Ferroelectric-scanned phased array antenna

An RF phase shifting element which receives RF energy and provides a phase shifted RF signal, said RF phase shifting element comprising:

• a quantity of phase shifting material whose refractive index varies in the presence of an applied electric field, said phase shifting material being disposed in the path of the RF energy and having a first face through which the RF energy enters said material and a second face through which the RF energy exits said material as the phase shifted RF signal;
• a pair of impedance matching layers including a first layer disposed adjacent to said first face and a second layer disposed adjacent said second face, such that, the RF energy propagates through said first layer before entering said phase shifting material and propagates through said second layer upon exiting said phase shifting material;
• and
• means for applying a variable electric field across said phase shifting material to vary the refractive index of said phase shifting material, said means for applying includes a first electrode which bisects said phase shifting material in a direction parallel to the propagation direction of the RF energy, and second and third electrodes located on opposite sides of said first electrode and spaced apart from said first electrode by said phase shifting material, such that a variable electrical potential applied to said first electrode creates an electric field across said phase shifting material in a direction normal to the propagation direction of the RF energy and parallel to the polarization direction of the RF energy.

A phased array antenna, comprising:

• a plurality of phase shifting elements disposed in an array arrangement, each of said phase shifting elements including
• a quantity of phase shifting material whose refractive index varies in the presence of an applied electric field, said phase shifting material being disposed in the path of the RF energy and having a first face through which the RF energy enters said material and a second face through which the RF energy exits said material as the phase shifted RF signal;
• a pair of impedance matching layers including a first layer dispose adjacent to said first face and a second layer disposed adjacent said second face, such that, the RF energy propagates through said first layer before entering said phase shifting material and propagates through said second layer upon exiting said phase shifting material;
• and
• means for applying a variable electric field across said phase shifting material to vary the refractive index of said phase shifting material, said means for applying includes a first electrode which bisects said phase shifting material in a direction parallel to the propagation direction of the RF energy, and second and third electrodes located on opposite sides of said first electrode and spaced apart from said first electrode by said phase shifting material, such that a variable electrical potential applied to said first electrode creates an electric field across said phase shifting material in a direction normal to the propagation direction of the RF energy and parallel to the polarization direction of the RF energy.