Monolithic quad switch for reconfigurable antennas

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017302002-A1
Application number	US-201615098510-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 14, 2016
Priority date	Apr 14, 2016
Publication date	Oct 19, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A phased array antenna which can change the configuration of the phased array antenna by controllable quad switches on the phased array antenna is presented. The phased array antenna adapts monolithic microwave integrate circuit (MMIC) technology to have high isolation interconnection of the reconfigurable phased array antenna. The reconfigurable phased array antenna can be reusable and adaptable to different configurations so that the overall cost and lead time of the phased array antenna is reduced compared to the existing RF antennas in the market.

First claim

What is claimed:

1 . A unit cell device for a reconfigurable phased array antenna comprising:
at least one floating switch; at least one RF connection port operatively connected with the at least one floating switches; at least one radiating metal conductor operatively connected to the at least one floating switch; and at least one control voltage pad operatively connected to the at least one floating switch.

2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one floating switch is a pseudomorphic high-electron-mobility (pHEMT) transistor.

3 . The device of claim 2 , wherein there are at least four floating switches.

4 . The device of claim 3 , wherein the four floating switches are connected in series with respect to a common cross junction.

5 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a common cross junction including at least one bias voltage return resistor, at least one bias voltage return metal interconnector, and at least one control return pad.

6 . The device of claim 5 , wherein the bias return metal interconnectors and the bias voltage return resistors are connected to a common ground.

7 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one floating switch has a gate, a source, and a drain.

8 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the gate is operatively connected to the at least one control voltage pad.

9 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the source is operatively connected to the at least one radiating metal conductor.

10 . The device of claim 9 , further comprising a DC block capacitor connected intermediate the source and the at least one RF connection port.

11 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the drain operatively is connected to the at least one RF connection port.

12 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the RF connection port is connected with a central RF feed.

13 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the control voltage pad is connected with an outer voltage source.

14 . The device of claim 1 , in combination with a plurality of other identical devices arranged in the form of an array.

15 . The combination of claim 14 , wherein the array is a 6×6 array.

16 . The combination of claim 15 , wherein the 6×6 array defines a reconfigurable phased array antenna generating different configurations by selectively interconnecting or disconnecting the radiating metal conductors on each unit cell device.

17 . The combination of claim 14 , wherein the reconfigurable phased array antenna defines one of the following patterns: dipole, rhombic, patch, and spiral formed by an input voltage flowing into the at least one floating switching device.

18 . The combination of claim 17 , wherein the pattern is changed by an input voltage flowing into the gate of the at least one floating switching device.

19 . The combination of claim 14 , wherein the reconfigurable phased array antenna changes a beam pointing angle and a polarization by an input voltage flowing on the gate of the floating switching device.

20 . A method comprising:
providing a reconfigurable phased array antenna including at least one floating switch, at least one RF connection port operatively connected with the at least one floating switches, at least one radiating metal conductor operatively connected to the at least one floating switch, and at least one control voltage pad operatively connected to the at least one floating switch; establishing a first configuration of the reconfigurable phased array antenna having a first current flow pattern; reconfiguring the reconfigurable phased array antenna; and establishing a second configuration of the reconfigurable phased array antenna having a second current flow pattern different than the first current flow pattern.

Assignees

• Bae Sys Inf & Elect Sys Integ

Inventors

• Komiak James J

Classifications

• H01Q21/06 Primary

  Arrays of individually energised antenna units similarly polarised and spaced apart · CPC title

• H01Q1/281 Primary

  Nose antennas · CPC title

• H01Q21/0093

  Monolithic arrays · CPC title

• H01Q3/06

  over a restricted angle · CPC title

• H01Q3/247

  by switching different parts of a primary active element · CPC title