Patent ID: 6538603
Filing Date: 2003-03-25
Classification: H01P,H01Q,H04B

Abstract:
A phased array antenna comprising:an input; a feed network electrically coupled to the input; a plurality of radiating elements; a plurality of voltage tunable phase shifters for receiving signals from the feed network and providing phase shifts for the signals prior to transmitting the signals to the radiating elements, each voltage tunable phase shifter includes: a microstrip line mounted on a composite substrate having a tunable dielectric layer; first and second ports adjacent first and second ends of the microstrip line; first and second matching elements positioned at the first and second ports; and biasing electrodes for applying control voltage to the tunable dielectric layer, the biasing electrodes forming a gap extending parallel to the microstrip line on a first side of the tunable dielectric layer opposite the microstrip line; a feed line assembly coupled to receive the phase shifted signals from the voltage tunable phase shifters; a slot matrix positioned between the feed line assembly and the plurality of radiating elements for transferring the phase shifted signals from the feed line assembly to the radiating elements; and a controller for controlling the phase shift provided by the phase shifters.