초록 ▼

A polarization twist, space-fed, E-scan planar phased array antenna. The phased array antenna incorporates a polarization twist, space-fed architecture. A plurality of unit cells are formed wherein each cell incorporates a large plurality of phased array elements and associated phase shifters. The s

A polarization twist, space-fed, E-scan planar phased array antenna. The phased array antenna incorporates a polarization twist, space-fed architecture. A plurality of unit cells are formed wherein each cell incorporates a large plurality of phased array elements and associated phase shifters. The space-feed architecture enables 2-bit phase shifters to be employed while still producing low antenna sidelobes. The phased array elements, phase shifters, and associated control circuits for controlling the phase shifters are all preferably formed on one surface of a MMIC substrate. This further simplifies significantly the cost and complexity of manufacturing and testing the E-scan phased array antenna. The antenna can therefore be used in applications where an E-scan phased array antenna would have been too costly to employ. The antenna of the present invention is expected to find particular utility in various radar systems, and more particularly missile defense radar systems where E-scan antennas have traditionally been too expensive to employ.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A polarized twist, space-fed, electronically scanned, planar phased array antenna comprising:a substrate; a plurality of space-fed, electronically scanned phased array radiating elements disposed on said substrate for receiving and transmitting radio frequency signals, each said phased array radi

1. A polarized twist, space-fed, electronically scanned, planar phased array antenna comprising:a substrate; a plurality of space-fed, electronically scanned phased array radiating elements disposed on said substrate for receiving and transmitting radio frequency signals, each said phased array radiating element comprising a plurality of ortho-linear polarization phased array elements and a plurality of phase shifting elements, each one of said phase shifting elements being independently associated with one of said ortho-linear polarization phased array elements; and a control circuit for controlling said phase shifting elements to produce a desired phase shift in said radio frequency signals transmitted by said antenna to thereby enable steering of a radio frequency signal transmitted by said ortho-linear polarization phased array elements.