Patent ID: 7545335
Filing Date: 2009-06-09
Classification: H01Q

Abstract:
1. An electrically small broadband traveling-wave (TW) antenna conformable to a curved platform comprising: a conducting ground surface generally curvilinear and conformal to said platform; a broadband traveling-wave surface radiator consisting of an array of slots, a cluster of medial feed portion for connection between said array of slots and a cable feeding a transmitter/receiver; said surface radiator being generally curvilinear and spaced apart from said ground surface more than 0.01 operating TW wavelength, except at its periphery where said surface radiator is close to said ground surface; one curvilinear dimension of said surface radiator being at least 0.1 TW wavelength in extent in order to support said traveling wave which radiates a desired antenna pattern via said array of slots; an impedance matching structure positioned between said surface radiator and said conducting ground surface, with one end near said medial feed portion, to effect the propagation of a TW with a desired broadband radiating property with minimal reflection; and a distributed impedance matching network positioned on the periphery of said surface radiator to strongly couple the antenna to the platform, effecting the propagation of said traveling wave onto said platform with a desired broadband radiating property with minimal reflection at the lower operating frequencies of said antenna.