Low cost 2-D electronically scanned array with compact CTS feed and MEMS phase shifters
First Claim
1. A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) steerable electronically scanned lens array (ESA) antenna, comprising:
- a MEMS E-plane steerable lens array including first and second arrays of wide band radiating elements, and an array of MEMS E-plane phase shifter modules disposed between the first and second arrays of radiating elements; and
, a MEMS H-plane steerable linear array including a continuous transverse stub (CTS) feed array and an array of MEMS H-plane phase shifter modules at an input of the CTS feed array, the MEMS H-plane steerable linear array being disposed adjacent the first array of radiating elements of the MEMS E-plane steerable lens array for providing a planar wave front in the near field;
wherein the H-plane phase shifter modules shift RF signals input into the CTS feed array based on the phase settings of the H-plane phase shifter modules, and the E-plane phase shifter modules steer a beam radiated from the CTS feed array in an E-plane based on the phase settings of the E-plane phase shifter modules.
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Abstract
A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) steerable electronically scanned lens array (ESA) antenna and method of frequency scanning are disclosed. The MEMS ESA antenna includes a MEMS E-plane steerable lens array and a MEMS H-plane steerable linear array. The MEMS E-plane steerable lens array includes first and second arrays of wide band radiating elements, and an array of MEMS E-plane phase shifter modules disposed between the first and second arrays of radiating elements. The MEMS H-plane steerable linear array includes a continuous transverse stub (CTS) feed array and an array of MEMS H-plane phase shifter modules at an input of the CTS feed array. The MEMS H-plane steerable linear array is disposed adjacent the first array of radiating elements of the MEMS E-plane steerable lens array for providing a planar wave front in the near field. The H-plane phase shifter modules shift RF signals input into the CTS feed array based on the phase settings of the H-plane phase shifter modules, and the E-plane phase shifter modules steer a beam radiated from the CTS feed array in an E-plane based on the phase settings of the E-plane phase shifter modules.
241 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) steerable electronically scanned lens array (ESA) antenna, comprising:
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a MEMS E-plane steerable lens array including first and second arrays of wide band radiating elements, and an array of MEMS E-plane phase shifter modules disposed between the first and second arrays of radiating elements; and
,a MEMS H-plane steerable linear array including a continuous transverse stub (CTS) feed array and an array of MEMS H-plane phase shifter modules at an input of the CTS feed array, the MEMS H-plane steerable linear array being disposed adjacent the first array of radiating elements of the MEMS E-plane steerable lens array for providing a planar wave front in the near field;
wherein the H-plane phase shifter modules shift RF signals input into the CTS feed array based on the phase settings of the H-plane phase shifter modules, and the E-plane phase shifter modules steer a beam radiated from the CTS feed array in an E-plane based on the phase settings of the E-plane phase shifter modules. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of frequency scanning radio frequency energy, comprising the steps of:
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inputting radio frequency (RF) energy into an array of MEMS H-plane phase shifter modules;
adjusting the phase of the RF energy based on the phase settings of the MEMS H-plane phase phase shifter modules;
radiating the H-plane phase adjusted RF signals through a plurality of CTS radiating elements in the form of a plane wave in the near field;
emitting the H-plane phase adjusted RF plane wave into an input aperture of a MEMS E-plane steerable lens array including an array of MEMS E-plane phase shifter modules;
converting the RF plane wave into discrete RF signals;
adjusting the phase of the discrete RF signals based on the phase settings of the MEMS E-plane phase shifter modules; and
radiating the H-plane and E-plane adjusted RF signals through a radiating aperture of the MEMS E-plane steerable lens array, thereby recombining the RF signals and forming an antenna beam. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification