Low cost polarization twist space-fed E-scan planar phased array antenna
First Claim
1. A polarized twist, space-fed, electronically scanned, planar phased array antenna comprising:
- a substrate;
a plurality of space-fed, electronically scanned phased array radiating elements disposed on said substrate for receiving and transmitting radio frequency signals, each said phased array radiating element comprising a plurality of ortho-linear polarization phased array elements and a plurality of phase shifting elements, each one of said phase shifting elements being independently associated with one of said ortho-linear polarization phased array elements; and
a control circuit for controlling said phase shifting elements to produce a desired phase shift in said radio frequency signals transmitted by said antenna to thereby enable steering of a radio frequency signal transmitted by said ortho-linear polarization phased array elements.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A polarization twist, space-fed, E-scan planar phased array antenna. The phased array antenna incorporates a polarization twist, space-fed architecture. A plurality of unit cells are formed wherein each cell incorporates a large plurality of phased array elements and associated phase shifters. The space-feed architecture enables 2-bit phase shifters to be employed while still producing low antenna sidelobes. The phased array elements, phase shifters, and associated control circuits for controlling the phase shifters are all preferably formed on one surface of a MMIC substrate. This further simplifies significantly the cost and complexity of manufacturing and testing the E-scan phased array antenna. The antenna can therefore be used in applications where an E-scan phased array antenna would have been too costly to employ. The antenna of the present invention is expected to find particular utility in various radar systems, and more particularly missile defense radar systems where E-scan antennas have traditionally been too expensive to employ.
283 Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A polarized twist, space-fed, electronically scanned, planar phased array antenna comprising:
-
a substrate;
a plurality of space-fed, electronically scanned phased array radiating elements disposed on said substrate for receiving and transmitting radio frequency signals, each said phased array radiating element comprising a plurality of ortho-linear polarization phased array elements and a plurality of phase shifting elements, each one of said phase shifting elements being independently associated with one of said ortho-linear polarization phased array elements; and
a control circuit for controlling said phase shifting elements to produce a desired phase shift in said radio frequency signals transmitted by said antenna to thereby enable steering of a radio frequency signal transmitted by said ortho-linear polarization phased array elements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
wherein said ortho-linear polarization array element comprises a cavity backed microstrip cross dipole element disposed over said cavity.
-
-
9. The polarization twist, space-fed, electronically scanned, planar phased array antenna of claim 8, wherein said cavity is filled with a dielectric material.
-
10. The polarization twist, space-fed, electronically scanned, planar phased array antenna of claim 1, wherein each said phased array radiating element comprises a vertically polarized microstrip slot and a horizontally polarized microstrip slot, each of said slots being formed in said substrate.
-
11. A polarization twist, space-fed, electronically scanned, planar phased array antenna comprising:
-
at least one monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC);
a structural support element for supporting said MMIC;
a plurality of space-fed, electronically scanned phased array radiating elements formed on said MMIC for receiving and transmitting radio frequency signals, each said phased array radiating element comprising;
at least one ortho-linear polarization phased array element;
at least one phase shifting element electrically coupled to each said ortho-linear polarization phased array element for producing a desired degree of phase shift in said radio frequency signal transmitted by said antenna; and
a control circuit for controlling each said phase shifting element to produce said desired degree of phase shift. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
wherein said cavity includes a dielectric element; and
wherein one of said ortho-linear polarization phased array elements is disposed over said cavity.
-
-
17. The polarization twist, space-fed, electronically scanned, planar phased array antenna of claim 11, wherein said ortho-linear polarization phased array elements each comprise microstrip cross dipoles formed in said MMIC.
-
18. A method for forming a polarization twist, space-fed, electronically scanned, planar phased array antenna, said method comprising the steps of:
-
providing a structural support member;
forming a monolithic, microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) including a plurality of electronically scanned phased array radiating elements thereon for receiving and transmitting radio frequency signals, and placing said MMIC on said structural support member; and
forming each said phased array radiating element to include an ortho-linear polarization phased array element, at least one phase shifting element for providing a desired degree of phase shifting to said radio frequency signals transmitted by said antenna, and a control circuit for controlling said phase shifting elements to provide said desired degree of phase shifting. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
-
Specification