Phased-array antenna employing an electrically controlled lens

Claim 1

In a phased-array antenna in which transmitting energy from a primary feed system is radiated through free space as a primary wave to a plurality of first radiator elements, arranged in rows and columns in a single plane where they are received, and conducted over a plurality of phase shift elements, which may be electronically controlled, and which convert the primary wave into a planar wave and additionally effect a desired beam deflection, with such waves being radiated by a plurality of second radiator elements, in the form of a planar wave, which second radiator elements are likewise arranged in rows and columns in a single plane and are correspondingly disposed with respect to the first radiator elements, and in which received energy passes in the opposite direction along the same path, a second primary feed system being disposed at the second radiator elements with said second primary feed system being supplied with transmitting energy which is radiated through free space, as a primary wave, to the second radiator elements where it is received, conducted over said phase shift elements and radiated by the first radiator elements in the form of a planar wave, said second primary feed system being geometrically positioned relative to the plane of the second radiator elements in exactly the same relation as the first primary feed system is positioned relative to the plane of the first radiator elements, with each of the two primary feed systems being geometrically arranged off-center relative to the particular face of the associated radiator elements, in particular disposed therebelow, the combination of respective delay lines connected in series with the associated phase shift elements, which lines are so designed that they balance the transit time differences associated with the oblique positioning of the primary feed systems and possibly for focusing, and which extend between each of the primary feed systems and the radiator elements associated with the respective phase shift elements.