# US 12,191,575 B2 · Beam steering antenna systems and methods thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,191,575 B2 - Document ID: US12191575B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/369,692 - Filed: 2021-07-07 - Published: 2022-05-19 - Granted: 2025-01-07 - Earliest claimed: 2020-11-17 - Assignees: Stichting IMEC Nederland - Applicants: Stichting IMEC Nederland - Inventors: Huib Visser; Rainer Oliver Hornung; Johannes Frederik Dijkhuis - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12191575B2 ## CPC - G01S 7/03: Details of HF subsystems specially adapted therefor, e.g. common to transmitter and receiver - H01Q 3/2682: {Time delay steered arrays} - G01S 13/426: {Scanning radar, e.g. 3D radar (G01S13/66 takes precedence)} - H01Q 1/50: Structural association of antennas with earthing switches, lead-in devices or lightning protectors - H01Q 3/22: varying the orientation in accordance with variation of frequency of radiated wave - H01Q 13/20: Non-resonant leaky-waveguide or transmission-line antennas; Equivalent structures causing radiation along the transmission path of a guided wave - H03F 3/245: {with semiconductor devices only} - H03F 2200/451: the amplifier being a radio frequency amplifier - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES - H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72) - H03F: AMPLIFIERS ## Abstract A beam-steering antenna system for improving the angular coverage comprises a transmission line comprising a first end and a second end. The antenna system further comprises a plurality of antenna elements selectively coupled to the transmission line for selectively coupling energy within the transmission line to the plurality of antenna elements. Furthermore, the antenna system comprises a power amplifier coupled to the first end of the transmission line configured to couple-in an input signal into the transmission line during a first operating period. Moreover, the antenna system comprises a delay line coupled to the second end of the transmission line configured to reflect a portion of the input signal into the transmission line, thereby providing a reflection signal during a second operating period. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A beam-steering antenna system for improving angular coverage comprising: a transmission line comprising a first end and a second end; a plurality of antenna elements implemented as part of the transmission line including one or more radiating discontinuities that couple energy within the transmission line to the plurality of antenna elements; a power amplifier coupled to the first end of the transmission line and configured to couple-in an input signal into the transmission line during a first operating period; and a delay line coupled to the second end of the transmission line and configured to reflect a portion of the input signal into the transmission line, thereby providing a reflection signal during a second operating period; and wherein the power amplifier is further configured to: switch on for the first operating period to couple-in the input signal into the transmission line; and switch-off for the second operating period to provide termination for the reflection signal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The beam-steering antenna system according to claim 1, wherein the first operating period and the second operating period correspond to one time period of the input signal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The beam-steering antenna system according to claim 2, wherein the delay line is a true-time-delay line further configured to delay the reflection signal for one time period of the input signal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The beam-steering antenna system according to claim 3, wherein the power amplifier is further configured to provide an output impedance equal or close to a line impedance of the transmission line. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The beam-steering antenna system according to claim 1, wherein the delay line is a true-time-delay line further configured to delay the reflection signal for one time period of the input signal. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The beam-steering antenna system according to claim 1, wherein the power amplifier is further configured to provide an output impedance equal or close to a line impedance of the transmission line. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The beam-steering antenna system according to claim 1, wherein the power amplifier is further configured to be switched on for the first operating period to couple-in the input signal into the transmission line and is further configured to be switched-off for the second operating period to provide termination for the reflection signal. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The beam-steering antenna system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of antenna elements corresponds to radiating micro-strip transmission line corner-discontinuities, and the delay line corresponds to a micro-strip delay line. ### Claim 9 A method for improving angular coverage of a beam-steering antenna system comprises: providing a transmission line that comprises a first end and a second end; providing a plurality of antenna elements implemented as part of the transmission line including one or more radiating discontinuities that connect to the transmission line and couple energy within the transmission line to the plurality of antenna elements; coupling-in, by a power amplifier coupled to the first end of the transmission line, an input signal into the transmission line during a first operating period; and reflecting, by a delay line coupled to the second end of the transmission line, a portion of the input signal into the transmission line, thereby providing a reflection signal during a second operating period; wherein, coupling-in by the power amplifier further includes: switching on the power amplifier for the first operating period; and switching off the power amplifier for the second operating period. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, wherein the delay line is a true-time-delay line further configured to delay the reflection signal for one time period of the input signal. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, further comprising, providing, by the power amplifier, an output impedance equal or close to a line impedance of the transmission line. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of antenna elements corresponds to radiating micro-strip transmission line corner-discontinuities, and the delay line corresponds to a micro-strip delay line. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, wherein the first operating period and the second operating period correspond to one time period of the input signal.