3-dimensional beam steering system
US6873289B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 31, 2002 |
| Grant date | Mar 29, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 31, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01Q3/32
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The present invention relates to a beam steering system. The system includes an array of a plurality of antenna elements, each antenna element being electrically and mechanically controlled for steering a beam in a specific direction, and a millimeter wave subsystem quasi-optically integrated with a 3-dimensional beam steering device and an MMIC-type active circuit. The antenna element is controlled in real time by an electrical driving method so as to be moved in 2-dimensional space. That is, in the 3-dimensional system of the present invention, the beam is electrically controlled by a phase shifter, and each antenna element is physically moved by a mechanical driving mechanism. The 3-dimensional beam steering antenna and the associated devices are monolithically integrated on a substrate using MEMS technology, and the active circuit elements such as a mixer, a power amplifier (PA), a low noise amplifier (LNA), a VCO, etc. are integrated in an MMIC active array. The 3-dimensional beam steering device and the active MMIC circuit are integrated into one system by being interconnected using the quasi-optical technique. According to the present invention, shortcomings of the millimete…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.