Patent ID: 8188918

Claim:
An antenna system ( 10 ) exhibiting a radiation pattern ( 11 ) at a desired operating frequency that is steerable, said antenna system ( 10 ) comprising: a radiating element ( 12 ) for exciting the radiation pattern ( 11 ); a plurality of parasitic elements ( 18 ) disposed a distance from said radiating element ( 12 ) which is between 0.01 and 0.1 wavelengths of the desired operating frequency of said antenna system ( 10 ) such that said parasitic elements ( 18 ) affect a geometry of the radiation pattern ( 11 ); and at least one linking switch ( 20 ) electrically connected to at least two of said parasitic elements ( 18 ) and activatable to electrically connect said at least two parasitic elements ( 18 ) together for steering the radiation pattern ( 11 ).