2-bit phase quantization waveguide

A phased array antenna comprising:

• a transmitter;
• a plurality of radiating antennas;
• and
• a plurality of waveguides wherein each waveguide of the plurality of waveguides is mounted to receive electrical energy from the transmitter and to provide electrical energy to a respective radiating antenna of the plurality of radiating antennas, wherein each waveguide of the plurality of waveguides comprises
• a first double-ridge waveguide formed of a first electrically conductive material, wherein the first double-ridge waveguide is configured to generate a first electric field having a first polarization in response to an input electrical field having the first polarization or to generate a second electric field having the first polarization in response to the input electrical field, wherein a first phase of the first electric field is rotated 0 degrees relative to a phase of the input electrical field when the input electrical field is applied to the first double-ridge waveguide, wherein a second phase of the second electric field is rotated 90 degrees relative to the phase of the input electrical field when the input electrical field is applied to the first double-ridge waveguide;
• a second double-ridge waveguide formed of a second electrically conductive material, wherein the second double-ridge waveguide is configured to generate a third electric field with a polarization that is perpendicular to the first polarization;
• and
• a polarization rotator mounted between the first double-ridge waveguide and the second double-ridge waveguide, wherein the polarization rotator comprises
• a frame;
• a dielectric layer including a first dielectric surface and a second dielectric surface formed within the frame, wherein the first dielectric surface is on an opposite side of the dielectric layer relative to the second dielectric surface, wherein the first dielectric surface is mounted adjacent an output side of the first double-ridge waveguide, wherein the second dielectric surface is mounted adjacent an input side of the second double-ridge waveguide, wherein the dielectric layer is formed of a dielectric material;
• a first conducting pattern layer formed of a third electrically conductive material mounted to the first dielectric surface, wherein the first conducting pattern layer includes a first conductor and a second conductor;
• a first switch connected between the first conductor and the second conductor to electrically connect the first conductor to the second conductor or to electrically disconnect the first conductor from the second conductor;
• a second conducting pattern layer formed of a fourth electrically conductive material mounted to the second dielectric surface, wherein the second conducting pattern layer includes a third conductor and a fourth conductor;
• and
• a second switch connected between the third conductor and the fourth conductor to electrically connect the third conductor to the fourth conductor or to electrically disconnect the third conductor from the fourth conductor,
• wherein, when the first switch electrically connects the first conductor to the second conductor, the second switch electrically disconnects the third conductor from the fourth conductor to define a first mode of the polarization rotator,
• wherein, when the second switch electrically connects the third conductor to the fourth conductor, the first switch electrically disconnects the first conductor from the second conductor to define a second mode of the polarization rotator,
• wherein the first mode is configured to rotate the first phase of the first electric field or the second phase of the second electric field by 90 degrees,
• wherein the second mode is configured to rotate the first phase of the first electric field or the second phase of the second electric field by −90 degrees.