Continuously variable phase-shifter for electrically down-tilting an antenna
US5798675A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 25, 1997 |
| Grant date | Aug 25, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 25, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01Q3/32
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A phase shifter for electrically adjusting the down-tilt of an antenna, based on rotating at least one phase wheel having a specially shaped dielectric. Each phase wheel is rotatably mounted between a stripline and the metallic ground plane of a feed system for an RF signal communicating the RF signal between each element of the antenna and a common terminal. The dielectric distributed on each phase wheel is shaped so that as the phase wheel is turned mechanically, the amount of dielectric directly beneath the stripline and above the metallic ground plane either increases or decreases in some proportion to the amount (angular displacement) the wheel is turned. All the phase wheels used in a system can be arranged, oriented, and tractively coupled so as to rotate in synchrony under the action of a single drive, which may itself be driven by a stepper motor for accurate, fine control. The phase wheels provide for continuous adjustment of the down-tilt of an antenna without having to convert between rotational and linear motion in moving dielectric into or out of position between the stripline and metallic ground plane.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.