# US 10,320,089 B2 · Electronically steerable planar phase array antenna > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,320,089 B2 - Document ID: US10320089B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/347,717 - Filed: 2012-09-12 - Published: 2014-09-18 - Granted: 2019-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2011-09-27 - Assignees: ALCAN Systems GmbH - Applicants: Rolf Jakoby; Onur Hamza Karabey; Felix Goelden; Atsutaka Manabe - Inventors: Rolf Jakoby; Onur Hamza Karabey; Felix Goelden; Atsutaka Manabe - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10320089B2 ## CPC - H01Q 21/061: {Two dimensional planar arrays} - H01Q 1/38: formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support {(patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142)} - H01Q 1/44: using equipment having another main function to serve additionally as an antenna {, e.g. means for giving an antenna an aesthetic aspect}(H01Q1/27 - H01Q1/34 take precedence) - H01Q 3/34: by electrical means (active lenses or reflecting arrays H01Q3/46) - H01Q 3/44: varying the electric or magnetic characteristics of reflecting, refracting, or diffracting devices associated with the radiating element - H01Q 21/0087: {Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing antenna arrays (manufacturing waveguides H01P11/00)} - H01Q 21/065: {Patch antenna array} - Y10T 29/49018: with other electrical component - H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A two-dimensional (2-D) beam steerable phased array antenna is presented comprising a continuously electronically steerable material including a tunable material or a variable dielectric material, preferred a liquid crystal material. A compact antenna architecture including a patch antenna array, tunable phase shifters, a feed network and a bias network is proposed. Similar to the LC display, the proposed antenna is fabricated by using automated manufacturing techniques and therefore the fabrication costs are reduced considerably. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A planar continuously steerable phased array antenna comprising: at least three substrate layers from top to bottom; a solid front dielectric substrate layer, an electronically variable dielectric layer, and a solid back dielectric substrate layer, wherein said electronically variable dielectric layer is in-between said front and back dielectric substrate layers, the phased array antenna further comprising: at least one phase shifter including electrodes, at least two radiating elements, a feeding network for providing the impedance matching between the radiating elements and a signal input port, and at least one biasing line that controls the electrical characteristics of the electronically variable dielectric layer and therefore the phase of the RF signal by applying a bias voltage, wherein the radiating elements are located on the top side of the front dielectric substrate layer, wherein the phase shifters having the electrodes are integrated into the antenna and are electronically tunable by utilizing the electronically variable dielectric layer, and whereby the electrodes of the phase shifters are planar transmission lines that feed the signal through an aperture coupling to the radiating elements. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A phased array antenna according to claim 1, whereas the phase shifter electrodes are meandered regularly or irregularly. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A phased array antenna according to claim 1, whereas the phase shifter electrodes are arranged spirally. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A phased array antenna according to claim 1, whereas at least two phase shifters build a sub-array. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A phased array antenna according claim 1, whereas at least four phase shifters build a sub-array. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A phased array antenna according to claim 5, whereas the input feed is in the midst of the sub-array. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A phased array antenna according to claim 6, comprising a plurality of sub-arrays. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A phased array antenna according to claim 1, where the phase shifter is a time delay unit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A phased array antenna according to claim 1, wherein the electronically tunable phase shifter includes one or more loaded line phase shifters. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A phased array antenna according to claim 1, wherein the front and back dielectric substrates comprise mechanically stable, low loss substrates. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A phased array antenna according to claim 1, wherein the antenna is 3D in structure. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A method comprising using one or more phased array antennas according to claim 1 to receive an RF signal. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A manufacturing method where at least two components according to claim 1 are fabricated simultaneously on the at least two substrates. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) Device comprising one or more phased array antennas according to claim 1. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A phased array antenna according to claim 1 comprising: a plurality of individual antenna elements, a feed network, and a biasing network. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A phased array antenna according to claim 1, whereas at least one layer selected from the two substrates and the dielectric layer consists of a uniform material. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) A phased array antenna according to claim 1, whereas the electronically variable dielectric layer of the phase shifter is a liquid crystal. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) A phased array antenna according to claim 1, where the phase shifters are integrated to the radiating elements and feeding network. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) A phased array antenna according to claim 1, where the phase shifters are electromagnetically coupled to the radiating elements. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) A phased array antenna according to claim 1, wherein the bias voltage is applied to one of the electrodes of the phase shifter through a bias line.