METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR BEAM STEERING USING STEERABLE BEAM ANTENNAS WITH SWITCHED PARASITIC ELEMENTS

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce high cost and complexity caused by a large number of phase shifters of two dimensional arrays.SOLUTION: An antenna includes radiating elements 312, 322, 332 located at the center of a planar circular structure. The antenna further includes one or more parasitic elements 314, 324, 334 located on a contour around the radiating element. The parasitic elements are aligned in a direction parallel with the radiating element, and protrude from the planar circular structure. The antenna includes switches separating each of the one or more parasitic elements from the ground. A switch in a first position creates a short circuit between the parasitic element and the ground. A switch in a second position creates an open circuit between the parasitic element and the ground.