Fluid dielectric reflectarray
AssigneeHarris Corporation
InventorsStephen B. Brown, James J. Rawnick
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An antenna can comprise a conductive reflecting surface (204) and a plurality of cells (202) disposed over the conductive reflecting surface. The plurality of cells can be formed from a solid dielectric material such as a low temperature cofired ceramic. Each cell can define a cavity for containing at least a fluid dielectric (406). One or more fluid processors (404, 424) independently vary a volume of the first fluid dielectric in the plurality of cells for producing a redirected RF beam at a selected angle relative to an incident RF signal impinging on the conductive reflecting surface.
Claims22
A method for steering an antenna beam, comprising the steps of:
- reflecting an electromagnetic signal using a conductive reflecting surface;
- and
- controlling a direction of a reflected beam produced by said conductive reflecting surface by selectively varying a volume of a first fluid dielectric contained in a plurality of independently controlled cells disposed over said conductive reflecting surface.
A steerable beam antenna comprising:
- a conductive reflecting surface;
- a plurality of cells disposed over said conductive reflecting surface, each cell defining a cavity for containing at least a first fluid dielectric;
- at least one fluid processor independently varying a volume of said first fluid dielectric in said plurality of cells for producing a redirected RF beam at a selected angle relative to an incident RF signal impinging on said conductive reflecting surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.