US6061035A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Frequency-scanned end-fire phased-aray antenna
Assignee: United States Department of the Army
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Filing: 1998-03-22
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Granted: 2000-05-09
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Expires: 2018-03-22
Abstract
Abstract A frequency-scanned end-fire phased-array antenna includes a board, a sinuous transmission line formed on the board, a plurality of end-fire antennas, and a plurality of couplers corresponding to the end-fire antennas, such that the transmission line is selectively coupled to the plurality of end-fire antennas via the plurality of couplers, for selectively coupling energy within the transmission line to the end-fire antennas. By varying the input frequency to the antenna over a narrow range, the direction of a main radiation beam emitted by the antenna can be scanned ±90 degrees from broadside. A single antenna board produces a frequency-scanned fan beam. Stacked antenna boards can produce a frequency-scanned pencil beam, or several independent frequency-scanned fan beams at different frequencies. The present antenna can operate in the microwave, millimeter-wave, terahertz, infrared, or optical frequency range. Because this frequency-scanned phased-array can be mass produced by planar fabrication techniques, it can be much smaller and less expensive than conventional "hollow pipe" waveguide frequency-scanned phased-array antennas.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert T. Kinasewitz
- 👤 Leo DiDomenico
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 15:17
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01Q; H01Q21/00; H01Q21/0006; H01Q21/0075; H01Q21/06; H01Q21/061; H01Q21/067; H01Q3/00; H01Q3/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 44
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
A frequency-scanned, phased-array antenna comprising in combination: a board having an edge; a transmission line formed on said board, and having an input; a plurality of end-fire antennas secured to said board; a plurality of couplers secured to said board and corresponding to said end-fire antennas; said transmission line being selectively coupled to said plurality of end-fire antennas via said plurality of couplers, for selectively coupling energy within said transmission line to said end-fire antennas; and wherein said transmission line includes a single, sinuous transmission line in order to enable frequency scanning.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
92 words
A frequency-scanned, phased-array antenna comprising in combination: a board having an edge; a transmission line formed on said board, and having an input; a plurality of end-fire antennas secured to said board; a plurality of couplers secured to said board and corresponding to said end-fire antennas; said transmission line being selectively coupled to said plurality of end-fire antennas via said plurality of couplers, for selectively coupling energy within said transmission line to said end-fire antennas; and wherein said transmission line includes a single, sinuous transmission line in order to enable frequency scanning.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The antenna according to claim 1, further including a matched load or termination.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The antenna according to claim 1, wherein said input of said transmission line is located at said board edge.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
11 words
The antenna according to claim 1, wherein said board is planar.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The antenna according to claim 1, wherein said board is conformal to a non-planar shape.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The antenna according to claim 1, wherein said transmission line is planar.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The antenna according to claim 1, wherein said transmission line is substantially planar.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The antenna according to claim 1, wherein said transmission line includes a plurality of interconnected segments.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The antenna according to claim 8, wherein said interconnected segments include a plurality of transmission segments that are connected by a plurality of coupling segments.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The antenna according to claim 9, wherein said plurality of couplers are coupled to said plurality of coupling segments.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The antenna according to claim 10, wherein said transmission segments include an input transmission segment that extends from said board edge to one of said coupling segments.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The antenna according to claim 11, wherein at least some of said transmission segments are linearly shaped.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The antenna according to claim 11, wherein at least some of said transmission segments are curvilinearly shaped.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The antenna according to claim 8, wherein at least some of said plurality of interconnected segments are of the same type.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
The antenna according to claim 1, wherein said transmission line is any of: a stripline, a microstrip, an inverted microstrip line, a slotline, a coplanar waveguide, an image line, an insulated image line, a tapped image line, a coplanar stripline.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The antenna according to claim 1, wherein each of said end-fire antennas is any of: a tapered dielectric rod, a Vivaldi type antenna, a slot antenna, a dipole antenna.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
59 words
The antenna according to claim 1, wherein said end-fire antennas radiate energy having a predetermined frequency and wavelength; wherein said end-fire antennas are not farther apart than about one half (1/2) said wavelength of radiation emitted by said end-fire antennas; and wherein said couplers are located as far apart as needed to accomplish smooth turns of said transmission line.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The antenna according to claim 1, further including a plurality of connecting transmission lines; and wherein each connecting transmission line connects a coupler to a corresponding end-fire antenna.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
The antenna according to claim 18, wherein said board has a first side and second side; wherein said transmission line is formed on said first side; and said connecting transmission lines are disposed on said second side.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The antenna according to claim 1, further including an amplifier positioned along a connecting transmission line, between a coupler and a corresponding end-fire antenna.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The antenna according to claim 1, further including an amplifier positioned along a transmission segment of said transmission line.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
The antenna according to claim 1, wherein said transmission line is single-mode optical fiber.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
The antenna according to claim 1, wherein at least some of said plurality of end-fire antennas are formed on said board.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
The antenna according to claim 1, wherein at least some of said plurality of couplers are formed on said board and coupled to corresponding end-fire antennas.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
29 words
The antenna according to claim 1, wherein at least some of said end-fire antennas radiate from said edge, in a direction substantially parallel to a surface of said board.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
107 words
A frequency-scanned, multi-dimensional phased-array antenna comprising in combination: two or more boards in a stacked relationship, each board having an edge; a transmission line formed on each of said board; and having an input; a plurality of end-fire antennas secured to each of said boards; a plurality of couplers secured to each of said board and corresponding to said end-fire antennas; said transmission line being selectively coupled to said plurality of end-fire antennas via said plurality of couplers, for selectively coupling energy within said transmission line to said end-fire antennas; and wherein said transmission line includes a single, sinuous transmission line in order to enable frequency scanning.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
107 words
A frequency-scanned, multi-dimensional phased-array antenna comprising in combination: two or more boards in a stacked relationship, each board having an edge; a transmission line formed on each of said board; and having an input; a plurality of end-fire antennas secured to each of said boards; a plurality of couplers secured to each of said board and corresponding to said end-fire antennas; said transmission line being selectively coupled to said plurality of end-fire antennas via said plurality of couplers, for selectively coupling energy within said transmission line to said end-fire antennas; and wherein said transmission line includes a single, sinuous transmission line in order to enable frequency scanning.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
13 words
The antenna according to claim 26, wherein the antenna produces a fan beam.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
13 words
The antenna according to claim 26, wherein the antenna produces a pencil beam.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
42 words
The antenna according to claim 26, wherein said boards and corresponding ones of said transmission line, end-fire antennas, and couplers formed on each of said board form separate frequency-scanned antennas; and wherein said frequency-scanned antennas are selectively grouped pursuant to frequency ranges.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
15 words
The antenna according to claim 26, wherein said frequency-scanned antennas radiate at the same frequency.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
14 words
The antenna according to claim 26, wherein said frequency-scanned antennas radiate at different frequencies.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
31 words
The antenna according to claim 26, wherein at least some of said frequency-scanned antennas radiate at a first frequency, and at least some of said frequency-scanned antennas radiate another desirable frequencies.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
21 words
The antenna according to claim 26, wherein at least some of said plurality of end-fire antennas are formed on said board.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
26 words
The antenna according to claim 26, wherein at least some of said plurality of couplers are formed on said board and coupled to corresponding end-fire antennas.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
96 words
A method of making a frequency-scanned, phased-array antenna comprising: forming a transmission line with an input on a board; forming a plurality of energy radiating elements in proximity to an edge of said board; forming a plurality of couplers corresponding to said energy radiating elements on said board; selectively securing said transmission line to said plurality of energy radiating elements via said plurality of couplers, for selectively coupling energy within said transmission line to energy radiating elements; and wherein forming said transmission line includes forming a single, sinuous transmission line in order to enable frequency scanning.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
96 words
A method of making a frequency-scanned, phased-array antenna comprising: forming a transmission line with an input on a board; forming a plurality of energy radiating elements in proximity to an edge of said board; forming a plurality of couplers corresponding to said energy radiating elements on said board; selectively securing said transmission line to said plurality of energy radiating elements via said plurality of couplers, for selectively coupling energy within said transmission line to energy radiating elements; and wherein forming said transmission line includes forming a single, sinuous transmission line in order to enable frequency scanning.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 35, further including stacking two or more boards including said transmission line, plurality of energy radiating elements, and couplers, on top of each other.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method according to claim 35, wherein at least one of the steps of: forming said transmission line, forming said energy radiating elements, and forming said plurality of couplers includes etching said board.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 37, wherein the steps of: forming said transmission line, forming said energy radiating elements, and forming said plurality of couplers include etching said board.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
94 words
A frequency-scanned, phased-array antenna comprising: a first board having an edge; a first planar-type transmission line formed on said board, and having an input; a plurality of energy radiating elements formed on said board; a plurality of couplers formed on said board; and said first transmission line being selectively coupled to said plurality of energy radiating elements via said plurality of couplers, for selectively coupling energy within said first transmission line to said energy radiating elements, and wherein said first transmission line includes a single, sinuous transmission line in order to enable frequency scanning.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
94 words
A frequency-scanned, phased-array antenna comprising: a first board having an edge; a first planar-type transmission line formed on said board, and having an input; a plurality of energy radiating elements formed on said board; a plurality of couplers formed on said board; and said first transmission line being selectively coupled to said plurality of energy radiating elements via said plurality of couplers, for selectively coupling energy within said first transmission line to said energy radiating elements, and wherein said first transmission line includes a single, sinuous transmission line in order to enable frequency scanning.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
45 words
The antenna according to claim 39, further including a second board with a second transmission line, a plurality of energy radiating elements, and a plurality of couplers formed on said second board; and wherein said first board and second board are secured to each other.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-05-09 | 2003-11-08 | 2004-05-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-05-09 | 2007-11-08 | 2008-05-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-05-09 | 2011-11-08 | 2012-05-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |