Fixed patch array scanning antenna

A two-directional fixed array scanning antenna comprising:

• a body,
• a laminate carried by said body, said laminate having a conductive layer located on an input side of said antenna and a dielectric layer located on an output side of said antenna,
• sets of aligned, spaced apart apertures formed in said laminate conductive layer,
• a set of secondary dielectric wave guides carried by said laminate conductive layer, said secondary wave guides having elongated portions positioned one each over one said set of laminate apertures and connecting arcuate portions,
• an elongated primary dielectric waveguide carried by said body and positioned equidistant from an outermost point of each said secondary waveguide arcuate portion,
• patches carried by said laminate dielectric layer, said patches positioned to align respectively with said laminate apertures,
• a primary reflecting conductor movable carried by said body to maintain a primary uniform gap with said primary waveguide, and
• a secondary reflecting conductor movable carried by said body to maintain a secondary uniform gap with said elongated portions of said secondary waveguides,
• wherein during operation of said antenna, an electromagnetic wave is inputed to said primary waveguide, said primary waveguide passes said wave to said secondary waveguides through said outermost points, said secondary waveguides then passes said wave to said respectively covered apertures, said apertures pass said wave to said respectively aligned patches to energize said patches and thereafter emit electromagnetic energy that combines to form an outward projecting beam, said primary conductor moves in a reciprocating manner to induce primary phase shifting in said wave passing through said primary waveguide, said secondary conductor moves in a reciprocating manner to induce secondary phase shifting in said wave passing through said secondary waveguides, said primary phase shifting causing said beam to scan in a first path of movement, and said secondary phasing shifting causing said beam to scan in a second perpendicular path of movement.

A fixed patch array scanning antenna comprising:

• a body,
• a laminate carried by said body and defined by a dielectric layer on an output side on said antenna joined to a conductive layer on an input side of said antenna,
• a series of aligned, spaced apart apertures formed in said laminate conductive layer,
• a dielectric wave guide carried by said laminate conductive layer to cover said apertures,
• a series of microstrip distribution trees carried by said laminate dielectric layer, each said distribution trees having a goalpost-like shape defined by a trunk section connecting with outward and opposing extending limb sections with said laminate conductive layer apertures respectively aligned with said tree trunk portions and positioned inward from open ends of said trunk sections,
• pairs of patches carried by said laminate dielectric layer, said patches of each said pair equispaced on each said of an axis of said laminate apertures and said patches of adjacent pairs being aligned with said axis, and said patches of each pair being respectively joined to respective limb sections of said distribution trees by branch sections, and
• a movable reflecting conductor carried by said body on said antenna input side, said conductor positioned to form a uniform gap between said reflecting conductor and said waveguide,
• wherein during operation of said antenna, an electromagnetic wave is transmitted though said waveguide to pass through said apertures to said microstrip distribution tree trunk sections, said trunk sections distribute said wave to said patches through said connecting limb sections and branch sections to energize said patches, said energized patches emit a radiated electromagnetic beam projecting toward from said antenna, and said reflecting conductor moves in reciprocating mode to effect phase shifting of said electromagnetic wave in said waveguide then passing to said patches to cause said beam to scan in a path of movement perpendicular to said aperture axis.