Two-dimensional electronically steerable antenna

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016359229-A1
Application number	US-201514733350-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 8, 2015
Priority date	Jun 8, 2015
Publication date	Dec 8, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A ferrite controller includes a single array of two or more ferrite control elements. The ferrite control elements each include a radio frequency (RF) path assembly that includes a RF path ferrite element and a RF path dielectric element. The ferrite control elements also include a magnetizing ferrite assembly that includes a magnetizing ferrite element; one or more structural dielectric elements; and a flexible insulated waveguide wall. The magnetizing ferrite element is attached to the one or more structural dielectric elements, wherein the flexible insulated waveguide wall surrounds the magnetizing ferrite element and the structural dielectric elements, wherein the RF path ferrite element and the magnetizing ferrite element are attached to form a ferrite toroid. The ferrite control elements also include two tapered impedance matching transformers attached to the RF path assembly and the magnetizing ferrite assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A ferrite controller, comprising:
a single array of two or more ferrite control elements, wherein the ferrite control elements each include:
a radio frequency (RF) path assembly including a RF path ferrite element and a RF path dielectric element;
a magnetizing ferrite assembly including:
a magnetizing ferrite element;
one or more structural dielectric elements; and
a flexible insulated waveguide wall;
wherein the magnetizing ferrite element is attached to the one or more structural dielectric elements, wherein the flexible insulated waveguide wall surrounds the magnetizing ferrite element and the structural dielectric elements, wherein the RF path ferrite element and the magnetizing ferrite element are attached to form a ferrite toroid; and

two tapered impedance matching transformers attached to the RF path assembly and the magnetizing ferrite assembly.

2 . The ferrite controller of claim 1 , wherein the flexible insulated waveguide wall comprises a multi-layer film including a conducting layer and an insulating layer.

3 . The ferrite controller of claim 2 , wherein the insulating layer is positioned between the conducting layer and the magnetizing ferrite assembly.

4 . The ferrite controller of claim 1 , wherein the RF path assemblies, magnetizing ferrite assemblies, and tapered impedance matching transformers of adjacent ferrite control elements are spaced apart a distance that is less than or equal to one-half wavelength of an RF wave propagating through the ferrite controller.

5 . The ferrite controller of claim 1 , further comprising a conductor wrapped around the magnetizing ferrite element.

6 . The ferrite controller of claim 5 , wherein the conductor is wrapped around the magnetizing ferrite element by etching a pattern on the magnetizing ferrite element and plating the etched pattern with a conductive material.

7 . The ferrite controller of claim 6 , wherein end segments of the magnetizing ferrite element extend beyond the flexible insulated waveguide wall;
wherein end segments of the RF path ferrite element extend beyond the flexible insulated waveguide wall; and wherein the end segments of the magnetizing ferrite element and the end segments of the RF path ferrite element are attached together using ferrite to form the ferrite toroid.

8 . The ferrite controller of claim 7 , wherein a surface of each of the end segments of the magnetizing ferrite element is etched and plated with the conductive material.

9 . The ferrite controller of claim 8 , further comprising at least one driver circuit per ferrite control element configured to control the phase of each of the two or more ferrite control elements.

10 . The ferrite controller of claim 9 , wherein the at least one driver circuit is electrically coupled to the conductive material on the surface of each of the end segments of the magnetizing ferrite element.

11 . The ferrite controller of claim 10 , wherein the height of the end segments of the magnetizing ferrite element and the height of the end segments of the RF path ferrite element is staggered for adjacent ferrite control elements.

12 . The ferrite controller of claim 1 , wherein each tapered impedance matching transformer comprises multiple pieces.

13 . The ferrite controller of claim 1 , wherein the structural dielectric elements are wedge-shaped to aid impedance matching.

14 . A two-dimensional electronically steerable antenna, comprising:
an antenna controller; a linear array of control elements, wherein the control elements includes phase shifting elements attached to parallel plates; and a ferrite controller comprising an array of two or more ferrite phase shifters, wherein the ferrite phase shifters each include:
a radio frequency (RF) path assembly, wherein the RF path assembly includes a RF path ferrite element and a RF path dielectric element;
a magnetizing ferrite assembly, wherein the magnetizing ferrite assembly includes a magnetizing ferrite element, structural dielectric elements, and a flexible insulated waveguide wall, wherein the magnetizing ferrite element is attached to the structural dielectric elements and the flexible insulated waveguide wall surrounds the magnetizing ferrite element and the structural dielectric elements, wherein the RF path ferrite element and the magnetizing ferrite element are attached to form a ferrite toroid;
tapered impedance matching transformers;
at least one driver circuit per ferrite phase shifter configured to control the phase of each of the ferrite phase shifters.

15 . The antenna of claim 14 , wherein the linear array of control elements is configured to control an elevation angle of a RF wave, wherein the ferrite controller is configured to control an azimuth angle of the RF wave.

16 . The antenna of claim 14 , further comprising a conductor wrapped around the magnetizing ferrite element.

17 . A two-dimensional electronically steerable antenna, comprising:
first and second ferrite controllers each comprising an array of two or more ferrite control elements, wherein the ferrite control elements each include:
a radio frequency (RF) path assembly including a RF path ferrite element and a RF path dielectric element;
a magnetizing ferrite assembly including a magnetizing ferrite element, structural dielectric elements, and a flexible insulated waveguide wall, wherein the magnetizing ferrite element is attached to the structural dielectric elements and the flexible insulated waveguide wall surrounds the magnetizing ferrite element and the structural dielectric elements, wherein the RF path ferrite element and the magnetizing ferrite element are attached to form a ferrite toroid; and
tapered impedance matching transformers;
at least one driver circuit per ferrite control element configured to control the phase of the ferrite control elements of the first and second ferrite controllers; and a 90 degree twist polarizer coupled between the first and second ferrite controllers; wherein the second ferrite controller is rotated 90 degrees with respect to the first ferrite controller.

18 . The antenna of claim 17 , wherein the first ferrite controller is configured to control an elevation angle of a RF wave, wherein the second ferrite controller is configured to control an azimuth angle of the RF wave.

19 . The antenna of claim 17 , further comprising a conductor wrapped around the magnetizing ferrite element.

20 . The antenna of claim 19 , wherein the at least one driver circuit is electrically coupled to the conductor wrapped around the magnetizing ferrite element.

Assignees

• Honeywell Int Inc

Inventors

• Koster Michael

Classifications

• H01P1/19

  using a ferromagnetic device · CPC title

• H01Q3/36 Primary

  with variable phase-shifters · CPC title

• H01Q15/246

  rotating the plane of polarisation of a linear polarised wave (guided wave H01P1/165) · CPC title

• H01Q3/44

  varying the electric or magnetic characteristics of reflecting, refracting, or diffracting devices associated with the radiating element · CPC title

• H01Q3/34

  by electrical means (active lenses or reflecting arrays H01Q3/46) · CPC title