Antenna system with spatial filtering surface

1. An antenna system comprising:

a ground plane;

a plurality of antenna elements forming an antenna array; and

a substantially planar spatial filtering surface positioned adjacent the antenna array through which electromagnetic radiation to or from the antenna array passes, said spatial filtering surface comprising a substantially planar dielectric substrate, a plurality of spaced, geometric configured, resonant elements printed on the dielectric substrate and configured and spaced from each other to have a resonant frequency to filter an electromagnetic field at a selected frequency with respect to an angle of incidence to the dielectric substrate, and a dielectric filler positioned between, above and below each resonant element printed on the dielectric substrate and forming a substantially planar spatial filtering surface, wherein a spatial filter taper transform is imparted when electromagnetic radiation passes therethrough and a standing wave is created between the ground plane and/or antenna and spatial filtering surface.

2. An antenna system according to claim 1 , wherein said resonant elements are formed by a plurality of wire elements printed on the dielectric substrate.

3. An antenna system according to claim 2 , wherein said wire elements are configured as hexagons.

4. An antenna system according to claim 1 , and further comprising a metallic layer disposed on the dielectric layer, and wherein said resonant elements are formed am geometric configured slots within the metallic layer.

5. An antenna system according to claim 4 , wherein said geometric configured slots are formed as hexagons.

6. An antenna system according to claim 1 , wherein said dielectric substrate comprises a plurality of dielectric layers.

7. An antenna system according to claim 1 , and further comprising a dielectric layer overlying said resonant elements.

8. An antenna system according to claim 7 , wherein said dielectric layer overlying said resonant elements comprises a plurality of dielectric layers.

9. An antenna system according to claim 1 , wherein said filler comprises an adhesive film.

10. An antenna system according to claim 1 , wherein said filler is formed from an air gap between, above and below resonant elements.

11. An antenna system according to claim 1 , wherein said spatial filtering surface is formed as a multilayer layer spatial filtering surface comprising a plurality of spaced dielectric substrates each forming a spatial filtering surface layer having the resonant elements printed thereon.

12. An antenna system according to claim 11 , wherein an air gap is formed between said spatial filtering surface layers.

13. An antenna system according to claim 11 , and further comprising a dielectric layer positioned between said spatial filtering surface layers.

14. An antenna system according to claim 11 , wherein the distance between spatial filtering surface layers, the dielectric constant of dielectric substrates and permeability of dielectric substrates are chosen to impart a desired spatial filter surface taper transform.

15. A multilayer spatial filtering surface used with an antenna system comprising:

a substantially planar dielectric substrate forming a spatial filtering surface layer and having a plurality of spaced, geometric configured, resonant elements printed on the substantially planar dielectric substrate and configured and spaced from each other to have a resonant frequency to filter an electromagnetic field at a selected frequency with respect to an angle of incidence to the dielectric substrate, and a dielectric filler positioned between, above and below each resonant element printed on the dielectric substrate to form a substantially planar spatial filtering surface, wherein a spatial filter surface taper transform is imparted thereto when electromagnetic radiation passes therethrough.

16. A multilayer spatial filtering surface according to claim 15 , wherein an air gap is formed between said spatial filtering surface layers.

17. A multilayer spatial filtering surface according to claim 15 , and further comprising a dielectric layer positioned between said spatial filtering surface layers.

18. A multilayer spatial filtering surface according to claim 15 , wherein the distance between spatial filtering surface layers, the dielectric constant of dielectric substrates, and permeability of dielectric substrates are chosen to aid in imparting a desired spatial filter surface taper transform.

19. A multilayer spatial filtering surface according to claim 15 , wherein said resonant elements are formed by a plurality of wire elements printed on the dielectric substrate.

20. A multilayer spatial filtering surface according to claim 19 , wherein said wire elements are configured as hexagons.

21. A multilayer spatial filtering surface according to claim 15 , and further comprising a metallic layer disposed on the dielectric layer, and wherein said resonant elements are formed as geometric configured slots within the metallic layer.

22. A multilayer spatial filtering surface according to claim 21 , wherein said geometric configured slots are formed as hexagons.

23. A multilayer spatial filtering surface according to claim 15 , wherein said dielectric substrate comprises a plurality of dielectric layers.

24. A multilayer spatial filtering surface according to claim 15 , and further comprising a dielectric layer overlying said resonant elements.

25. A multilayer spatial filtering surface according to claim 24 , wherein said dielectric layer overlying said resonant elements comprises a plurality of dielectric layers.

26. A multilayer spatial filtering surface according to claim 15 , wherein said filler comprises an adhesive film.

27. A multilayer spatial filtering surface according to claim 15 , wherein said filler is formed from an air gap between, above and below resonant elements.

28. A spatial filtering surface used with an antenna system comprising:

a substantially planar dielectric substrate;

a plurality of spaced, geometric configured, resonant elements printed on the dielectric substrate and configured and spaced from each other to have a resonant frequency to filter an electromagnetic field at a selected frequency with respect to an angle of incidence to the dielectric substrate; and

a dielectric filler positioned between each resonant element printed on dielectric substrate and forming a substantially planar spatial filtering surface, wherein a spatial filter taper transform is imparted when electromagnetic radiation passes therethrough.

29. A spatial filtering surface according to claim 28 , wherein said resonant elements are formed by a plurality of wire elements printed on the dielectric substrate.

30. A spatial filtering surface according to claim 29 , wherein said wire elements are configured as hexagons.

31. A spatial filtering surface according to claim 28 , and further comprising a metallic layer disposed on the dielectric layer, and wherein said resonant elements are formed as geometric configured slots within the metallic layer.

32. A spatial filtering surface according to claim 31 , wherein said geometric configured slots are formed as hexagons.

33. A spatial filtering surface according to claim 28 , wherein said dielectric substrate comprises a plurality of dielectric layers.

34. A spatial filtering surface according to claim 28 , and further comprising a dielectric layer overlying said resonant elements.

35. A spatial filtering surface according to claim 34 , wherein said dielectric layer overlying said resonant elements comprises a plurality of dielectric layers.

36. A spatial filtering surface according to claim 28 , wherein said filler comprises an adhesive film.

37. A spatial filtering surface according to claim 28 , wherein said filler is formed from an air gap between resonant elements.