Patent ID: 6445354
Filing Date: 2002-09-03
Classification: G03F,H01P,H01Q

Abstract:
An antenna (10), suitable for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signals of wavelength &lgr;, said antenna comprising:a nonconductive substantially planar substrate (19) having first (13) and second (15) surfaces bounded by a common peripheral edge (17), said peripheral edge enclosing an antenna axis (11) orthogonal to said first and second surfaces; a transmission line (21) disposed on said first surface, said transmission line comprising a first end (23), a second end (25), and an inner edge (29) extending between said first and second ends, at least a portion of said inner edge forming an arc of:radius R centered on said antenna axis; and a conductive layer (31) disposed on said second surface, said conductive layer comprising a plurality of m slotted openings (33), each said slotted opening having one end located within a distance R of said antenna axis and having an essentially uniform width that is substantially less than the length, whereby, when an electromagnetic signal is fed into said first end, electromagnetic energy is coupled sequentially into respective said slotted openings such that a radiated signal is transmitted from said slotted openings substantially in the direction of said antenna axis.