Spherical lens array based multi-beam antennae

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10224636-B2
Application number	US-201715698850-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 8, 2017
Priority date	Aug 5, 2015
Publication date	Mar 5, 2019
Grant date	Mar 5, 2019

Abstract

A radio frequency antenna uses an array of spherical lens and mechanically movable radio frequency (RF) elements along the surface of the spherical lens to provide cellular coverage for a narrow geographical area. The antenna includes at least two spherical lenses, where each spherical lens has an associated element assembly. Each element assembly has a track that curves along the contour of the exterior surface of the spherical lens and along which a radio frequency (RF) element can move. The antenna also includes a phase shifter configured to adjust a phase of the signals produced by the RF elements. The antenna includes a control mechanism configured to enable a user to move the RF elements along their respective tracks, and automatically configure the phase shifter to modify a phase of the output signals from the elements based on the relative positions between the RF elements.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A phased array antenna, comprising:
a plurality of radiating elements;
a plurality of radio frequency lenses (RF lenses) aligned along a first virtual axis,
wherein each of the plurality of radiating elements is associated with a respective one of the RF lenses, and
wherein each of the plurality of radiating elements is angled with respect to the first virtual axis;

a phase shifter coupled to the plurality of radiating elements; and
a control mechanism comprising an electronic device to:
(a) receive a geographical area to be covered by the phased array antenna, and
(b) transmit an electronic signal to the phase shifter to shift at least one of a first phase of a first output signal of a first radiating element of the plurality of radiating elements and a second phase of a second output signal of a second radiating element of the plurality of radiating elements as a function of relative positions of the plurality of radiating elements, respectively, such that the first output signal and the second output signal are in-phase for a first geographical area.

2. The phased array antenna of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of radiating elements are coupled to a track that moves the plurality of radiating elements in a direction along a plane that is parallel to the first virtual axis.

3. The phased array antenna of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of radiating elements is disposed in a location higher than a center of its associated RF lens.

4. The phased array antenna of claim 1 , wherein each radiating element is positioned so that a center of a radiation pattern emitted by the radiating element is directed substantially towards a center point of the associated RF lens.

5. The phased array antenna of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of radiating elements directs a radiation pattern in a same angled direction.

6. The phased array antenna of claim 1 , wherein each RF lens comprises a substantially spherical lens.

7. The phased array antenna of claim 1 , wherein at least 50% of a surface area for each RF lens conforms to a shape of a sphere.

8. The phased array antenna of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of radiating elements is positioned at a same distance from its associated RF lens.

9. The phased array antenna of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of radiating elements is mounted to a flat plane of material for vertical alignment and for being angled with respect to the first virtual axis.

10. The phased array antenna of claim 1 , wherein the angle of the radiating elements is not perpendicular to the first virtual axis.

11. The phased array antenna of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the RF lenses comprises a dielectric material.

12. The phased array antenna of claim 1 , further comprising an additional grouping of a plurality of radiating elements and a plurality of RF lenses.

13. The phased array antenna of claim 1 , further comprising a second plurality of radiating elements aligned along a vertical axis, wherein each second radiating element is also associated with a respective one of the RF lenses.

14. The phased array antenna of claim 1 , wherein at least a second two of the plurality of radiating elements provides beam coverage of a second geographical area different from the first geographical area.

15. The phased array antenna of claim 1 , wherein at least a first two of the plurality of radiating elements provide coverage at different geographical areas and different capacity by having more radiating elements.

16. The phased array antenna of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of RF lenses scales the capacity for the coverage area by the quantity of radiating elements associated with the RF lens compared to an RF lens with a single element.

17. A multi-beam antenna, comprising:
a plurality of radiating elements; and
a radio frequency lens (RF lens) that is positioned in front of the radiating elements, wherein the radiating elements are positioned at least part of the way around a side of the RF lens, and wherein the radiating elements are arranged in a plurality of rows and columns, where each row extends in a respective arc in a respective one of a plurality of horizontal planes and each column extends in a respective arc in a respective one of a plurality of vertical planes,
wherein the RF lens comprises a spherical RF lens, and wherein the radiating elements are orbitally arranged part of a way around the side of the spherical RF lens,
wherein the plurality of horizontal planes comprise a plurality of substantially parallel planes, and wherein the plurality of vertical planes comprise a plurality of substantially parallel planes, and
wherein each radiating element is mounted on a respective flat plane of material, and wherein each flat plane is orbitally arranged with respect to the spherical RF lens.

18. The multi-beam antenna of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of horizontal planes intersect the plurality of vertical planes.

Assignees

• Matsing Inc

Inventors

• Matitsine Serguei
• Matytsine Leonid
• Demarco Anthony

Classifications

• H01Q19/06

  using refracting or diffracting devices, e.g. lens {(radome H01Q1/42)} · CPC title

• H01Q21/22

  Antenna units of the array energised non-uniformly in amplitude or phase, e.g. tapered array or binomial array · CPC title

• H01Q3/18 Primary

  wherein the primary active element is movable and the reflecting device is fixed · CPC title

• H01Q1/36

  Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; {Particular materials used therewith}(H01Q1/08, H01Q1/14 take precedence) · CPC title

• H01Q21/0031

  Parallel-plate fed arrays; Lens-fed arrays (multibeam arrays H01Q25/008) · CPC title