Patent ID: 7696945
Filing Date: 2010-04-13
Classification: H01Q

Abstract:
1. A sparse array antenna comprising series-fed antenna array columns comprising transmitting array columns and receiving array columns tuned to a respective transmit and receive frequency, each transmitting array column having multiple transmitting radiator elements and each receiving array column having multiple receiving antenna elements, wherein: said transmitting array columns are formed with a given distance between each one of the transmitting radiator elements, and a distance between each transmitting array column in the array antenna is one wavelength of the transmitting frequency, and said receiving array columns are formed with a given distance between each one of the receiving radiator elements, and a distance between each receiving array column in the array antenna is one wavelength of the receiving frequency, and the series-fed antenna columns being arranged in parallel to each other, thereby forming a symmetric interleaved transmit/receive array; receiving radiator elements in the receiving array columns operate as parasitic elements in a transmit mode and transmitting radiator elements in the transmitting array columns operate as parasitic elements in a receive mode to reduce creation of grating lobes, wherein the sparse array antenna includes a main radiation lobe and is arranged to be scannable in more than one direction to reduce sidelobes entering visual space when scanning the main radiation lobe from an off boresight direction.