Antenna array having two dimensional beam steering
First Claim
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1. An antenna comprising:
- a ferrite substrate having first and second opposing surfaces;
a two-dimensional planar array of antenna elements disposed over said first surface of said ferrite substrate, each of said antenna elements having a shape which is symmetric about a first axis;
a first magnetic circuit disposed proximate said two dimensional planar array of antenna elements, said first magnetic circuit having a first magnetic field with a first magnitude and a first direction, wherein the magnitude and direction of the first magnetic field can be varied in a plane in which the antenna elements lie, and wherein the relative phases between each of said antenna elements in said first direction are controlled by varying the amplitude and direction of the first magnetic field; and
a second magnetic circuit orthogonally disposed relative said first magnetic circuit, said second magnetic circuit having a second magnetic field with a second magnitude and a second direction orthogonal to the direction of the first magnetic field, wherein the magnitude and direction of the second magnetic field can be varied in a plane in which the antenna elements lie, and wherein the relative phases between each of said antenna elements in said second direction are controlled by varying the amplitude and direction of the second magnetic field.
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Abstract
An array antenna includes a ferrite substrate having a two-dimensional planar array of antenna elements disposed over a first surface thereof and means for applying an external magnetic field having a magnitude and direction which can be varied at least in a plane in which the antenna elements lie. The amplitude and direction of the external magnetic biasing field is varied to control the relative phases between each of the plurality of antenna elements and to steer the direction of a main antenna beam in two dimensions.
290 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An antenna comprising:
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a ferrite substrate having first and second opposing surfaces; a two-dimensional planar array of antenna elements disposed over said first surface of said ferrite substrate, each of said antenna elements having a shape which is symmetric about a first axis; a first magnetic circuit disposed proximate said two dimensional planar array of antenna elements, said first magnetic circuit having a first magnetic field with a first magnitude and a first direction, wherein the magnitude and direction of the first magnetic field can be varied in a plane in which the antenna elements lie, and wherein the relative phases between each of said antenna elements in said first direction are controlled by varying the amplitude and direction of the first magnetic field; and a second magnetic circuit orthogonally disposed relative said first magnetic circuit, said second magnetic circuit having a second magnetic field with a second magnitude and a second direction orthogonal to the direction of the first magnetic field, wherein the magnitude and direction of the second magnetic field can be varied in a plane in which the antenna elements lie, and wherein the relative phases between each of said antenna elements in said second direction are controlled by varying the amplitude and direction of the second magnetic field. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An antenna comprising:
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a ferrite substrate having first and second opposing surfaces; a plurality of antenna elements disposed over said first surface of said ferrite substrate, each of said antenna elements having a circular shape and disposed to provide a two-dimensional planar array of antenna elements; a plurality of dielectric image lines as feeder lines for feeding said plurality of antenna elements; a first magnetic circuit disposed proximate said plurality of antenna elements, said first magnetic circuit having a first magnetic field with a first magnitude and a first direction, wherein the magnitude and direction of the first magnetic field can be varied in a plane in which the antenna elements lie, and wherein the relative phases between each of said plurality of antenna elements in said first direction are controlled by varying the amplitude and direction of the first magnetic field; and a second magnetic circuit orthogonally disposed relative said first magnetic circuit, said second magnetic circuit having a second magnetic field with a second magnitude and a second direction orthogonal to the direction of the first magnetic field, wherein the magnitude and direction of the second magnetic field can be varied in a plane in which the antenna elements lie, and wherein the relative phases between each of said antenna elements in said second direction are controlled by varying the amplitude and direction of the second magnetic field, wherein by changing the amplitude and direction of the magnetic field of the first and second magnetic circuits, the radiation beam from the antenna array is steered. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A leaky wave antenna comprising:
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a ferrite substrate having first and second opposing surfaces; two sets of corrugated dielectric image lines disposed over said first surface of said ferrite substrate, wherein image lines in a first one of said sets are disposed orthogonal to image lines in a second one of said sets; a first magnetic circuit disposed proximate said substrate, said first circuit having a first magnetic field with a first magnitude and a first direction, wherein the magnitude and direction of the first magnetic field can be varied in a plane in which the two sets of corrugated dielectric image lines lie, and wherein the relative phases between each of said two sets of corrugated dielectric image lines in said first direction are controlled by varying the amplitude and direction of the first magnetic field; and a second magnetic circuit orthogonally disposed relative said first magnetic circuit, said second magnetic circuit having a second magnetic field with a second magnitude and a second direction orthogonal to the direction of the first magnetic field, wherein the magnitude and direction of the second magnetic field can be varied in a plane in which the two sets of corrugated dielectric image lines lie, and wherein the relative phases between each of said two sets of corrugated dielectric image lines in said second direction are controlled by varying the amplitude and direction of the second magnetic field, wherein by changing the amplitude and direction of the magnetic field of the first and second magnetic circuits, the radiation beam from the antenna array is steered. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. An antenna comprising:
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a waveguide horn antenna having first and second apertures; a substrate having first and second opposing surfaces, said substrate disposed in a first one of the first and second apertures of the waveguide horn; an array of ferrite discs disposed on a first one of the first and second surfaces of the substrate wherein the ferrite discs scatter radiation fields from said waveguide horn; a first magnetic circuit disposed proximate said array of ferrite discs, said first circuit having a first magnetic field with a first magnitude and a first direction, said first magnetic field variable in the plane in which the ferrite discs are disposed, wherein relative phases between each of said ferrite discs in said first direction are controlled by varying the amplitude and direction of the first magnetic field; a second magnetic circuit orthogonally disposed relative said first magnetic circuit, said second magnetic circuit having a second magnetic field with a second magnitude and a second direction orthogonal to the direction of the first magnetic field, said second magnetic field variable in the plane in which the ferrite discs are disposed, wherein relative phases between each of said ferrite discs in said second direction are controlled by varying the amplitude and direction of the second magnetic field, wherein by changing the amplitude and direction of the first and second magnetic fields, the magnetization state of the ferrite discs may be altered. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification