SLOTTED MICROSTRIP ELECTRONIC SCAN ANTENNA

摘要

An rf, phase-array, microstrip antenna having a slotted ground plane mounted on one surface of a dielectric substrate. A network of strip lines is mounted on an opposed surface of the dielectric substrate. The network includes eight parallel rows of coupling strip lines mounted in superposition with eight rows of radiating slots. The slots in each row form a linear array. The slot spacing in each row is uniform and is different for different rows. The network further includes an input/output strip line, a plurality of switchable microstrip circulators and a plurality of branching strip lines connected to the circulators in a tree network. A scanning circuit is connected to the control terminals of the circulators for selectively completing an rf transmission path between the input/output strip line and the coupling strip lines. Each linear array is directional, having a major lobe, and each major lobe is oriented in a different direction. Periodic switching by the scanning circuit between the linear arrays causes the antenna to scan a region of space via the different major lobes.