Electronically steerable antenna
First Claim
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.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. An electronically steerable antenna comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An electronically steerable antenna comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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7. An electronically steerable antenna comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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Specification