Tapered slot antenna

Abstract

The present invention relates to a tapered slot antenna. A tapered slot antenna according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a substrate of an antenna; and a coated metal film having a tapered slot line that widens the slot width symmetrically with respect to a central axis on one surface of the substrate, wherein a plurality of parallel line-shaped slots are formed at the edge of the metal film.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a tapered slot antenna, and more specifically, to a tapered slot antenna having a plurality of parallel line slots. Background Technology

[0002] One of the key parameters determining antenna performance is directivity. Directivity is constrained by the antenna's physical size. Generally, antennas with high directivity provide higher gain under the same conditions and at the same loss, which has the effect of increasing the service area. Therefore, it is common practice to increase the physical size of the antenna to enhance gain.

[0003] However, as the physical size of the antenna increases, the complexity of maintenance grows and manufacturing costs rise. This leads to increased costs for installation and maintenance, and may also result in constraints on installation space.

[0004] Ultimately, conventional technology has the limitation that the antenna size must be increased to achieve high directivity. To overcome this limitation, technology is required that can maintain the same level of directivity and gain without increasing the physical size. Prior art literature

[0005] Korean Published Patent Application No. 10-2011-0109573 Korean Published Patent Application No. 10-2023-0138597 The problem to be solved

[0006] The present invention was devised to solve the problems described above, and the objective of the present invention is to provide a tapered slot antenna that can increase the efficiency of the antenna by improving directivity within the same physical size.

[0007] The objectives of the present invention are not limited to the problems mentioned above, and other objectives and advantages of the present invention not mentioned may be understood from the following description and will be more clearly understood by the embodiments of the present invention. Furthermore, it will be understood that the objectives and advantages of the present invention can be realized by the means and combinations thereof set forth in the claims. means of solving the problem

[0008] For the above purpose, a tapered slot antenna according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: a substrate of the antenna; and a coated metal film having a tapered slot line that widens the slot width symmetrically with respect to a central axis on one surface of the substrate, wherein a plurality of parallel line-shaped slots are formed at the edge of the metal film.

[0009] Preferably, the plurality of linear slots are symmetrical with respect to the central axis.

[0010] Preferably, the plurality of line-shaped slots have a maximum length at the center of the tapered slot line and gradually decrease as they go toward the end of the slot line and toward the circular feed section. Effects of the invention

[0011] According to the present invention, it has the effect of increasing the efficiency of an antenna by improving directivity within the same physical size. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0012] FIG. 1 is a drawing showing a tapered slot antenna according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a drawing showing the dimensions of a tapered slot antenna according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a drawing showing the length of a line slot of a tapered slot antenna according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the electric field distribution of a tapered slot antenna and a tapered slot antenna without a line slot according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the elevation angle pattern of a tapered slot antenna according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the azimuth pattern of a tapered slot antenna according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the return loss of a tapered slot antenna according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a diagram summarizing the directivity according to a tapered slot antenna according to one embodiment of the present invention. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0013] Hereinafter, embodiments disclosed in this specification will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Identical or similar components regardless of drawing symbols are assigned the same reference number, and redundant descriptions thereof will be omitted. The suffixes "module" and "part" used for components in the following description are assigned or used interchangeably solely for the ease of drafting the specification and do not inherently possess distinct meanings or roles. Furthermore, in describing the embodiments disclosed in this specification, if it is determined that a detailed description of related prior art could obscure the essence of the embodiments disclosed in this specification, such detailed description will be omitted. Additionally, the attached drawings are intended only to facilitate understanding of the embodiments disclosed in this specification; the technical concept disclosed in this specification is not limited by the attached drawings, and it should be understood that they include all modifications, equivalents, and substitutions that fall within the spirit and technical scope of the invention.

[0014] Terms including ordinal numbers, such as first, second, etc., may be used to describe various components, but said components are not limited by said terms. These terms are used solely for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another.

[0015] When it is stated that one component is "connected" or "connected" to another component, it should be understood that while it may be directly connected or connected to that other component, there may also be other components in between. On the other hand, when it is stated that one component is "directly connected" or "directly connected" to another component, it should be understood that there are no other components in between.

[0017] Hereinafter, a tapered slot antenna according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8.

[0018] FIG. 1 is a drawing showing a tapered slot antenna according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Referring to FIG. 1, a tapered slot antenna (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a substrate (110), a metal film (120), a signal line (130), etc.

[0020] A tapered slot antenna (100) has a metal film (120) coated on one side of an antenna substrate (110) having a tapered slot line and a plurality of parallel line-shaped slots that are symmetrically widened with respect to a central axis. Additionally, a signal line (130) that supplies and transmits signals and performs impedance matching is formed on the metal film using copper foil.

[0021] At this time, the directivity and bandwidth of the antenna change depending on the length, number, width, etc. of the line slots.

[0022] For example, reducing the length of the line slots tends to decrease directivity and bias the bandwidth toward the high-frequency range. Even when the lengths of all line slots are set to be the same, similar characteristics of reduced directivity and bandwidth bias toward the high-frequency range appear. Increasing the width of the line slots exacerbates the deviation in directivity and may lead to a degradation of the center frequency. Furthermore, while reducing the number of line slots increases directivity, the increased deviation may potentially compromise stability. Removing the line slots reduces the physical size of the antenna, specifically its circumference, which results in a bias of the bandwidth toward the high-frequency range.

[0023] Furthermore, when comparing an antenna with a line slot to an antenna of the same specifications without a line slot, the antenna with the line slot has the advantage of being able to be formed in a size approximately 60% smaller than that of an antenna of the same specifications without a line slot, as the addition of the line slot physically elongates the antenna. By comprehensively considering these characteristics, it is possible to design an optimized structure for a line slot antenna suitable for a specific frequency band.

[0024] A tapered slot antenna (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention is designed to implement a bandwidth and characteristics suitable for the target frequency by arranging a plurality of line slots to improve directivity in the target frequency band, with the target frequency band being 7.10 GHz to 8.50 GHz.

[0025] Specifically, in a tapered slot antenna (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of linear slots are symmetrical with respect to a central axis, and a plurality of, preferably 12 each, totaling 24 linear slots are arranged in parallel with an opening at the edge.

[0026] FIG. 2 is a drawing showing the dimensions of a tapered slot antenna according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Referring to FIG. 2, the metal film (120) has a length of approximately 1.27λ and a width of approximately 0.60λ based on the wavelength of the center frequency of the operating frequency band. Additionally, the maximum width of the tapered slot is approximately 0.20λ and the length of the tapered slot line is approximately 0.52λ. At this time, since the plurality of line slots are formed in a structure that is symmetrical with respect to the central axis with the tapered slot line in the center, they are formed by being located in area A, which is the region where the tapered slot line exists.

[0028] FIG. 3 is a drawing showing the length of a line slot of a tapered slot antenna according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Referring to FIG. 3, each of the 12 linear slots can be designated as a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, k, and l. In this case, the linear slot has a maximum length at the center of the tapered slot line and gradually decreases as it moves toward the end of the slot line and toward the circular feed section.

[0030] For example, line slot a, located at the end of the slot line, has a length of about 0.11λ, line slot b has a length of about 0.13λ, line slot c has a length of about 0.15λ, line slot d has a length of about 0.17λ, and line slot e has a length of about 0.18λ, gradually increasing inversely proportional to the width of the tapered slot. Then, line slot f, located at the center of the tapered slot, has a maximum length of about 0.19λ, and line slots g, h, i, and j have the same length of about 0.19λ, and then the length decreases to about 0.13λ when reaching line slot k, located near the circular feed section, and line slot l has a length of about 0.10λ.

[0031] And, each line slot is a rectangular shape having the same width, preferably about 0.02λ, and is formed to have a certain spacing between them, preferably about 0.02λ.

[0032] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the electric field distribution of a tapered slot antenna and a tapered slot antenna without a line slot according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] Referring to FIG. 4, (a) is a tapered slot antenna according to one embodiment of the present invention, and (b) is a tapered slot antenna without a line slot. When comparing the two, it can be seen that more electric field flows in (a) than in (b). That is, more electric field flows into the antenna due to the presence of a line slot, and as a result, the directivity of the antenna increases.

[0034] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the elevation angle pattern of a tapered slot antenna according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] Referring to Fig. 5, it can be seen that the elevation angle radiation pattern is in the form of energy being concentrated in a specific direction. It can be seen that radiation energy is concentrated in the range of approximately 90 degrees to approximately ±30 degrees, and shows a symmetrical tendency in the range of approximately 90 degrees to ±180 degrees. In addition, it can be seen that the energy of the side lobes (approx. -30 degrees to approximately ±15 degrees and approximately -150 degrees to approximately ±15 degrees) and the back lobe (approx. -90 degrees to approximately ±20 degrees) is lower than that of the main lobe (approx. 90 degrees to approximately ±30 degrees), thereby minimizing unnecessary radiation loss and possessing stable directivity in which the radiation pattern maintains a similar form even with changes in frequency or conditions.

[0036] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the azimuth pattern of a tapered slot antenna according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] Referring to Figure 6, it can be seen that the azimuth radiation pattern shows energy being concentrated in a specific direction. Radiation energy is concentrated in the range of approximately -180 degrees to approximately ±60 degrees, and a symmetrical tendency is observed in the range of approximately -180 degrees to ±180 degrees. Additionally, the shape of the side lobes is barely visible, and the rear lobe is formed from approximately 0 degrees to approximately ±45 degrees; compared to the main lobe, the energy is significantly lower, confirming the radiation concentration toward the antenna's target direction.

[0038] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the return loss of a tapered slot antenna according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] Referring to FIG. 7, it can be seen that there is a return loss of approximately -10.00 dB at 6.75 GHz, a minimum at 7.81 GHz, and then rises again, with a return loss of approximately -10.00 dB at 8.90 GHz. The target frequency band of the tapered slot antenna according to one embodiment of the present invention is from 7.10 GHz to approximately 8.50 GHz, with a return loss of approximately -13.39 dB at 7.13 GHz and approximately -12.51 dB at 8.50 GHz. At this time, it can be seen that there is a minimum return loss at 7.81 GHz, which is the center frequency of the bandwidth, and that 7.81 GHz is located in the center of the target band, exhibiting symmetry.

[0040] FIG. 8 is a diagram summarizing the directivity according to frequency of a tapered slot antenna according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] Referring to Fig. 8, it can be seen that at theta of 90.00 degrees, the antenna has a directivity of approximately 7.30 dB at 7.10 GHz, 6.56 dB at 7.40 GHz, 6.82 dB at 7.80 GHz, 6.28 dB at 8.20 GHz, and 6.99 dB at 8.50 GHz. The antenna's directivity recorded its highest value of approximately 7.30 dB at 7.10 GHz, and while the directivity decreased slightly as the frequency changed to 7.40 GHz and 8.20 GHz, it still maintained stable directivity. In particular, the directivity recovered to approximately 6.99 dB at 8.50 GHz, confirming that it exhibits generally high directivity within the target frequency band.

[0043] In the specification of this disclosure (particularly in the claims), the use of the term "above" and similar descriptive terms may be in both singular and plural. Furthermore, where a range is described in this disclosure, it is to include an invention to which individual values ​​belonging to said range are applied (unless otherwise stated), as is equivalent to describing each individual value constituting said range in the detailed description of the invention.

[0044] Unless explicitly stated otherwise, the steps constituting the method according to the present disclosure may be performed in a suitable order. The present disclosure is not necessarily limited by the order in which the steps are described. The use of all examples or exemplary terms (e.g., etc.) in the present disclosure is merely for the purpose of describing the present disclosure in detail, and the scope of the present disclosure is not limited by such examples or exemplary terms unless limited by the claims. Furthermore, a person skilled in the art will understand that various modifications, combinations, and changes may be made according to design conditions and factors within the scope of the claims or equivalents to which they are added.

[0045] Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure should not be limited to the embodiments described above, and all scopes equivalent to or equivalently modified from the claims set forth below, as well as the claims set forth below, shall be considered to fall within the scope of the scope of the present disclosure. Explanation of the symbols

[0046] 100: Tapered slot antenna 110: Substrate 120: Metal film 130: Signal line

Claims

Claim 1 A tapered slot antenna comprising: a substrate of the antenna; and a coated metal film having a tapered slot line and a circular feed portion that are symmetrically formed with respect to a central axis on one surface of the substrate, wherein a plurality of parallel line slots in a rectangular shape are formed at the edge of the metal film, the plurality of parallel line slots are symmetrical with respect to the central axis, the plurality of parallel line slots have a maximum length at the center of the tapered slot line and gradually decrease as they go toward the end of the slot line and toward the circular feed portion, each of the plurality of parallel line slots has a constant spacing between them and has the same width, and the length and width of each of the plurality of parallel line slots and the spacing between each of the plurality of parallel line slots are determined based on the wavelength of the center frequency of the operating frequency band. Claim 2 delete Claim 3 delete Claim 4 delete Claim 5 delete Claim 6 delete

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