Layered electronically scanned antenna and method therefor

• US 6,396,449 B1
• Filed: 03/15/2001
• Issued: 05/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Waineo, Douglas K., Tornberg, Neal Eugene, Miller, Michael C., Osterhues, Gordon D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Tan
• Application Number:
  US09/809,129
• Time in Patent Office: 439 Days
• Field of Search: 343/754,756,700 MS,755,795,797,853,876,909 342/373,374,375
• US Class Current: 343/754
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/002 said selective devices being reconfigurable or tunable, e.g. using switches or diodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/0087 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing antenna arrays manufacturing waveguides H01P11/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/44 varying the electric or magnetic characteristics of reflecting, refracting, or diffracting devices associated with the radiating element
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/46 Active lenses or reflecting arrays

Abstract

A layered, electronically scanned antenna. The antenna includes a plurality or array layers separated by dielectric spacers. Each array layer includes a transistor switched grid formed by a plurality of reflective/transmissive elements such as cross dipoles interconnected by a plurality of semiconductors, such as MOSFETs. When the switched grid is in an open state, its associated array layer is reflective. When it is in a closed condition, its associated layer is in a transmissive state. By controlling the state of each array layer, a desired degree of phase shift can be imparted to the signal reflected by the antenna. The antenna thus eliminates the need for costly MEMS/MMIC technology to achieve the desired degrees of phase shift of a signal reflected by the antenna.

Claims

1. An electronically scanned array antenna comprising:

a plurality of array elements each including a switch and a reflecting component responsive to said switch, wherein when the switch is in a closed state the reflecting component acts as a transmissive element to allow an electromagnetic wave to pass therethrough, and when said switch is in an open state said reflecting component acts to reflect an electromagnetic wave incident thereon;

said array elements being arranged in a first plane to form a first layer of said array elements;

a second layer forming a reflector;

a dielectric material disposed between said first and second layers, said dielectric material providing a predetermined degree of electrical phase shifting to an electromagnetic wave passing therethrough; and

a control system for controlling said plurality of array elements to provide a desired degree of phase shift to a signal reflected from said antenna.

2. The antenna of claim 1, wherein when said switches of said plurality of array elements of said first layer are opened, an electromagnetic signal incident thereon is reflected from said first layer.

3. The antenna of claim 1, wherein each said switch comprises a transistor.

4. The antenna of claim 1, wherein each said reflecting component comprises a resonant dipole.

5. The antenna of claim 4, wherein each said resonant dipole comprises a resonant cross dipole.

6. The antenna of claim 1, wherein said dielectric material is selected to provide a phase shift of 45°

to an electromagnetic wave passing therethrough.

7. An electronically scanned phased array antenna comprising:

a plurality of array elements each including a switch and a reflecting component responsive to said switch, wherein when the switch is in a closed state the reflecting component acts as a transmissive element to allow an electromagnetic wave to pass therethrough, and when said switch is in an open state said reflecting component acts to reflect an electromagnetic wave incident thereon;

a first subplurality of said array elements being arranged in a first layer;

a second subplurality of said array elements being arranged in a second layer disposed adjacent said first layer; and

a dielectric material forming an intermediate layer disposed in between said first and second layers, said dielectric material providing a predetermined degree of phase shift to an electromagnetic signal passing through said first layer and reflected by said second layer when said array elements of said first layer are in a transmissive state and said array elements of said second layer are in a reflective state.

8. The antenna of claim 7, wherein each said switch comprises a transistor.

9. The antenna of claim 7, wherein each said reflecting component comprises a resonant dipole.

10. The antenna of claim 9, wherein each said resonant dipole comprises a resonant cross dipole.

11. The antenna of claim 7, wherein said dielectric material is selected to provide a phase shift of 45°

to an electromagnetic wave passing therethrough.

12. The antenna of claim 7, further comprising:

a reflector forming a third layer;

a second dielectric material forming a second plane disposed in between said second layer and said third layer; and

wherein said antenna provides a first degree of phase shifting to a received electromagnetic signal received when said array elements of said first layer are in a transmissive state and said array elements of said second layer are in a reflective state; and

wherein said antenna provides a second degree of phase shifting to a received electromagnetic signal received when said array elements of said first and second layers are in a transmissive state and said electromagnetic signal is received on said third layer.

13. The antenna of claim 12, wherein said first dielectric material has an electrical thickness for providing a 45 degree phase shift to an electromagnetic signal passing therethrough.

14. The antenna of claim 12, wherein said second dielectric material has an electrical thickness for providing a 45 degree phase shift to an electromagnetic signal passing therethrough.

15. An electronically scanned phased array antenna comprising:

a plurality of array elements each including a plurality of switches and a plurality of reflecting components responsive to said switches, wherein when the switches are in an closed states their associated said reflecting components act as transmissive elements to allow an electromagnetic wave to pass therethrough, and when said switches are in open states said reflecting components act to reflect an electromagnetic wave incident thereon;

a subplurality of said array elements being arranged in a first plane forming a first layer;

a subplurality of said array elements being arranged in a second plane forming a second layer disposed adjacent said first layer;

a first dielectric layer of material disposed in between said first and second layers, said first dielectric layer of material providing a 90°

phase shift to an electromagnetic signal passing through said first dielectric layer of material and reflected by said second layer back through said first dielectric layer of material when said array elements of said first layer are in a transmissive state and said array elements of said second layer are in a reflective state;

a subplurality of said array elements being arranged in a third plane forming a third layer disposed adjacent said second layer;

a second dielectric layer of material disposed in between said second and third layers, said second dielectric layer of material providing a 90°

phase shift to an electromagnetic signal passing therethrough to said third plane and reflected by said third plane back through said second dielectric layer of material when said array elements of said third layer are in a reflective state;

a reflector layer disposed adjacent said third layer;

a third dielectric layer of material disposed in between said reflector layer and said third layer, said third dielectric layer of material providing a 90°

phase shift to an electromagnetic signal passing therethrough to said reflector layer and reflected by said reflector layer back through said third dielectric layer; and

wherein a cumulative phase shift of one of the group of 0°

, 180°

, and 270°

is imparted to an electromagnetic signal received and reflected by said antenna by controlling said array elements of said first, second and third layers of array elements.

16. The antenna of claim 15, wherein each said array element comprises a dipole.

17. The antenna of claim 15, wherein each said array element comprises a cross dipole.

18. The antenna of claim 15, wherein said switch associated with each said array element comprises a transistor.

19. A method for forming an electronically scannable antenna, comprising the steps of:

using a first array layer comprised of a plurality of array elements, wherein each said array element controlled via electrical signals to assume a reflective state or a transmissive state, to receive an electromagnetic wave;

disposing a first dielectric substrate adjacent said first array layer, said substrate having a predetermined electrical thickness to provide a predetermined degree of phase shift to said electromagnetic wave when said electromagnetic wave passes therethrough; and

using a reflector disposed adjacent said first dielectric substrate on a side of said substrate opposite to said first array layer, to receive said electromagnetic wave;

said antenna operating in a first state when said first array layer is in said reflective state to reflect said electromagnetic wave incident thereon without imparting any phase shift thereto; and

said antenna operating in a second state when said first array layer is in the transmissive state to cause a predetermined degree of phase shift to be imparted to said electromagnetic wave when said wave passes through said dielectric substrate and is reflected back through said dielectric substrate by said reflector.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of:

using a second array layer disposed in between said dielectric substrate and said reflector to receive said electromagnetic signal when said first array layer is in said transmissive state; and

using a second dielectric disposed in between said second array layer and said reflector;

wherein said second array layer is controlled to assume a transmissive state or a reflective state; and

using said second dielectric to impart an added degree of phase shift to said electromagnetic signal reflected by said reflector when said first and second array layers are both in said transmissive state.