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Patent US3811128A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3811128A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Electrically scanned microstrip antenna
Assignee: BAE Systems Space & Mission Systems Inc
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Filing: 1973-04-17
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Granted: 1974-05-14
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Expires: 1993-04-17
Abstract
Abstract A microstrip antenna including a dielectric layer loaded with a ferrite material disposed between a ground plane and a generally planar or single layer arrangement of electrical conductors constituing both r.f. radiators and r.f. feedlines. Either or both of the r.f. radiators and feedlines include special d.c. circuits for passing d.c. electrical currents. When the d.c. electrical currents are passed through the r.f. radiators, the permeability of the ferrite loaded dielectric is altered thus scanning the resonant frequency of a radiator in accordance with the applied d.c. current or voltage. Furthermore, when the d.c. currents are passed through the r.f. feedline, or portions thereof, the magnetic fields set up in the ferrite loaded dielectric causes controlled phase shifts to occur in r.f. energy passing there along thus effecting controlled phase shifts and hence beam scanning of an array of such radiators as a function of the d.c. current or voltage.
Inventors
- 👤 R Munson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 10:35
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01Q; H01Q9/00; H01Q9/04; H01Q9/0407; H01Q3/00; H01Q3/44
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
69 words
An antenna structure comprising: an electrically conducting ground surface, a single layer arrangement of electrical conductors including at least one r.f. radiator and r.f. feedline connectEd thereto, a dielectric layer loaded with a ferrite material disposed between said ground surface and said single layer arrangement, and said single layer arrangement including d.c. circuit means for passing d.c. electrical current through at least a predetermined portion of said electrical conductors.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
69 words
An antenna structure comprising: an electrically conducting ground surface, a single layer arrangement of electrical conductors including at least one r.f. radiator and r.f. feedline connectEd thereto, a dielectric layer loaded with a ferrite material disposed between said ground surface and said single layer arrangement, and said single layer arrangement including d.c. circuit means for passing d.c. electrical current through at least a predetermined portion of said electrical conductors.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
An antenna structure as in claim 1 wherein said d.c. circuit means is connected to said r.f. radiator whereby the resonant frequency of the radiator can be controlled by controlling the permeability of said ferrite material via the d.c. electrical current passing therethrough.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
An antenna structure as in claim 2 wherein said d.c. circuit means comprises r.f. blocking-d.c. passing means for connecting said radiator into a complete d.c. electrical circuit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
An antenna structure as in claim 1 wherein said d.c. circuit means is connected to said r.f. feedline whereby controlled phase shifts in r.f. energy travelling therealong can be achieved by controlling the d.c. electrical current passing therethrough.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
An antenna structure as in claim 4 wherein said d.c. circuit means comprises: d.c. blocking-r.f. passing means disposed in said r.f. feedline for isolating predetermined portions of the r.f. feedline with respect to d.c. electrical currents, and r.f. blocking-d.c. passing means disposed for interconnecting said isolated portions into a complete d.c. electrical circuit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
An antenna structure as in claim 5 wherein said d.c. blocking-r.f. passing means comprises: two closely spaced but physically separated parallel electrical conductors within said single layer arrangement.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
An antenna structure as in claim 5 wherein said r.f. blocking-d.c. passing means comprises: electrical conductors including open circuited stubs disposed to reflect an r.f. open circuit condition at an anticipated r.f. operating frequency where connections are made with the r.f. feedline.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
112 words
An antenna structure as in claim 1 wherein: said at least one r.f. radiator comprises a plurality of r.f. radiators disposed to form a phased antenna array providing a beam pattern of radiation along a predetermined direction, said r.f. feedline comprises a corporate structure feedline for dividing an r.f. input energy between the r.f. radiators at predetermined relative phase angles in the absence of said d.c. electrical current, and said d.c. circuit means includes d.c. electrical current paths along selectively predetermined portions of the r.f. feedline to control said relative phase angles as a function of said d.c. electrical current whereby the predetermined direction of said beam patterns of radiation is controlled.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
An antenna structure as in claim 8 wherein said d.c. circuit means comprises: d.c. blocking-r.f. passing means disposed in said r.f. feedline for isolating predetermined portions of the r.f. feedline with respect to d.c. electrical currents, and r.f. blocking-d.c. passing means disposed for interconnecting said isolated portions into a complete d.c. electrical current circuit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
80 words
An antenna structure as in claim 8 wherein: said plurality of r.f. radiators are disposed in a two dimensional phased array, and said d.c. circuit means comprises: a first d.c. circuit for passing a first d.c. electrical current to control the predetermined direction of the beam pattern in a corresponding first coordinate direction, and a second d.c. circuit for passing a second d.c. electrical current to control the predetermined direction of the beam pattern in a corresponding second coordinate direction.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
An antenna structure as in claim 8 further comprising controllable switch means connected to at least one of said r.f. feedline and said d.c. circuit means for providing further selectable changes in the relative phase of r.f. energy provided to said r.f. radiators.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
An antenna structure as in claim 11 wherein said controllable switch means comprises at least one diode.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3680136A
Cited
US3715692A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-05-13 | 1977-11-12 | 1978-05-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-05-13 | 1981-11-12 | 1982-05-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-05-13 | 1985-11-12 | 1986-05-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |