Electronically steerable sector antenna
US7397425B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 30, 2004 |
| Grant date | Jul 8, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 24, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01Q21/20
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An electronically steerable antenna system includes a plurality of panels that are coupled together to form an N-sided polygon. Each panel includes a plurality of microstrip conductor patches forming a phased array antenna. In a first embodiment that includes beam steering, each panel can selectively transmit or receive in a direction that is either perpendicular to the panel, or to the left or right of perpendicular, depending upon relative delay line lengths applied to the left and right antennas. A second embodiment omits the beam steering capability for each panel and simply enables only one of the N different panels to be employed for transmitting or receiving a radiofrequency signal in a direction perpendicular to the panel. PIN diodes are preferably used for selecting the panel that is active, and in the first embodiment, for selecting the delay lines used.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.