Array antenna apparatus

• US 20030189514A1
• Filed: 04/16/2003
• Published: 10/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Miyano, Kentaro, Mimura, Masahiro, Nakagawa, Yoichi, Koyanagi, Yoshio
• Granted Patent: US 6,919,861 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/372
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2266 disposed inside the computer
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/245 with means for shaping the antenna pattern, e.g. in order to protect user against rf exposure
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/08 the units being spaced along or adjacent to a rectilinear path waveguide fed H01Q21/0037
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/26 varying the relative phase or relative amplitude of energisation between two or more active radiating elements; varying the distribution of energy across a radiating aperture H01Q3/12, H01Q3/22, H01Q3/24 take precedence

Abstract

Antenna elements 101-1˜101-2N, provided on a linear line at regular intervals to be parallel to each other, receive signals transmitted from the communicating partner, and output them to receiving beam former 103. In receiving beam former 103, phase shifters 104-1˜104-N phase-shift the received signals input from the antenna elements of an even element number by π. Combiner 105 adds up the received signals that are phase-shifted by π in phase shifters 104-1˜104-N and the signals input from the antenna elements of an odd number, and thus so forms a received beam. By this means, it is possible to realize an array antenna apparatus of a small and simple configuration that reduces the radiation of radio waves to the human body and equipment and that is influenced little by the human body and equipment.

Claims

1. An array antenna apparatus, comprising:

an even number of antenna elements, disposed on a linear line at regular intervals to be parallel to each other;

a phase shifter that executes a phase shift of received signals, the phase shift executed in such a way that allows a phase difference of π

between the signals received by adjacent antenna elements; and

a combiner that combines the received signals, said received signals phase shifted in said phase shifter in such a way that allows a phase difference of π

between the signals received by adjacent antenna elements.

2. The array antenna apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a switch that switches between:

combining the signals with a phase difference of π

between the signals receive by adjacent antenna elements; and

combining the signals received by adjacent antenna elements in-phase.

3. An array antenna apparatus, comprising:

an even number of antenna elements, disposed on a linear line at regular intervals to be parallel to each other;

a distributing unit that divides a transmitting signal into a number corresponding to the number of the antenna elements; and

a phase shifter that executes a phase shift of the divided transmitting signals, the phase shift executed in such a way that allows a phase difference of π

between the signals transmitted from adjacent antenna elements.

4. The array antenna apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a switch that switches between:

transmitting the signals in such a way that allows a phase difference of π

between the signals transmitted from adjacent antenna elements; and

transmitting the signals divided in the distributing unit in-phase.

5. An array antenna apparatus, comprising:

an even number of antenna elements, disposed on a linear line at regular intervals to be parallel to each other;

a first phase shifter that executes a phase shift of received signals, the phase shift executed in such a way that allows a phase difference of π

between the signals received by adjacent antenna elements;

a combiner that combines the received signals, said received signals phase shifted in said first phase shifter in such a way that allows a phase difference of π

between the signals received by adjacent antenna elements;

a distributing unit that divides a transmitting signal into a number corresponding to the number of the antenna elements; and

a second phase shifter that executes a phase shift of the divided transmitting signals, the phase shift executed in such a way that allows a phase difference of π

between the signals transmitted from adjacent antenna elements.

6. An electronic apparatus comprising the array antenna apparatus of claim 5.

7. An electronic apparatus connected to the array antenna apparatus of claim 5 by means of short distance wireless communication.

8. The electronic apparatus according to claim 6 adopting a folding configuration,

wherein an array antenna forms a directivity when said apparatus is opened;

and

wherein an array antenna is substantially non-directional when said apparatus is folded.