Two low-cost phased arrays

Abstract

In a phased array antenna, the phase shifters (or T/R modules in an active aperture phased array) with their beam-steering control circuitry along with the feed network account for the major hardware cost. This paper presents two antenna array configurations that use simpler feed, simpler phase-shifting and simpler beam-steering control circuitry for realizing low-cost phased arrays. Both are lens configurations. The first one uses a Radant lens, which provides a medium that is loaded with diodes and provides the needed phase shift by switching the diodes on and off. The other configuration employs a ferroelectric dielectric material whose dielectric constant can be varied with an applied DC bias voltage. It is shown that the ferroelectric lens may have further advantages of smaller thickness, simpler beam-steering controls and lower cost.

Reconfigurable Antennas: the State of the Art

“…Usage of ferroelectrics in phased arrays has been presented in [21,17]. Three possible configurations: two traveling wave types and another lens type antenna, have been discussed.…”

Analysis and Design of $E$-Plane Scanning Grid Arrays

“…An important consideration is that the tangential magnetic field is not continuous in the regions where electric currents flow across the switching elements. As a result of this discontinuity, the second integral equation of the system contains the electric currents (4) where is the complete system of the Floquet modes corresponding to the "large" cell;…”

1996 International Symposium On Phased Array Systems And Technology - Highlights -

“…Rao, et al, [30] described work on a hybrid technique for achieving row/column steering. This is an antenna that uses an array of columns of slotted waveguides having one phase shifter per column in order to steer the beam in azimuth +60".…”