Conformal frequency-agile tunable patch antenna
View Patent ↗A tunable patch antenna is described herein that includes a ground plane on which there is located a substrate and on which there is located a patch. The patch is split into two parts (e.g., rectangular parts) which are connected to one another by one or more voltage-tunable series capacitors. Each part has a radiating edge which is connected to one or more voltage-tunable edge capacitors. Also described herein, is a method for electronically tuning the tunable patch antenna to any frequency within a band of operation which is in a range of about 30% of the center frequency of operation.
1. A tunable patch antenna comprising:
a ground plane;
a substrate; and
a patch which is located on said substrate which is located on said ground plane, said patch includes:
at least two parts that are connected to one another by at least one voltage-tunable series capacitor; and
said at least two parts each has a radiating edge connected to at least one voltage-tunable edge capacitor.
2. The tunable patch antenna of claim 1 , wherein said tunable patch antenna has a tuning range of about 30% of the center frequency of operation, because:
said at least one voltage-tunable series capacitor stores some of the magnetic field energy associated with said patch; and
said at least one voltage-tunable edge capacitor stores some of the electrical field energy associated with said patch.
3. The tunable patch antenna of claim 1 , wherein said patch receives a DC bias voltage and a radio frequency signal and then emits a beam having one of the following radiation patterns:
an omni-directional radiation pattern;
a vertically polarized radiation pattern;
a linear polarized radiation pattern;
a circular polarized radiation pattern; or
an elliptical polarized radiation pattern.
4. The tunable patch antenna of claim 1 , wherein each voltage-tunable series capacitor and each voltage-tunable edge capacitor is made in part from a tunable voltage tunable dielectric material.
5. The tunable patch antenna of claim 1 , wherein a said tunable patch antenna has a shape that conforms to an arbitrary curved support surface.
6. The tunable patch antenna of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of said tunable patch antennas are used to form a tunable patch array antenna.
7. A method for tuning a frequency of a tunable patch antenna, said method comprising the steps of:
applying a radio frequency signal to said tunable patch antenna, wherein said tunable patch antenna includes:
a ground plane;
a substrate; and
a patch which is located on said substrate which is located on said ground plane, said patch includes:
at least two parts that are connected to one another by at least one voltage-tunable series capacitor; and
said at least two parts each has a radiating edge connected to at least one voltage-tunable edge capacitor; and
applying a DC bias voltage to said at least one voltage-tunable series capacitor and said at least one voltage-tunable edge capacitor to tune the frequency of the tunable patch antenna.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein said tunable patch antenna has a frequency tuning range of about 30% of the center frequency of operation, because:
said at least one voltage-tunable series capacitor stores a portion of the magnetic field energy associated with said patch; and
said at least one voltage-tunable edge capacitor stores a portion of the electrical field energy associated with said patch.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein said tunable patch antenna is capable of emitting a beam having one of the following radiation patterns:
an omni-directional radiation pattern;
a vertically polarized radiation pattern;
a linear polarized radiation pattern; or
a circular/elliptical polarized radiation pattern.
10. The method of claim 7 , wherein each voltage-tunable series capacitor and each voltage-tunable edge capacitor is made in part from a tunable voltage tunable dielectric material.
11. A radio comprising:
a transmitter; and
a receiver, wherein said transmitter and said receiver each are attached to one or more tunable patch antennas, each tunable patch antenna includes:
a ground plane;
a substrate; and
a patch which is located on said substrate which is located on said ground plane, said patch includes:
at least two parts that are connected to one another by at least one voltage-tunable series capacitor; and
said at least two parts each has a radiating edge connected to at least one voltage-tunable edge capacitor.
12. The radio of claim 11 , wherein each tunable patch antenna has a tuning range of about 30% of the center frequency of operation, because:
said at least one voltage-tunable series capacitor stores some of the magnetic field energy associated with said patch; and
said at least one voltage-tunable edge capacitor stores some of the electrical field energy associated with said patch.
13. The radio of claim 11 , wherein said patch receives a DC bias voltage and a radio frequency signal and then emits a beam having one of the following radiation patterns:
an omni-directional radiation pattern;
a vertically polarized radiation pattern;
a linear polarized radiation pattern; or
a circular/elliptical polarized radiation pattern.
14. The radio of claim 11 , wherein each voltage-tunable series capacitor and each voltage-tunable edge capacitor is made in part from a tunable voltage tunable dielectric material.
15. The radio of claim 11 , wherein:
said transmitter is attached to a plurality of said tunable patch antennas that form a tunable patch array antenna; and
said receiver is attached to a plurality of said tunable patch antennas that form a tunable patch array antenna.
16. A tunable patch antenna comprising:
a ground plane;
a substrate; and
a patch which is located on said substrate which is located on said ground plane, said patch includes:
a first part and a second part that are connected to one another by at least one voltage-tunable series capacitor;
said first part has a radiating edge connected to at least one voltage-tunable edge capacitor each of which is connected to physical ground;
said second part has a radiating edge connected to at least one voltage-tunable edge capacitor each of which are connected to RF ground;
wherein a radio frequency signal is applied to said first part and/or said second part of said patch; and
wherein a DC bias voltage is also applied to said at least one voltage-tunable series capacitor and said at least one voltage-tunable edge capacitor in order to tune the frequency of the tunable patch antenna.
17. The tunable patch antenna of claim 16 , wherein said tunable patch antenna has a tuning range up to 30% of the center frequency of operation, because:
said at least one voltage-tunable series capacitor stores some of the magnetic field energy associated with said patch; and
said at least one voltage-tunable edge capacitor stores some of the electrical field energy associated with said patch.
18. The tunable patch antenna of claim 16 , wherein said patch emits a beam having one of the following radiation patterns:
an omni-directional radiation pattern;
a vertically polarized radiation pattern;
a linear polarized radiation pattern; or
a circular/elliptical polarized radiation pattern.
19. The tunable patch antenna of claim 16 , wherein each voltage-tunable series capacitor and each voltage-tunable edge capacitor is made in part from a tunable voltage tunable dielectric material.
20. The tunable patch antenna of claim 16 , wherein a said tunable patch antenna has a shape that conforms to an arbitrary curved support surface.
21. The tunable patch antenna of claim 16 , wherein a plurality of said tunable patch antennas are used to form a tunable patch array antenna.
22. A tunable patch antenna comprising:
a ground plane;
a substrate; and
a patch which is located on said substrate which is located on said ground plane, said patch includes:
a first part and a second part that are connected to one another by at least one pair of voltage-tunable series capacitors that are connected to physical ground;
said first part has a radiating edge connected to at least one voltage-tunable edge capacitor each of which is connected to physical ground;
said second part has a radiating edge connected to at least one voltage-tunable edge capacitor each of which is connected to physical ground;
wherein a radio frequency signal is applied to said first part and/or said second part of said patch; and
wherein a DC bias voltage is also applied to said at least one voltage-tunable series capacitor and said at least one voltage-tunable edge capacitor in order to tune the frequency of the tunable patch antenna.
23. The tunable patch antenna of claim 22 , wherein said tunable patch antenna has a tuning range of 30% of the center frequency of operation, because:
said at least one pair of voltage-tunable series capacitors stores some of the magnetic field energy associated with said patch; and
said at least one voltage-tunable edge capacitor stores some of the electrical field energy associated with said patch.
24. The tunable patch antenna of claim 22 , wherein said patch emits a beam having one of the following radiation patterns:
an omni-directional radiation pattern;
a vertically polarized radiation pattern;
a linear polarized radiation pattern; or
a circular/elliptical polarized radiation pattern.
25. The tunable patch antenna of claim 22 , wherein each pair of voltage-tunable series capacitors and each voltage-tunable edge capacitor is made in part from a tunable voltage tunable dielectric material.
26. The tunable patch antenna of claim 22 , wherein a said tunable patch antenna has a shape that conforms to an arbitrary curved support surface.
27. The tunable patch antenna of claim 22 , wherein a plurality of said tunable patch antennas are used to form a tunable patch array antenna.