Dielectric resonator antenna array with steerable elements

An array as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the elements are regularly spaced from each other.

An array as claimed in any preceding claim, further including a dielectric lens which serves to control at least one beam.

An array as claimed in any preceding claim, further provided with electronic circuitry adapted to activate each of the elements with a pre-determined phase shift or time delay so as to generate an array beam pattern which may be steered through a predetermined angle.

An array as claimed in any preceding claim, further provided with electronic circuitry to combine the feeds of at least some of the elements such that a generated element beam pattern is steerable in angle in synchronism with a generated array beam pattern.

An array as claimed in any preceding claim, further provided with electronic circuitry to provide at least two feeds to each individual element such that, when the array is used to form at least two array beams simultaneously so as to form an antenna beam pattern having at least two main lobes, the elements are activatable so as to form at least two element beams simultaneously which are steerable in angle in synchronism with the antenna beam pattern.

An array as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the feeds are adapted to provide predetermined time delays in the feed to each element.

An array as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the feeds are provided with means for individually adjusting a phase of an energy signal carried therealong to each element.

An array as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each element is connected to a separate transmitter or receiver module and wherein each transmitter or receiver module is controlled by any means, e.g. a computer, to generate predetermined phase and/or amplitude modifications to signals fed to or received from the elements so as to enable steering of an array beam pattern.

An array as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the steerable element beam may be steered through a complete 360 degree circle.

An array as claimed in any preceding claim, further including electronic circuitry to combine the feeding mechanisms of multiple elements so as to form sum and difference patterns to permit radio direction finding capability of up to 360 degrees.

An array as claimed in any preceding claim, further including electronic circuitry to combine the feeding mechanisms of multiple elements to form an amplitude and/or phase comparison radio direction finding capability of up to 360 degrees.

An array as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the feeding mechanisms take the form of conductive probes which are contained within or against the dielectric resonator elements, or a combination thereof.

An array as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the dielectric resonator elements are formed of a dielectric material having a dielectric constant k≧10.

An array as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the dielectric resonator elements are formed from a liquid or gel material.

An array as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a single transmitter or receiver is connected to a plurality of elements.

An array as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each element is a compound dielectric resonator antenna comprising a plurality of individual dielectric resonator antennas each including a dielectric resonator having side faces, and a feeding mechanism for transferring energy into and from the dielectric resonator, wherein the dielectric resonators are arranged such that at least one side face of each dielectric resonator is adjacent to at least one side face of a neighbouring dielectric resonator.