3-dimensional beam steering system

• US 6,873,289 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2002
• Issued: 03/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seoul National University
• Original Assignee: Seoul National University
• Inventors: Kwon, Young-Woo, Cheon, Chang-Yul
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mull, Fred H
• Application Number:
  US10/209,991
• Publication Number:
  US 20030034916A1
• Time in Patent Office: 972 Days
• Field of Search: 342/359, 342/372, 343/700.MS, 343/766, 343/765, 343/754, 343757-758
• US Class Current: 342/372
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/065 Patch antenna array
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/01 varying the shape of the antenna or antenna system
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/30 varying the relative phase between the radiating elements of an array H01Q3/2605, H01Q3/2658, H01Q3/2682, H01Q3/44 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/32 by mechanical means

Abstract

The present invention relates to a beam steering system. The system includes an array of a plurality of antenna elements, each antenna element being electrically and mechanically controlled for steering a beam in a specific direction, and a millimeter wave subsystem quasi-optically integrated with a 3-dimensional beam steering device and an MMIC-type active circuit. The antenna element is controlled in real time by an electrical driving method so as to be moved in 2-dimensional space. That is, in the 3-dimensional system of the present invention, the beam is electrically controlled by a phase shifter, and each antenna element is physically moved by a mechanical driving mechanism. The 3-dimensional beam steering antenna and the associated devices are monolithically integrated on a substrate using MEMS technology, and the active circuit elements such as a mixer, a power amplifier (PA), a low noise amplifier (LNA), a VCO, etc. are integrated in an MMIC active array. The 3-dimensional beam steering device and the active MMIC circuit are integrated into one system by being interconnected using the quasi-optical technique. According to the present invention, shortcomings of the millimeter wave in that the SNR is low due to the low device output and high transmission loss in the free space can be overcome using the new RF transmission technique of 3-dimensional beam steering, and by introducing a micro antenna structure which is electrically and mechanically controlled such that wideband RF communication and 3-dimensional imaging is allowed in a Pico cell environment.

Claims

1. A beam steering system having a front surface and comprising at least two beam steering devices on the front surface, each including an antenna unit and an individual driving unit capable of electrically and mechanically steering the antenna units, the beam steering devices being arranged to focus the beam at one spatial point.

2. A beam steering system of claim 1, wherein the driving unit can mechanically steer the antenna unit in 1 and 2 dimensions in order for a beam to be 1-, 2-, and 3-dimensionally guided.

3. A beam steering system of claim 1 is characterized in that the system operates in microwave and millimeter wave bands.

4. A beam steering system of claim 1 further comprises a MMIC-type active circuit exchanging signals with the beam steering device.

5. A beam steering system of claim 4, wherein the MMIC-type active circuit comprises a VCO, a mixer, an amplifier.

6. A beam steering system of claim 4, wherein the MMIC-type active circuit and the beam steering device are monolithically integrated using a quasi-optical technology or a multi-level integration technology.

7. A beam steering system of claim 1 further comprises a phase shifter connected to the beam steering device for electrically adjusting a phase of a signal to be transmitted through the antenna unit.

8. A beam steering system of claim 1, wherein the beam steering device uses an electrical method for adjusting a phase of the antenna unit, and a mechanical method for physically adjusting a direction of the antenna unit for beam steering.

9. A beam steering system of claim 1, wherein components of the beam steering system are manufactured using a micromachining technology.

10. An antenna for three dimensional beam steering, the antenna having a front surface and comprising an array of individually controlled beam generating elements on the front surface, each beam generating clement being associated with an individual driving unit capable of electrically and mechanically steering the beam generating element, the beam generating elements being arranged to focus the beam at one spatial point.