Software controlled antenna
An antenna array having radiating elements and delay lines provided over a sandwich of layers that includes variable dielectric-constant material. The value of the variable dielectric-constant material at various points over the antenna is controlled via software, hence changing the operational characteristics of the antenna using software. The sandwich of layers may be a standard flat panel display, wherein images depicted on the flat panel display are software controlled with a program designed to change the dielectric constant, thus providing scanning and tuning ability to the array. That is, different images are programmed according to specifically desired change in the dielectric property of different pixels under different patches or feed-lines of the array, thereby controlling the frequency and/or directivity of the array.
1. An antenna comprising:
a variable dielectric constant (VDC) layer comprising a top dielectric layer, a bottom dielectric layer and variable dielectric constant material sandwiched between the top dielectric layer and the bottom dielectric layer;
a common ground electrode provided below the VDC layer;
a plurality of addressable contacts provided over the VDC plate, wherein each addressable contact defines a pixel and is configured to apply electric field over the VDC material at the location of the pixel;
at least one radiating element provided over the VDC layer;
at least one delay line provided over the VDC layer, each of the at least one radiating element being RF coupled to at least one of the delay line; and
at least one conductive feed line provided below the VDC plate and coupled to the at least one delay line.
2. The antenna of claim 1 , wherein the at least one conductive feed line is coupled to the at least one delay line through a window formed in the common ground electrode.
3. The antenna of claim 1 , wherein the at least one conductive feed line is coupled to the at least one delay line by a contact passing through a window formed in the common ground electrode.
4. The antenna of claim 1 , further comprising a cover insulating layer provided over the VDC layer, and wherein the at least one radiating element is provided over the cover insulating layer.
5. The antenna of claim 4 , wherein the at least one delay line is provided below the cover insulating layer.
6. The antenna of claim 5 , further comprising a via formed in the cover insulating layer to couple the at least one delay line to the corresponding at least one radiating element.
7. The antenna of claim 1 , wherein each of the at least one delay lines is formed as a meandering line.
8. The antenna of claim 1 , wherein the at least one delay line comprises a plurality of delay lines, and wherein sub-groups of the plurality of delay lines are interconnected by a conducting line.
9. The antenna of claim 8 , wherein the at least one conductive feed line is coupled to the conducting line.
10. The antenna of claim 9 , wherein the at least one conductive feed line is coupled to the conducting line at the geometrical center of the conducting line.
11. The antenna of claim 1 , wherein the VDC material comprises liquid crystals material.
12. The antenna of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the top dielectric layer and the bottom dielectric layer comprises Rogers, PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene), or PET (Polyethylene terephthalate).
13. The antenna of claim 4 , wherein the cover insulating layer comprises glass, Rogers, PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene), or PET (Polyethylene terephthalate).
14. An antenna comprising:
a variable dielectric constant (VDC) layer comprising a top dielectric layer, a bottom dielectric layer and variable dielectric constant material sandwiched between the top dielectric layer and the bottom dielectric layer;
a common ground electrode provided below the VDC layer;
a plurality of addressable contacts provided over the VDC plate, wherein each addressable contact defines a pixel and is configured to apply electric field over the VDC material at the location of the pixel;
a plurality of radiating elements provided over the VDC layer;
a plurality of delay lines provided over the VDC layer, each of the radiating elements being RF coupled to at least one of the delay lines; and
a plurality of conductive feed lines provided below the VDC plate, wherein each of the plurality of feed lines being RF-coupled to one of the plurality of delay lines.
15. The antenna of claim 14 , wherein each of the plurality of radiating elements is coupled to two of the plurality of delay lines.
16. The antenna of claim 14 , wherein the common ground electrode comprises a plurality of windows and wherein each of the plurality of conductive feed lines is coupled to a corresponding delay line through one of the plurality of windows.
17. The antenna of claim 16 , wherein each window has a length of half a wavelength of RF signal traveling in the feed line and width of one tenth the wavelength of the RF signal traveling in the feed line.
18. The antenna of claim 17 , wherein a terminus end of the feed line extends beyond the window a distance D of about a quarter of wavelength of RF signal traveling in the feed line.
19. The antenna of claim 18 , wherein a terminus end of the delay line extends beyond the window a distance E of about a quarter of wavelength of RF signal traveling in the delay line.
20. The antenna of claim 14 , further comprising a plurality of virtual chokes and wherein each of the plurality of conductive feed lines is coupled to a corresponding delay line through one of the plurality of virtual chokes.
21. The antenna of claim 14 , wherein each of the plurality of conductive feed lines is coupled to a corresponding delay line through an RF short.
22. The antenna of claim 14 , wherein each of the plurality of delay lines comprises a meandering conductive line having one end coupled to one of the plurality of radiating elements and an opposite end coupled to one of the plurality of feed lines.