Compact, dual-polar broadband monopole

1. A radiating element comprising

a planar substrate having a top surface,

two microstrip surfaces mounted in a butterfly pattern on the top surface of the planar substrate, and

each microstrip surface folding over an edge of the planar substrate in a downwardly and a substantially perpendicular angle with respect to the top surface of the planar substrate.

2. The radiating element of claim 1 wherein

each microstrip surface extends along a 45 degree axis with respect to a principal antenna axis, and

each microstrip surface forms (a) two perpendicular first edges, proximate to the principal antenna axis, extending symmetrically about the 45 degree axis, (b) two perpendicular second edges, distally from the principal antenna axis, and (c) two non-parallel third edges, extending between the first edges and the second edges, respectively.

3. The radiating element of claim 2 wherein

each microstrip surface forms a rectangular portion that is folded over the edge of the planar substrate and extends from a respective second edge in a substantially perpendicular angle.

4. The radiating element of claim 1 wherein

the microstrip surfaces mounted on the top surface of the planar substrate are configured to operate in a first frequency band,

the microstrip surfaces folding over the edge of the planar substrate are configured to operate in a second frequency band, and

the second frequency band is lower than the first frequency band.

5. The radiating element of claim 1 wherein

each microstrip surface is configured to provide a polarized electric field component that is orthogonal to another polarized electric field component of the other microstrip surface.

6. The radiating element of claim 1 including

an RF launch point disposed adjacent to an end of each respective microstrip surface, and

a metallic plane oriented adjacent to the RF launch point and perpendicular to the microstrip surfaces,

wherein an RF image surface, substantially similar to each microstrip surface is formed in the same plane and perpendicular to the metallic plane.

7. The radiating element of claim 6 wherein

the metallic plane intersects mid-way between the end of each respective microstrip surface and an end of each respective RF image surface.

8. The radiating element of claim 1 including

a ground plane disposed opposite the planar substrate, and

a dielectric material sandwiched between the ground plane and the planar substrate.

9. The radiating element of claim 1 including

an RF launch point disposed adjacent to an end of each respective microstrip surface, and

an RF conductor having one end connected to the RF launch point and another end configured to receive or transmit radiation from each respective microstrip surface.

10. The radiating element of claim 9 including

a metallic strip connected to the RF conductor and extending in a direction away from the RF conductor,

wherein the metallic strip is configured to provide a capacitive impedance.

11. A radiating element comprising

a substrate, and

two radiating surfaces conformally mounted on the substrate,

wherein each of the radiating surfaces is of a triangular shape arranged to form a butterfly configuration, and

the radiating surfaces on the front face of the substrate are extended and orthogonally folded over respective edges of the substrate.

12. The radiating element of claim 11 wherein

the two radiating surfaces are orthogonal to each other.

13. The radiating element of claim 11 wherein

the two radiating surfaces are disposed on a front face of the substrate, and

an RF center conductor is orthogonally oriented toward a back face of the substrate, and connected to each of the two radiating surfaces for feeding an RF signal to or from the two radiating surfaces.

14. The radiating element of claim 11 wherein

the two radiating surfaces are disposed on the front face of the substrate,

a ground layer is disposed facing a rear face of the substrate, and

a dielectric layer is sandwiched between the ground layer and the substrate.

15. The radiating element of claim 11 including

RF center conductors oriented substantially perpendicular to the radiating surfaces, respectively, for feeding an RF signal to or from the radiating surfaces, and

a metallic strip orthogonally oriented with respect to a respective RF center conductor and attached to the respective RF center conductor for providing a capacitive impedance.

16. The radiating element of claim 11 including

a metallic surface disposed orthogonally to the radiating surfaces for providing an RF imaging plane for the radiating surfaces.

17. The radiating element of claim 11 including

multiple sets of two radiating surfaces conformally mounted on the substrate to form an array of radiators.

18. A phased array comprising

multiple sets of two radiating surfaces conformally mounted on a planar substrate, wherein

each set of two radiating surfaces includes

two microstrip surfaces mounted in a butterfly pattern on a top surface of the planar substrate, and

each microstrip surface folding over an edge of the planar substrate in a downwardly and a substantially perpendicular angle with respect to the top surface of the planar substrate.

19. The radiating element of claim 18 wherein

each microstrip surface extends along a 45 degree axis with respect to a principal antenna axis, and

each microstrip surface forms (a) two perpendicular first edges, proximate to the principal antenna axis, extending symmetrically about the 45 degree axis, (b) two perpendicular second edges, distally from the principal antenna axis, and (c) two non-parallel third edges, extending between the first edges and the second edges, respectively.