US 6,606,077 B2Granted

Multi-beam antenna

AssigneeAutomotive Systems Laboratory, Inc.

InventorsJames P. Ebling, Gabriel Rebeiz

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A multi-beam antenna comprises an electromagnetic lens, at least one first antenna feed element, at least one second antenna feed element, and a selective element located between first and second portions of the electromagnetic lens with which the respective antenna feed elements respectively cooperate. The transmissivity and reflectivity of the selective element are responsive to an electromagnetic wave property, e.g. frequency or polarization. A first electromagnetic wave in cooperation with the at least one first antenna feed element and having a first value of the electromagnetic wave property is substantially transmitted through the selective element so as to propagate in both the first and second portions of the electromagnetic lens. A second electromagnetic wave in cooperation with the at least one second antenna feed element and having a second value of the electromagnetic wave property is substantially reflected by the selective element.

Claims27

Dependent claims

A multi-beam antenna, comprising:

a. an electromagnetic lens, wherein said electromagnetic lens comprises a first portion and a second portion;
b. at least one first antenna feed element, wherein said at least one first antenna feed element is adapted to cooperate with said first portion of said electromagnetic lens;
c. at least one second antenna feed element, wherein said at least one second antenna feed element is adapted to cooperate with said second portion of said electromagnetic lens;
and
d. a selective element located between said first and second portions of said electromagnetic lens, wherein said selective element has a transmissivity and a reflectivity, said transmissivity and said reflectivity are responsive to an electromagnetic wave property, the transmissivity of said selective element is adapted so that a first electromagnetic wave having a first value of said electromagnetic wave property is substantially transmitted through said selective element so as to propagate in both said first and second portions of said electromagnetic lens, the reflectivity of said selective element is adapted so that a second electromagnetic wave having a second value of said electromagnetic wave property is substantially reflected by said selective element, said first electromagnetic wave cooperates with said at least one first antenna feed element, and said second electromagnetic wave cooperates with said at least one second antenna feed element.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/202,242Filed 23 Jul 2002 · continuation in part
Priority: 18 Nov 1999
Published: US 2003/0006941 A19 Jan 2003
Granted: 12 Aug 2003
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

H01Q 19/062
Using refracting or diffracting devices, e.g. lens: for focusing
H01Q 3/242
Varying the orientation by switching energy from one active radiating element to another, e.g. for beam switching: circumferential scanning
H01Q 3/245
Varying the orientation by switching energy from one active radiating element to another, e.g. for beam switching: in the focal plane of a…
H01Q 15/04
Refracting or diffracting devices, e.g. lens, prism: comprising wave-guiding channel or channels bounded by effective conductive surfaces…

Family

Application60/166,231Us provisional application · filed 18 Nov 1999
Application09/716,736Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 20 Nov 2000
US 2003/0006941 A1Pre-grant publication · published 9 Jan 2003
US 6,424,319 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 2002/0003505 A1Published application
US 6,606,077 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.