SELF-MULTIPLEXING ANTENNAS
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a self-multiplexing antenna includes a substrate, a first antenna element carried by the substrate, the first antenna element including a first antenna patch, and a first antenna reflector, a first signal feed connected with the first antenna patch, a second antenna element carried by the substrate, wherein the second antenna element is at least partially vertically aligned with the first antenna element, the second antenna element including a second antenna patch, and a second antenna reflector, a second signal feed connected with the second antenna patch, and a first isolator cavity between the second antenna reflector and the first antenna patch.
1 . A self-multiplexing antenna, comprising:
a substrate;
a first antenna element carried by the substrate, the first antenna element including a first antenna patch, and a first antenna reflector;
a first signal feed connected with the first antenna patch;
a second antenna element carried by the substrate, wherein the second antenna element is stacked with the first antenna element, the second antenna element including a second antenna patch, and a second antenna reflector;
a second signal feed connected with the second antenna patch; and
a first isolator cavity between the second antenna reflector and the first antenna patch.
2 . The self-multiplexing antenna of claim 1 , wherein the first antenna element is configured to operate at a first frequency, and the second antenna element is configured to operate at a second frequency different from the first frequency.
3 . The self-multiplexing antenna of claim 2 , wherein the second frequency is greater than the first frequency.
4 . The self-multiplexing antenna of claim 2 , wherein a fractional guard-band (edge-to-edge) is selected from the group consisting of greater than 4.5%, greater than 5%, greater, than 6%, and greater than 7%.
5 . The self-multiplexing antenna of claim 1 , wherein the first signal feed is a center conductor of a first coaxial line, wherein the first coaxial line comprises a first shielding connected to the first antenna reflector, wherein the second signal feed is a center conductor of a second coaxial line, and wherein the second coaxial line comprises a second shielding connected to the second antenna reflector.
6 . The self-multiplexing antenna of claim 5 , wherein the first shielding and the second shielding include a plurality of metal vias in the substrate.
7 . The self-multiplexing antenna of claim 5 , wherein the second signal feed is substantially centrally located with respect to the first antenna patch.
8 . The self-multiplexing antenna of claim 1 , further comprising:
a third antenna element carried by the substrate, wherein the third antenna element is at least partially vertically aligned with the first and second antenna elements, the third antenna element including a third antenna patch, and a third antenna reflector;
a third signal feed connected with the third antenna patch; and
a second isolator cavity between the second antenna patch and the third antenna reflector.
9 . The self-multiplexing antenna of claim 1 , wherein the substrate is a printed circuit board (PCB) or a ceramic board.
10 . The self-multiplexing antenna of claim 2 , wherein the first isolator cavity is dimensioned to suppress coupling of RF radiation between the first antenna element and the second antenna element at the second frequency.
11 . The self-multiplexing antenna of claim 10 , wherein the second antenna element further includes one or more parasitic elements configured to operate at the second frequency.
12 . The self-multiplexing antenna of claim 11 , wherein the one or more parasitic elements are one or more resonator patches.
13 . The self-multiplexing antenna of claim 11 , wherein the parasitic elements have the same shape as the second antenna patch.
14 . The self-multiplexing antenna of claim 2 , further comprising a notch filter connected to the second signal feed of the second antenna and disposed in the first isolator cavity, the notch filter line having a length sized to filter out the first frequency.
15 . The self-multiplexing antenna of claim 14 , wherein the notch filter is a trace line.
16 . The self-multiplexing antenna of claim 15 , wherein a first trace line is wound in the first isolator cavity.
17 . The self-multiplexing antenna of claim 14 , further comprising a tuning stub connected to the notch filter.
18 . The self-multiplexing antenna of claim 2 , wherein the first isolator cavity is dimensioned to suppress coupling of RF radiation between the first antenna element and the second antenna element at the second frequency.
19 . A phased array antenna, comprising:
a carrier; and
a plurality of self-multiplexing antenna element stacks, each stack including a first antenna element configured to transmit and/or receive signals at a first value of a parameter, a second antenna element configured to transmit and/or receive signals at a second value of a parameter, and an isolator cavity between the first and second antenna elements.
20 . A self-multiplexing antenna, comprising:
a substrate;
a first antenna element carried by the substrate;
a second antenna element carried by the substrate; and
an isolator cavity disposed between the first antenna element and the second antenna element.