Photo-conductive element operative in the microwave region and a light- steerable antenna array incorporating the photo-conductive element

摘要

A steerable microwave antenna array having directional characteristics, which includes at least two antenna elements spaced from one another by a predetermined distance, each antenna element defining a controllable directional radiation pattern of a selectable intensity, and having an axis of maximum radiation intensity, and wherein the directional characteristics are derived from the super-position of the radiation patterns, the axes subtending a predetermined angle therebetween, the wherein the improvement provides for feed means connected to each antenna element, each including a photo-conductive element for a selected frequency in the microwave region, so that, upon the photoelectric elements being impinged with a selected intensity of light, the directional characteristics are changed in dependence of at least the difference in the intensity of light impinging on the photo- conductive elements, respectively.