Patent ID: 7450066

Claim:
A phased array antenna system with adjustable electrical tilt and having an array of antenna elements, the system incorporating: a) a first splitting apparatus for splitting a primary signal into first and second signals, b) a variable phase shifter for introducing a variable relative phase shift between the first and second signals, c) a second splitting apparatus for dividing the relatively phase shifted first and second signals into respective component signals, and d) a signal combining network for forming vectorial combinations of the component signals, the second splitting apparatus and the signal combining network being in combination a means for providing drive signals for individual antenna elements, the drive signals consisting at least partly of the said vectorial combinations and varying in phase progressively across the array as a function of antenna element position as required for phased array operation and such that the angle of electrical tilt of the array is adjustable in response to alteration of the variable relative phase shift introduced by the variable phase shifter.