Patent ID: 7453413
Filing Date: 2008-11-18
Classification: H01Q

Abstract:
1. A reconfigurable RF antenna array comprising: a plurality of antenna elements spatially distributed over an array aperture; wherein at least two of said antenna elements each comprise at least one driven component, and at least one of said antenna elements is a controlled parasitic antenna element that has a largest dimension of about one-half wavelength at the lowest frequency of its operational bandwidth and contains within its radiating aperture (a) at least one driven component, (b) at least one parasitic component, and (c) at least one controllably variable reactance load connected to said at least one parasitic component; and an array controller connected to said at least one variable reactance load to control the electromagnetic properties of said at least one controlled parasitic antenna element and thereby to control, at least in part, a predetermined characteristic of said array.