Antenna architecture for dynamic beam-forming and beam reconfigurability with space feed
First Claim
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1. A phased array antenna comprising:
- a plurality of external radiating elements;
a first beam-forming network coupled to the plurality of external radiating elements, said first beam forming network configured to generate a first plurality of independently steerable beams external to said antenna, the first beam-forming network having M internal beam ports, each of the M beam ports having an internal radiating element of a first set of M internal radiating elements associated therewith; and
a second beam-forming network having a second set of internal radiating elements, said second beam forming network configured to generate a second plurality of independently steerable beams internal to said antenna, one or more of the plurality of independently steerable beams internal to said antenna configured to couple in radiating communication with selected ones of the internal radiating elements of said first set associated with the M beam ports,wherein the M internal beam ports and M associated radiating elements of said first set, and the internal radiating elements of said second set are internal to said antenna.
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Abstract
A switch (10) having a beam-forming network (12) generates independently steerable beams (26). One or more of the independently steerable beams couple in radiating communication with selected ones of M beam ports (18). A feeder array (11) or second beam-former (13) provides signals to radiating elements 19 to form multiple antenna beams for communication.
221 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A phased array antenna comprising:
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a plurality of external radiating elements; a first beam-forming network coupled to the plurality of external radiating elements, said first beam forming network configured to generate a first plurality of independently steerable beams external to said antenna, the first beam-forming network having M internal beam ports, each of the M beam ports having an internal radiating element of a first set of M internal radiating elements associated therewith; and a second beam-forming network having a second set of internal radiating elements, said second beam forming network configured to generate a second plurality of independently steerable beams internal to said antenna, one or more of the plurality of independently steerable beams internal to said antenna configured to couple in radiating communication with selected ones of the internal radiating elements of said first set associated with the M beam ports, wherein the M internal beam ports and M associated radiating elements of said first set, and the internal radiating elements of said second set are internal to said antenna. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10)
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7. A beam selector for a multi-beam phased array antenna comprising:
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a first beam-forming network coupled to the plurality of external radiating elements, said first beam forming network configured to generate at least one independently steerable beam external to said antenna, the first beam-forming network having M internal beam ports, each of the M beam ports having an internal radiating element of a first set of M internal radiating elements associated therewith, each of the M beam ports being associated with one of said independently steerable beams external to said antenna; and a second beam-forming network having a second set of internal radiating elements, said second beam forming network configured to generate a plurality of independently steerable beams internal to said antenna, one or more of the plurality of independently steerable beams internal to said antenna configured to couple in radiating communication with selected ones of the internal radiating elements of said first set associated with the M beam ports thereby selecting one of said independently steerable beams external to said antenna, wherein the M internal beam ports and M associated radiating elements of said first set, and the internal radiating elements of said second set are internal to said antenna.
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Specification