Metamorphic parallel plate antenna
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A antenna having a controllable direction of operation, comprising:
- a pair of substantially parallel conductive plates;
a semiconductor dielectric medium located between the conductive plates;
an RF feed located centrally to the conductive plates and the dielectric medium and adapted to intorduce RF energy between the conductive plates; and
photonic source means for selectively activating different portions of the semiconductor dielectric medium to electrically interconnect the conductive plates in a plurality of patterns defining different directions of operation of the antenna.
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Abstract
The present invention provides a low-cost, steerable antenna formed with a dielectric medium separating a pair of conductive plates and a centrally located signal feed. Switches selectively interconnect the conductive plates through the dielectric medium in patterns, which determine the direction of operation of the antenna. The directionality of the antenna may be fixed or rapidly changed, depending upon the application.
48 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A antenna having a controllable direction of operation, comprising:
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a pair of substantially parallel conductive plates;
a semiconductor dielectric medium located between the conductive plates;
an RF feed located centrally to the conductive plates and the dielectric medium and adapted to intorduce RF energy between the conductive plates; and
photonic source means for selectively activating different portions of the semiconductor dielectric medium to electrically interconnect the conductive plates in a plurality of patterns defining different directions of operation of the antenna. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A steerable antenna, comprising:
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a dielectric cylinder having a top and a bottom surface;
a first metallized layer substantially covering said bottom surface and a second metallized layer covering at least a portion of said top surface and having a predetermined pattern of ports formed therein;
switch means associated with said predetermined pattern of ports for selectively connecting said first metallized layer to said second metallized layer, said switch means forming a conductive barrier therebetween;
switch activating means connected to each of said switch means for selectively turning said switch means on and off; and
feed means disposed proximate a central region of at least one of said top and said bottom surfaces and adapted to couple a radio frequency (RF) signal to and from said steerable antenna;
whereby upon selective activation of said switch means, a steerable antenna structure is formed in said dielectric cylinder by said conductive regions and said RF feed. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A stacked, steerable horn antenna assembly formed from a plurality of steerable antennas, each comprising:
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a dielectric cylinder having a top and a bottom surface;
a first metallized layer substantially covering said bottom surface and a second metallized layer covering at least a portion of said top surface and having a predetermined pattern of ports formed therein;
switch means associated with said predetermined pattern of ports for selectively connecting said first metallized layer to said second metallized layer, said switch means forming a conductive barrier therebetween;
switch activating means connected to each of said switch means for selectively turning said switch means on and off;
feed means disposed proximate a central region of at least one of said top and said bottom surfaces to couple a radio frequency (RF) signal to said steerable horn antenna assembly;
whereby upon selective activation of said switch means, a steerable antenna structure is formed in said dielectric cylinder by said conductive barrier and said radio frequency feed means, said plurality of steerable antennas being stacked substantially coaxially, one above another, each of said plurality of steerable antennas being independently operable with regard to frequency and directionality. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification