Antenna array
US10862196B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 21, 2017 |
| Grant date | Dec 8, 2020 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 21, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01Q21/0093
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The invention provides an antenna array comprising: a plurality of antenna modules, each of the antenna modules comprising an antenna, a signal conductor and one or more microelectromechanical (MEMS) switches, the antenna being conductively connected to the signal conductor, the MEMS switches and at least a portion of the signal conductor being supported by a MEMS substrate; and one or more integrated circuits comprising MEMS control circuitry configured to control the said one or more MEMS switches and/or signal processing circuitry configured to process signals received and/or to be transmitted by the antennas of the antenna modules, wherein the antenna modules and integrated circuits are supported by a common carrier substrate comprising the antennas of the antenna modules, the MEMS switches; or the said one or more integrated circuits. A hierarchy of MEMS controllers includes a master MEMS controller and local MEMS controllers which send control signals to a plurality of MEMS switches.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.