Patent ID: 7911383

Claim:
A phased array antenna system having a two dimensional array of antenna elements and a plurality of corporate feed networks, and wherein: a) the corporate feed networks are grouped in first and second ranks and are arranged to convert network input signals of variable phase relative to one another into network output signals phased appropriately for antenna elements of a phased array, the network output signals being in relatively greater numbers than the network input signals for corporate feed networks in at least one of the first and second ranks; b) first rank corporate feed networks are arranged to provide network output signals as input signals to respective lines of antenna elements; and c) second rank corporate feed networks are arranged to provide network output signals as input signals to respective lines of inputs of each first rank corporate feed network; and d) the system includes phase difference control means for varying network input signal phasing for second rank corporate feed networks each comprising two inputs whereby to provide control of antenna beam direction in two dimensions wherein the phase difference control means further comprises: i) a first variable phase shifter connected via a splitter to a second variable phase shifter and a first fixed phase shifter each connected to respective inputs of one second rank corporate feed network; ii) a second fixed phase shifter connected via a splitter to a third variable phase shifter and a third fixed phase shifter each connected to respective inputs of another second rank corporate feed network; and iii) means for ganging together operation of the second and third variable phase shifters.