Systems And Methods For Electronically Configuring a Phased Array Antenna
AssigneeRAVE Aerospace, LLC
InventorsPeter Lewalter, Matteo Berioli
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Various telecommunication antennas are described comprising a phased-array antenna having a plurality of antenna elements arranged in an array. The antenna further comprises electronics configured to electronically divide the antenna elements into two or more sub-arrays, which each comprise a subset of the plurality of antenna elements. The electronics can dynamically reorient the antenna by electronically dividing the antenna elements into different sub-arrays of the antenna elements which thereby affect the beam patterns of each of the sub-arrays.
Claims20
A telecommunications antenna for an aircraft, comprising:
- a phased array antenna panel comprising a plurality of antenna elements arranged in an array;
- electronics configured to electronically divide the plurality of antenna elements into a first set of sub-arrays comprising a first sub-array and a second sub-array, wherein each of the first sub-array and the second sub-array comprises a subset of the plurality of antenna elements, and wherein the first set of sub-arrays collectively comprise the plurality of antenna elements;
- and
- wherein the electronics are further configured to reorient the antenna panel by electronically dividing the plurality of antenna elements into a second set of sub-arrays that is different form the first set of sub-arrays, wherein the second set of sub-arrays comprises a third sub-array and a fourth sub-array, wherein each of the third sub-array and the fourth sub-array comprises a subset of the plurality of antenna elements, and wherein the second set of sub-arrays collectively comprise the plurality of antenna elements.
A method for electronically reorienting an analog, phased array antenna having electronics, comprising:
- electronically dividing an array of antenna elements of a phased array antenna panel of the antenna into a first sub-array and a second sub-array using a processor of the electronics, wherein each of the first sub-array and the second sub-array comprises a subset of the array of antenna elements, and wherein the first sub-array and the second sub-array collectively form the array of antenna elements;
- wherein the processor divides the plurality of antenna elements by electronically changing a phase shift introduced by the antenna elements of the first sub-array and the second sub-array;
- electronically reorienting the phased array antenna panel by electronically dividing the array of antenna elements into a third sub-array and a fourth sub-array, wherein the third and fourth sub-arrays each comprises a different subset of the antenna elements than the first and second sub-arrays, and wherein the third and fourth sub-arrays collectively form the array of antenna elements;
- and
- wherein the processor electronically reorients the phased array antenna panel by electronically changing a phase shift introduced by the antenna elements of the third sub-array and the fourth sub-array.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.