Patent ID: 6774845
Filing Date: 2004-08-10
Classification: G01S,H01Q,H01R

Abstract:
A configurable antenna comprising:a centre antenna element; a plurality of second antenna elements disposed about the centre antenna element, each said second antenna element together with the centre antenna element defining an antenna sector for facilitating communication of electromagnetic energy, a first portion of the second antenna elements being disposed at an inner radius around the centre antenna element, a second portion of the second antenna elements being disposed at an outer radius around the first portion antenna elements, each said antenna sector comprising one of the radially inner second antenna elements, one of the radially outer second antenna elements, and a conductor extending between the one radially inner second antenna element and the one radially outer second antenna element; and a switch matrix coupled to each said antenna sector for altering a configuration of each said antenna sector, the switch matrix comprising a plurality of first electronic switches for selectively grounding selected ones of the second antenna elements, and a plurality of second electronic switches each for selectively connecting together the second antenna elements of one of the antenna sectors with an associated one of the conductors.