Non-uniform variable guided wave antennas with electronically controllable scanning

• US 4,150,382 A
• Filed: 10/03/1975
• Issued: 04/17/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (University of Wisconsin System)
• Original Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (University of Wisconsin System)
• Inventors: King, Ray J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieberman, Eli
• Application Number:
  US05/619,410
• Time in Patent Office: 1,292 Days
• Field of Search: 343/754, 343/785, 343/853, 343/854, 343/100 SA
• US Class Current: 343/754
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/26 Surface waveguide constituted by a single conductor, e.g. strip conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/44 varying the electric or magnetic characteristics of reflecting, refracting, or diffracting devices associated with the radiating element
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/46 Active lenses or reflecting arrays

Abstract

The present invention makes it possible to provide a guided wave antenna having a radiation pattern which can be controlled electronically, by control signals derived from a computer or any other suitable source. In this way, the directional characteristics of the antenna can be adjusted and/or scanned rapidly, without any mechanical manipulation of the antenna. In one embodiment, a guided radio wave is launched along an antenna surface having an array of elements which provide variable non-uniform surface impedance adapted to be controlled by electronic signals. For example, each variable impedance element may comprise a wave guide section having one end leading from the antenna surface. Each wave guide section may include a solid-state electronic reflection amplifier having charcteristics which can be varied by supplying control signals to the amplifier, to vary the magnitude and phase angle of the wave reflected from the reflection amplifier. By changing the control signals supplied to any particular reflection amplifier, it is possible to cause attenuation or amplification and phase shift of the guided wave as it passes across the particular wave guide section. A wide variety of solid-state electronic control elements may be provided along one or more surfaces of the antenna. In another embodiment, a wave traveling in a closed subsurface wave guide is coupled into the guided wave open surface structure, using an array of wave guide elements containing electronically controllable amplifiers and phase shifters.

Claims

1. An electronically variable guided wave antenna,

comprising antenna surface means capable of supporting a radio frequency guided wave along said surface means,

launching means directed along and generally parallel with said antenna surface means for launching a radio frequency guided wave along said antenna surface means,

said antenna surface means comprising electronically controllable surface impedance means distributed over said surface means and including first control signal responsive means for varying the real magnitude component of the surface impedance presented to said guided wave over said surface means in a non-uniform manner,

said surface impedance means also including second control signal responsive means for separately varying the phase angle of the surface impedance presented to said guided wave over said surface means in a non-uniform manner,

and control means for supplying individual control signals to said first and second control signal responsive means to vary the propagation characteristics and the directional radiation pattern of said guided wave antenna,

said electronically controllable surface impedance means comprising an array of closely spaced discrete electronically controllable surface impedance elements distributed over said surface means,

said array of discrete electronically controllable surface impedance elements comprising an array of wave guide elements leading from said surface means and including electronically variable means incorporating said first and second control signal responsive means,

said electronically variable means including a reflection amplifier having a single port connected to the corresponding wave guide element,

said amplifier comprising said first control signal responsive means operative to vary the amplification characteristics of said amplifier and said second control signal responsive means operative to vary the phase characteristics of said amplifier.

2. An electronically variable guided wave antenna,

comprising antenna surface means capable of supporting a radio frequency guided wave along said surface means,

launching means directed along and generally parallel with said antenna surface means for launching a radio frequency guided wave along said antenna surface means,

said antenna surface means comprising electronically controllable surface impedance means distributed over said surface means and including first control signal responsive means for varying the real magnitude component of the surface impedance presented to said guided wave over said surface means in a non-uniform manner,

said surface impedance means also including second control signal responsive means for separately varying the phase angle of the surface impedance presented to said guided wave over said surface means in a non-uniform manner,

and control means for supplying individual control signals to said first and second control signal responsive means to vary the propagation characteristics and the directional radiation pattern of said guided wave antenna,

said electronically controllable surface impedance means comprising an array of closely spaced discrete electronically controllable surface impedance elements distributed over said surface means,

said array of discrete electronically controllable surface impedance elements comprising an array of wave guide elements leading from said surface means and including electronically variable means incorporating said first and second control signal responsive means,

said electronically variable means comprising a reflection amplifier connected to the corresponding wave guide element and having a plurality of control signal inputs for varying the gain and phase of the signal reflected from said amplifier.

3. An electronically variable guided wave antenna,

comprising antenna surface means capable of supporting a radio frequency guided wave along said surface means,

and launching means directed along and generally parallel with said antenna surface means for launching a radio frequency guided wave along said antenna surface means,

said antenna surface means comprising electronically controllable surface impedance means distributed over said surface means and including first control signal responsive means for varying the real magnitude component of the surface impedance presented to said guided wave over said surface means in a non-uniform manner,

said surface impedance means also including second control signal responsive means for separately varying the phase angle of the surface impedance presented to said guided wave over said surface means in a non-uniform manner,

said first and second control signal responsive means being operative to vary the propagation characteristics and the directional radiation pattern of said guided wave antenna,

said electronically controllable surface impedance means comprising an array of electronically controllable elements distributed over said surface means for supplying additional wave energy to said guided wave as it is propagated along said surface means,

said first and second control signal responsive means being operative to vary the magnitude and phase of said additional wave energy,

said electronically controllable elements including reflection amplifier means for deriving energy from the wave traveling over said surface means, amplifying such energy and returning the amplified energy to said guided wave,

said reflection amplifier means including said first and second control signal responsive means operative to vary both the amplitude and phase of the amplified energy.

4. An electronically variable guided wave antenna,

comprising antenna surface means capable of supporting a radio frequency guided wave along said surface means,

launching means directed along and generally parallel with said antenna surface means for launching a radio frequency guided wave along said antenna surface means,

said antenna surface means comprising electronically controllable surface impedance means distributed over said surface means and including first control signal responsive means for varying the real magnitude component of the surface impedance presented to said guided wave over said surface means in a non-uniform manner,

said surface impedance means also including second control signal responsive means for separately varying the phase angle of the surface impedance presented to said guided wave over said surface means in a non-uniform manner,

and control means for supplying individual control signals to said first and second control signal responsive means to vary the propagation characteristics and the directional radiation pattern of said guided wave antenna,

said antenna including terminating surface means for causing radiation of the remainder of the guided wave after passing over said antenna surface means.

5. An antenna according to claim 4,

in which said terminating surface means has a surface impedance approaching zero.

6. An electronically variable guided wave antenna,

comprising antenna surface means capable of supporting a radio frequency guided wave along said surface means,

and launching means directed along and generally parallel with said antenna surface means for launching a radio frequency guided wave along said antenna surface means,

said antenna surface means comprising electronically controllable surface impedance means distributed over said surface means and including first control signal responsive means for varying the real magnitude component of the surface impedance presented to said guided wave over said surface means in a non-uniform manner,

said surface impedance means also including second control signal responsive means for separately varying the phase angle of the surface impedance presented to said guided wave over said surface means in a non-uniform manner,

said first and second control signal responsive means being operative to vary the propagation characteristics and the directional radiation pattern of said guided wave antenna,

said electronically controllable surface impedance means comprising an array of closely spaced discrete electronically controllable surface impedance elements distributed over said surface means,

said impedance elements including electronically controllable amplifiers and electronically controllable phase shifters,

said antenna including modulator means for selectively modulating said impedance elements,

said antenna including coherent detector means connected to said launching means for detecting back-scattered waves modulated by said modulator means.

7. An electronically variable guided wave antenna,

comprising antenna surface means capable of supporting a guided wave along said antenna surface means,

said antenna surface means comprising a plurality of electronically controllable elements distributed on said antenna surface means for supplying guided wave energy to said surface means,

said elements being oriented to direct said guided wave energy along and generally parallel to said antenna surface means,

each of said electronically controllable elements including control signal responsive means for varying both the magnitude and phase of the guided wave energy supplied by said electronically controllable element to vary the directional radiation pattern of said guided wave antenna,

each of said electronically controllable elements including a modulator for modulating said guided wave energy,

said antenna including a coherent detector along said antenna for detecting back-scattered waves modulated by said modulator.

8. An electronically variable guided wave antenna,

comprising antenna surface means capable of supporting a guided wave along said antenna surface means,

said antenna surface means comprising energy conveyance means including a plurality of electronically controllable coupling elements distributed over said antenna surface means for interchanging radio frequency energy and guided wave energy,

said coupling elements being oriented to couple with guided wave energy directed along and generally parallel with said antenna surface means,

said electronically controllable coupling elements including control signal responsive means for varying both the amplitude and phase of the radio frequency energy to vary the directional radiation pattern of the antenna,

each of said coupling elements including a selectively operable modulator,

said antenna including a coherent detector along said antenna for detecting waves modulated by said modulator.

9. An electronically variable guided wave antenna,

comprising reactive antenna surface means capable of supporting a radio frequency guided wave along said surface means,

reciprocal launching means directed in a launch direction along and generally parallel with said antenna surface means for launching a radio frequency guided wave along said antenna surface means,

said antenna surface means comprising a multiplicity of electronically controllable surface impedance elements distributed in two dimensions both parallel and transversely to said launch direction over said surface means,

each of said surface impedance elements including control signal responsive means for varying the surface impedance presented to said guided wave over such surface impedance element,

and control means for supplying individual control signals to said control signal responsive means for varying the propagation characteristics and the directional radiation pattern of said guided wave antenna,

said surface impedance elements comprising an array of wave guide elements leading from said surface means,

each of said wave guide elements including a reflection amplifier having a single port connected to the corresponding wave guide element,

said reflection amplifier incorporating said control signal responsive means,

said control signal responsive means including first means for varying the amplification characteristics of said reflection amplifier,

and second means for varying the phase characteristics of said reflection amplifier.

10. An electronically variable guided wave antenna,

comprising antenna surface means capable of supporting a radio frequency guided wave along said surface means,

reciprocal launching means directed in a launch direction along and parallel with said antenna surface means for launching a radio frequency guided wave along said antenna surface means,

said antenna surface means having a portion with an inductive surface impedance adjacent said launching means for supporting the propagation of the guided wave along said antenna surface means,

said antenna surface means comprising a multiplicity of electronically controllable surface impedance elements distributed in two dimensions both parallel and transversely to said launch direction over said surface means,

each of said surface impedance elements including control signal responsive means for varying the surface impedance presented to said guided wave over such surface impedance element,

control means for supplying individual control signals to said control signal responsive means for varying the propagation characteristics and the directional radiation pattern of said guided wave antenna,

and terminating surface means for causing the radiation of the guided wave after it passes over said antenna surface means.

11. An electronically variable guided wave antenna according to claim 10,

in which said terminating surface means has a surface impedance approaching zero.

12. An electronically variable guided wave antenna,

comprising antenna surface means capable of supporting a radio frequency guided wave along said surface means,

launching means directed along and parallel with said antenna surface means for launching a radio frequency guided wave along said antenna surface means,

said antenna surface means having a portion with inductive surface impedance for supporting the propagation of the guided wave along said antenna surface means,

said antenna surface means comprising electronically controllable surface impedance means distributed over said surface means and including first control signal responsive means for varying the real magnitude component of the surface impedance presented to said guided wave over said surface means in a non-uniform manner,

said surface impedance means also including second control signal responsive means for separately varying the phase angle of the surface impedance presented to said guided wave over said surface means in a non-uniform manner,

and control means for supplying individual control signals to said first and second control signal responsive means to vary the propagation characteristics and the directional radiation pattern of said guided wave antenna,

said portion with inductive surface impedance including an initial antenna surface adjacent said launching means and comprising an electrically conductive surface member and a solid dielectric surface member surmounting said electrically conductive surface member.

13. An electronically variable guided wave antenna,

comprising antenna surface means capable of supporting a radio frequency guided wave along said surface means,

reciprocal launching means directed in a launch direction along and parallel with said antenna surface means for launching a radio frequency guided wave along said antenna surface means,

said antenna surface means having a portion with an inductive surface impedance adjacent said launching means for supporting the propagation of the guided wave along said antenna surface means,

said antenna surface means comprising a multiplicity of electronically controllable surface impedance elements distributed in two dimensions both parallel and transversely to said launch direction over said surface means,

each of said surface impedance elements including control signal responsive means for varying the surface impedance presented to said guided wave over such surface impedance element,

and control means for supplying individual control signals to said control signal responsive means for varying the propagation characteristics and the directional radiation pattern of said guided wave antenna,

said portion with inductive surface impedance including an initial antenna surface adjacent said launching means and comprising an electrically conductive surface member and a solid dielectric surface member surmounting said electrically conductive surface member.

14. An electronically variable guided wave antenna,

comprising antenna surface means capable of supporting a guided wave along and parallel with said antenna surface means,

said antenna surface means having at least a portion with an inductive surface impedance for supporting the propagation of the guided wave along said antenna surface means,

said antenna surface means having a multiplicity of electronically controllable elements distributed over said antenna surface means in two dimensions which are transversely related to each other for supplying guided wave energy to said antenna surface means,

said electronically controllable elements being oriented to direct said guided wave energy along and parallel to said antenna surface means,

each of said electronically controllable elements including control signal responsive means for varying the guided wave energy supplied by said electronically controllable element to said antenna surface means,

and control means for supplying individual control signals to said control signal responsive means for varying the directional radiation pattern of said guided wave antenna,

said portion with an inductive surface impedance including electrically conductive surface means and solid dielectric surface means surmounting said electrically conductive surface means.

15. An electronically variable guided wave antenna,

comprising antenna surface means capable of supporting a radio frequency guided wave along said surface means,

launching means directed along and substantially parallel with said antenna surface means for launching a radio frequency guided wave along said antenna surface means,

said antenna surface means comprising electronically controllable surface impedance means distributed over said surface means and including first control signal responsive means for varying the real magnitude component of the surface impedance presented to said guided wave over said surface means in a non-uniform manner,

said surface impedance means also including second control signal responsive means for separately varying the phase angle of the surface impedance presented to said guided wave over said surface means in a non-uniform manner,

and control means for supplying individual control signals to said first and second control signal responsive means to vary the propagation characteristics and the directional radiation pattern of said guided wave antenna,

said electronically controllable surface impedance means comprising an array of closely spaced discrete electronically controllable surface impedance elements distributed over said surface means,

said array of discrete electronically controllable surface impedance elements comprising an array of wave guide elements leading from said surface means and including electronically variable means incorporating said first and second control signal responsive means,

said electronically variable means including means including a reflection amplifier connected to the corresponding wave guide element for reflecting wave energy along said wave guide element,

said amplifier comprising said first control signal responsive means operative to vary the amplification characteristics of said reflection amplifier,

said electronically variable means including said second signal responsive means for varying the phase of the wave energy reflected along said wave guide element.

16. An electronically variable guided wave antenna,

comprising reactive antenna surface means capable of supporting a radio frequency guided wave along said surface means,

reciprocal launching means directed in a launch direction along and substantially parallel with said antenna surface means for launching a radio frequency guided wave along said antenna surface means,

said antenna surface means comprising a multiplicity of electronically controllable surface impedance elements distributed in two dimensions both parallel and transversely to said launch direction over said surface means,

each of said surface impedance elements including control signal responsive means for varying the surface impedance presented to said guided wave over such surface impedance element,

and control means for supplying individual control signals to said control signal responsive means for varying the propagation characteristics and the directional radiation pattern of said guided wave antenna,

said surface impedance elements comprising an array of wave guide elements leading from said surface means,

each of said wave guide elements including means including a reflection amplifier connected to the corresponding wave guide element for reflecting wave energy along said wave guide element,

said control signal responsive means including first means for varying the amplification characteristics of said reflection amplifier,

and second means for varying the phase of the wave energy reflected along said wave guide element.