Planar antenna

Abstract: A planar antenna is comprised of a ground conductor, a dielectric layer laminated on the ground conductor, and a rectangular radiation element laminated on the dielectric layer on its surface opposing to the ground conductor, wherein a rectangular opening is concentrically formed through the radiation element so as to provide a ring radiation element and a feed point is disposed near a center of one side of the opening.

Description: The present invention relates generally to planar antennae and, more particularly to a small planar antenna which can be suitably and unitarily formed with a mobile communication equipment or the like. Simplified and miniaturized planar antennae of low profile are generally utilized as antenna systems in the field of satellite communication and mobile communication. A microstrip antenna, which is one of the most typical planar antennae, generally utilizes circular or rectangular radiation elements. The dimension of the radiation elements of these configurations is uniquely determined in response to the frequency used. In the satellite communication and mobile communication fields, it is a fundamental requirement that the antennae are miniaturized. Therefore, when the planar antenna is unitarily formed with a high frequency circuit or when the whole communication equipment including the antenna system is unitarily formed as one unit, the rectangular radiation element has a better space factor well matched with the high frequency circuit, the communication equipment or the like as compared with circular radiation elements. Further, in the above-mentioned communication field, circularly polarized waves are frequently utilized. To this end, in the conventional planar antennae, as shown in Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings, rectangular radiation elements are deformed in a predetermined manner (i.e. their shapes deviate from exact rectangularity) such as cut-away, extension, increase of width or the like in order to effect degeneration and separation. Also, a single feed point is disposed at a suitable position on these radiation elements as shown in FIGS. 1 through 3. As shown in FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings, a pair of recesses 1C are formed on both ends of one diagonal line of a rectangular radiation element 1 and a single feed point 2 is disposed on the radiation element 1 at the position properly offset from the center of the radiation element 1 in parallel to one side, whereby the radiation element 1 is driven in two modes perpendicular to each other along the two diagonal lines as shown by arrows 3a and 3b in FIG. 1. These two modes are considered as synthesized modes of Tm 10 and TM 01 . However, if the recesses 1C are not formed on the radiation element 1 as shown by broken lines in FIG. 1, then two mode 3a, 3b are resonated at the same frequency and cannot be discriminated from each other from the outside, which state will be referred to as degeneration. If the pair of recesses 1c are formed and perturbed as shown in FIG. 1, then the portions of the recesses 1c act as a strong electric field area for one mode 3a and also act as a strong magnetic field area for the other mode 3b so that the amounts in which resonant frequencies of the respective modes 3a, 3b are displaced by the existence of the recesses 1c become different. As a consequence, the two modes 3a and 3b are resonated at different frequencies and released (separated) from the degenerated state. Therefore, the two modes can be discriminated from each other from the outside. As described above, the planar antenna having the rectangular radiation element shown in FIG. 1 can generate a circularly-polarized wave via the single feed point 2 by applying the perturbation to the recesses 1c so as to make the excitation phase difference 90 degrees. Further, in a rectangular radiation element 1S shown in FIG. 2, the recesses 1c of FIG. 1 are replaced with stubs 1b and a circularly-polarized wave can be generated by the single feed point 2 similarly as described above. Furthermore, in the rectangular radiation element 1W of FIG. 3, the width ℓ thereof is increased in one direction by a suitable amount (2·Δℓ) and a single feed point 2 is disposed on one diagonal line of the radiation element 1W at a position suitably offset from the center of the radiation element 1W, such that the radiation element 1W is driven in two orthogonal modes parallel to the respective sides as shown by arrows 3a and 3b. The radiation element 1W shown in FIG. 3 is perturbed at the extended width portion 1sp so as to provide an excitation phase difference of 90 degrees, thereby making it possible to generate a circularly-polarized wave via the single feed point 2. In any of the above-mentioned three examples, a relation is established between an area of an original rectangular radiation element and an area ΔS of a degenerated or separated portion (recess, stub, widened portion) as expressed by the following equation (1): ΔS/S = 1/2 · Qo where Qo is the the no-loaded Q of the planar antenna. When the planar antenna itself is miniaturized, such a method is known to reduce the dimension of the radiation element by changing the ratio between the lengths of the sides so that the length thereof in the direction perpendicular to the excitation direction 3 defined by the position of the feed point 2 is reduced, that is, the rectangular radiation element 1 shown in FIG. 4A is reduced to a radiation element 1m shown in FIG. 4B. Further, according to the following known method, the dimension of the radiation element is reduced by short-circuiting the radiation element 1 to a ground conductor 5 at a zero potential line 4 passing the centre of the original radiation element 1 and which is perpendicular to the excitation direction 3 as if the rectangular radiation element 1 shown in FIG. 5A were reduced to a radiation element 1h shown in FIGS. 5B and 5C. However, in the conventional miniaturized planar antennae shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the lengths of the radiation element in the excitation direction and lengths perpendicular to the excitation directions differ significantly from each other so that the so-called isotropic property of the radiation element deteriorates. As a consequence, independent orthogonal modes cannot be realized at substantially equal resonance frequencies and therefore circularly-polarized waves cannot be generated. For this reason, the conventional planar antenna cannot be utilized in the field of circularly-polarized wave communication such as a mobile communication or the like. Document US-A-4,987,421 describes microstrip antennae. These are made up from six distinct layers, one on top of the other: a dielectric plate, a parasitic conductor, an air or dielectric layer, a radiation conductor, a dielectric body and a ground conductor, in that order. The radiation conductor can be square with a concentric square hole in it. A coaxial cable is provided on the ground conductor in a direction which is perpendicular thereto and is connected to a feed point on the inside edge of the radiation conductor. The preamble of claim 1 is based on this disclosure. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved planar antenna in which the aforesaid shortcomings and disadvantages encountered with the prior art can be reduced or eliminated. According to the present invention there is provided a planar antenna comprising: a ground conductor; a first dielectric layer laminated on a first surface of said ground conductor; a rectangular radiation element laminated on said first dielectric layer on its surface opposing to said ground conductor, having a rectangular opening concentrically formed through said radiation element so as to provide a ring radiation element, and a feed point disposed near a centre of one side of said opening; and a coaxial connector coupled to said feed point; characterised by further comprising a second dielectric layer laminated on an opposing surface of said ground conductor to said first dielectric layer; and a feed line provided on said second dielectric layer on a surface thereof opposite said ground conductor, wherein said feed line is coupled to said radiation element by way of a through-hole in said radiation element, said ground conductor, and said first and second dielectric layers; in that said coaxial connector is connected to said feed line and mounted on the side of said second dielectric layer and aligned axially therewith; and in that the isotropic property of the radiation element is maintained. According to the planar antenna of the present invention, circularly-polarized waves can be generated by the single feed point. The antenna may further comprise a second feed point disposed near the centre of a second side of said opening; wherein said feed line is coupled to said second feed point by way of a second through-hole in said radiation element, said ground conductor, and said first and second dielectric layers. Preferably the feed line includes at least one stub. The invention will be further described by way of non-limitative example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating a first example of an arrangement of a main portion of a planar antenna according to the prior art; FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating a second example of an arrangement of a main portion of a planar antenna according to the prior art; FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating a third example of an arrangement of a main portion of a planar antenna according to the prior art; FIGS. 4A and 4B are respectively plan views illustrating a fourth example of a main portion of a planar antenna according to the prior art; FIGS. 5A and 5B are respectively plan views illustrating a fifth example of a main portion of a planar antenna according to the prior art; FIG. 5C is a cross-sectional side view of FIG. 5B; FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating an arrangement of a planar antenna according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 7 is a side view illustrating the arrangement of the first embodiment according to the present invention; FIG. 8 is a bottom view illustrating an arrangement of the planar antenna according to the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram used to explain operation of the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 10 is a graph used to explain operation of the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 11 is a graph showing characteristics, i.e., ring ratio versus input impedance of the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 12 is a graph showing characteristics, i.e., ring ratio versus peak gain of the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 13 is a Smith chart of characteristics of the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 14 is a graph showing characteristics, i.e., frequency versus reflection loss of the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing radiation characteristics of the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 16 is a plan view illustrating a planar antenna according to a second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 17 is a side view illustrating the planar antenna according to the second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 18 is a bottom view illustrating the planar antenna according to the second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram used to explain operation of the second embodiment of the planar antenna according to the present invention; FIG. 20 is a plan view illustrating an arrangement of a planar antenna according to a third embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram used to explain operation of the third embodiment of the planar antenna according to the present invention; FIG. 22 is a plan view illustrating an arrangement of a planar antenna according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram used to explain operation of the fourth embodiment of the planar antenna according to the present invention. The present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. An arrangement of a first embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8. In FIGS. 6 through 9 of the accompanying drawings, reference numeral 10 generally depicts a planar antenna in which a rectangular radiation element 13 is concentrically laminated on a rectangular ground conductor 11 via a dielectric layer 12 of low dielectric loss made of a flourine resin or the like and a rectangular opening 14 is concentrically formed through the radiation element 13 so as to be ring- or annular-shaped. A feed point 15 is disposed in the vicinity of the centre of one side 14s of the rectangular opening 14. According to the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, a conductor narrow strip (feed line) 22 or the like is disposed on the ground conductor 11 on its side opposite to the radiation element 13 by means of a dielectric layer 21 of low dielectric loss, thereby a feed system 20 of a microstrip type being constructed as shown in FIG. 8. A terminal 22e of the feed line 22 and the feed point 15 of the radiation element 13 are coupled by a through-hole 16 and coupled through a coaxial connector J to a signal source, not shown. As shown in FIG. 8, a tuning stub 23 is coupled to the feed line 22 of the feed system 20 at its proper intermediate point Ptu. When the planar antenna 10 according to the first embodiment is utilized in the 3 GHz band, for example, a width D of the ground conductor 11, a width Ar of the radiation element 13, the size Br of the rectangular opening 14, a thickness t12 of the dielectric layer 12 and a specific inductive capacity εr of the dielectric layer 12 are respectively set as follows: D = 80 mm, Ar = 23.8 mm, Br = 11.5 mm, t12 = 1.6 mm and εr = 2.6 Further, a conductor width w22 of the feed line 22 of the feed system 20, a conductor width w23 of the tuning stub 23, a thickness t21 of the dielectric layer 21, a length ℓ23 of the tuning stub 23 are respectively set so as to provide a characteristic impedance of 50 n as: w22 = w23 = 2.2 mm, t21 = 0.8 mm ℓ23 = 13.2 mm, ℓpe = 18.0 mm Operation of the first embodiment according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to also FIGS. 9 and 10. In the case of the rectangular radiation element shown in FIG. 4A, a relation expressed in the following equation (2) is established between the side length Ar and the resonant frequency f in the main mode (TM 10 ): Ar = xc 2πf εr - 4t·ℓn2 π In the equation (2), c is the light velocity, t is the thickness of the dielectric and εr is the specific inductive capacity of the dielectric. Further, x in the above equation (2) represents a value inherent in the shape of the radiation element. The value x is generally given by solving a secondary wave equation derived from Maxwell's equation. In the case of the rectangular radiation element shown in FIG. 4A, the value x is expressed as: x = π When the planar antenna 10 is formed as an annular shape in which the rectangular opening 14 is concentrically formed through the rectangular radiation element 13 as described in the first embodiment, it is difficult to obtain the inherent value x in the aforementioned equation (1) analytically. However, the inventors of the present invention have experimentally confirmed the value of the inherent value x of the rectangular annular radiation element becomes smaller as compared with that of the rectangular radiation element. When the radiation element is formed as an annular shape such that the rectangular opening 14 having a side length Br is formed through the rectangular radiation element 13 having a side length Ar as shown in FIG. 9, as an equivalent side length Beq of the opening 14 becomes closer to an equivalent side length Aeq of the radiation element 13, or an inner and outer circumference ratio Beq/Aeq (ring ratio) of the rectangular ring becomes closer to 1, the value of the inherent value x is reduced as shown in FIG. 10. The equivalent side lengths Aeq and Beq correspond to magnetic current loops which are theoretically assumed in consideration of a fringe effect and therefore expressed as in the following equations (4) and (5): Aeq = AR + 4t·ℓn2 π Beq = Br - 4t·ℓn2 π When the conventional planar antenna having a dielectric layer which is the same as that of the aforementioned embodiment in quality and in thickness and a ring ratio of 0 is similarly utilized in the 3 GHz band, then the side length Ar of the radiation element is expressed as follows: Ar = 29.6 mm This value of the side length Ar is larger than the aforesaid side length of the rectangular ring radiation element according to the above-mentioned embodiment by about 24 %. In the conventional planar antenna, the sizes of the ground conductor and the dielectric layer are increased with substantially the same percentage. According to the first embodiment, the value of the intrinsic value x is reduced as the ring ratio (Beq/Aeq) becomes closer to 1 as described before. If the ring ratio (Beq/Aeq) becomes closer to 1, even when the planar antenna is operated by the voltage supplied to the inner circumference thereof, the input impedance of the antenna is increased as shown in FIG. 11 and its peak gain is lowered as shown in FIG. 12. As a result, the ring ratio is limited as in the following equation in actual practice: 0.6 ≥ Beq/Aeq It is considered that the peak gain is lowered because the loss in the matching circuit is increased. In the planar antenna according to the first embodiment, in case the ring ratio is 0.4, for example, an impedance versus frequency characteristic is represented in a Smith chart forming FIG. 13, and a reflection loss versus frequency characteristic shown in FIG. 14 is obtained. Further, a radiation characteristic on an E plane, for example, is represented in FIG. 15 and a radiation characteristic on an H plane becomes substantially similar to that of FIG. 15. According to the first embodiment, since the rectangular opening 14 is concentrically formed through the rectangular radiation element 13 so as to provide the ring-shaped planar antenna and the feed point is disposed in the vicinity of the center of one side of this rectangular opening 14, the planar antenna can be miniaturized more while isotropic property of the radiation element, excellent space factor and adaptability with communication equipments or the like can be maintained. A second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 16 to 18. In FIGS. 16 through 18, like parts corresponding to those of FIGS. 6 to 8 are marked with the same references and therefore need not be described in detail. In FIG. 16, reference numeral 10D generally designates a second embodiment of the planar antenna, the rectangular radiation element 13 is concentrically laminated on the rectangular ground conductor 11 via the dielectric layer 12 of low loss and the rectangular opening 14 is concentrically formed through the radiation element 13, thereby the ring-shaped radiation element 13 being formed. In the second embodiment, feed points 15a, 15b are respectively disposed near the centers of adjacent two sides 14a, 14b of the opening 14. Further, in the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 17, a feed line 22 or the like is disposed on the ground conductor 11 on its side opposite to the radiation element 13 through a dielectric layer 21 of low loss and hence a feed system 20D of microstrip type is formed as shown in FIG. 18. The feed line 22 and the feed points 15a, 15b of the radiation element 13 are coupled via through-holes 16a, 16b. As shown in FIG. 18, the feed lines 22a, 22b of the feed system 20D are extended from terminals 22e, 22f corresponding to the feed points 15a, 15b of the radiation element 13 to a junction Q and the lengths thereof are set to be different by a length of 1/4 (λ/4) of radio waves used so that the feed points 15a, 15b are powered with a phase difference of 90 degrees. Tuning stubs 23a, 23b are coupled to proper intermediate points Pta, Ptb of the two feed lines 23a, 23b and the junction Q is coupled through a λ/4 matching device 24 to the coaxial connector J. When the planar antenna 10D of the second embodiment is utilized in the 3 GHz band, for example, the dimensions of the ground conductor 11, the radiation element 13, the rectangular opening 14 and so on are set similarly to those of the first embodiment. Further, the dimensions of the feed lines 22a, 22b of the feed system 20D, its tuning stubs 23a, 23b, its matching device 24 and the thickness of the dielectric layer 21, etc., are set as follows: w22 = w23 = 2.2 mm, w24 = 4.1 mm, t21 = 0.8 mm ℓ22a = 50.9 mm, ℓ22b = 35.4 mm, ℓpe = ℓpf = 18.0 mm ℓ23 = 13.2 mm, ℓ24 = 15.5 mm Operation of the second embodiment according to the present invention will be described next with reference to also FIG. 19. Also in the second embodiment, since the radiation element 13 is shaped as a rectangular ring so as to maintain its isotropic property, the orthogonal excitation by the feed points 15a, 15b becomes possible as shown by arrows 3a, 3b in FIG. 19. Accordingly, when these feed points 15a, 15b are powered with the phase difference of 90 degrees by the aforesaid feed system 20D, this planar antenna can generate circularly-polarized waves. Furthermore, similarly to the first embodiment, according to the second embodiment, since the radiation element is shaped as the rectangular ring, the dimension of this radiation element relative to the same resonance frequency can be reduced in response to the ring ratio thereof. In the second embodiment, characteristics substantially equal to those of FIGS. 13 to 15 can be obtained. According to this embodiment, since the rectangular opening is concentrically formed through the rectangular element so as to provide a ring-shaped radiation element and the feed points are disposed near the centers of the adjacent two sides of this opening so as to supply the voltage with a predetermined phase difference, the planar antenna can generate circularly-polarized waves while the isotropic property of the radiation element, the excellent space factor and the matching property with the communication equipments and so on are maintained. As described above in detail, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, since the rectangular opening is concentrically formed through the rectangular element so as to provide a ring-shaped radiation element and the feed points are disposed near the centers of the adjacent two sides of this opening so as to supply the voltage with a predetermined phase difference, the planar antenna can be miniaturized more and also can generate circularly-polarized waves by a proper excitation while the isotropic property of the radiation element and the satisfactory space factor are maintained. An arrangement of a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 20. In FIG. 20, like parts corresponding to those of FIG. 6 are marked with the same references and therefore need not be described in detail. Referring to FIG. 20, there is provided the planar antenna 10 in which the rectangular radiation element 13 is concentrically laminated on the rectangular ground conductor 11 through the rectangular dielectric layer 12 made of a low loss material such as the fluorine resin. A pair of recesses 13c are formed along one diagonal line of the radiation element 13 for effecting degeneration and separation and the rectangular opening 14 is concentrically formed through the radiation element 13 so as to provide the ring-shaped radiation element. Also, the feed point 15 is disposed near the center of one side 14s of this opening 14. This feed point 15 is coupled to a signal source (not shown) by means of the feed system shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, for example. When the planar antenna 10 according to the third embodiment of the present invention is utilized in the 3 GHz band, for example, the dimensions of the ground conductor 11, the radiation element 13, the rectangular opening 14 and the thickness and dielectric constant of the dielectric layer 12 are set similarly to those of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6. Further, the no-load Q of the planar antenna 10 and the dimension Csd of the recess 13c are set as follows: Qo = 77, Csd = 1.7 mm Operation of the third embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 21. In this connection, when the conventional planar antenna having the dielectric layer of the same quality and same thickness as those of the dielectric layer according to the third embodiment and having a ring ratio of 0 is similarly utilized in the 3 GHz band, for example, the side length Ar of the radiation element becomes as mentioned before: Ar = 29.6 mm This side length (29.6 mm) is larger than the side length of the rectangular ring radiation element 13 according to the third embodiment by about 24 %. In the conventional planar antenna, the dimensions of the ground conductor and the dielectric layer are increased with substantially the same ratio. Further, the no-load Q of the conventional planar antenna 1 of the degeneration and separation type and the dimension Csd of the recess 1c as shown in FIG. 1 are respectively set as follows: Qo = 42, Csd = 3.2 mm According to the third embodiment, since the rectangular opening is concentrically formed through the rectangular radiation element having the recesses for effecting the degeneration and separation so as to provide the ring-shaped radiation element and also the single feed point is disposed near the center of one side of the opening, the planar antenna can be miniaturized more and can generate circularly-polarized waves while the satisfactory space factor and the isotropic property of the radiation element can be maintained, Also in this case, characteristics substantially equal to those of FIGS. 13 to 15 can be obtained. FIG. 22 of the accompanying drawings shows an arrangement of a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 22, like parts corresponding to those of FIG. 20 are marked with the same references and therefore need not be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 22, a planar antenna 10S comprises a rectangular radiation element 13S concentrically disposed on the rectangular ground conductor 11 through the dielectric layer 12 of low loss. A pair of stubs 13b for effecting the aforesaid degeneration and separation are formed along one diagonal line of this radiation element 13S and the rectangular opening 14 is concentrically formed through the radiation element 13S so as to provide the ring-shaped radiation element. Also, the feed point 15 is disposed near the center of one side 14s of the opening 14. The feed point 15 is coupled to a signal source (not shown) by means of the feed system 20 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. Operation of the fourth embodiment according to the present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to also FIG. 23. Also in this embodiment, since the radiation element 13S having the stubs 13b extended for effecting the degeneration and separation is shaped as the rectangular ring and the isotropic property thereof and the satisfactory space factor are maintained, the phase difference orthogonal excitation by the single feed point 15 becomes possible as shown by the arrows 3a, 3b in FIG. 23 and this planar array antenna can generate circularly polarized waves. Further, similarly to the aforementioned embodiment, the dimension relative to the same resonance frequency can be reduced in response to the ring ratio of the radiation element 13S. Also in this cases, characteristics substantially equal to those of FIGS. 13 to 15 can be obtained. Furthermore, a planar array antenna can be constructed by coupling a plurality of planar antennas according to the present invention in an array.

Claims: A planar antenna comprising: a ground conductor (11); a first dielectric layer (12) laminated on a first surface of said ground conductor (11); a rectangular radiation element (13) laminated on said first dielectric layer (12) on its surface opposing to said ground conductor (11), having a rectangular opening (14) concentrically formed through said radiation element (13) so as to provide a ring radiation element, and a feed point (15;15a) disposed near a centre of one side of said opening; and a coaxial connector (J) coupled to said feed point (15;15a); characterised by further comprising a second dielectric layer (21) laminated on an opposing surface of said ground conductor to said first dielectric layer (12); and a feed line (22) provided on said second dielectric layer (21) on a surface thereof opposite said ground conductor (11), wherein said feed line (22) is coupled to said radiation element (13) by way of a through-hole in said radiation element (13), said ground conductor (11), and said first and second dielectric layers (12,21); in that said coaxial connector (J) is connected to said feed line (22) and mounted on the side of said second dielectric layer (21) and aligned axially therewith; and in that the isotropic property of the radiation element (13) is maintained. A planar antenna according to claim 1, further comprising a second feed point (15b) disposed near the centre of a second side of said opening; wherein said feed line (22) is coupled to said second feed point (15a) by way of a second through-hole in said radiation element (13), said ground conductor (11), and said first and second dielectric layers (12,21). A planar antenna according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the ring ratio of the radiation element is not greater than 0.6. A planar antenna according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said radiation element (13) is square. A planar antenna according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said opening (14) formed through said radiation element (13) is square. A planar antenna according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said radiation element (13) has a pair of recesses (13c) formed along a diagonal line thereof. A planar antenna according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said radiation element (13) has a pair of stubs (13b) formed along a diagonal line. A planar antenna according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said feed line (22) includes at least one stub (23a,23b).

Inventors: KURODA SHINICHI, ONO NOBORU, TORIYAMA ICHIRO, KURODA, SHINICHI, ONO, NOBORU, TORIYAMA, ICHIRO
Applicants: SONY CORP, SONY CORPORATION
Application year: 1992
Main classification: H01Q9
IPC codes: H01Q1, H01Q9