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US 6,441,787 B1Granted
Microstrip phase shifting reflect array antenna
AssigneeRaytheon Company
InventorsRandy J. Richards, Edwin W. Dittrich, Oren B. Kesler, Jerry M. Grimm
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A circularly polarized reflect array antenna having a plurality of antenna elements, where each antenna element has an electrically conductive patch, at least two electrically conductive stubs positioned along the periphery of the patch, and at least two switches each operable to connect or disconnect the patch to one of the at least two stubs.
Claims25
An antenna element, comprising:
- an electrically conductive patch;
- and
- structure for electrically phase shifting the patch by a phase difference, including:
- at least two electrically conductive stubs disposed along the periphery of the patch and each having a longitudinal dimension which extends generally orthogonally to the periphery of the patch;
- and
- at least one switch respectively operable in first and second operational modes to respectively connect and disconnect the patch to a selected one of the at least two stubs, the other of the at least two stubs being disconnected from the patch in the first operational mode, the phase difference being a function of the position along the periphery of the patch of the selected one of the stubs, and the antenna element having substantially the same frequency response in each of the first and second operational modes.
3 more elements
An antenna, comprising:
- an array of electrically conductive patches arranged in a predetermined pattern on a first surface of a substrate;
- and
- structure for electrically phase shifting each patch by a respective phase difference, including:
- at least two electrically conductive stubs positioned along the periphery of each of the patches, each of the stubs having a longitudinal dimension which extends generally orthogonally to the periphery of the associated patch;
- at least two switches disposed between each patch and the at least two stubs, wherein each of the patches, and the stubs and the switches associated with that patch, serve as part of a respective antenna element;
- and
- a controller coupled to each of the at least two switches and operable to selectively effect first and second operational modes in which a selected one of the at least two stubs is respectively connected to and disconnected from the associated patch to electronically phase shift the patches, the other of the at least two stubs being disconnected from the associated patch in the first operational mode, each of the phase differences being a function of the position along the periphery of the associated patch of the selected one of the stubs associated with the patch, and each of the antenna elements having substantially the same frequency response in each of the first and second operational modes thereof.
4 more elements
A method of electronically phase shifting a plurality of array elements in a reflect array antenna, comprising:
- generating and directing energy toward the plurality of array elements, each said array element having a patch and a plurality of stubs arranged along the periphery of the patch, each of the stubs having a longitudinal dimension which extends generally orthogonally to the periphery of the associated patch;
- selectively effecting first and second operational modes by respectively connecting and disconnecting at least one said stub to each said patch, thereby phase shifting the energy by a phase difference which is a function of the position along the periphery of each said patch of said one stub connected to that patch, the other of the stubs associated with each patch being disconnected from that patch in the first operational mode thereof, and each array element having substantially the same frequency response in each of the first and second operational modes thereof;
- and
- reflecting and reradiating the energy into space.
1 more element
A method of phase shifting a plurality of array elements in a reflect array antenna, comprising:
- generating and directing energy toward the plurality of array elements, each said array element having a patch and having a plurality of stubs disposed along the periphery of the patch, each of the stubs having a longitudinal dimension which extends generally orthogonally to the periphery of the associated patch;
- selectively and permanently connecting at least one said stub to each said patch, thereby phase shifting the energy by a phase difference without substantially changing a frequency response of the patch, the phase difference being a function of the position along the periphery of each said patch of said one stub connected to that patch;
- and
- reflecting and reradiating the energy into space.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.