RF Receiving and transmitting apparatuses having a microstrip-slot log-periodic antenna
A log-periodic antenna having a layer of dielectric media interposed between a microstrip log-periodic portion and a slot log-periodic portion where an array of two or more log-periodic antennas that may be placed about vehicles, such as air vehicles, or mounted on stationary structures, such as communication towers.
1. A radio frequency (RF) receiving apparatus comprising:
an RF receiver and a plurality of antenna elements;
wherein a first antenna element of the plurality of antenna elements is a log-periodic antenna element comprising:
a slot log-periodic antenna portion in proximity to a microstrip log-periodic antenna portion, wherein a dielectric medium is interposed between the slot log-periodic antenna portion and the microstrip log-periodic antenna portion.
2. The RF receiving apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a vehicle.
3. The RF receiving apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the vehicle is an air vehicle having a fuselage.
4. The RF receiving apparatus of claim 3 , wherein each antenna element of the plurality of antenna elements is disposed conformally about the fuselage in an annular array.
5. The RF receiving apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising an air vehicle lifting surface wherein at least one antenna element is conformally disposed on the lifting surface.
6. The RF receiving apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a communications tower having a mast.
7. The RF receiving apparatus of claim 6 , wherein each antenna element of the plurality of antenna elements is disposed in an annular ring about the mast.
8. The RF receiving apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a human-portable User interface.
9. A radio frequency (RF) receiving apparatus of claim 1 ,
wherein a first antenna element of the plurality of antenna elements has a first phase center oriented in a first direction; and
wherein the plurality of antenna elements further comprises a second antenna element, proximate to the first antenna element, having a second phase center oriented in a second direction substantially opposite the first direction, the second antenna element is a log-periodic antenna element comprising:
a second slot log-periodic antenna portion in planar proximity to a second microstrip log-periodic antenna portion, wherein the dielectric medium is interposed between the second slot log-periodic antenna portion and the second microstrip log-periodic antenna portion.
10. The RF receiving apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising a vehicle.
11. The RF receiving apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the vehicle is an air vehicle having a fuselage.
12. The RF receiving apparatus of claim 11 , wherein each element of the plurality of elements is disposed conformally about the fuselage in an annular array.
13. The RF receiving apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising an air vehicle lifting surface wherein at least one element is conformally disposed on the air vehicle lifting surface.
14. The RF receiving apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising a communications tower having a mast.
15. The RF receiving apparatus of claim 14 , wherein each antenna element of the plurality of antenna elements is disposed circumferentially about the mast.
16. The RF receiving apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising a human-portable user interface unit.
17. A radio frequency (RF) transmitting apparatus comprising:
an RF transmitter and a plurality of antenna elements;
wherein a first antenna element of the plurality of antenna elements is a log-periodic antenna element comprising:
a slot log-periodic antenna portion in proximity to a microstrip log-periodic antenna portion, wherein a dielectric medium is interposed between the slot log-periodic antenna portion and the microstrip log-periodic antenna portion.
18. The RF transmitting apparatus of claim 17 , further comprising a vehicle.
19. The RF transmitting apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the vehicle is an air vehicle having a fuselage.
20. The RF transmitting apparatus of claim 19 , wherein each antenna element of the plurality of antenna elements is disposed conformally about the fuselage in an annular array.
21. The RF transmitting apparatus of claim 19 , further comprising an air vehicle lifting surface wherein at least one antenna element is conformally disposed on the lifting surface.
22. The RF transmitting apparatus of claim 17 , further comprising a communications tower having a mast.
23. The RF transmitting apparatus of claim 22 , wherein each antenna element of the plurality of antenna elements is disposed circumferentially about the mast.
24. The RF transmitting apparatus of claim 17 , further comprising a human-portable user interface unit.