Communications: directive radio wave systems and devices (e.g. – Directive – Including a steerable array
Patent
1998-03-18
1999-08-17
Tarcza, Thomas
Communications: directive radio wave systems and devices (e.g.,
Directive
Including a steerable array
342368, H01G 324
Patent
active
059400307
ABSTRACT:
A phased-array antenna in accordance with illustrative embodiments of the present invention advantageously includes a plurality of radiating elements and a phase-shifter array integrated into a feed line of the antenna's series feed network. The phase-shifter array advantageously comprises a plurality of phase-shifting slabs each of which includes a phase-shifting member, advantageously comprised of a dielectric material. When placed in electromagnetic fields generated by signals propagating through different regions of a feed line, the phase-shifting members affect the phase of such signals. Each slab in the phase-shifter array also advantageously incorporates at least one impedance-matching member that decreases or eliminates an impedance mismatch between air-suspended and dielectric-loaded regions of the transmission line over the full phase-shifting range of the phase-shifting members. Since phased-array antennas in accordance with the illustrative embodiments are well impedance matched, relatively high-dielectric-constant materials may be used for the phase shifters. As such, the phase shifters provide a high differential phase shift that contributes to a large phase-shifting range and a large antenna beam steering range. In some embodiments, the present phased-array antennas are configured such that relatively little phase is required between adjacent radiating elements so that antenna bandwidth is relatively broad. The present phased-array antennas advantageously use Wilkinson power splitters and one impedance-matching member per phase shifter to reduce sensitivity to impedance mismatch from radiating elements while keeping phase between adjacent radiating elements quite small.
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Hampel Karl Georg
Hojell Gary M.
Lucent Technologies - Inc.
Phan Dao L.
Tarcza Thomas
LandOfFree
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