Electronically steerable antenna

• US 4,885,592 A
• Filed: 12/28/1987
• Issued: 12/05/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honeywell Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Kofol, J. Stephen, Schroepfer, Daniel A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hille, Rolf
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wimer, Michael C.
• Application Number:
  US07/138,409
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 342/368, 342/371, 342/372, 342/377, 342/374, 342/376, 343/768, 343/770, 343/771, 343/753, 343/754, 343/909
• US Class Current: 343/754
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/46 Active lenses or reflecting arrays

Abstract

A lightweight antenna array which can quickly scan or switch radiation patterns, characterized by an array of slot-type radiators wherein the impedance of each radiating element can be varied, preferably by a computer controlled circuit containing particular groups of the radiators, wherein each grouping is defined by a unique set of impedance values for the radiators. The groups of radiators in the array can be slectively generated to scan and/or switch pattern footprints and/or change near-field radiation characteristics and/or alter antenna aperture size, density, distribution, spacing or frequency of operation. An adaptive technique, using an algorithm, can be employed to generate the radiator groupings.

Claims

1. An electronically steerable antenna comprising:

an array of slot-type radiators in a conductive member mounted on a phase plate of varying thickness, wherein the proximate thickness determines a phase for each of said slot-type radiators, wherein each of said slot-type radiators has an independently adjustable output amplitude and a particular fixed phase, and wherein each of said slot-type radiators has a base-emitter junction of a planar bipolar transistor that determines the impedance of each of said slot-type radiators according to a control voltage applied across the junction, thereby determining an amplitude of output radiation from each of said slot-type radiators;

an electromagnetic radiation energy source, coupled to said array of slot-type radiators, for providing electromagnetic radiation through the phase plate to said array of slot-type radiators;

control means, connected to said array of slot-type radiators, for controlling each of said slot-type radiators by applying the control voltage across the junction of each bipolar transistor of each of said radiators; and

antenna programming means, connected to said control means, for indicating to said control means the amplitudes of output radiation of said slot-type radiators that form a group pattern of selected slots which have determined impedances and individual fixed phases, wherein the group pattern of selected slots has a cumulative effect of rapidly establishing a particular resultant radiated pattern for a certain direction and distance (for instance, near- or far-field) at a particular frequency.

2. Apparatus of claim 1 wherein said array of slot-type radiators including transistors for switching and controlling amplitude output of each slot-type radiator, is a monolithic integrated circuit chip.

3. Apparatus of claim 1 wherein the control voltages to the transistors may be varied to fine-tune the amplitudes of the outputs of said radiators.

4. An electronically steerable antenna comprising:

an array of slot-type radiators in a conductive member mounted on a phase plate of varying thickness, wherein the proximate thickness determines a specific phase for each of said slot-type radiators, wherein each of said slot-type radiators has an individually controllable radiation output amplitude and a particular fixed phase, and wherein each of said slot-type radiators has an associated transistor that discretely switches the respective slot-type radiator on or off through a control voltage of the associated transistor, thereby controlling the output from each of said slot-type radiators;

an electromagnetic radiation energy source, connected to said array of radiators, for providing electromagnetic radiation to said array of radiators;

control means, connected to each associated transistor, for digitally switching the control voltage to each associated transistor of said slot-type radiators thereby opening or closing the respective radiator; and

antenna programming means, connected to said control means, for selecting and communicating to said control means certain said slot-type radiators to be switched on thereby forming a particular group pattern of activated radiators in said array, for rapidly establishing or changing to a desired radiated pattern in a certain direction and at a given distance for a particular frequency.

5. Apparatus of claim 4 wherein the control voltages to the associated transistors are adjusted to fine-tune the amplitudes of the outputs of said radiators.

6. Apparatus of claim 4 wherein each of said array of said slot-type radiators and each of the associated transistors for switching and controlling amplitude output of each of said slot-type radiators, is a monolithic integrated circuit chip.

7. An electronically steerable antenna comprising:

an array of slot-type radiators in a conductive member mounted on a phase plate of varying thickness, wherein the proximate thickness determines a specific phase for each of said slot-type radiators, wherein each of said slot-type radiators has an individually controllable radiation output amplitude and a particular fixed phase, and wherein each of said slot-type radiators has an associated diode that discretely switches the respective slot-type radiator on or off through a control current of the associated diode, thereby controlling the output from each of said slot-type radiators;

an electromagnetic radiation energy source, coupled to said array of radiators, for providing electromagnetic radiation to said array of radiators;

control means, connected to each associated diode, for digitally switching the control current to each associated diode of said slot-type radiators thereby opening or closing the respective radiator; and

antenna programming means, connected to said control means, for indicating to said control means a selection of certain said slot-type radiators to be switched on thereby forming a particular group pattern of activated radiators in said array, for rapidly providing at said array a desired radiated pattern in a certain direction and at a given field for a particular frequency.

8. Apparatus of claim 7 wherein the control currents to the associated diodes have bias currents that may be varied to fine-tune the amplitudes of the outputs of said radiators in on and off status.

9. Apparatus of claim 7 wherein said array of slot-type radiators including diodes for switching outputs of the radiators, is a monolithic integrated circuit chip.