Patent · US Expired

Microstrip reflectarray for satellite communication and radar cross-section enhancement or reduction

US4684952A · kind A · utility

97Cited by
24References
38Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 24, 1982
Grant dateAug 4, 1987
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 24, 2002

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01Q3/46
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A passive array of resonantly-dimensioned microstrip antenna radiator patches are closely spaced (i.e., less than one-tenth wavelength) above a ground plane and individually associated with transmission line segments terminated so as to cause the overall array to receive an incident r.f. electromagnetic field, to convert the received field into r.f. electrical currents which flow along the transmission lines and are absorbed by the terminations or reflected therefrom. In the latter case, the reflected r.f. energy is re-transmitted in a predetermined direction as a re-directed r.f. electromagnetic field. The presently preferred embodiment is a relatively thin, flexible and thus conformable layered structure formed by selectively etching conductive material from one side of a metallically cladded dielectric sheet. For satellite communication, a flat reflectarray may be associated with a primary r.f. transmitter/receiver structure disposed at a focal area or spot of the reflectarray having an appropriately phased aperture (e.g., parabolic). For radar cross-section enhancement or reduction, the reflectarray aperture is phased so as to retro-reflect incident r.f. fields or so as to scat…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.