Clustered phased array antenna

In a two dimensional antenna array excited by guided traveling waves through an underlying isotropic matrix delay structure comprising a plurality of delay modules, each coupled to all adjacent delay modules, said delay structure being fed via a plurality of peripheral input ports, a method of electronic beam steering in a plane orthogonal to the array aperture surface comprising the steps of:

• selecting one or more peripheral input input ports for excitation;
• phasing the excitation in a progressive manner;
• adjusting the amplitude of the excitation at the input ports;
• and
• controlling the incremental phase shift of the array excitation waves traversing the delay structure by means of selectively controlling at least one variable selected from the group consisting of:
• selecting the array operating frequency;
• changing the back plane unit-cell resonant frequency;
• and
• adjusting the mutual coupling between adjacent unit-cells.

A phased array antenna for transmitting/receiving an electromagnetic beam in which said electromagnetic beam is steerable in any direction orthogonal to an aperture of said antenna, said antenna comprising:

• an array of antenna elements configured in a two-dimensional lattice;
• an array of unit cells configured in a two-dimensional lattice comprising rows and columns and having a periphery, one unit cell corresponding to each antenna element, each unit cell inducing a phase delay in an excitation wave traveling through said array of unit cells;
• a first plurality of couplers for coupling each unit cell to its corresponding antenna element;
• a second plurality of couplers for coupling said each unit cell to all adjacent cells;
• a plurality of exicitation phase shifters disposed at a each said peripheral row and associated peripheral column;
• a plurality of excitation amplitude controllers disposed at each said row and associated peripheral column;
• and
• a plurality of terminating loads disposed at a second peripheral row and a second peripheral column, wherein said excitation wave introduced into said first peripheral row or said first peripheral column travels through said array of unit cells towards said second peripheral row or said second peripheral column.

A method of electronic beam steering in a phased array antenna, said method comprising:

• connecting each antenna element of an array of antenna elements having a radiating aperture to a corresponding unit cell of an array of unit cells that constitute an underlying matrix delay structure, each said unit cell being connected to all adjacent cells;
• locating said matrix delay structure on a two-dimensional surface parallel to the array radiating aperture;
• selecting a two-dimensional set of peripheral input ports of said array of unit cells;
• introducing an excitation wave through the selected set of peripheral input ports;
• adjusting the amplitude of said excitation wave;
• shifting the phase of said excitation wave progressively;
• and
• propagating said excitation wave through said array of unit cells to said corresponding array of antenna elements.