Patent ID: 6195059
Filing Date: 2001-02-27
Classification: H01Q

Abstract:
A method for obtaining a continuous scanning lens antenna comprising the steps of:arranging a lens element in the form of a plate of a material presenting ferroelectric properties;arranging a first grid of highly conducting wires onto a first side of the plate of material presenting ferroelectric properties, the highly conducting wires of the first grid being electrically connected at one end of the highly conductive wires at intervals along a resistive wire;arranging a second grid of resistive wires onto a second side of the plate of material presenting ferroelectric properties, the wires of the second grid running parallel to the wires of the first grid and the wires of the second grid being connected in parallel by means a first and a second highly conducting wire, the resistive wires of the second grid being connected along the first and second highly conducting wires;connecting a first variable voltage source across the resistive wire connected to the first grid of highly conductive wires forming a static potential gradient along the resistive wire, and connecting a second variable voltage source to the first and second highly conductive wires to create a static potential gradient along the resistive wires of the second grid, thereby forming perpendicular static E-fields across the plate;illuminating one side of the plate of material presenting ferroelectric properties with a linearly polarized microwave field, the E vector of which being perpendicular to the direction of the wires of the first and second grids,controlling the dielectric constant across the surface of the lens element by controlling the voltages of the first and the second voltage sources to thereby control the direction of an antenna lobe generated by refracted microwave power by means of the scanning lens antenna.