Phased array antenna apparatus and method

    公开(公告)号:US11764484B2

    公开(公告)日:2023-09-19

    申请号:US18017068

    申请日:2021-07-21

    CPC classification number: H01Q21/065 H01Q3/267 H01Q3/28 H01Q21/0025 H01Q21/245

    Abstract: The present invention provides phased array antenna apparatus (200) for operation in frequencies above six gigahertz. The apparatus (200) comprises: a plurality of sub-arrays (208) together configured to form a phased array antenna, each sub-array (208) comprising at least four antenna elements (220), each antenna element (220) for receiving an input signal from the sub-array (220) and comprising: an antenna (230) for transmission of the input signal; and a signal modification component (222) to adjust a phase of the input signal during propagation to the antenna (230); and a plurality of power amplifiers (212), wherein each sub-array (208) is provided with a one of the plurality of power amplifiers (212), wherein each sub-array (208) is arranged to be provided with an amplified input signal, and each antenna element (220) of the sub-array (208) is configured to be provided with the amplified input signal of the respective sub-array (208) as the input signal to the antenna element (220), and wherein the power amplifier (212) for each sub-array (208) is configured to receive a phased array input signal for amplification and to output the respective amplified input signal to the respective sub-array (208). The power amplifier (212) for each sub-array (208) may be physically separate and distinct from each sub-array (208).

    PHASED ARRAY ANTENNA APPARATUS AND METHOD
    2.
    发明公开

    公开(公告)号:US20230216212A1

    公开(公告)日:2023-07-06

    申请号:US18017068

    申请日:2021-07-21

    CPC classification number: H01Q21/065 H01Q21/0025 H01Q21/245 H01Q3/267 H01Q3/28

    Abstract: The present invention provides phased array antenna apparatus (200) for operation in frequencies above six gigahertz. The apparatus (200) comprises: a plurality of sub-arrays (208) together configured to form a phased array antenna, each sub-array (208) comprising at least four antenna elements (220), each antenna element (220) for receiving an input signal from the sub-array (220) and comprising: an antenna (230) for transmission of the input signal; and a signal modification component (222) to adjust a phase of the input signal during propagation to the antenna (230); and a plurality of power amplifiers (212), wherein each sub-array (208) is provided with a one of the plurality of power amplifiers (212), wherein each sub-array (208) is arranged to be provided with an amplified input signal, and each antenna element (220) of the sub-array (208) is configured to be provided with the amplified input signal of the respective sub-array (208) as the input signal to the antenna element (220), and wherein the power amplifier (212) for each sub-array (208) is configured to receive a phased array input signal for amplification and to output the respective amplified input signal to the respective sub-array (208). The power amplifier (212) for each sub-array (208) may be physically separate and distinct from each sub-array (208).

    MEMS bridge devices and methods of manufacture thereof

    公开(公告)号:US11834327B2

    公开(公告)日:2023-12-05

    申请号:US16585242

    申请日:2019-09-27

    Abstract: A microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) device comprising: a substrate; a signal conductor supported on the substrate; ground conductors supported on the substrate on either side of the signal conductor; and a MEMS bridge at least one end of which is mechanically connected to the substrate by way of at least one anchor, the MEMS bridge comprising an electrically conductive switching portion, the electrically conductive switching portion comprising a switching signal conductor region and a switching ground conductor region, the switching signal conductor region being provided over the signal conductor and the switching ground conductor region being provided over a said ground conductor, the electrically conductive switching region being movable relative to the said signal and ground conductors respectively to thereby change the inductances between the switching signal conductor region and the signal conductor and between the switching ground conductor region and the respective ground conductor, wherein there is no continuous electrically conductive path extending from the switching conductor region to the at least one anchor. Capacative and ohmic switches, a varactor, a phase shifter, a tuneable power splitter/combiner, tuneable attenuator, SPDT switch and antenna apparatus comprising said devices.

    Antenna array
    6.
    发明授权

    公开(公告)号:US10862196B2

    公开(公告)日:2020-12-08

    申请号:US16472819

    申请日:2017-12-21

    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.

    Method and steerable antenna apparatus

    公开(公告)号:US10763929B2

    公开(公告)日:2020-09-01

    申请号:US16065297

    申请日:2016-12-09

    Abstract: The invention provides a method of adjusting a principal communication direction of a steerable directional antenna for communicating with a terrestrial electromagnetic signal source, the method comprising: providing location specific steering data comprising one or more steering data portions, each of the steering data portions being specific to a respective location; determining a location of the steerable directional antenna; selecting a steering data portion from the location specific steering data taking into account the determined location of the antenna; determining an adjusted principal communication direction of the steerable directional antenna taking into account the said selected steering data portion; and adjusting the principal communication direction of the steerable directional antenna in accordance with the said adjusted principal communication direction.

    Antenna element and antenna device comprising such elements

    公开(公告)号:US09899737B2

    公开(公告)日:2018-02-20

    申请号:US14368029

    申请日:2012-12-19

    Abstract: An antenna element (100) comprises an active patch formed by a conductive layer (104) on a front surface of a substrate (102) and a parasitic ground patch (106) on a back surface of the substrate. The active patch has a spiral slot (112) in a central portion, and peripheral portions (110a-110d) which are substantially wider than the spiral slot. A signal feed strip (114) extends from a side of said active patch across the front surface of the substrate. Two signal ground strips (116, 118) are provided on the front surface, each separated from the active patch by a predetermined gap (120, 122). The parasitic ground patch has a slot in a central portion substantially back-to-back with the central portion of the active patch through the substrate. The element has broadband properties that can be tuned by various modifications. Several elements can be used in close array, with lower cross-talk than known antenna designs.

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