Slot line volumetric antenna
A slot fed volumetric antenna structure that activates antenna beams in three axes by selective connection of feedpoints.
1. An antenna comprising:
a first pair of rectangular conductive material patches disposed in a first top plane, the patches spaced apart by a slot,
a second pair of conductive material patches, each one of the second pair of patches adjacent a corresponding one of the first pair of conductive patches and disposed in a respective left or right side plane orthogonal to the first plane and on either side of the slot,
a first feed point, A, provided at one end of a selected one of the first pair of patches,
a second feed point, B, provided opposite the slot from feed point A and on a corresponding end of the other one of the first pair of patches,
a hairpin stub coupled to the far ends of the first pair of patches away from the A, B feed points, and
an inductor disposed across the slot between the A, B feed points,
a third pair of conductive material patches disposed in the same top plane as the first pair,
each spaced apart from a respective one of the first pair of patches to form a second slot;
the second pair of patches spaced apart from both the first and third pair of patches with two slots thus formed between the top plane and adjacent a respective one of the left and right side planes: and
a third feed point, C, provided on one of the first pair of patches; and
a fourth feed point, D, provided opposite feed point C in one of the third pair of patches.
2. The antenna of claim 1 further comprising:
a fifth feed point, E, provided on one of the first pair of patches located adjacent the slot between a selected one of the second pair of patches on the side planes; and
a sixth feed point, F, provided opposite feed point E in the selected one of the second pair of patches.
3. The antenna of claim 2 further comprising:
a polarization combining network coupled to selected ones of feed points A and B, or feed points C and D, or feed points E and F.
4. The antenna of claim 1 further comprising:
a second hairpin stub coupled across one end of the third pair of conductive material patches;
an inductor disposed across an opposite end of the third pair of conductive material patches.
5. The antenna of claim 1 further comprising:
a polarization combining network coupled to feed points A and B.
6. The antenna of claim 5 further comprising:
a controller for operating the polarization combining network to provide one or more of horizontal, vertical, right-hand circular or left-hand circular polarization.