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US 6,285,337 B1Granted
Ferroelectric based method and system for electronically steering an antenna
AssigneeRockwell Collins, Inc.
InventorsJames B. West, Bryan L. Hauck
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for changing an emission pattern of a concave phased array antenna where a ferroelectric material having voltage variable dielectric constant is used as a substrate for a concave radiation surface, and phase delays can be induced by changing voltages applied across the ferroelectric material.
Claims20
A phased array antenna comprising:
- a ferroelectric member, having an orthogonal stub free top side and a bottom side;
- a ground plane, disposed on said bottom side;
- a radiation surface disposed on said top side;
- said radiation surface having thereon a plurality of radiation elements;
- a signal feed, coupled to said plurality of radiation elements, for providing a signal to be radiated to said plurality of radiation elements;
- and,
- a variable DC voltage source for providing a DC voltage across said ground plane and said radiation surface, so that a controllable phase delay can be induced in signals emitted from said plurality of radiation elements, by varying said DC voltage.
4 more elements
A phased array antenna comprising:
- a concave ferroelectric member, having a top side and a bottom side;
- a concave ground plane disposed on said bottom side;
- a concave radiation surface disposed on said top side;
- said radiation surface having thereon a plurality of radiation elements;
- a signal feed, coupled to said plurality of radiation elements, for providing a signal to be radiated to said plurality of radiation elements;
- and,
- a variable DC voltage source for providing a DC voltage across said ground plane and said radiation surface, so that a controllable phase delay can be induced in signals emitted from said plurality of radiation elements, by varying said DC voltage.
4 more elements
A phased array antenna comprising:
- concave means for radiating energy;
- concave means for providing a voltage reference;
- concave means for variably effecting a voltage dependent change in a dielectric constant existing in a ferroelectric material between said concave means for radiating and said concave means for providing a voltage reference;
- and,
- means for providing a signal to said concave means for radiating energy;
- whereby a phase difference can be induced in radiated energy when a voltage is applied across said ferroelectric material.
3 more elements
A method of changing a pattern of emission from an antenna comprising the steps of:
- providing a non-planar radiation surface having a plurality of independent radiation elements thereon;
- providing a non-planar ground plane;
- providing a non-planar ferroelectric material disposed between said non-planar radiation surface and said non-planar ground plane;
- providing a variable voltage supply across the non-planar ferroelectric material;
- providing a bias voltage to predetermined portions of said non-planar ferroelectric material to compensate for effects of curvature of said non-planar radiation surface;
- providing a signal to be radiated;
- shifting phase characteristic of said signal through phase shifters located in signal input mechanism;
- and,
- manipulating said variable voltage supply to change a dielectric constant of said non-planar ferroelectric material and thereby inducing a change in a pattern of emission.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.