Patent Publication Number: US-2023143858-A1

Title: Thin metal vivaldi antenna systems

Description:
FIELD 
     The present invention generally relates to radio frequency (RF) communications hardware. More particularly, the present invention relates to single and dual polarized thin metal Vivaldi antenna systems. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Vivaldi type antennas are known in the art. For example, Vivaldi antennas have been around since at least 1979. See Peter I Gibson:  The Vivaldi Aerial,  9 th European Microwave Conference Proceedings,  Brighton, 1979, p. 101-105. A Vivaldi antenna is generally a co-planer broadband slot type antenna where the slot comprises the antenna element and is tapered canonically. Typically, a Vivaldi antenna includes co-planar sheets of metal with a printed circuit board and have a feeding line coupled thereto. Such antennas can be used to both broadcast and receive radio frequency signals. It is desired that such antennas work over a wide frequency range. 
     Typically, such antennas require a large amount of capacitance between opposing conductors in order to achieve a favorable impedance match when used over a large bandwidth. Currently known Vivaldi antenna designs utilize thick machined metal plates that provide sufficient opposing surface areas to increase capacitance. However, this approach is not only expensive but imparts a large weight to the structure. Furthermore, Vivaldi antennas can be constructed on printed circuit boards from thin metal plating on the surface(s). This printed circuit board construction of Vivaldi antennas typically include very close spacing between the opposing halves of the antenna to establish sufficient capacitance between the two halves of the Vivaldi antenna. This small gap construction typically precludes introduction of a second orthogonal polarization with a common axis. 
     Similarly, Antipodal Vivaldi antennas achieve higher capacitance between the opposing conductors in the launching region by placing the conductors opposite one another, such as on a printed circuit board. Antipodal Vivaldi antennas also have balanced inputs so that some type of balanced to unbalanced transformation is used to reduce common mode currents. Because of this geometry about the center axis of the antipodal Vivaldi antenna, a dual polarized configuration with a common axis and printed circuit construction is also not possible. 
     In view of the above, there is a continuing, ongoing need for improved antenna systems that can operate over a wide frequency range. There is also a need for such antennas to be formed of thin plates. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1 A  is an antenna side of the electrical components of a single polarized Vivaldi antenna system according to disclosed embodiments; 
         FIG.  1 B  is a feed side of the electrical components of a single polarized Vivaldi antenna system according to disclosed embodiments; 
         FIG.  2 A  is a close up of a section of the single polarized Vivaldi antenna system of  FIG.  1 A ; 
         FIG.  2 B  is a close up of a section of the single polarized Vivaldi antenna system of  FIG.  1 B ; 
         FIG.  3 A  is an antenna side of a single polarized Vivaldi antenna system with a visually transparent non-conductive support according to disclosed embodiments; 
         FIG.  3 B  is a feed side of a single polarized Vivaldi antenna system with a visually transparent non-conductive support according to disclosed embodiments; 
         FIG.  4 A  is an antenna side of a single polarized Vivaldi antenna system with a visually non-transparent non-conductive support according to disclosed embodiments; 
         FIG.  4 B  is a feed side of a single polarized Vivaldi antenna system with a visually non-transparent non-conductive support according to disclosed embodiments; 
         FIG.  5    is a partial cross section along line X of the single polarized Vivaldi antenna system of  FIGS.  4 A and  4 B ; 
         FIG.  6    is a graph of simulated reflection S-parameter magnitude for a single polarized Vivaldi antenna system according to disclosed embodiments; 
         FIG.  7    is a perspective view of a dual polarized Vivaldi antenna system according to disclosed embodiments; 
         FIG.  8 A  is an antenna side of the electrical components of a first module of a dual polarized Vivaldi antenna system according to disclosed embodiments; 
         FIG.  8 B  is a feed side of the electrical components of a first module of a dual polarized Vivaldi antenna system according to disclosed embodiments; 
         FIG.  9 A  is an antenna side of a first module of a dual polarized Vivaldi antenna system with a visually transparent non-conductive support according to disclosed embodiments; 
         FIG.  9 B  is a feed side of a first module of a dual polarized Vivaldi antenna system with a visually transparent non-conductive support according to disclosed embodiments; 
         FIG.  10 A  is an antenna side of a first module of a dual polarized Vivaldi antenna system with a visually non-transparent non-conductive support according to disclosed embodiments; 
         FIG.  10 B  is a feed side of a first module of a dual polarized Vivaldi antenna system with a visually non-transparent non-conductive support according to disclosed embodiments; 
         FIG.  11 A  is an antenna side of the electrical components of a second module of a dual polarized Vivaldi antenna system according to disclosed embodiments; 
         FIG.  11 B  is a feed side of the electrical components of a second module of a dual polarized Vivaldi antenna system according to disclosed embodiments; 
         FIG.  12 A  is an antenna side of a second module of a dual polarized Vivaldi antenna system with a visually transparent non-conductive support according to disclosed embodiments; 
         FIG.  12 B  is a feed side of a second module of a dual polarized Vivaldi antenna system with a visually transparent non-conductive support according to disclosed embodiments; 
         FIG.  13 A  is an antenna side of a second module of a dual polarized Vivaldi antenna system with a visually non-transparent non-conductive support according to disclosed embodiments; 
         FIG.  13 B  is a feed side of a second module of a dual polarized Vivaldi antenna system with a visually non-transparent non-conductive support according to disclosed embodiments; 
         FIG.  14    is a partial perspective view of the electrical components of a dual polarized Vivaldi antenna system according to disclosed embodiments; 
         FIG.  15    is a partial perspective view of the electrical components of a dual polarized Vivaldi antenna system according to disclosed embodiments; 
         FIG.  16    is a partial cross section of a dual polarized Vivaldi antenna system according to disclosed embodiments; 
         FIG.  17    is a partial cross section of a dual polarized Vivaldi antenna system according to disclosed embodiments; 
         FIG.  18    is a graph of simulated reflection and transmission S-parameter magnitudes for a dual polarized Vivaldi antenna system according to disclosed embodiments; and 
         FIG.  19    is a graph of measured reflection and transmission S-parameter magnitudes for a dual polarized Vivaldi antenna system according to disclosed embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     While this invention is susceptible of an embodiment in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings and will be described herein in detail specific embodiments thereof with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention. It is not intended to limit the invention to the specific illustrated embodiments. 
     Embodiments disclosed herein can include single and dual polarized thin metal Vivaldi antenna systems. In particular, such embodiments disclosed herein can include a single polarized Vivaldi antenna system  20  such as shown in  FIGS.  1 - 5   .  FIG.  1 A  is an antenna side and  FIG.  1 B  is a feed side showing the electrical components of the single polarized Vivaldi antenna system  20  according to disclosed embodiments. As seen in  FIGS.  1 A and  1 B , the electrical components of the single polarized Vivaldi antenna system  20  can include at least a Vivaldi antenna element  22  positioned in a first plane and a conductive strip  24  positioned in a second plane offset from and parallel to the first plane. As seen in  FIGS.  1 A and  1 B , the Vivaldi antenna element  22  can include a first radiating element  26  and a second radiating element  28  having respective distil ends  30  and  32 . In some embodiments, the Vivaldi antenna element  22  can include a slot  34  disposed between the first and second radiating elements  26  and  28 . In some embodiments, a longitudinal axis of the conductive strip  24  can run parallel to a central axis of the slot  34 . 
     Furthermore, as seen in  FIG.  1 A  and  FIG.  1 B , in some embodiments, a width of the slot  34  can increase from a first location  35  to a second location  39  spanning the respective distal ends  30  and  32  of the first and second radiating elements  26  and  28 . In some embodiments, the width of the slot  34  can increase at an exponential or approximately exponential rate. Furthermore, in some embodiments, a width of the conductive strip  24  can be wider than a narrowest section of the slot  34  and smaller than a widest section of the slot  34 . For example, as seen in  FIG.  1 A , the Vivaldi antenna element  22  can overlap a portion of the conductive strip  24  at the narrow most section of the slot  34 . 
       FIG.  2 A  and  FIG.  2 B  are respective close ups of sections AA and BB of the single polarized Vivaldi antenna system  20  of  FIG.  1 A  and  FIG.  1 B , respectively. As seen in  FIG.  2 A  and  FIG.  2 B , the single polarized Vivaldi antenna system  20  can include a signal feed  36  that can be coupled across the slot  34  at the first location  35  and that in some embodiments can be fed by a microstrip conductor  37  that can be coupled to an external connector such as a coaxial connector. Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, the signal feed  36  can be fed by a coaxial cable. Furthermore, in some embodiments, a portion of the signal feed  36  can be positioned in the same plane as the conductive strip  24 . In these embodiments, the conductive strip  24  can include an aperture  38  configured to accommodate the portion of the signal feed  36  that is positioned in the same plane as the conductive strip  24 . In some embodiments, the signal feed  36  can be electrically coupled to the first Vivaldi antenna element  22  through electrical connections  40 . In some embodiments, the electrical connections  40  can pass through one or more through holes in a non-conductive support  44  (see  FIGS.  3 - 5   , discussed infra) to which the electrical components of the single polarized Vivaldi antenna system  20  are coupled. 
     Furthermore, in some embodiments, the first Vivaldi antenna element  22  can include a cutout region  42  that can be sized and shaped to tune one or more radio frequency (RF) characteristics of the single polarized Vivaldi antenna system  20 . As seen in  FIG.  2 A  and  FIG.  2 B , in some embodiments, the first location  35  where the signal feed  36  is coupled across the slot  34  can be located between the cutout region  42  and the second location  39  spanning the respective distal ends  30  and  32  of of the first and second radiating elements  26  and  28 . Furthermore, in some embodiments, the conductive strip  24  can extend in the second plane from a third location  41  aligned with a portion of the cutout region  42  to a fourth location  43 . As seen in  FIGS.  1 A and  1 B , in some embodiments, the fourth location  43  can be located between the first location  35  and the second location  39 . However, in some embodiments, the fourth location  43  can be proximate to the second location  39 . For example, in some embodiments, the conductive strip  24  can extend all the way to the distal ends  30  and  32 . 
     As seen in  FIGS.  3 - 4   , in some embodiments, the single polarized Vivaldi antenna system  20  can include a non-conductive support  44 .  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B  respectively show the antenna side and the feed side of the single polarized Vivaldi antenna system  20  with the non-conductive support  44  being visually transparent to the electrical components. Whereas  FIGS.  4 A and  4 B  respectively show the antenna side and the feed side of the single polarized Vivaldi antenna system  20  with the non-conductive support  44  being visually non-transparent to the electrical components. As seen in  FIGS.  3 - 4   , in some embodiments, the non-conductive support  44  can be disposed between the first plane in which the Vivaldi antenna element  22  resides and the second plane in which the conductive strip  24  resides. In some embodiments, the Vivaldi antenna element  22  is coupled to a first side of the non-conductive support  44  and the conductive strip  24  is coupled to a second side of the non-conductive support  44  that is opposite the first side. This arrangement can be seen with reference to  FIG.  5    which shows a partial cross-section of the single polarized Vivaldi antenna system  20  along the line X shown in  FIG.  4 A  and  FIG.  4 B . As seen in  FIG.  5   , in some embodiments, the Vivaldi antenna element  22  can be positioned in a plane A, the conductive strip  24  can be positioned in a plane B, and the non-conductive support  44  can be positioned in a plane C disposed between and parallel to the planes A and B. In some embodiments, a top section of the conductive strip  24  and/or the antenna element  22  can be flush or even with a top section of the non-conductive support  44  such that it would appear as though the conductive strip  24  or the antenna element  22  was embedded in the non-conductive support  44 . 
     In some embodiments, the non-conductive support  44  can include a printed circuit board (PCB) as would be commonly understood to persons having ordinary skill in the art. In some embodiments, the electrical components of the single polarized Vivaldi antenna system  20 , including the Vivaldi antenna element  22 , the conductive strip  24 , and the signal feed  36  can be integrally formed with the PCB using one or more etching procedures known in the art. For example, in some embodiments, the single polarized Vivaldi antenna system  20  can be formed from a dual sided conductive material clad PCB by applying a resist material to sections corresponding to the electrical components and etching away the other portions of the conductive material to reveal the PCB layer underneath (see e.g. the non-conductive support sections  44  in  FIG.  4 A  and  FIG.  4 B ). Additional and alternative constructions methods are also contemplated such as separately forming each of the electrical components of the single polarized Vivaldi antenna system  20  and then joining them to the non-conductive support  44 . 
     In some embodiments, the electrical components of the single polarized Vivaldi antenna system  20 , including the Vivaldi antenna element  22 , the conductive strip  24 , and the signal feed  36 , can be manufactured from an electrically conductive material. For example, in some embodiments the electrical components can be made from a metallic material such as copper. In a transmitting operation, the electrical components can be energized by an electrical signal supplied to the single polarized Vivaldi antenna system  20  through the signal feed  36  and can radiate the supplied signal into space over a large bandwidth via the first and second radiating elements  26  and  28 . Similarly, in a receiving operation, the radiating elements  26  and  28  can be energized by an ambient RF signal and can route the ambient RF signal to other RF components electrically coupled to the signal feed  36 . 
     The configuration of the single polarized Vivaldi antenna system  20  described herein has several advantages over known systems. For example, the placement of the conductive strip  24  on the opposite side of the non-conductive support  44  from the slot  34  can increase the capacitance between the opposing sides of the slot  34  to enable the Vivaldi antenna element  22  to be made from a thin layer of conductive material and for the slot to have a width sufficient for use in alternative arrangement such as a dual polarized system as described herein. The resulting reflection S-parameter magnitude for the single polarized Vivaldi antenna system  20  is shown in  FIG.  6   . 
     Embodiments disclosed herein can also include a dual polarized Vivaldi antenna system  50  such as shown in  FIGS.  7 - 17   . As seen in  FIG.  7   , the dual polarized Vivaldi antenna system  50  can include a first antenna module  100  and a second antenna module  200  coupled together at approximately a 90 degree angle. As seen in  FIG.  7   , in some embodiments, the first antenna module  100  and the second antenna modules  200  can respectively include external connectors  110  and  210  for electrically coupling the dual polarized Vivaldi antenna system  50  to other RF equipment known in the art. In some embodiments, the external connectors  110  and  210  can include coaxial connectors. 
       FIG.  8 A  is an antenna side and  FIG.  8 B  is a feed side showing the electrical components of the first antenna module  100  according to disclosed embodiments. As seen in  FIGS.  8 A and  8 B , the electrical components of first antenna module  100  can include at least a first Vivaldi antenna element  122  positioned in a first plane and a first conductive strip  124  positioned in a second plane offset from and parallel to the first plane. As seen in  FIGS.  8 A and  8 B , the Vivaldi antenna element  122  can include a first radiating element  126  and a second radiating element  128  having respective distil ends  130  and  132 . In some embodiments, the Vivaldi antenna element  122  can include a first slot  134  disposed between the first and second radiating elements  126  and  128 . In some embodiments, a longitudinal axis of the first conductive strip  124  can run parallel to a central axis of the first slot  134 . Furthermore, in some embodiments, the first antenna module  100  can include a first notch  146  configured to receive a portion of the second antenna module  200 . Further still, in some embodiments, the first antenna module  100  can include a plurality of through holes  148  disposed on and passing through the conductive strip  124 . As seen in  FIG.  8 A  and  FIG.  8 B , the first antenna module  100  can also include a first signal feed  136  that can be coupled across the first slot  134  at a first location  135  and that, in some embodiments, can be fed by a first microstrip conductor  137  that can be coupled to the external connector  110  shown in  FIG.  7   . Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, the first signal feed  136  can be fed by a coaxial cable. 
     Furthermore, as seen in  FIG.  8 A  and  FIG.  8 B , in some embodiments a width of the first slot  134  can increase from the first location  135  to a second location  139  spanning the respective distal ends  130  and  132  of the first and second radiating elements  126  and  128 . In some embodiments, the width of the first slot  134  can increase at an exponential or approximately exponential rate. Furthermore, in some embodiments, a width of the first conductive strip  124  can be wider than a narrowest section of the first slot  134  and smaller than a widest section of the first slot  134 . For example, as seen in  FIG.  8 A  the first Vivaldi antenna element  122  can overlap a portion of the first conductive strip  124  at the narrow most section of the first slot  134 . 
     Furthermore, in some embodiments, the first Vivaldi antenna element  122  can include a first cutout region  142  that can be sized and shaped to tune one or more RF characteristics of the dual polarized Vivaldi antenna system  50 . As seen in  FIG.  8 A  and  FIG.  8 B , in some embodiments, the first location  135  where the signal feed  136  is coupled across the first slot  134  can be located between the first cutout region  142  and the second location  139  spanning the respective distal ends  130  and  132  of the first and second radiating elements  126  and  128 . Furthermore, in some embodiments, the first conductive strip  124  can extend in the second plane from a third location  141  aligned with a portion of the first cutout region  142  to a fourth location  143 . In some embodiments, the fourth location  143  can located between the first location  135  and the second location  139 . However, in some embodiments, the fourth location  143  can be proximate to the second location  139 . For example, in some embodiments, the first conductive strip  124  can extend all the way to the distal ends  130  and  132 . 
     As seen in  FIGS.  9 - 10   , in some embodiments, the first antenna module  100  can include a first non-conductive support  144 .  FIGS.  9 A and  9 B  respectively show the antenna side and the feed side of the first antenna module  100  with the non-conductive support  144  being visually transparent to the electrical components. Whereas  FIGS.  10 A and  10 B  respectively show the antenna side and the feed side of the antenna module  100  with the first non-conductive support  144  being visually non-transparent to the electrical components. As seen in  FIGS.  9 - 10   , in some embodiments, the first non-conductive support  144  can be disposed between the first plane in which the first Vivaldi antenna element  122  resides and the second plane in which the first conductive strip  124  resides. In some embodiments, the first Vivaldi antenna element  122  can be coupled to a first side of the first non-conductive support  144  and the conductive strip  124  can be coupled to a second side of the first non-conductive support  144  that is opposite the first side. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the first notch  146  can pass through both the electrical components of the first antenna module  100  and the first non-conductive support  144 . 
     Further still, in some embodiments, the plurality of through holes  148  can pass through the non-conductive support  144  so as to enable electrical connections therethrough. For example, in some embodiments the plurality of through holes  148  can include electroplated through holes and/or vias as would be understood by persons having ordinary skill in the art. As seen in  FIGS.  8 A,  9 A, and  10 A , in some embodiments, the antenna side of the first antenna module  100  can include a conductive support  149  that joins together some of the plurality of through holes  148 . In some embodiments, the plurality of through holes  148  can be formed by drilling through the combined structure of the electrical components of the first antenna module  100  and the first non-conductive support  144 . In some embodiments, the electrical components of the first antenna module and the first non-conductive support  144  can include separately formed through holes that can then be aligned together to form the plurality of through holes  148  when the electrical components of the first antenna module  100  are joined to the first non-conductive support  144 . 
     In some embodiments, the first non-conductive support  144  can include a PCB. In some embodiments, the electrical components of the first antenna module  100 , including the first Vivaldi antenna element  122 , the conductive strip  124 , and the first signal feed  136  can be integrally formed with the PCB using one or more etching procedures known in the art. For example, in some embodiments, the first antenna module  100  can be formed from a dual sided conductive material clad PCB by applying a resist material to sections corresponding to the electrical components and etching away the other portions of the conductive material to reveal the PCB layer underneath (see e.g. the first non-conductive support sections  144  in  FIG.  10 A  and  FIG.  10 B ). 
     In some embodiments, the electrical components of the first antenna module  100 , including the first Vivaldi antenna element  122 , the first conductive strip  124 , and the first signal feed  136 , can be manufactured from an electrically conductive material. For example, in some embodiments the electrical components can be made from a metallic material such as copper. In a transmitting operation, the electrical components can be energized by an electrical signal supplied to the first antenna module  100  through the first signal feed  136  and the first external connector  110  and can then radiate the supplied signal into space over a large bandwidth via the first and second radiating elements  126  and  128 . Similarly, in a receiving operation, the first and second radiating elements  126  and  128  can be energized by an ambient RF signal and can route the ambient RF signal to other RF components electrically coupled to the signal feed  136  via for example the first external connector  110 . 
       FIG.  11 A  is an antenna side and  FIG.  11 B  is a feed side showing the electrical components of the second antenna module  200  according to disclosed embodiments. As seen in  FIGS.  8 A and  8 B , the electrical components of second antenna module  200  can include at least a second Vivaldi antenna element  222  positioned in a first plane and a second conductive strip  224  positioned in a second plane offset from and parallel to the first plane. As seen in  FIGS.  11 A and  11 B , the second Vivaldi antenna element  222  can include a third radiating element  226  and a fourth radiating element  228  each having respective distil ends  230  and  232 . In some embodiments, the second Vivaldi antenna element  222  can include a second slot  234  disposed between the third and fourth radiating elements  226  and  228 . In some embodiments, a longitudinal axis of the second conductive strip  224  can run parallel to a central axis of the second slot  234 . Furthermore, in some embodiments, the second antenna module  200  can include a second notch  246  configured to receive a portion of the first antenna module  100 . Further still, in some embodiments, the second antenna module  200  can include a plurality of through holes  248  disposed on and passing through the second Vivaldi antenna element  222  and/or the second conductive strip  224 . As seen in  FIG.  11 A  and  FIG.  11 B , the second antenna module  200  can also include a second signal feed  236  that can be coupled across the second slot  234  at a fifth location  235  and that, in some embodiments, can be fed by a second microstrip conductor  237  that can be coupled to the external connector  210  shown in  FIG.  7   . Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments. the second signal feed  236  can be fed by a coaxial cable. 
     Furthermore, as seen in  FIG.  11 A  and  FIG.  11 B , in some embodiments a width of the second slot  234  can increase from the fifth location  235  to a sixth location  239  spanning the respective distal ends  230  and  232  of the third and fourth radiating elements  226  and  228 . In some embodiments, the width of the second slot  234  can increase at an exponential or approximately exponential rate. Furthermore, in some embodiments, a width of the second conductive strip  224  can be wider than a narrowest section of the second slot  234  and smaller than a widest section of the second slot  234 . For example, as seen in  FIG.  11 A  the second Vivaldi antenna element  222  overlaps a portion of the second conductive strip  224  at the narrow most section of the second slot  234 . 
     Furthermore, in some embodiments, the second Vivaldi antenna element  222  can include a second cutout region  242  that can be sized and shaped to tune one or more RF characteristics of the dual polarized Vivaldi antenna system  50 . As seen in  FIG.  11 A  and  FIG.  11 B , in some embodiments, the fifth location  235  where the signal feed  236  is coupled across the second slot  234  can be located between the second cutout region  242  and the sixth location  239  spanning the respective distal ends  230  and  232  of the third and fourth radiating elements  226  and  228 . Furthermore, in some embodiments, the second conductive strip  224  can extend in the second plane from a seventh location  241  aligned with a portion of the second cutout region  242  to an eighth location  243 . In some embodiments, the eighth location  243  can be located between the fifth location  235  and the sixth location  239 . However, in some embodiments, the eighth location  243  can be proximate to the sixth location  239 . For example, in some embodiments, the second conductive strip  224  can extend all the way to the distal ends  230  and  232 . 
     As seen in  FIGS.  12 - 13   , in some embodiments, the second antenna module  200  can include a second non-conductive support  244 .  FIGS.  12 A and  12 B  respectively show the antenna side and the feed side of the second antenna module  200  with the second non-conductive support  244  being visually transparent to the electrical components. Whereas  FIGS.  13 A and  13 B  respectively show the antenna side and the feed side of the antenna module  200  with the second non-conductive support  244  being visually non-transparent to the electrical components. As seen in  FIGS.  12 - 13   , in some embodiments, the second non-conductive support  244  can be disposed between the first plane in which the second Vivaldi antenna element  222  resides and the second plane in which the second conductive strip  224  resides. In some embodiments, the second Vivaldi antenna element  222  can be coupled to a first side of the second non-conductive support  244  and the conductive strip  224  can be coupled to a second side of the second non-conductive support  244  that is opposite the first side. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the second notch  246  can pass through both the electrical components of the second antenna module  200  and the second non-conductive support  244 . 
     Further still, in some embodiments, the plurality of through holes  248  can pass through the non-conductive support  244  so as to enable electrical connections therethrough. For example, in some embodiments the plurality of through holes  248  can include electroplated through holes and/or vias as would be understood by persons having ordinary skill in the art. As seen in  FIGS.  11 - 13   , in some embodiments, a conductive support  249  can join together some of the plurality of through holes  248 . In some embodiments, the plurality of through holes  248  can be formed by drilling through the combined structure of the electrical components of the second antenna module  200  and the second non-conductive support  244 . In some embodiments, the electrical components of the second antenna module and the second non-conductive support  244  can include separately formed through holes that can then be aligned together to form the plurality of through holes  248  when the electrical components of the second antenna module  200  are joined to the second non-conductive support  244 . 
     In some embodiments, the second non-conductive support  244  can include a PCB. In some embodiments, the electrical components of the second antenna module  200 , including the second Vivaldi antenna element  222 , the conductive strip  224 , and the second signal feed  236  can be integrally formed with the PCB using one or more etching procedures known in the art. For example, in some embodiments, the second antenna module  200  can be formed from a dual sided conductive material clad PCB by applying a resist material to sections corresponding to the electrical components and etching away the other portions of the conductive material to reveal the PCB layer underneath (see e.g., the second non-conductive support sections  244  in  FIG.  13 A  and  FIG.  13 B ). 
     In some embodiments, the electrical components of the second antenna module  200 , including the second Vivaldi antenna element  222 , the second conductive strip  224 , and the second signal feed  236 , can be manufactured from an electrically conductive material. For example, in some embodiments the electrical components can be made from a metallic material such as copper. In a transmitting operation, the electrical components can be energized by an electrical signal supplied to the second antenna module  200  through the second signal feed  236  and the second external connector  210  (see  FIG.  7   ) and can then radiate the supplied signal into space over a large bandwidth via the third and fourth radiating elements  226  and  228 . Similarly, in a receiving operation, the third and fourth radiating elements  226  and  228  can be energized by an ambient RF signal and can route the ambient RF signal to other RF components electrically coupled to the signal feed  236  via for example the second external connector  210 . In some embodiments, the different orientation of the second antenna module  200  as compared with the first antenna module  100  can result in the second antenna module  200  transmitting or reviving an RF signal with polarization different from the RF signal transmitted or received by the second antenna module  100 . 
     As can be seen in  FIG.  7   , in some embodiments, the first antenna module  100  and the second antenna module  200  can be joined together to form the dual polarized antenna system  50 . In some embodiments, the first notch  146  can receive a rear section of the second antenna module  200  and the second notch  246  can receive a forward section of the first antenna module  100 . In some embodiments, portions of the electrical components of the first antenna module  100  and the second antenna module  200  that are bisected by the first notch  146  or the second notch  246  can be electrically coupled together through one or more of the various plurality of through holes  148  and  248 . In some embodiments, the first notch  146  and the second notch  246  can have respective widths equal to approximately the respective thickness of the first and second antenna modules  100  and  200 . Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, the first notch  146  and the second notch  246  can have respective widths equal to approximately the combined thickness of the first Vivaldi antenna element  122  and the first non-conductive support  144  or the second Vivaldi antenna element  222  and the second non-conductive support  244   
       FIGS.  14  and  15    are partial perspective views of the electrical components of a dual polarized Vivaldi antenna system  50  with the first and second non-conductive supports  144  and  244  removed. As seen in  FIGS.  14  and  15   , the portions of the first Vivaldi antenna element  122  and the first conductive strip  124  that are bisected by the first notch  146  are electrically coupled together through one or more of the plurality of through holes  248 . Similarly, the portions of the second conductive strip  224  that are bisected by the second notch are electrically coupled together through one or more of the plurality of through holes  148 . 
     Furthermore, as seen in  FIGS.  14  and  15   , in some embodiments, a portion of the first signal feed  136  can be positioned in the same plane as the first conductive strip  124  and a portion of the second signal feed  236  can be positioned in the same plane as the second conductive strip  224 . In these embodiments, the first conductive strip  124  can include a first aperture  138  configured to accommodate the portion of the first signal feed  136  that is positioned in the same plane as the first conductive strip  124 . Similarly, the second conductive strip  224  can include a second aperture  238  configured to accommodate the portion of the second signal feed  236  that is positioned in the same plane as the second conductive strip  224 . Furthermore, as seen in  FIG.  14   , in some embodiments, the second conductive strip  224  can include a third aperture  252  configured to accommodate a portion of the first signal feed  136  that passes through the plane in which the second conductive strip  224  resides. Further still, in some embodiments, the third aperture  252  can be positioned at a top of the second notch  246 , can be wider than the second notch  246 , and/or can pass through the second non-conductive support  244 . Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments only a portion of the third aperture  252  having a width equal to the notch  246  can pass through the second non-conductive support  244 . 
     In some embodiments, the first signal feed  136  can be electrically coupled to the first Vivaldi antenna element  122  through electrical connections  140  and the second signal feed  236  can be electrically coupled to the second Vivaldi antenna element  222  through electrical connections  240 . In some embodiments, the electrical connections  140  and  240  can pass through one or more of the plurality of through holes  148  and  248 . However, in some embodiments, the electrical connections  140  and  240  can pass through additional through holes formed in the first and second antenna members  100  and  200 . 
     The intersecting arrangement of the first antenna module  100  and the second antenna module  200  can be seen with reference to  FIG.  16    and  FIG.  17   . First,  FIG.  16    shows a partial cross section of the dual polarized Vivaldi antenna system  50  at a location crossing one of the plurality of through holes  148  and the second notch  246 . Second,  FIG.  17    shows a partial cross section of the dual polarized Vivaldi antenna system  50  at a location crossing one of the plurality of through holes  248  and the first notch  146 . As seen in  FIG.  16   , in some embodiments, the first Vivaldi antenna element  122  can be positioned in in a plane A′, the first conductive strip  124  can be positioned in a plane B′, the first non-conductive support  144  can be positioned in a plane C′ disposed between and parallel to the planes A′ and B′, the second Vivaldi antenna element  222  can be positioned in in a plane D′, the second conductive strip  224  can be positioned in a plane E′, the second non-conductive support  244  can be positioned in a plane F′ disposed between and parallel to the planes D′ and E′. As seen in  FIG.  16    and  FIG.  17   , in some embodiments, the plurality of through holes  148  and  248  can be filled with an electrically conductive material  52  to facilitate respective electrical connections therethrough and, in some embodiments, to secure the first antenna module  100  together with the second antenna module  200 . In some embodiments, the electrically conductive material  52  can include solder. 
     In some embodiments, the plurality of through holes  148  can be configured such that an electrical connection is also formed between the electrical components of the first antenna module  100  and the electrical components of the second antenna module  200 , for example the first conductive strip  124  and the second conductive strip  224 . However, in alternative embodiments, the plurality of through holes  148  can be configured such that an electrical connection is only formed between the electrical components of the second antenna module  200  that are bisected by the second notch  246 , for example the second conductive strip  224 . Similarly, in some embodiments, the plurality of through holes  248  can be configured such that an electrical connection is also formed between the electrical components of the first antenna module  100  and the electrical components of the second antenna module  200 , for example the first Vivaldi antenna element  122  and the second Vivaldi antenna element  222 . However, in alternative embodiments, the plurality of through holes  248  can be configured such that an electrical connection is only formed between the electrical components of the first antenna module  100  that are bisected by the first notch  146 , for example the first Vivaldi antenna element  122  and portions of the first conductive strip  124 . 
     The configuration of the dual polarized Vivaldi antenna system  50  described herein has several advantages over known systems. For example, as with the single polarized Vivaldi antenna system  20  described herein, the placement of the first and second conductive strips  124  and  224  on the opposite side of the first and second non-conductive supports  144  and  244  from the first and second slots  134  and  234  can increase the capacitance between the opposing sides of the first and second slots  134  and  234  to enable the first and second Vivaldi antenna elements  122  and  222  to be made from thin layers of conductive material. Furthermore, the inclusion of the first and second conductive strips  124  and  224  enables a respective width of the first and second slots  134  and  234  to be wide enough to accommodate the intersecting first and second antenna modules  100  and  200  so as to simultaneously enable the construction of dual polarized Vivaldi antenna system  50  and a wide coverage bandwidth for the dual polarized Vivaldi antenna system  50 . The resulting simulated reflection and transmission S-parameter magnitude for the dual polarized Vivaldi antenna system  50  is shown in  FIG.  18    and the measured reflection and transmission S-parameter magnitude for the dual polarized Vivaldi antenna system  50  is shown in  FIG.  19   . 
     Although a few embodiments have been described in detail above, other modifications are possible. For example, other components may be added to or removed from the described systems, and other embodiments may be within the scope of the invention. 
     From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific system or method described herein is intended or should be inferred. It is, of course, intended to cover all such modifications as fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.