Patent ID: 8279118

Claim:
An antenna array comprising: a plurality of first elements operable to radiate or receive electromagnetic energy, said first elements having a first phase range including a plurality of first phases, each of the first elements being spaced apart from a pattern center by an individual element distance and from the nearest first element by an individual element spacing in a regulated pattern, wherein in the regulated pattern each element spacing increases when a respective element distance increases from said pattern center, the plurality of first elements configured to generate a first radiation pattern based partially on the regulated pattern and at least one of said plurality of first phases; and a plurality of second elements positioned within a group of first elements from the plurality of first elements, wherein each said second elements comprises of two or more steering sub-elements, each said steering sub-element is placed within said regulated pattern, positioned within said group, and is operable to radiate or receive electromagnetic energy, said steering sub-element having fewer adjustment increments of said phase range than said electromagnetic energy produced by said first elements, the plurality of second elements configured to generate a second radiation pattern comprising a steerable radiation pattern; wherein the second radiation pattern combines with the first radiation pattern to form a composite radiation pattern thereby suppressing one or more undesirable side lobes generated from said plurality of first elements.