An electromagnetic wave receiver comprising a dielectric resonator antenna and to application in a receiver with a phased array antenna. The receiver comprises a dielectric resonator antenna and a circuit for processing signals delivered by the antenna.

1. Electromagnetic wave receiver comprising a
dielectric resonator antenna, application in a
receiver with a phased array antenna
Abstract
The invention relates to an electromagnetic wave receiver comprising a dielectric resonator
antenna and to application in a receiver with a phased array antenna. The receiver comprises a
dielectric resonator antenna (2) and a circuit (4) for processing signals delivered by the antenna.
The antenna comprises a dielectric substrate (6), a ground plane (8), a dielectric resonator (10)
and 1st to 4th probes (12 to 18) placed, in this order, at 90o
to one another, in contact with the
resonator. The circuit comprises an elementary circuit (38), connected to the 1st and 3rd probes,
and another elementary circuit (36), connected to the 2nd and 4th probes. The ground plane (8) is
formed on the first side of the substrate (6); the dielectric resonator (10) is located on the ground
plane (8); the dielectric resonator antenna (2) furthermore comprises four electrically conductive
lines (20, 22, 24, 26) located on the second side of the substrate (6) and respectively connected to
the four probes (12, 14, 16, 18) through holes (28, 30, 32, 34) passing through the substrate and
the ground plane; and, the elementary electronic circuits are connected to the probes by way of
the electrically conductive lines.
Inventor
Pierre Larregle
Stéphane THURIES

2. Description
RECEIVER RADIO WAVES, A RESONATOR ANTENNA DIELECTRIC APPLICATION TO
A RECEIVER
NETWORKING ANTENNA PHASE
The present invention relates to a receiver of electromagnetic waves, to dielectric resonator
antenna (dielectric resonator antenna).
It is particularly applicable to a phased array antenna receiver (in English, phased array antenna).
STATE OF THE ART
antennae are already known dielectric resonator, single ended. But the cross polarization
characteristics (in English cross polarization) of these antennas are not good.
Also known is a dielectric resonator antenna, using a technique of differential excitement, by the
following document:
[1] Khoo Kah-Wee et al., "Wideband circularly polarized dielectric resonator antenna", IEEE
Transaction on Antennas and Propagation, vol. 55, No. 7, July 2007, pages 1929-1931.
However, the antenna described in this document is limited to the detection of circularly
polarized electromagnetic waves. Furthermore, in this known antenna the upper face of a
dielectric substrate has a dielectric resonator provided with conductive probes (English,
conductive probes), and conductive supply lines (English, conductive feeder), connected to the
probes ; and the underside of the substrate carries a conductive layer, forming a ground plane (in
English, ground plane).
The structure of this antenna has the disadvantage that the position of the conductive lines on the
face of the substrate which carries the dielectric resonator is capable of generating a radiation
disturbing the detection of the waves by the antenna.
STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION
The present invention aims to overcome the above drawbacks.
The receiver, object of the invention uses a technique of differential excitement and consequently
has better cross-polarization characteristics as the receivers using a single antenna reception. In
addition, by design, the receiver object of the invention is not limited to the detection of
circularly polarized electromagnetic waves: it is able to detect any bias waves.

3. In addition, in this receiver, one face of a dielectric substrate has a ground plane and, thereon, a
dielectric resonator provided with conductive probes, while the opposite side of the substrate
carries conductive lines connected to the probes. This design reduces any radiation from the
conductive lines; wave detection is thus improved.
Specifically, the present invention relates to a receiver of electromagnetic waves, comprising a
dielectric resonator antenna and an electronic circuit for processing electrical signals supplied to
the dielectric resonator antenna,
wherein the antenna dielectric resonator includes:
a dielectric substrate having first and second opposing faces,
an electrically conductive layer constituting an earth plane,
- A dielectric resonator, and first, second, third and fourth electrically conductive probes which
are arranged in this order at 90 degrees from each other, are in contact with the dielectric
resonator and is electrically isolated from the ground plane,
and wherein the electronic circuit comprises a first elementary electronic circuit, connected to the
first and third sensors, and a second elementary electronic circuit, connected to the second and
fourth probes, the first and second elementary electronic circuits being provided for processing
the electrical signals provided by the probes when the dielectric resonator receives
electromagnetic waves. Preferably, the first to fourth electrically conductive probes are in contact
with the periphery of the dielectric resonator.
This improves the receiver detection characteristics.
In the invention, the ground plane is formed on the first face of the substrate, the dielectric
resonator is on the ground plane, the dielectric resonator antenna further comprises four
electrically conductive lines disposed on the second face of the substrate and respectively
connected to the four probes through holes passing through the substrate and the ground plane,
and the elementary electronic circuits are connected to the probes via the electrically conductive
lines.
As noted above, it improves the detection of waves.
According to a particular embodiment of the receiver subject of the invention, the dielectric
resonator is cylindrical.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the relative permittivity s r of the
dielectric resonator is high, greater than 10. This enables better confine the field components in
the resonator and hence reduce the coupling between the conductive probes.
For example, a good material for manufacturing the dielectric resonator is ZrSnTiC s for which r
is equal to 37. In this case, preferably a substrate is used whose relative permittivity s r is

4. substantially equal to 6. This allows to improve the impedance characteristics of the antenna of
the receiver.
More generally, when using a resonator whose relative permittivity is high, greater than 10, it is
preferable to use a substrate whose permittivity is also high, at least equal to 1/5 of that of the
resonator, preferably a substrate with a dielectric laminate (in English, dielectric laminate), so
that the antenna has good performance and good adaptation.
Preferably, the first and second elementary electronic circuits are differential amplifiers.
The present invention also relates to a phased array antenna receiver comprising a plurality of
electromagnetic wave receivers conform to the receiver of electromagnetic waves, object of the
invention.
According to a preferred embodiment of the phased array antenna receiver, the electromagnetic
wave receivers have a common dielectric substrate having first and second opposed faces, and a
common ground plane formed on the first face of the substrate, the dielectric resonators of
electromagnetic wave receivers are positioned on the ground plane, the electrically conductive
lines of these receptors are formed on the second face of the substrate and are connected to
probes receptor through holes passing through the substrate and the ground plane, and electronic
elementary circuits are formed on the second face of the substrate. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF
DRAWINGS
The invention will be better understood from reading the description of embodiments given
below, purely by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings,
wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic top view of a particular embodiment of the receiver object of the
invention,
2 is a schematic and partial section of the receiver of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a schematic and partial
view of a particular embodiment of the phased array antenna receiver, object of the invention,
and
Figure 4 is a schematic partial bottom view of the receiver of Figure 3.
SIZE DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS
Figure 1 is a schematic top view of an example of the receiver of electromagnetic waves, object
of the invention. Figure 2 is the section AA of Figure 1.
The receiver of Figures 1 and 2 comprises a dielectric resonator antenna 2 and an electronic
circuit 4 for processing electrical signals supplied by the antenna 2. The dielectric resonator
antenna 2 comprises a dielectric substrate 6, an electrically conductive layer 8, constituting a
ground plane, a cylindrical dielectric resonator 10 and four electrically conductive probes 12, 14,
16, 18 which are arranged in this order at 90 degrees from each other on the periphery of the
dielectric resonator 10, and are electrically isolated the ground plane 8.

5. Specifically, the probes 12 and 16
(Respectively 14 and 18) are symmetrical to each other with respect to the Z axis of the
cylindrical resonator 10. These sensors 12-18 may be metal elements bonded to the resonator or
vertical metal lines printed thereon .
The ground plane 8 is formed on the upper face of the substrate 6 and the dielectric resonator is
on the ground plane (and it is fixed by means of a suitable adhesive); and antenna 2 further
comprises four electrically conductive lines 20, 22, 24, 26 which are arranged on the underside of
the substrate 6 (opposing the upper face) and are respectively connected to four probes 12, 14, 16,
18 through vertical holes 28, 30, 32, 34 which pass through the substrate 6 and the ground plane
8.
The four lines 20-26 are micro ¬
conductive traces (in English, conductive microstrip) which
constitute the four ports (in English, ports) 1 Antenna 2.
The electronic circuit 4 comprises a first elementary electronic circuit 36 which is electrically
connected to the probes 12 and 16 respectively via the lines 20 and 24, and a second elementary
electronic circuit 38 which is electrically connected to the probes 14 and 18 respectively by the
via lines 22 and 26. These elementary circuits 36 and 38 are provided for processing the electric
signals supplied by the probes when the dielectric resonator 10 receives electromagnetic waves
40.
In the example of Figures 1 and 2, the circuits 36 and 38 are differential amplifiers (low noise
amplifiers). The latter are respectively tracked by receiver mixers (English, down converters) 42
and 44, and the signals supplied by these receiving mixers are processed by suitable electronic
means to provide the information carried by the 40 waves received by the antenna.
It is specified that the circuit 4 uses the differential mode signals generated at the ports 20 and 24,
and the common mode signals generated at the ports 22 and 26, to detect the polarization of an
electromagnetic signal that reaches the antenna 2.
The dielectric resonator is made of a high permittivity s r dielectric material to reduce the level of
coupling. In the example, we use the ZrSnTiC (s r = 37) and the dielectric substrate 6 is made of a
polymer ceramic composite thermodurci-, relative permittivity equal to 6 is used in a purely
indicative and in no way restrictive, the material marketed by Rogers Corporation under
reference TMM6 (trademark).
Furthermore, purely indicative and non-limiting example, the cylindrical resonator 10 has a
diameter of 3 mm and a height of 4.9 mm.
The antenna 2 and has the following characteristics: band width: 19%; gain is about 2.5 dBi;
beam width at half power (HPBW): over 140 ° in the plane H and 100 ° in the plane E.
The following explains the operation of the receiver shown schematically in Figures 1 and 2.

6. It is assumed that the antenna 2 receives an electromagnetic plane wave, horizontally polarized,
and that the electric field E of the wave is directed along the Y axis, following horizontal axis
which extend the lines 20 and 24 and which is perpendicular to the vertical axis Z. It is noted that
the Y and Z axes are complemented by a horizontal axis X which is perpendicular to Y and Z.
Lines 20 and 26 extend along this axis X.
The mode of cylindrical dielectric resonator 10 undergoes a change from a half-wave along the
diameter of the resonator. The values of the field E is maximum at both ends of the resonator due
to the open circuit (air-dielectric interface); and the field E is minimal to the resonator center (Z
axis). The variation of a half-wave makes it possible to have maximum potential + V max at the
port 20 and a potential -V max to port 24, while ports 22 and 26 are excited by the same potential.
In other words, the differential signals are growing at ports 20 and 24 while the common mode
signals are growing at ports 22 and 26.
Differential amplifiers 36 and 38 connected to the ports 20 to 26, amplify the differential signals,
while the common mode output is re been.
When the antenna 2 receives a wave whose polarization is inclined with respect to that has just
been considered, the power of such a wave field has components E x and E Y respectively on the
X and Y axes, and these components E x and E Y generate signals at the two outputs 48 and 50 of
the differential amplifiers 36 and 38. in this case, the dielectric resonator 10 resonates along the
axes X and Y. the sum of the signals supplied by the outputs respective 48 and 50 of the
differential amplifiers 36 and 38 give the total polarization information.
Note that the antenna 2 is simple to manufacture. Impedance can be adjusted by varying the
length of the probes 12-18.
The antenna 2 receptor 1 and 2 has very good return loss (in English, return loss characteristics).
It should be noted that the use of TMM6 (registered trademark), where r s is 6, improves the
impedance characteristics of the antenna when a resonator is used ZrSnTiC. Simulations with
different dielectric constants for the substrate 6 have shown that the impedance matching is
optimal when s r is equal to 6.
Impedance matching may be further controlled by the size of the holes 28, 30, 32, 34 which pass
through the substrate 6 and the ground plane 8 and are capacitive in nature.
receiving studies by the antenna 2, various plane waves, confirmed that this antenna could be
used in polarization agile systems. Table 1 below summarizes the results. Tensions observed in
the different ports are expressed in volts.
TABLE 1

7. These results were obtained for a plane wave falling laterally on the antenna 2. It is noted that for
a horizontal polarization, differential voltages are developed at ports 20 and 24, while voltages
are substantially the same in the ports 22 and 26. for an inclination of the polarization at 45 °, the
differential signals are developed at the two pairs of ports. These observations validate the use of
the antenna 2 for practical applications. The example of the receiver which has been given with
reference to Figures 1 and 2 is suitable for detecting radio frequency wave of the Ku-band, the
frequency range from 10.7 GHz to 12.75 GHz. It could of course be adapted to the detection of
radiofrequency waves of the Ka band, the frequency range from 18.3 GHz to 18.8 GHz and 19.7
GHz to 20.2 GHz, or even the detection of waves from other bands.
In addition, in Examples, there was used a dielectric resonator of cylindrical shape, but these
examples can be adapted to a resonator of different shape, for example rectangular or
hemispherical, or otherwise.
Figures 3 and 4 are schematic and partial of a particular embodiment of the phased array antenna
receiver, object of the invention. Figure 3 is a top view of the receiver, and Figure 4 a view from
below.
This receiver comprises an array 52 of electromagnetic wave receivers of the kind which has
been described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. These electromagnetic wave receivers 52 using
a rectangular array of antennas of the kind of the antenna 2 of figures 1 and 2. They have a
common dielectric substrate 54 and a common ground plane 56 formed on the upper surface of
substrate 54.
The dielectric resonators 58 of electromagnetic wave receivers are positioned on the ground plane
56 and the electrically conductive lines (not shown) of these receptors are formed on the
underside of the substrate 54 and are connected to the conductive probes (not shown) receptors
through holes (not shown) passing through the substrate 54 and the ground plane 56.
As shown, the resonators 58 are separated from each other by a distance D. According to the
specifications of the network, this distance D can have values which depend on the wavelength,
for example 0.5 λ, where λ is the wavelength at the highest operating frequency.
3 and 4 FIGS receiver uses a concept of active network in which each elementary antenna is
connected to an electronic circuit 60 which is formed on the underside of the substrate 54 and
which processes the signals received by this antenna.
The circuits 60 are radio frequency integrated circuits (RFIC) and each include differential
amplifiers and mixers reception which was discussed above.

8. Figure 4, is symbolized by arrows the signals received by each RFIC and was taken up the
notation of Figure 1, appears that the RFIC receives, firstly, the signals from the ports 20 and 24
of the corresponding antenna and, on the other hand, the signals from the ports 22 and 26 of this
antenna.
The two output signals 62 and 64 of the RFIC (reception signals from the mixers) are combined
to generate the polarization required information. This is done in the digital stages (not shown)
following the RFIC, or by using analog circuits. following stages (not shown) perform
beamforming and demodulation functions to retrieve information.
1. Receiver of electromagnetic waves, comprising a dielectric resonator antenna (2) and an
electronic circuit (4) for processing electrical signals supplied from the dielectric resonator
antenna,
wherein the dielectric resonator antenna (2) comprises:
- A dielectric substrate (6) having first and second opposing faces,
an electrically conductive layer (8) forming a ground plane,
- A dielectric resonator (10), and
- First, second, third and fourth electrically conductive probes (12, 14, 16, 18) which are arranged
in this order at 90 degrees from each other, are in contact with the dielectric resonator and is
electrically insulated from the plane massive,
wherein the electronic circuit (4) comprises a first elementary electronic circuit (36) connected to
the first and third sensors (12, 16), and a second elementary electronic circuit (38) connected to
the second and fourth sensors (14, 18 ), the first and second elementary electronic circuits being
provided for processing the electrical signals provided by the probes when the dielectric resonator
receives electromagnetic waves (40), and wherein the ground plane (8) is formed on the first face
of the substrate (6), the dielectric resonator (10) is on the ground plane (8), the dielectric
resonator antenna (2) further comprises four electrically conductive lines (20, 22, 24, 26)
disposed on the second face of the substrate (6) and respectively connected to the four sensors
(12, 14, 16, 18) through holes (28, 30, 32, 34) through the substrate and the ground plane, and the
elementary electronic circuits are connected to the probes via the electrically conductive lines.
2. The receiver of claim 1, wherein the first to fourth electrically conductive probes (12 to 18) are
in contact with the periphery of the dielectric resonator (10).
3. A receiver according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the dielectric resonator (10) is
cylindrical.
4. A receiver according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the relative permittivity of the
dielectric resonator (10) is greater than 10.
5. The receiver of claim 4, wherein the dielectric resonator (10) is made of ZrSnTi0 4.
6. The receiver of claim 5, wherein the relative permittivity of substrate (6) is substantially equal
to 6.
7. A receiver according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first and second elementary
electronic circuits are differential amplifiers (36, 38).
8. array antenna receiver stage comprising a set (52) of electromagnetic wave receivers conform
to the receptor according to any of claims 1 to 7.
9. The receiver of claim 8, wherein the electromagnetic wave receivers have a common dielectric
substrate (54) having first and second opposed faces, and a common ground plane (56) formed on
the first face of the substrate , the dielectric resonators (58) of electromagnetic wave receivers are

9. positioned on the ground plane, the electrically conductive lines of these receptors are formed on
the second face of the substrate and are connected to probes receptor through holes passing
through the substrate and the ground plane, and the elementary electronic circuits (60) are formed
on the second face of the substrate.
Non-Patent Citations (3)
Title
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KAH-WEE KHOO ET AL.: "Wideband circularly polarized dielectric resonator antenna", IEEE
TRANSACTION ON ANTENNAS AND PROPAGATION, vol. 55, no. 7, July 2007 (2007-07-
01), pages 1929 - 1931, XP011187039, DOI: doi:10.1109/TAP.2007.900241
KAH-WEE KHOO ET AL: "Wideband Circularly Polarized Dielectric Resonator Antenna",
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ANTENNAS AND PROPAGATION, IEEE SERVICE CENTER,
PISCATAWAY, NJ, US, vol. 55, no. 7, 1 July 2007 (2007-07-01), pages 1929 - 1932,
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