Patent ID: 6326931
Filing Date: 2001-12-04
Classification: H01Q

Abstract:
A method for obtaining a continuous aperture scanning antenna reflector element comprising the steps of:arranging a reflector element in the form of a plate of a material presenting ferroelectric properties;arranging a first electromagnetically transparent, highly resistive film onto a first side of the plate of material presenting ferroelectric properties, the first highly resistive film at two opposite edges provided with a first and second highly conductive wire electrically connected along the respective opposite edge;arranging a second electromagnetically transparent, highly resistive film onto a second side of the plate of material presenting ferroelectric properties, the second highly resistive film at two opposite edges provided with a third and fourth highly conductive wire electrically connected along the respective opposite edge, said third and fourth conducting wires of said second highly resistive film running perpendicular to said first and second wires of said first highly resistive film;arranging a conducting reflector layer underneath said second highly resistive film, said reflector layer being insulated from said second film by an insulating layer;connecting a first variable voltage source Ux to said first and second conducting wires of said first highly resistive film forming a static potential gradient across said first highly resistive film, and connecting a second variable voltage source Uy to said third and fourth highly conductive wires of said second highly resistive film to create a static potential gradient across said second highly resistive film, thereby forming perpendicular static E-fields across the plate;illuminating said plate of material presenting ferroelectric properties carrying said first and second transparent highly resistive films with a microwave field of an arbitrary polarization,controlling the dielectric constant across the plate by controlling the voltages of said first and second voltage sources to thereby control a direction of an antenna lobe generated from reflected microwave power by means of the created scanning reflector antenna element.