Patent ID: 7009572

Claim:
An improved tapered slot antenna, comprising: a) a first antenna element capable of transmitting and receiving rf energy; b) a second antenna element capable of transmitting and receiving rf energy; c) a brace, operatively coupled to said first antenna element and said second antenna element, capable of snugly receiving said first antenna element and said second antenna element in a tapered slot antenna configuration, and having a gap height and gap width represented by the following equation: w h = 44 ⁢ ⁢ π Z 0 ⁢ ɛ r ; d) a semi-infinite balun comprising a first input feed and a second input feed, wherein said first input feed is operatively coupled to a feed aperture of said first antenna element, and wherein said second input feed is operatively coupled to a feed channel of said second antenna element so that said second input feed is situated along substantially an entire length of said feed channel; e) a radome, operatively coupled to said first and second antenna elements, wherein said radome is capable of allowing at least one band of rf energy to pass through said radome, and wherein said radome substantially encloses and helps stabilize said first and second antenna elements.