Metamaterial Antenna Arrays with Radiation Pattern Shaping and Beam Switching
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An antenna system, comprising:
- a plurality of antenna elements that wirelessly transmit and receive radio signals, each antenna element configured to include a composite left and right handed (CRLH) metamaterial (MTM) structure;
a radio transceiver module in communication with the antenna elements to receive a radio signal from or to transmit a radio signal to the antenna elements;
a power combining and splitting module connected in signal paths between the radio transceiver module and the antenna elements to split radio power of a radio signal directed from the radio transceiver module to the antenna elements and to combine power of radio signals directed from the antenna elements to the radio transceiver module;
a plurality of switching elements that are connected in signal paths between the power combining and splitting module and the antenna elements, each switching element to activate or deactivate at least one antenna element in response to a switching control signal; and
a beam switching controller in communication with the switching elements to produce the switching control signal to control each switching element to activate at least one subset of the antenna elements to receive or transmit a radio signal.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus, systems and techniques for using composite left and right handed (CRLH) metamaterial (MTM) structure antenna elements and arrays to provide radiation pattern shaping and beam switching.
-
Citations
45 Claims
-
1. An antenna system, comprising:
-
a plurality of antenna elements that wirelessly transmit and receive radio signals, each antenna element configured to include a composite left and right handed (CRLH) metamaterial (MTM) structure; a radio transceiver module in communication with the antenna elements to receive a radio signal from or to transmit a radio signal to the antenna elements; a power combining and splitting module connected in signal paths between the radio transceiver module and the antenna elements to split radio power of a radio signal directed from the radio transceiver module to the antenna elements and to combine power of radio signals directed from the antenna elements to the radio transceiver module; a plurality of switching elements that are connected in signal paths between the power combining and splitting module and the antenna elements, each switching element to activate or deactivate at least one antenna element in response to a switching control signal; and a beam switching controller in communication with the switching elements to produce the switching control signal to control each switching element to activate at least one subset of the antenna elements to receive or transmit a radio signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. An antenna system, comprising:
-
a plurality of antenna arrays, each antenna array configured to transmit and receive radiation signals and comprising a plurality of antenna elements that are positioned relative to one another to collectively produce a radiation transmission pattern, each antenna element comprising a composite left and right handed (CRLH) metamaterial (MTM) structure; a plurality of pattern shaping circuits that are respectively coupled to the antenna arrays, each pattern shaping circuit to supply a radiation transmission signal to a respective antenna array and to produce and direct replicas of the radiation transmission signal with selected phases and amplitudes to the antenna elements in the antenna array, respectively, to generate a respective radiation transmission pattern associated with the antenna array; and an antenna switching circuit coupled to the pattern shaping circuits to supply the radiation transmission signal to at least one of the pattern shaping circuits and configured to selectively direct the radiation transmission signal to at least one of the antenna arrays at a time to transmit the radiation transmission signal. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
-
24. An antenna system, comprising:
-
a plurality of antenna elements, each configured to comprise a composite left and right handed (CRLH) metamaterial (MTM) structure; a plurality of pattern shaping circuits, each coupled to a subset of the antenna elements and operable to shape a radiation pattern associated with the subset of the antenna elements; and an antenna switching circuit coupled to the pattern shaping circuits that activates at least one subset at a time to generate the radiation pattern associated with the at least one subset, wherein activation is switched among the subsets as time passes based on a predetermined control logic. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
-
-
35. A method of shaping radiation patterns and switching beams based on an antenna system comprising a plurality of antenna elements, comprising steps of:
-
receiving a main signal from a main feed line; providing split paths from the main feed line by using a radial power combiner/divider, to transmit a signal on each path to one of a plurality of pattern shaping circuits; shaping a radiation pattern associated with a subset of antenna elements by using the pattern shaping circuit that is coupled to the subset; and activating at least one subset at a time to generate the radiation pattern associated with the at least one subset, wherein activation is switched among the subsets as time passes based on a predetermined control logic, wherein a composite left and right handed (CRLH) metamaterial (MTM) structure is used to form each of the antenna elements. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
-
Specification