PHASED ARRAY ANTENNA

• US 20150188221A1
• Filed: 07/17/2013
• Published: 07/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Secretary of State For Defence
• Original Assignee: Secretary of State For Defence
• Inventors: Redit, Neil Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 9,905,923 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 17/00 Devices for absorbing waves radiated from an antenna; Combinations of such devices with active antenna elements or systems
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/06 Arrays of individually energised antenna units similarly polarised and spaced apart
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/34 by electrical means active lenses or reflecting arrays H01Q3/46

Abstract

There is provided a phased array antenna comprising a plurality of antenna elements (12) and switching circuitry configured to switch the phased array antenna to an inactive mode. The switching to the inactive mode comprises the switching circuitry connecting random or pseudo-random impedance elements (20) to the antenna elements to reduce the peak backscatter level of the phased antenna array.

Claims

1. A phased array antenna comprising a plurality of antenna elements and switching circuitry configured to switch the phased array antenna to an inactive mode, wherein switching to the inactive mode comprises the switching circuitry connecting random or pseudo-random impedance elements to the antenna elements to reduce the peak backscatter level of the phased antenna array.

2. The phased array antenna of claim 1, wherein the random or pseudo-random impedance elements consist of impedance elements having at least one of capacitive, inductive, and resistive components.

3. The phased array antenna of claim 1, wherein the switching circuitry is configured to vary the impedances of the impedance elements.

4. The phased array antenna of claim 3, wherein the impedances are varied each time the phased array antenna is switched to the inactive mode.

5. The phased array antenna of claim 3, wherein the impedances are varied periodically.

6. The phased array antenna of claim 1, wherein the switching circuitry is further configured to switch the phased antenna array to a receive mode.

7. The phased array antenna of claim 6, wherein switching to the receive mode comprises the switching circuitry connecting impedance matching elements to the antenna elements.

8. The phased array antenna claim 1, wherein the switching circuitry is further configured to switch the phased antenna array to a transmit mode.

9. A phased array antenna substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.