Phase shifters deposited en masse for an electronically scanned antenna
US7324043B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 2, 2005 |
| Grant date | Jan 29, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 3, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01Q21/065
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system and method for an electronically scanned antenna is provided in which phase shifters are deposited en masse along with other electronically scanned antenna components on a wafer scale substrate using a thin film process. Alternative wafer scale sizes may be utilized to furnish a required antenna aperture area. Significant processing costs for radar and communication systems are saved utilizing the present invention as compared with contemporary discrete phase shifters that are individually mounted on an antenna. In an aspect, the phase shifter is made up of a base electrode, a barium strontanate titanate (BST) ferroelectric varactor and a top electrode. The BST ferroelectric material is a voltage variable dielectric, which generates a radiation phase. The radiation phase is regulated by a phase shifter control. The radiation phase generates an electromagnetic field about a radiating element and electromagnetic radio waves are radiated from the radiating element.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.