Optically controlled meta-material phased array antenna system
AssigneeVerizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
InventorsDonna L. Polehn, Fred Weisbrod
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system includes a phased array antenna. The phased array antenna includes a rear panel that has: a first array of phase shift elements; and a second array of rear antenna elements. The phased array antenna also includes a front panel that has a third array of front antenna elements. Each of the front antenna elements is electrically coupled to a corresponding one of the rear antenna elements through one of the phase shift elements. When the second array of rear antenna elements receives a radio signal from a base station and the first array of phase shift elements receives an optical control beam from the base station, the third array of antenna elements radiates an output radio signal in a direction indicated by the optical control beam.
Claims16
A system comprising:
- a phased array antenna that includes:
- a rear panel comprising:
- a first array of phase shift elements;
- and
- a second array of rear antenna elements;
- a front panel comprising:
- a third array of front antenna elements,
- wherein each of the front antenna elements is electrically coupled to a corresponding one of the rear antenna elements through one of the phase shift elements, and
- wherein when the second array of rear antenna elements receives a radio signal, from a base station external to the phased array antenna, and the first array of phase shift elements receives an optical control beam from the base station, the third array of front antenna elements transmits an output radio signal in a first direction indicated by the optical control beam.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.