Phased Array Antenna Panel Having Cavities with RF Shields for Antenna Probes
A phased array antenna panel includes a substrate over a metallic base, a cavity in the substrate and the metallic base, a plurality of antenna probes situated over the cavity, where the plurality of antenna probes are separated by a plurality of RF shields. The plurality of RF shields are configured to reduce coupling between the plurality of antenna probes. The plurality of antenna probes include a pair of antenna probes, where some of the plurality of RF shields are parallel to a horizontal-polarization antenna probe of the pair of antenna probes, and some of the plurality of RF shields are parallel to a vertical-polarization antenna probe of the pair of antenna probes. The horizontal-polarization antenna probe is perpendicular to a vertical-polarization antenna probe.
1 . A phased array antenna panel comprising:
a substrate over a metallic base;
a cavity in said substrate and said metallic base;
a plurality of antenna probes situated over said cavity;
wherein said plurality of antenna probes are separated by a plurality of RF shields.
2 . The phased array antenna panel of claim 1 wherein said plurality of RF shields are configured to reduce coupling between said plurality of antenna probes.
3 . The phased array antenna panel of claim 1 wherein said plurality of antenna probes comprise a pair of antenna probes.
4 . The phased array antenna panel of claim 3 wherein some of said plurality of RF shields are parallel to a horizontal-polarization antenna probe of said pair of antenna probes.
5 . The phased array antenna panel of claim 3 wherein some of said plurality of RF shields are parallel to a vertical-polarization antenna probe of said pair of antenna probes.
6 . The phased array antenna panel of claim 3 wherein said pair of antenna probes comprises a horizontal-polarization antenna probe perpendicular to a vertical-polarization antenna probe.
7 . The phased array antenna panel of claim 1 wherein said cavity has a rectangular cuboid shape.
8 . The phased array antenna panel of claim 1 wherein said cavity has a cylindrical shape.
9 . The phased array antenna panel of claim 1 wherein said cavity is an air cavity.
10 . A phased array antenna panel comprising:
a substrate over a metallic base;
a cavity in said substrate and said metallic base;
a horizontal-polarization antenna probe, a vertical-polarization antenna probe and a plurality of RF shields over said cavity;
wherein said plurality of RF shields reduce coupling between said horizontal-polarization antenna probe and said vertical-polarization antenna probe.
11 . The phased array antenna panel of claim 10 wherein some of said plurality of RF shields are parallel to said horizontal-polarization antenna probe.
12 . The phased array antenna panel of claim 10 wherein some of said plurality of RF shields are parallel to said vertical-polarization antenna probe.
13 . The phased array antenna panel of claim 10 wherein said horizontal-polarization antenna probe is perpendicular to said vertical-polarization antenna probe.
14 . The phased array antenna panel of claim 10 wherein said cavity has a rectangular cuboid shape.
15 . The phased array antenna panel of claim 10 wherein said cavity has a cylindrical shape.
16 . The phased array antenna panel of claim 10 wherein said cavity is an air cavity.
17 . A phased array antenna panel comprising:
a substrate over a metallic base;
a plurality of cavities in said substrate and said metallic base;
a semiconductor die situated over said substrate, said semiconductor die is coupled to at least two antenna probes over at least one of said plurality of cavities, said at least two antenna probes are separated by a plurality of RF shields;
wherein said semiconductor die is coupled to electrical connectors configured to carry combined horizontally-polarized signals and combined vertically-polarized signals.
18 . The phased array antenna panel of claim 17 wherein said at least two antenna probes comprise at least one horizontal-polarization antenna probe and at least one vertical-polarization antenna probe.
19 . The phased array antenna panel of claim 18 wherein said at least one horizontal-polarization antenna probe and said at least one vertical-polarization antenna probe provide input to phase shifters in a radio frequency (RF) front end circuit in said semiconductor die.
20 . The phased array antenna panel of claim 18 wherein said at least one horizontal-polarization antenna probe and said at least one vertical-polarization antenna probe provide input to low noise amplifiers in a radio frequency (RF) front end circuit in said semiconductor die.