US 4,044,360 AGranted

Two-mode RF phase shifter particularly for phase scanner array

AssigneeInternational Telephone and Telegraph Corporation

InventorsRonald I. Wolfson, Bobby J. Sanders

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A space-fed phased-array arrangement in which the plural antenna elements each include first and second (front and rear) individual radiators. Between these input and output radiators, there is a combined controllable phase shifter and controllable electronic switching arrangement. In accordance with external control signals, the amount of phase shift (phase delay) introduced by each element may be controlled, and by appropriate programming of these phase shifts, beam formation and pointing angle may be determined. The electronic switch devices are programmable to convert any or all of the antenna elements to reflector or retro-directing elements whereby a rear-pointing beam may be generated and scanned in substantially the same way as the forward beam is generated and scanned. In the retro-directive (reflective) mode, energy from the primary feed passes bi-directionally through the reciprocal controllable phase shifter sections.

Claims12

Dependent claims

In a scanning antenna system including a plurality of antenna elements arranged in a two-dimensional array having first and second back-to-back apertures surfaces and having space feed means arranged for illuminating said first aperture surface, the combination comprising:

means within each element of a predetermined fraction of said elements comprising a first RF window within said first aperture of said array and a second RF window within said second aperture of said array;
phase shift means within each of said elements of said predetermined fraction of elements coupled betwen said windows of each corresponding element, for controlling the RF phase through each element in response to a corresponding condition of a discrete externally supplied phase control signal for each of said elements so controlled;
and switching means within at least a second fraction of said predetermined fraction of said elements for selectively permitting passage of RF energy from said space feed through said first window, said phase shift means and said second RF window in a first switching condition, and bidirectionally through said first window and said phase shift means in a second switching condition, said switching means providing a reflection point within said antenna element in said second switching condition.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.