Beam steering with a slot array
AssigneeHarris Corporation
InventorsStephen B. Brown, James J. Rawnick
Life of this patent
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Abstract
System and method for controlling an antenna beam. The system can include a slot array (100) having a plurality of slot elements (102) and a fluid control system (206, 207, 302) responsive to a control signal 301. The fluid control system can independently vary a selected volume of a fluid dielectric (300) coupled to each of the slot elements (102). In so doing, the system can steer and shape an electromagnetic field incident on the slot array. The slot array (100) can optionally comprise at least one conductive ground plane (308) for reflecting the incident electromagnetic field.
Claims26
A system for controlling an antenna beam, comprising:
- a slot array having a plurality of slot elements;
- a fluid control system responsive to a control signal, said fluid control system independently varying a selected volume of a fluid dielectric coupled to each of said slot elements for at least one of steering and shaping an electromagnetic field.
A slot array, comprising:
- a conductive sheet disposed over a dielectric substrate and having a plurality of slot elements formed as shaped perforations in the conductive sheet;
- an array of cavity structures defined within said dielectric substrate, each respectively coupled to at least one of said slot elements;
- and
- a fluid control system for selectively varying a volume of fluid dielectric contained in each of said cavity structures for at least one of steering and shaping an incident electromagnetic field.
A method for controlling an electromagnetic field, comprising the steps of:
- positioning a slot array in a path of an incident electromagnetic field;
- and
- selectively varying a volume of a fluid dielectric coupled to each of a plurality of slot elements of said slot array so as to modify at least one of a direction of travel of said electromagnetic field and a shape of said electromagnetic field.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.