# US 2019/0245263 A1 · Interleaved array of antennas operable at multiple frequencies > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0245263 A1 - Document ID: US20190245263A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/225,960 - Filed: 2018-12-19 - Published: 2019-08-08 - Earliest claimed: 2018-02-06 - Assignees: HRL Laboratories, LLC - Applicants: HRL Laboratories, LLC - Inventors: Ryan G. QUARFOTH - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190245263A1 ## CPC - H01Q 1/28: Adaptation for use in or on aircraft, missiles, satellites, or balloons - H01Q 3/443: {varying the phase velocity along a leaky transmission line (frequency scanning H01Q3/22; non-resonant leaky-waveguide or transmission-line aerials H01Q13/20)} - H01Q 5/30: Arrangements for providing operation on different wavebands - H01Q 5/42: using two or more imbricated arrays (H01Q5/49 takes precedence) - H01Q 13/20: Non-resonant leaky-waveguide or transmission-line antennas; Equivalent structures causing radiation along the transmission path of a guided wave - H01Q 21/0025: {Modular arrays} - H01Q 21/0068: {Dielectric waveguide fed arrays} - H01Q 21/068: {using parallel coplanar travelling wave or leaky wave aerial units (H01Q21/065 takes precedence)} - H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72) ## Abstract An interleaved array of electronically steerable antennas is capable of simultaneously operating and/or independently beam scanning at different frequencies from a single aperture. An antenna system may comprise a plurality of electronically steerable antennas configured to be operable at different frequencies, each of the antennas comprising a feed launching a surface wave and surface-wave waveguides connected to the feed. The surface-wave waveguides of the antennas operable at different frequencies may be interleaved with each other. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An antenna system, comprising: a plurality of electronically steerable antennas configured to be operable at different frequencies, each of the antennas comprising a feed launching a surface wave and surface-wave waveguides connected to the feed, wherein the surface-wave waveguides of the antennas operable at different frequencies are interleaved with each other. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The antenna system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electronically steerable antennas comprise: a first antenna configured to be operable at a first frequency, the first antenna comprising first waveguides; and a second antenna configured to be operable at a second frequency different from the first frequency, the second antenna comprising second waveguides, wherein the first waveguides of the first antenna and the second waveguides of the second antenna are interleaved with each other. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The antenna system of claim 2, wherein the first antenna and the second antenna are configured to be simultaneously operable at the first frequency and the second frequency, respectively. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The antenna system of claim 2, wherein the first and second antennas are installed in a single aperture. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The antenna system of claim 2, wherein: the first waveguides comprise first impedance elements and first tuning elements, at least one of the first tuning elements connected between the first impedance elements; the second waveguides comprise second impedance elements and second tuning elements, at least one of the second tuning elements connected between the second impedance elements; and the antenna system further comprises first control lines coupled to the first waveguides to supply a first voltage or current to the first tuning elements, and second control lines coupled to the second waveguides to supply a second voltage or current to the second tuning elements. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The antenna system of claim 5, wherein the first waveguides and the second waveguides are parallel to each other, and the first waveguides and the second waveguides are perpendicular to the first control lines and the second control lines. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The antenna system of claim 5, wherein the first control lines for the first antenna and the second control lines for the second antenna are arranged not to contact each other. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The antenna system of claim 5, wherein the first control lines for the first antenna are disposed not to contact the second waveguides for the second antenna and the second control lines for the second antenna are disposed not to contact the first waveguides for the first antenna. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The antenna system of claim 5, wherein the first control lines for the first antenna pass underneath the second waveguides for the second antenna and the second control lines for the second antenna pass underneath the first waveguides for the first antenna. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The antenna system of claim 5, further comprising a dielectric layer having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first and second waveguides are disposed on the first surface of the dielectric layer, wherein some portions of the first and second control lines are disposed on the first surface of the dielectric layer and other portions of the first and second control lines are disposed on the second surface of the dielectric layer so that the first control lines do not contact the second waveguides and the second control lines do not contact the first waveguides. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The antenna system of claim 10, further comprising vias formed in the dielectric layer, the vias connecting between the sonic portions of the first and second control lines disposed on the first surface and the other portions of the first and second control lines are disposed on the second surface. ### Claim 12 (depends on 2) The antenna system of claim 2, further comprising a conductive fence between one of the first waveguides and one of the second waveguides. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The antenna system of claim 12, wherein the conductive fence comprises a metal grid. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The antenna system of claim 12, wherein the conductive fence comprises vias formed in a vertical direction and horizontal conductive lines formed on at least one metal layer. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The antenna system of claim 14, further comprising via pads formed on the vias, the via pads having a larger diameter than the vias. ### Claim 16 (depends on 2) The antenna system of claim 2, further comprising: a conductive fence between one of the first waveguides and one of the second waveguides; and a capacitor positioned between the conductive fence and one of the first or second control lines. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The antenna system of claim 10, further comprising: a conductive fence between one of the first waveguides and one of the second waveguide; and a capacitor positioned between the conductive fence and one of the first or second control lines, wherein the capacitor is disposed on the first surface of the dielectric layer. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The antenna system of claim 11, further comprising: a conductive fence between one of the first waveguides and one of the second waveguides; and a capacitor formed on the first surface of the dielectric layer between the conductive fence and one of the vias. ### Claim 19 (depends on 2) The antenna system of claim 2, further comprising: a first ground layer for the first waveguides; and a second ground layer for the second waveguides. ### Claim 20 (depends on 5) The antenna system of claim 5, wherein the first and second tuning elements comprise at least one of a capacitor, a varactor or a diode. ### Claim 21 (depends on 5) The antenna system of claim 5, wherein the first and second impedance elements comprise a conductive patch. ### Claim 22 (depends on 2) The antenna system of claim 2, wherein the first waveguides of the first antenna and the second waveguides of the second antenna are disposed to alternate with each other. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The antenna system of claim 1, wherein a spacing between the surface-wave waveguides of the antennas is less than wavelengths of the operable frequencies of the antennas.