Patent ID: 8432152
Filing Date: 2013-04-30
Classification: H01Q

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for feeding antenna elements of a phased array antenna, comprising: at least two transmission lines disposed in parallel and operated at a certain frequency as resonators, each of the transmission lines having a predetermined length dimensioned to be at least approximately an electrical quarter-wavelength of the operating frequency, a plurality of measuring positions provided on the transmission lines in spacings along the longitudinal direction of the transmission lines, and a plurality of amplification/attenuating circuits adapted to detect measuring signals from measuring positions on the transmission lines as a function of a resonant field in the transmission lines at the respective positions, to process these measuring signals, and to generate output signals for feeding corresponding antenna elements, wherein each transmission line is coupled to a signal source, respectively, and the signal sources operate at the same frequency with a phase difference to each other, wherein one of the transmission lines with one end is coupled to the corresponding signal source, while the other transmission line with its opposite end is coupled to the other signal source, and wherein at least one pair of transmission lines is provided and signals from respective measuring positions of the transmission line pair are detected and amplified by corresponding amplification circuits, and summed so as to generate steering signals for antenna elements.