Patent ID: 8509335

Claim:
An array antenna apparatus for use in a radar apparatus, comprising: a plurality of antenna elements; a plurality of micro wave transceiver modules connected to the plurality of antenna elements, respectively, each having a function of generating a transmission micro wave signal based on a designated transmission timing and a transmission parameter, and supplying the transmission micro wave signal to each of the antenna elements and a function of receiving micro wave signals from the antenna elements; a beam former configured to perform phase control and synthesize reception signals output from the plurality of micro wave transceiver modules; and an antenna controller configured to generate a control signal to each of the plurality of micro wave transceiver modules and the beam former, wherein each of the micro wave transceiver modules comprises an interface for inputting/outputting a micro wave analog signal to/from the antenna element, and all of signal interfaces are configured as one chip on a semiconductor; and the antenna controller performs control for designating the transmission timing and the transmission parameter for each of the micro wave transceiver modules based on a designated beam directivity angle, to enable the beam former to control phases of the reception signals.