Systems And Methods For Electronically Configuring a Phased Array Antenna
Various telecommunication antennas are described comprising a phased-array antenna having a plurality of antenna elements arranged in an array. The antenna further comprises electronics configured to electronically divide the antenna elements into two or more sub-arrays, which each comprise a subset of the plurality of antenna elements. The electronics can dynamically reorient the antenna by electronically dividing the antenna elements into different sub-arrays of the antenna elements which thereby affect the beam patterns of each of the sub-arrays.
1 . A telecommunications antenna for an aircraft, comprising:
a phased array antenna panel comprising a plurality of antenna elements arranged in an array;
electronics configured to electronically divide the plurality of antenna elements into a first set of sub-arrays comprising a first sub-array and a second sub-array, wherein each of the first sub-array and the second sub-array comprises a subset of the plurality of antenna elements, and wherein the first set of sub-arrays collectively comprise the plurality of antenna elements; and
wherein the electronics are further configured to reorient the antenna panel by electronically dividing the plurality of antenna elements into a second set of sub-arrays that is different form the first set of sub-arrays, wherein the second set of sub-arrays comprises a third sub-array and a fourth sub-array, wherein each of the third sub-array and the fourth sub-array comprises a subset of the plurality of antenna elements, and wherein the second set of sub-arrays collectively comprise the plurality of antenna elements.
2 . The telecommunications antenna of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of antenna elements comprises transmission elements.
3 . The telecommunications antenna of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of antenna elements is fed electronically or with a suited beam forming network.
4 . The telecommunications antenna of claim 1 , wherein the second sub-array comprises an asymmetric geometry and wherein a beam pattern of the second sub-array is asymmetric.
5 . The telecommunications antenna of claim 4 , wherein the fourth sub-array comprises an asymmetric geometry and wherein a beam pattern of the fourth sub-array is asymmetric.
6 . The telecommunications antenna of claim 5 , wherein the beam pattern of the fourth sub-array is rotated 90 degrees with respect to the beam pattern of the second sub-array.
7 . The telecommunications antenna of claim 1 , wherein the electronics are further configured to reorient the antenna panel by electronically changing a phase shift introduced by the antenna elements of the third sub-array and the fourth sub-array.
8 . The telecommunications antenna of claim 1 , wherein the first sub-array and the second sub-array comprise separated combination networks in parallel.
9 . The telecommunications antenna of claim 1 , wherein each of the first sub-array and the second sub-array is configured to point in a different direction.
10 . The telecommunications antenna of claim 1 , wherein the electronics are configured to reorient the antenna panel dynamically and utilize a total aperture area of the antenna panel.
11 . A method for electronically reorienting an analog, phased array antenna having electronics, comprising:
electronically dividing an array of antenna elements of a phased array antenna panel of the antenna into a first sub-array and a second sub-array using a processor of the electronics, wherein each of the first sub-array and the second sub-array comprises a subset of the array of antenna elements, and wherein the first sub-array and the second sub-array collectively form the array of antenna elements;
wherein the processor divides the plurality of antenna elements by electronically changing a phase shift introduced by the antenna elements of the first sub-array and the second sub-array;
electronically reorienting the phased array antenna panel by electronically dividing the array of antenna elements into a third sub-array and a fourth sub-array, wherein the third and fourth sub-arrays each comprises a different subset of the antenna elements than the first and second sub-arrays, and wherein the third and fourth sub-arrays collectively form the array of antenna elements; and
wherein the processor electronically reorients the phased array antenna panel by electronically changing a phase shift introduced by the antenna elements of the third sub-array and the fourth sub-array.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of antenna elements comprises transmission elements.
13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of antenna elements is fed electronically or with a suited beam forming network.
14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the second sub-array comprises an asymmetric geometry and wherein a beam pattern of the second sub-array is asymmetric.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the fourth sub-array comprises an asymmetric geometry and wherein a beam pattern of the fourth sub-array is asymmetric.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the beam pattern of the fourth sub-array is rotated 90 degrees with respect to the beam pattern of the second sub-array.
17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the antenna comprises a telecommunications antenna disposed on an aircraft.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein electronically reorienting the phased array antenna panel occurs dynamically during flight of the aircraft.
19 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the first sub-array and the second sub-array comprise separated combination networks in parallel.
20 . The method of claim 11 , wherein each of the first sub-array and the second sub-array is configured to point in a different direction.