Patent ID: 6703976
Filing Date: 2004-03-09
Classification: H01Q

Abstract:
A configurable modular array building block for an antenna array comprising:a plurality of antenna elements, each antenna element operable to receive and output an electromagnetic wave signal, the antenna elements arranged adjacent to each other; a plurality of antenna element interfaces, each antenna element interface coupled to one of the plurality of antenna elements; and one or more circuit board assemblies, the one or more circuit board assemblies arranged substantially parallel to each other, each circuit board assembly having a plurality of antenna elements connected thereto, each antenna element connected to the circuit board assembly by an antenna element interface, each circuit board assembly comprising: a plurality of amplifiers, each amplifier operable to amplify a received signal from an antenna element, each amplifier receiving a signal from an antenna element via an antenna element interface; and one or more beamformers, each beamformer coupled to an output of an amplifier; wherein the one or more circuit board assemblies, the plurality of antenna element interfaces and the plurality of antenna elements are arranged so as to form a module, and wherein the module can be configured with different scan coverages by altering one or more of the number of antenna elements, the number of circuit boards, a dimension of the antenna elements, or the number of beamformers on each circuit board assembly.