Linearly polarized phased antenna array

• US 3,887,925 A
• Filed: 07/31/1973
• Issued: 06/03/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ITT Corporation (ITT, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Emmanuel J. Perrotti, Joseph C. Ranghelli
• Inventors: Perrotti, Emmanuel J., Ranghelli, Joseph C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieberman, Eli
• Application Number:
  US05/384,188
• Time in Patent Office: 672 Days
• Field of Search: 343/795,814,854 333/84M
• US Class Current: 343/795
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/38 the phase-shifters being digital
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/065 Microstrip dipole antennas patch antenna H01Q9/0407

Abstract

There is disclosed herein a linearly polarized mat-strip phased antenna array wherein the antenna array is phased by incorporating in series relationship one or more mat-strip loaded line type phase shifters in the mat-strip power division distribution network for the mat-strip dipole elements and/or a combined mat-strip dipole element and phase inverter. Two embodiments are illustrated.

Claims

1. An antenna array comprising:

N linearly polarized mat-strip center fed dipole elements indicidually disposed on opposite sides of a printed circuit board, each of said N elements having a given orientation;

a ground plane superimposed relative to and associated with said N elements;

a mat-strip power distribution network disposed on said board coupled to said N elements;

said N elements, said ground plane and said distribution network cooperating to produce a linearly polarized antenna beam; and

a mat-strip phase shifting arrangement selectively coupled to said distribution network to control said antenna beam to have different selected angular directions, identical portions of said phase shifting arrangement being carried on both surfaces of said board.

2. An antenna array according to claim 1, wherein said phase shifting arrangement includes at least one phase shifter having a one quarter wavelength mat-strip impedance transformer disposed in said distribution network and carried by said board, a first shunt mat-strip transMission line carried by said board and extending perpendicular from one end of said transformer, a second shunt mat-strip transmission line carried by said board and extending perpendicular from the other end of said transformer parallel to said first shunt transmission line, four normally non-conducting switching diodes carried by said board, each of said four diodes being connected to an end of a different one of the conductors of said first and second shunt transmission lines, and four radio frequency ground terminating and direct current biasing printed circuit pads carried by said board, each of said four pads being connected to a different one of said four diodes;

a source of switching voltage; and

a first switching arrangement connected between said source and each of said four pads to render each of said four diodes conductive to radio frequency ground said first and second shunt transmission lines by said four pads to provide a predetermined amount of radio frequency phase shift in said distribution network.

3. An antenna array according to claim 2, wherein each of said four diodes is a PIN diode.

4. An antenna array according to claim 3, wherein each of said PIN diodes is parallel to said board.

5. An antenna array according to claim 2, wherein each of said N elements includes a first dipole wing printed with said given orientation on one surface of said board spaced from and extending outwardly in one direction from an end of one conductor of said distribution network, a first normally non-conducting switching diode interconnecting adjacent ends of said first wing and said one conductor of said distribution network, a second dipole wing printed with said given orientation on said one surface of said board spaced from and extending outwardly in a direction opposite to said one direction from said end of said one conductor of said distribution network, a second normally non-conducting switching diode interconnecting adjacent ends of said second wing and said one conductor of said distribution network, a third dipole wing printed on the other surface of said board in a superimposed relation with said first wing, a third normally non-conducting switching diode interconnecting adjacent ends of said third wing and the other conductor of said distribution network, a fourth dipole wing printed on said other surface of said board in a superimposed relation with said second wing, and a fourth normally non-conducting switching diode interconnecting adjacent ends of said fourth wing and said other conductor of said distribution network;

and said phase shifting arrangement further includes a second switching arrangement connected between said source and each of said first and fourth wings to render each of said first and fourth diodes conductive to connect said first and fourth wings to said distribution network to provide energy flow in said N elements in a first direction, and a third switching arrangement connected between said source and each of said second and third wings to render each of said second and third diodes conductive to connect said second and third wings to said distribution network to provide energy flow in said N elements in a second direction opposite to said first direction, said second and third switching arrangements being non-coincidently operated.

6. An antenna array according to claim 5, wherein said second switching arrangement is connected to a low impedance point of each of said first and fourth wings;

and said third switching arrangement is connected to a low impedance point of each of said second and third wings.

7. An antenna array according to claim 6, wherein each of said first, second, third and fourth diodes is a PIN diode.

8. An antenna array according to claim 7, wherein each of said PIN diodes are parallel to said board.

9. An antenna array according to claim 8, wherein said N elements arE equal to an even integer symmetrically disposed on said board;

and said distribution network is disposed on said board extending radially in two directions from a predetermined point and connected to said N elements; and

further including a combined balun and power divider coupled to said distribution network including a coaxial transmission line disposed perpendicular to said board adjacent said predetermined point, said coaxial line having an outer conductor and a center conductor extending through said board to one surface thereof, a first strip conductor disposed on said one surface of said board connected directly to and extending radially in two directions from said center conductor for connection to the inputs of said distribution network, said first conductor having a given width, and a second strip conductor disposed on the other surface of said board in a superimposed relation with said first conductor and connected between said outer conductor and said inputs of said distribution network, said second conductor having a width greater than said given width.

10. An antenna array according to claim 2, wherein said phase shifting arrangement includes a plurality of said one phase shifter connected in a series relationship, and said first switching arrangement is connected between said source and each of said four diodes of each of said plurality of said one phase shifter to control said phase in predetermined phase shift steps.

11. An antenna array according to claim 10, wherein each of said four diodes of each of said plurality of said one phase shifter is a PIN diode.

12. An antenna array according to claim 11, wherein each of said PIN diodes is parallel to said board.

13. An antenna array according to claim 12, wherein said N elements are equal to an even integer symmetrically disposed on said board;

and said distribution network is disposed on said board extending radially in two directions from a predetermined point and connected to said N elements; and

further including a combined balun and power divider coupled to said distribution network including a coaxial transmission line disposed perpendicular to said board adjacent said predetermined point, said coaxial line having an outer conductor and a center conductor extending through said board to one surface thereof, a first strip conductor disposed on said one surface of said board connected directly to and extending radially in two directions from said center conductor for connection to the inputs of said distribution network, said first conductor having a given width, and a second strip conductor disposed on the other surface of said board in a superimposed relation with said first conductor and connected between said outer conductor and said inputs of said distribution network, said second conductor having a width greater than said given width.

14. An antenna array according to claim 10, wherein each of said N elements includes a first dipole wing printed with said given orientation on one surface of said board spaced from and extending outwardly in one direction from an end of one conductor of said distribution network, a first normally non-conducting switching diode interconnecting adjacent ends of said first wing and said one conductor of said distribution network, a second dipole wing printed with said given orientation on said one surface of said board spaced from and extending outwardly in a direction opposite to said one direction from said end of said one conductor of said distribution network, a second normally non-conducting switching diode interconnecting adjacent ends of said second wing and said one conductor of said distribution network, a third dipole wing printed on the other surface of said board in a superimposed relation with said first wing, a third normally non-conducting switching diode interconnecting adjacent ends of said third wing and the oTher conductor of said distribution network, a fourth dipole wing printed on said other surface of said board in a superimposed relation with said second wing, and a fourth normally non-conducting switching diode interconnecting adjacent ends of said fourth wing and said other conductor of said distribution network;

and said phase shifting arrangement further includes a second switching arrangement connected between said source and each of said first and fourth wings to render each of said first and fourth diodes conductive to connect said first and fourth wings to said distribution network to provide energy flow in said N elements in a first direction, and a third switching arrangement connected between said source and each of said second and third wings to render each of said second and third diodes conductive to connect said second and third wings to said distribution network to provide energy flow in said N elements in a second direction opposite to said first direction, said second and third switching arrangements being noncoincidently operated.

15. An antenna array according to claim 14, wherein each of said first, second, third and fourth diodes is a PIN diode.

16. An antenna array according to claim 15, wherein each of said PIN diodes are parallel to said board.

17. An antenna array according to claim 16, wherein said second switching arrangement is connected to a low impedance point of each of said first and fourth wings;

and said third switching arrangement is connected to a low impedance point of each of said second and third wings.

18. An antenna according to claim 17, wherein said N elements are equal to an even integer symmetrically disposed on said board;

and said distribution network is disposed on said board extending radially in two directions from a predetermined point and connected to said N elements; and

further including a combined balun and power divider coupled to said distribution network including a coaxial transmission line disposed perpendicular to said board adjacent said predetermined point, said coaxial line having an outer conductor and a center conductor extending through said board to one surface thereof, a first strip conductor disposed on said one surface of said board connected directly to and extending radially in two directions from said center conductor for connection to the inputs of said distribution network, said first conductor having a given width, and a second strip conductor disposed on the other surface of said board in a superimposed relation with said first conductor and connected between said outer conductor and said inputs of said distribution network, said second conductor having a width greater than said given width.

19. An antenna array according to claim 1, wherein each of said N elements includes a first dipole wing printed with said given orientation on one surface of said board spaced from and extending outwardly in one direction from an end of one conductor of said distribution network, a first normally non-conducting switching diode interconnecting adjacent ends of said first wing and said one conductor of said distribution network, a second dipole wing printed with said given orientation on said one surface of said board spaced from and extending outwardly in a direction opposite to said one direction from said end of said one conductor of said distribution network, a second normally non-conducting switching diode interconnecting adjacent ends of said second wing and said one conductor of said distribution network, a third dipole wing printed on the other surface of said board in a superimposed relation with said first wing, a third normally non-conducting switching diode interconnecting adjacent ends of said third wing and the other conductor of said distribution network, a fourth dipole wing printed on said other surface of said board in a superimposed relation with sAid second wing, and a fourth normally non-conducting switching diode interconnecting adjacent ends of said fourth wing and said other conductor of said distribution network;

and said phase shifting arrangement includes a source of switching voltage, a first switching arrangement connected between said source and each of said first and fourth wings to render each of said first and fourth diodes conductive to connect said first and fourth wings to said distribution network to provide energy flow in said N elements in a first direction, and a second switching arrangement connected between said source and each of said second and third wings to render each of said second and third diodes conductive to connect said second and third wings to said distribution network to provide energy flow in said N elements in a second direction opposite to said first direction, said first and second switching arrangements being noncoincidently operated.

20. An antenna array according to claim 19, wherein said first, second, third and fourth diodes is a PIN diode.

21. An antenna array according to claim 20, wherein each of said PIN diodes is parallel to said board.

22. An antenna according to claim 21, wherein said first switching arrangement is connected to a low impedance point of each of said first and fourth wings;

and said second switching arrangement is connected to a low impedance point of each of said second and third wings.

23. An antenna array according to claim 22, wherein said N elements are equal to an even integer symmetrically disposed on said board;

and said distribution network is disposed on said board extending radially in two directions from a predetermined point and connected to said N elements; and

further including a combined balun and power divider coupled to said distribution network including a coaxial transmission line disposed perpendicular to said board adjacent said predetermined point, said coaxial line having an outer conductor and a center conductor extending through said board to one surface thereof, a first strip conductor disposed on said one surface of said board connected directly to and extending radially in two directions from said center conductor for connection to the inputs of said distribution network, said first conductor having a given width, and a second strip conductor disposed on the other surface of said board in a superimposed relation with said first conductor and connected between said outer conductor and said inputs of said distribution network, said second conductor having a width greater than said given width.

24. A combined mat-strip dipole element and phase inverter comprising:

a first dipole wing printed with a given orientation on one surface of a printed circuit board spaced from and extending outwardly in one direction from one end of one conductor of a mat-strip power distribution network carried by said board;

a first normally non-conducting switching diode interconnecting adjacent ends of said first wing and said one conductor of said distribution network;

a second dipole wing printed with said given orientation on said one surface of said board spaced from and extending outwardly in a direction opposite to said one direction from said end of said one conductor of said distribution network;

a second normally non-conducting switching diode interconnecting adjacent ends of said second wing and said one conductor of said distribution network;

a third dipole wing printed on the other surface of said board in a superimposed relation with said first wing;

a third normally non-conducting switching diode interconnecting adjacent ends of said third wing and the other conductor of said distribution network; and

a fourth dipole wing printed on said other surface of said first board in a superimposed relation with said second wing;

a fourth normally non-conducting switching diode interconNecting adjacent ends of said fourth wing and said other conductor of said distribution network;

a source of switching voltage;

a first switching arrangement connected between said source and each of said first and fourth wings to render each of said first and fourth diodes conductive to connect said first and fourth wings to said distribution network to provide energy flow in said dipole element in a first direction; and

a second switching arrangement connected between said source and each of said second and third wings to render each of said second and third diodes conductive to connect said second and third wings to said distribution network to provide energy flow in said dipole element in a second direction opposite to said first direction;

said first and second switching arrangements being non-coincidently operated.

25. An arrangement according to claim 24, wherein each of said first, second, third and fourth diodes is a PIN diode.

26. An arrangement according to claim 25, wherein each of said PIN diodes is parallel to said board.