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US 2019/0097327 A1Published application
Electronically-controlled polarization of antenna arrays
OwnerFarrokh Mohamadiinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method is provided in which a single-pole-double-throw switch controls whether a circular loop transmits a right-hand circular polarized signal or a left-hand circular polarized signal. The single-pole-double-throw switch is shielded from the circular loop by a metallic ground plane. An annulus of dielectric insulates the circular loop from the metallic ground plane.
Claims20
An antenna comprising:
- a single-pole-double-throw (SPDT) switch;
- a metallic ground plane having a pair of apertures;
- an annulus of dielectric on the metallic ground plane;
- a conductive loop on the annulus of dielectric
- a conductive loop;
- and
- a pair of vias configured to couple from the SPDT switch through the pair of apertures in the metallic ground plane to the conductive loop, wherein the SPDT switch is configured to select for either via in the pair of vias responsive to a polarization control signal and to drive a first RF signal into the selected one of the vias during a transmission mode of operation.
4 more elements
A method of controlling a circular polarization for an antenna comprising:
- selecting a first throw in a single-pole-double-throw (SPDT) switch responsive to a first polarization command;
- and
- driving a first RF signal through the first throw into a first via that extends through a first aperture in a metallic ground plane to a circular conductive loop that in turn connects through a second via that couples though a second aperture in the metallic ground plane to the SPDT switch to transmit the first RF signal with right-hand circular polarization from the circular conductive loop to a remote receiver.
The method of claim 14, further comprising:
- routing the first RF signal through a second lead in a second metal layer, wherein the second metal layer intervenes between the first metal layer and the SPDT switch;
- and
- coupling the first RF signal from the second lead through a fourth via to the SPDT switch.
An array of antennas, wherein each antenna includes:
- an annulus of dielectric having a first side and a second side;
- a metallic circular loop on the first side of the annulus of dielectric;
- a metallic ground plane having a first side contacting the second side of the annulus of dielectric;
- a SPDT switch facing a second side of the metallic ground plane, wherein the SPDT switch couples through a pair of vias through a corresponding pair of apertures in the ground plane to the metallic circular loop, wherein a first via in the pair of vias couples to a first end of the metallic circular loop and wherein a second via in the pair of vias couples a second end of the metallic circular loop.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.