator plate of fig. one;

- fig. 4 illustrates an exploded view of the multi-layer power circuit structure used in the integrated radiator plate of fig. one;

- fig. 5 illustrates the provision of Stacked disc radiator power used in the integrated radiator plate of fig. 1, which shows the layers internal circuit superimposed;

- fig. 5th shows a plan view of the Balun and modified patch layer of the hybrid coupler circuit 180º used in the integrated radiator plate of fig. one;

- fig. 6 is a guide simulator measurement of waves for the integrated radiator plate of fig. one;

- fig. 7 shows insertion loss resulting from the combined 90º and 180º hybrid circuits shown in fig. 3;

- fig. 9 shows the insertion phase resulting from the combined hybrid circuits 25 of 90º and 180º shown in fig. 3;

- fig. 9 shows the measured gain of embedded element of the integrated radiator plate of fig. one;

- fig. 10a shows an antenna system of 6 by 6 essay, built with the use of a plurality of integrated radiator platelets; Y

- fig. 10b shows the element pattern measured from a radiator platelet test antenna system 6 by 6 integrated.

With reference to the drawings, fig. 1 sample an enlarged partial view of a cross section of a part of an integrated radiator plate 10 in accordance with the principles of the present invention, and illustrating its construction of layers multiple. The integrated radiator plate 10 includes a plate ribbon line circuit 41 having a dielectric layer bottom 20 comprising a dielectric material 21 having a dielectric constant, for example, 3.27, and a ground plane conductive 22 disposed on an exposed surface thereof. Some connect first and second coaxial two 23 (such as, for For example, the SSMP commercial coaxial connectors are connected to the ground plane 22 by means of, for example, welding, and have a central plates 23a connected to conductive paths 24 formed through the lower dielectric layer 20, and each comprises a line of tape towards coaxial transitions 24 in the realization of the example. Alternatively, a unconnected design with a coaxial type structure (which include a push button or pin with outer dielectric shield) that It comes from below and makes direct contact with the 24 to RF tracks.

A layer 30 of 90 ° coupling circuit It is attached to the upper part of the lower dielectric layer 20. Layer 30 of the coupling circuit comprises circuits lower and upper 32, 33 formed on opposite sides of a dielectric layer 31. The lower and upper circuits 32, 33 comprise an intermediate layer of the coupling circuit layer 31 of 90º. First vertical transitions 24a connect the trace RF bottom 32 to a coaxial connected 23 through the layer lower dielectric 20. The other RF trace 33 connects the other coaxial connected 23 through the lower dielectric layer 20 and of the intermediate dielectric layer 31 by means of a second vertical transition of RF 24b. Vertical transitions 24a, 24b are substantially perpendicular to circuit board 41 of tape line, which helps produce a compact design and low profile.

The tape line circuit board 41 comprises an intermediate dielectric layer 40 made of a material dielectric 45, which has a dielectric constant, for example, of 3.4, and is arranged between layer 30 of the circuit coupling and a balun layer 50. Balun layer 50 has a plane of lower ground 52 formed on a surface adjacent to the intermediate dielectric layer 40, and an upper ground plane 54 formed on its upper surface. The balun layer 50 is composed of two dielectric substrates of which one, 59a, has the lower ground plane 52. The other dielectric substrate 59b it has the upper ground plane 54. A plurality of tracks 55 of ground connection are coupled between the lower ground planes and upper 52, 54 of the balun layer 50, and also around the RF pathways (i.e., tracks 24a, 47, 56, or 63). The plurality of Grounding paths 55 function to provide a section transverse coaxial type in the transition, and avoid the excitation of higher order modes. A plurality of ways of ground connection 34 are also coupled between the ground plane lower 52 of the balun layer 50 and the lower ground plane 22 arranged on the exposed surface of the dielectric layer bottom 20. The plurality of grounding tracks 34 serve for the same function as tracks 55 in relation to layer 50. The locations of the grounding tracks 55 are shown more clearly in fig. 5th.

Balun layer 50 comprises circuits 53 180º hybrid couplers, implemented through the use of modified retainer couplers 53a (fig. 5) Balun layer 50 has an upper ground plane 54 formed adjacent to a surface. A plurality of RF transitions 47 are coupled between the balun layer 50 and the respective line circuits of tape 32, 33 lower and upper. Transitions 47 are in vertical form, and are perpendicular to the circuit boards of tape line A plurality of RF transitions 56 are coupled between the hybrid coupler circuits 53 of 180 ° and the upper surface of the balun layer 50. A plurality of tracks 57 to earth surround each of the transitions 56 from radiator to RF, which they extend from the upper ground plane 54 to the plane of lower ground 52.

An upper dielectric layer 60 comprising a relatively low dielectric constant material, is arranged adjacent to the balun layer 50. The dielectric constant of the upper dielectric layer 60 is typically of the order, by example of 1.7. As material for said upper dielectric layer Emerson & Cuming Stycast can be used. The layer upper dielectric 60 may be made of a foam material of low dielectric constant.

In a preferred embodiment, the dielectric layer upper 60 has a plurality of cylindrical recesses 68 formed in it, within which a plurality of dielectric tablets 62. Said dielectric tablets 62 may be formed by using Roges TMM 3 dielectric material, which has a dielectric constant for example of 3.27. The arrangement of dielectric pads 62 in recesses 68 reduces the overall thickness of the integrated radiator plate 10. Do not However, it is understood that dielectric pads 62 do not they need to be arranged in recesses 68 and surrounded by dielectric material, but may be surrounded totally or partially, for example, by air dielectric.

The dielectric pads 62 have a radiator active 64 formed on its upper surfaces. The plurality of probes 63, comprising metallized tracks 63 formed at through dielectric pads 62, are coupled by a end to active radiator 64. The plurality of transitions 56 of Ribbon line radiator are coupled between circuits 180º hybrid couplers and 63 probes. The pickup dielectric 62 is surrounded by a dielectric material 61 that It has an approximate dielectric constant of 1.70.

A passive radiator 66, or a passive connection 66, are arranged on a top surface of the layer upper dielectric 60. Passive radiator 6 is separated from Active radiator 64 by dielectric material 61. The radiator active 64, the passive radiator 6, the dielectric pad 62, and the upper dielectric layer 60 of low dielectric constant, form a radiator 80 of stacked discs. A protective layer 70 is arranged on the upper surface of the dielectric layer upper 60 and passive radiator 6, to provide protection against the environment and improve impedance adaptation. A flat foam spacer can be arranged between the tablet dielectric 62 and protective cover 70. A plurality of tracks metallized 65 surround each of the probes 63, which function to control the radiation model of the disk radiator 80 stacked

Thus, in the example of realization of the present invention, the stacked disc radiator 80 is arranged on two tape line circuit boards stratified, containing the hybrid coupler circuits 30 of 90º and the circuits 53 of 180º hybrid coupler. Plate uppermost tape line circuit is the balun 50 layer, which it contains the circuits 53 of 180º hybrid coupler, and the plate The lower belt line circuit is the 41 layer circuit of coupling containing hybrid coupler circuits 32, 33 of 90º. However, it is understood that more than Two stratified ribbon line circuit boards, depending on of the application.

Fig. 2nd illustrates an enlarged top view, and fig. 2b an enlarged bottom view of the radiator plate integrated of fig. 1, respectively. Fig. 2nd shows the relative positions of each of the passive connections 66 covered by protective layer 70. The locations of the connects coaxial sensors 23 on the lower surface of the integrated radiator plate 10 are shown in fig. 2b A central through hole 75 is arranged through the platelet 10 integrated radiator, which is used to fix said plate 10 and is shown in both figures 2a and 2b. The invention is not limited. to a 2 x 2 platelet, and it could be any size.

They can also be implemented multiple power circuits, as in the case where the radiators They are fed in block. The figure shows a 2 x platelet 2. The plurality of radiators in a platelet depends on the manufacturing performance as well as the requirements of a specific application It is also possible to have designs without connect coaxial sensors 23.

Fig. 3 illustrates a power arrangement to achieve double circular polarization with the use of the integrated radiator plate 10 of fig. 1. A few ways metallized 63 serve as probes 63 for the disk radiator 80 stacked, and tracks 24, 47, 56 (shown in fig. 1) serve as interconnects vertical RF dores between the various layers of feeding.

The power arrangement produces both circular polarization senses. The four probes 63 of each platelet 10 of integrated radiator are excited in sequence of phase as shown in fig. 3. This can be achieved by feeding two orthogonal pairs of probes 63, with the use of the 180 ° hybrid coupler circuits 53, and combining the outputs with a hybrid coupler circuit 33 of 90º.

More specifically, the coupler circuit 33 90º hybrid receives 10 polarized excitation signals circularly to the left (LHCP), and circularly polarized to the right (RHCP). In the transmission mode, the outputs of 0º and 90º of circuit 33 of 90º hybrid coupler are coupled to the first and second 180 ° hybrid coupler circuits 53. respectively. The 0º output of the coupler circuit 33 90º hybrid feeds the first hybrid coupler circuit 53 180º, while the 90º output of coupler circuit 33 90º hybrid feeds the second hybrid coupler circuit 53 180º. The 0º and 180º outputs of the first circuit 53 of 180º hybrid coupler are coupled to probes 63 located at 0º and 180º, respectively. The 0º and 180º outputs of the second circuit 53 of 180 ° hybrid coupler are coupled to probes 63 located at 90 ° and 270 °, respectively. The double linear polarization can also be easily obtained by removal of the 90 ° hybrid coupler (and therefore, layer 41), taking the exit signs of 57.

Fig. 4 shows an exploded view of the multi-layer power circuit structure used in the integrated radiator plate 10 of fig. 1. Be show selected layers without apparent thicknesses, and they illustrate surface features of him. This fig. 4 sample that the radiator plate is built as a structure layered multilayer. Its dielectric materials are carefully chosen to have comparable coefficients of thermal expansion to ensure a successful stratification of the plates.

Figs. 5, 5a illustrate the scheme of Radiator feed 80 of stacked discs used in the integrated radiator plate 10 of fig. 1. Fig. 5 contains the layers of internal circuit superimposed. The scheme of Radiator power has a plurality of doors transmission 81 and a plurality of reception doors 82, which are coupled to coaxial connectors 23. The probe locations 63 below the radiators assets 64 and passive connections 66. In the end. 5 is shown the modified patch configuration of the coupler circuit 53rd hybrid of 180º. They are also shown in said fig. 5 the configurations of the 32, 33 tape line circuits of the Layer 30 coupling circuit, as well as the locations of transition from the 180º piece to the 90º coupler, which include the metallic tracks 47. All circuits (180º hybrids, 90º coupler, and vertical RF transitions) are designed for broadband performance. For the purposes of clarity, fig. 5th shows a plan view of the balun 50 layer and the patch modified from the 180º hybrid coupler circuit.

The integrated radiator plate 10 is configured as a 2 by 2 element subsystem, designed to be arranged directly in interface with module platelets transmission / reception (T / R). The total platelet thickness 10 of integrated radiator is approximately 10.2 mm, and also includes a mechanical support layer (not shown) behind the multiple layer Tape line feed. Radiation layers they constitute approximately half, 5.1 mm, of the general thickness of the integrated radiator plate 10. Eight connects coaxial dores 23 SSMP commercials are connected on the back side of the integrated radiator plate 10, and connect the outputs of the T / R module platelets (which also use dores of SSMP match). There are two connections 23 for each radiator 80 of stacked discs, which provides transmission and reception paths separated. The protective layer 70 seals the device against the medium environmental.

The modified scrap coupler 53a serves as balun for the radiator 80 of stacked discs, and provides the necessary 180º phase difference between the pair of probes 63. The Modified Retailer Couplers 53a are configured to use additional traces that increase the total bandwidth of the Conventional retailer coupler approximately 150 percent. Modification requires adding an additional loop to the ring of conventional piece of hybrid geometry, to increase the bandwidth performance. Two of the coupler circuits 53 180º hybrids are packed in a single line plate single layer tape, under each stacked disc radiator 80. Since the radiator plate contains four radiators, fig. 5th shows that layer 50 of 1800 for the 2 x 2 platelet has a total of 8 retaza couplers. The two outputs of the 180º hybrid circuits transition to hybrid circuits of 90º 32, 33 are located on the circuit board 30 of the lower coupler tape.

Fig. 6 shows a simulator measurement of waveguide for the integrated radiator plate 10 of fig. 1. A waveguide simulator was used to test the 10 plate integrated radiator and coupler circuits hybrids 53 of 180 °, and produced the results shown in fig. 6. The two traces shown in fig. 6 correspond to both orthogonal orientations of the radiator plate 10. These Results are entirely in accordance with the planned action. The best result was obtained between 7 and 9 GHz (-15 dB loss of return), with exploration action degrading at frequencies higher than those designed due to the large reticular separation selected for this application.

Fig. 7 shows insertion loss resulting from the combined hybrid circuits 41 and 50 of 90º and 180º shown in fig. 3. Fig. 8 shows the insertion phase measurement resulting from the combined hybrid circuits 41, 50 of 90º and 180º shown in fig. 3. Both figures show four traces, which correspond to the four outputs of the circuit combined (entry into a 24th track and four-way exit is assumed 56 of each radiator). The measured data shows a performance excellent, not less than 6º of the ideal in all the bandwidth frequency, except at the edges of the band where it degrades until about 14º.

The combined circuits provide both circular polarization senses. The four traces shown in fig. 7 followed each other very well. The two entries of the combined circuits (equal to the two circuit inputs hybrid 30 of 90º) coincide with the two outputs of the T / R module for each radiant element. The four circuit outputs combined (equal to the four outputs of the hybrid circuit of 180º) were transferred to the radiator 80 of disks stacked through of four metal probes 63 (interconnects vertical RF sensors). The measured loss of 1.6 days for the test circuits was next to the planned one, considering that a material with relatively hard losses (Roges R4003) for plates 30, 50 of tape line, and that there were three vertical transitions RF 24, 27, 56 in the multilayer circuit.

Fig. 9 shows the measured gain introduced in the element of the integrated radiator plate of fig. 1. This measured gain corresponds to the expected values, except for large oscillations due to the small opening size. The measured gain was approximately 2 dB, lower than the area gain due to mismatch and loss of
line.

A plurality of radiator platelets 10 integrated described above can be easily attached to each other to form an antenna system. Fig. 10th shows a system of test antenna 90 of 6 by 6, built by using a plurality of platelets 10 of integrated radiator. Fig. 10b shows the measured pattern of the introduced element of a system 90 6-by-6 test antenna, built with the use of platelets 10 radiator to validate the performance of the opening. The 10 integrated radiator platelets are designed to work from 7 GHz to 11 GHz. The element pattern entered is maintains well up to 45º in all flat cuts up to almost 9 GHz, which is in accordance with the predictions. Therefore the expected and measured performance of radiator plate 10 Integrated low profile and flat of the present invention, complies with the requirements of the applications of systems in phase compliant for radar and satellite communications systems, such as those developed by the assignee of this invention.

The passive radiator 6 is passively excited, and it is not fed directly by probes 63. In the presence of mutual coupling, the lower active radiator 64 is tuned to work in a lower frequency band while the Passive radiator 66 is tuned to higher frequencies. In consequently, the operating bandwidth of the platelet 10 of Integrated radiator is extended to cover the bands of lower and upper frequency. The two pairs of probes 63 provide double linear polarization capability and polarization circular. More particularly, the polarization of the platelet 10 of Integrated radiator can be simple linear, double linear, or circular, depending on whether a pair or two pairs of are excited probes 63.

The parameters for an embodiment example of the integrated radiator plate are as follows. The separation between each of the radiators 80 from stacked discs can be 11.8 mm in rectangular pendulum. The dielectric tablet 62 may have a dielectric constant of 3.27, a diameter of 13.6 mm, and a thickness of 3 mm. The dielectric material 61 may surround the pad 62, and has an approximate dielectric constant of 1.70, and a thickness of 1.5 mm over the pad 62. The lower active disk radiator 64 may have a diameter of 13.6 mm , and the upper passive radiator 66 may have a diameter of 8.1 mm. The protective layer can have an average dielectric constant of 2.56, and a thickness of 1.5 mm. The separation between each pair of probes can be
8.4 mm

It is understood that the power circuits and the number of circuit layers in the radiator plate 10 integrated may differ from the embodiment described here, depending on the application, that is, if the polarization is linear or circular, if the radiator 80 of stacked discs can be block fed, or if the design requires, for example, a connected external coaxial. Radiator 80 of stacked disks used in the integrated radiator plate 10 can provide an octave bandwidth. The power circuits here described that excite the radiator 80 of stacked discs they provide the means to achieve this bandwidth of eighth. The integrated radiator plate 10 uses circuits of compactly constructed bandwidth feed, and which are integrated with the radiator 90 of disks stacked in a low cost package. The bandwidth of the circuits of power and vertical RF transitions determine essentially the overall bandwidth performance in the 10 plate integrated radiator. These platelets 10 have been constructed so that they can cover a bandwidth of Four. Five%.

Thus, platelets of integrated low profile radiator, comprising radiators stacked discs for use in phase antenna systems. I know understand that the described embodiment is simply illustrative of some of the many specific embodiments that represent applications of the principles of the present invention. Clearly it is appreciated that numerous other provisions can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (17)

1. A radiator plate (10) for use in a phase antenna system, comprising: - a lower dielectric layer (20) having a ground plane (22) arranged on an exposed surface, which It has first and second track transitions (24a, 24b) formed through the lower dielectric layer; Y - a radiator (80) of stacked discs that It comprises a dielectric tablet (62) having a radiator active (64) formed on a top surface, a layer upper dielectric (60) adjacent to the active radiator, a radiator passive (6) adjacent to the upper dielectric layer; characterized by: - a layer (30) of coupling circuit adjacent to the lower dielectric layer, which comprises about 90 degree hybrid coupler circuits (32, 33), coupled respectively to the first and second path transitions: - a balun layer (50) adjacent to the layer of coupling circuit, comprising ground planes upper and lower (52, 54) formed on opposite surfaces, 180 degree hybrid coupler circuits (53), a plurality of  RF transitions (47) selectively connected between circuits 180 degree hybrid couplers and coupler circuits 90 degree hybrids, and a plurality of transitions (56) of RF radiator coupled to 180 hybrid coupler circuits degrees; - a plurality of ground roads (55) that interconnect the lower and upper ground planes of the layer balun, a plurality of ground roads (34) that interconnect the lower ground plane of the balun layer stem, the plane of ground of the lower dielectric layer, and a plurality of pathways of earth (57) surrounding each of the radiator transitions to RF; - whose radiator (80) of stacked discs is adjacent to the balun layer, and by a couple of probes of excitation (63) is coupled between radiator transitions to RF and the active radiator. 2. The platelet of claim 1, characterized by a protective cover covering the passive radiator (66) and the upper dielectric layer (60). 3. The platelet of claims 1 or 2, characterized by first and second coaxial connectors (23) coupled to the ground plane (22), and having central plates (23a) coupled to the first and second transitions (24a, 24b). 4. The platelet of claims 1 or 2, characterized by coaxial structures without connectors, coupled to the ground plane (22) and the first and second transitions (24a, 24b). 5. The platelet of any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the 180 degree hybrid coupler circuits (53) comprise modified patch couplers (53a). The platelet of any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by a plurality of grounding paths (34) coupled between the lower ground plane (52) of the balun layer (50) and the ground plane (22) arranged on the exposed surface of the lower dielectric layer (20), a plurality of grounding paths (55) coupled between the lower and upper grounding planes (52, 54) of the balun layer, and a plurality of grounding paths arranged in around the RF tracks. The platelet of any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the upper dielectric layer (60) surrounds the dielectric tablet (62), and said dielectric tablet is arranged in a recess (68) formed in the upper dielectric layer. The platelet of any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by a flat foam spacer disposed between the dielectric tablet (62) and the protective cover (70). 9. The platelet of claim 7, characterized in that the upper dielectric layer (60) surrounding the dielectric tablet (62) comprises a dielectric material having a dielectric constant equal to that of said dielectric tablet. 10. The platelet of any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the dielectric tablet (62) is totally surrounded by air dielectric. 11. The platelet of any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the dielectric tablet (62) is partially surrounded by air dielectric. 12. The platelet of any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the coupling circuit layer (30) and the balun layer (50) both produce circular polarization directions. 13. The platelet of any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the coupling circuit layer (30) and the balun layer (50) produce a double linear polarization. 14. The platelet of any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the coupling circuit layer (30) and the balun layer (50) selectively produce both directions of circular polarization or double linear polarization. 15. The platelet of any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the upper dielectric layer (60) comprises a relatively low dielectric constant material, relative to the dielectric constant of the balun layer (50). 16. The platelet of any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the dielectric materials comprising the dielectric pellet (62), the balun layer (50), and the coupling circuit layer (41) of 90 degrees, have a similar thermal expansion coefficient. 17. An antenna (90) having a plurality (10) of radiator platelets supported by each other and forming a system, whose radiator plate includes: - a lower dielectric layer (20) having a ground plane (22) arranged on an exposed surface, and that It has first and second way transitions (24a, 24b) formed through the lower dielectric layer; - a radiator (80) of stacked discs that It comprises a dielectric tablet (62) having a radiator active (64) formed on a top surface, a layer upper dielectric (60) adjacent to the active radiator, a radiator passive (66) adjacent to the upper dielectric layer; characterized in that each radiator plate comprises: - a layer (30) of coupling circuit adjacent to the lower dielectric layer, which comprises about 90 degree hybrid coupler circuits (32, 33) coupled respectively to the first and second way transitions; - a balun layer (50) adjacent to the layer of coupling circuit, comprising ground planes lower and upper (52, 54) formed on opposite surfaces, 180 degree hybrid coupler circuits (53), a plurality of RF transitions (47) selectively connected between the 180 degree hybrid coupler circuits and circuits 90 degree hybrid couplers, and a plurality of transitions (56) from radiator to RF coupled to hybrid coupler circuits 180 degrees; - a plurality of ground roads (55) that interconnect the lower and upper ground planes of the layer balun, a plurality of dirt roads (34) that interconnect the lower ground plane of the balun layer rod, the plane of ground of the lower dielectric layer, and a plurality of pathways to earth (57) surrounding each of the radiator transitions to RF; - whose radiator (80) of stacked discs is arranged adjacent to the balun layer, and by a pair of probes of excitation (63) is coupled between radiator transitions to RF and the active radiator.