Patent ID: 8138985
Filing Date: 2012-03-20
Classification: H01Q

Abstract:
1. An antenna comprising: at least one first planar substrate having a first surface thereon; at least one antenna element engaged to said first surface; a notch in said first planar substrate having an open end and a terminating end; connectors located adjacent to said terminating end, said connectors in electrical communication with said antenna element; a secondary planar member having a first surface and having a second surface with an electrical pathway thereon, said pathway terminating at connector points on one end and adapted for engagement with a transceiver on a second end; said secondary planar member having an engageable position in said notch, said connecter points in an electrical communication with said connectors when said secondary planar member is in said engaged position; a plurality of said first planar substrates each having a first surface thereon; said plurality of said first planar substrates positioned substantially parallel to each other; a plurality of said antenna elements engaged to said first surface of each said first planar substrate; a plurality of notches in each said first planar substrates having an open end and a terminating end; connectors located adjacent to each said terminating end, said connectors in electrical communication with a said antenna element proximate thereto; a plurality of said secondary planar members each having a first surface and having a second surface with an electrical pathway thereon, each said pathway terminating at connector points on one end and adapted for engagement with a transceiver on a second end; each of said secondary planar member having an engageable position in a said notch on each of said plurality of said first planar substrates thereby holding all of said plurality of said first planar substrates parallel and at a fixed distance to each other; individual said connecter points in an electrical communication with respective individual said antenna elements when said secondary planar member is in said engaged position; means for electronic switching to combine or separate electrical communication between said antenna elements to thereby provide means to control gain; and whereby an antenna array is formed by engagement of a secondary planar member with a said notch in each of said first planar members with each said antenna element thereby in electrical communication with a respective said second end of said electrical pathway which is adapted for engagement to a transceiver or electronic receiver.