Abstract:
A system and method for generating a balanced feed from an unbalanced feed, which uses a pair of vertically aligned microstrip traces on opposing sides of a printed circuit board to act as a balun and an antenna array using a collinear dipole array.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to RF baluns, and more particularly relates to transforming an unbalanced microstrip transmission line into a balanced printed parallel transmission line, and even more particularly relates to printed circuit methods and systems for providing a balanced feed for an RF circuit without the need for external components. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In recent years, the popularity of radio communications has continued to increase. With more demand for radio equipment, the competition between manufacturers and suppliers of radio communication equipment can likewise be expected to increase. Areas in which these suppliers may be expected to compete would be on the size, price and durability of such equipment. 
     Numerous electronic devices use baluns to generate a balanced feed from an unbalanced source. One example is a typical global positioning system receiver. In such receivers, it is common to see a packaged discrete balun disposed between a GPS antenna and a receiver. 
     While these discrete baluns have been used extensively in the past, they do have some drawbacks. First of all, these discrete baluns add expense to the radio. Secondly, these baluns, and often their associated structures, increase the bulk of the radio. Lastly, these discrete baluns may have some electrical performance problems owing to packaging and interconnect parasitics. 
     Consequently, there exists a need for improved methods and systems for generating a balanced feed for RF circuits in an efficient manner. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a system and method for generating a balanced feed for an RF circuit in an efficient manner. 
     It is a feature of the present invention to utilize a balun integrated with a printed circuit board. 
     It is another feature of the present invention to include a pair of vertically aligned microstrip traces disposed on opposing sides of a printed circuit board. 
     It is another feature of the present invention to have a printed dipole antenna coupled to the balun of the present invention. 
     It is an advantage of the present invention to achieve improved efficiency in generating a balanced feed for RF circuits. 
     The present invention is an apparatus and method for balancing an RF feed, which is designed to satisfy the aforementioned needs, provide the previously stated objects, include the above-listed features, and achieve the already articulated advantages. The present invention is carried out in a “discrete balun-less” manner in a sense that the requirement for a discrete balun circuit between an antenna and a radio has been eliminated or greatly reduced. 
     Accordingly, the present invention is a system and method including a printed circuit card having a balun printed thereon, which includes two microstrip traces on opposing sides of the printed circuit boards. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention may be more fully understood by reading the following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, in conjunction with the appended drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ground plane disk and circuit board combination of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a plan view of the circuit board of FIG. 1 containing a balun of the present invention, coupled to a dipole antenna, where the dotted lines refer to a trace on the opposing side of the circuit board. 
     FIG. 3 is a plan view of the opposite side of the circuit board of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 4 is a view of an antenna array of the present invention including a plurality of baluns and dipole antennae. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Now referring to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like matter throughout, and more specifically referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a system of the present invention generally designated  10 , including a ground plane  12 , which can be any type of conductive grounding surface; a disk is shown, but other shapes could be used as well. Where a single radiation element is used, it may be centered in a ½ wavelength diameter circular or in a ½ wavelength by ½ wavelength square shaped ground plane. In one embodiment, it may be preferred to center the circuit board on a 10-inch by 20-inch rectangular ground plane. Circuit board  100  is preferably disposed on the ground plane  12  in an orthogonal relationship. Top printed circuit board planar surface  102  is shown in the foreground, while the surface of backside  120  is hidden from this view. 
     The term “balanced signal” is used throughout this discussion to mean any pair of parallel conductors carrying signals which are equal in amplitude and opposite in phase, such as is found in a 300-ohm parallel conductor, twin lead, antenna wire. An unbalanced signal is used herein to describe any such signal where there is one signal conductor and a reference ground. An example of an unbalanced signal would be a common 75-ohm co-axial television antenna cable. 
     Now referring to FIG.  2  and FIG. 3, there is shown a circuit card  100  of FIG. 1, including in FIG. 2, a top printed circuit board planar surface  102 , upon which printed circuit elements can be formed and in FIG. 3 backside  120 . One element formed on top printed circuit board planar surface  102  is ground plane  104 . In a preferred embodiment, backside ground plane  124  is also disposed nearly identically and in vertical alignment on backside  120 . Both ground plane  104  and backside ground plane  124  are coupled to ground plane  12 . Ground plane  104  preferably has a plurality of vias or plated through holes  105  to thoroughly electrically couple it to backside ground plane  124 . Ground plane  104  has an unplated void  106  therein, through which a signal is fed. Extending through unplated void  106  is microstrip feed line  107 . On the backside  120  of the circuit board, there is no such unplated void and no such microstrip feed line therein. Instead, the backside ground plane  124  is preferably uninterrupted, except for the numerous vias or plated through holes  105  coupling the two ground plane sections. However, as distinguished from the ground plane  104  and backside ground plane  124 , there are not any plated through holes or any structure connecting microstrip feed line  107  with the backside  120  of the circuit board; i.e., the backside ground plane  124 . Coupled to microstrip feed line  107  is balun trace  108 . Balun trace  108  is shown to be stepped up in width. This discontinuity in trace width between microstrip feed line  107  and balun trace  108  is included to maintain necessary impedance levels. In a preferred embodiment, microstrip feed line  107  is a 50-ohm microstrip line. 
     The microstrip feed line  107  is disposed over the relatively wide backside ground plane  124 , and parasitic coupling through the air and then through the circuit board to backside ground plane  124  is possible. Balun trace  108  is not disposed over backside ground plane  124 , and merely over backside balun trace  128  and, therefore, to maintain the same characteristic impedance, the balun trace  108  and backside balun trace  128  are required to be wider. Balun trace  108  is shown extending a distance “d” from the microstrip feed line  107 . This physical distance d will vary, depending upon various design choices made in the design and construction of the system, but preferably it will have an electrical length of ¼ wavelength. The term “effective length” is described in the following equation:        PhysicalLength   =     Freespacelenth     Er                              
     Where E r ′ is the effective combined dielectric constant of the circuit board, □ □ , and that of air. 
     Other equations could be used to express this notion. The present invention is intended to include alternate relationships, which provide for or describe a structure and dimensions having similar performance, phase shifting, and resonance characteristics, etc. 
     For a ¼ wavelength balun, this distance will be approximately 0.65 inches. This dimension is appropriate for a feed signal of 2.5 GHz, fed through a 50-ohm microstrip feed line  107  (which is 0.104 inches in width and 0.038 inches in length) printed on a well-known and commercially available 0.060 BT epoxy circuit board. The circuit board preferably would have a dielectric thickness of 0.057 inches and a dielectric constant of 4.5. The balun trace  108  would preferably have a width of 0.144 inches. Balun trace  108  would be in vertical alignment with backside balun trace  128  on the backside  120  of the circuit board  100 . Again, as with the microstrip feed line  107 , no plated through holes would connect the opposing balun traces. 
     The balun of the present invention could be used for many purposes, and a feed for a dipole antenna may be a representative use. In other words, many things other than a dipole antenna could be coupled to and receive a balanced signal from the balun of the present invention. FIGS. 1-2 also show a top element  110  coupled to one side of the balun trace  108 . Also shown, in dashed lines&#39;, in FIG. 2 is a backside bottom element  112 , disposed on the backside  120  of the circuit board  100 . Top element  110  and backside bottom element  112  will form a dipole antenna  114 , with an overall length of preferably 1.7 inches. Top element  110  and backside bottom element  112  are in this described embodiment preferably 0.06 inches in width. 
     As with dimension d, the other dimensions of the present invention are variable, depending upon the design choices made, the frequency used, and the environment. It is assumed that the invention is not operated in a vacuum so the dielectric constant of air must be considered when designing the precise dimensions, especially the width of balun trace  108 . More precisely, the effective dielectric constant is affected both by “air” and the PBC dielectric constant, similar to E r  in the equation shown above. In a preferred embodiment, the space adjacent to the balun trace  108 , the bottom side balun trace  128 , the top element  110 , and the bottom side bottom element  112  will be free of any conductive material for a distance of at least ¼ wavelength. 
     Now referring to FIG. 4, there is shown an antenna array of the present invention including a radome cover  402  and an antenna array  404 , including a first dipole antenna  410 , second dipole antenna  420 , third dipole antenna  430 , and fourth dipole antenna  440  all disposed on a ground plane  450 . Network impedance matching elements  460  are also shown. 
     Throughout this description, reference is made to near ¼ wavelength baluns and antennae, because it is believed that the beneficial aspects of the present invention would be most readily apparent when used in connection with such apparatus; however, it should be understood that the present invention is not intended to be so limited and should be hereby construed to include other lengths of baluns and antennae as well. 
     It is thought that the method and apparatus of the present invention will be understood from the foregoing description and that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construct steps, and arrangement of the parts and steps thereof, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of their material advantages. The form herein described is merely a preferred exemplary embodiment thereof.