US 12,142,844 B2
Lens antenna system
Clinton P. Scarborough, State College, PA (US); Jeremiah P. Turpin, Boalsburg, PA (US); Daniel F. DiFonzo, Rockville, MD (US); and John Finney, London (GB)
Assigned to All.Space Networks Limited, Reading (GB)
Filed by All.Space Networks Limited, Reading (GB)
Filed on Dec. 24, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/726,342.
Application 16/726,342 is a continuation of application No. 16/173,985, filed on Oct. 29, 2018, granted, now 10,553,947, issued on Feb. 4, 2020.
Application 16/173,985 is a continuation of application No. 15/722,561, filed on Oct. 2, 2017, granted, now 10,116,051, issued on Oct. 30, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/472,991, filed on Mar. 17, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2020/0144719 A1, May 7, 2020
Int. Cl. H01Q 3/46 (2006.01); H01Q 1/28 (2006.01); H01Q 3/14 (2006.01); H01Q 3/24 (2006.01); H01Q 3/30 (2006.01); H01Q 19/06 (2006.01); H01Q 21/00 (2006.01); H01Q 21/06 (2006.01); H01Q 21/22 (2006.01); H01Q 25/00 (2006.01); H01Q 1/24 (2006.01)
CPC H01Q 3/46 (2013.01) [H01Q 1/288 (2013.01); H01Q 3/14 (2013.01); H01Q 3/245 (2013.01); H01Q 3/30 (2013.01); H01Q 19/062 (2013.01); H01Q 21/0025 (2013.01); H01Q 21/061 (2013.01); H01Q 21/22 (2013.01); H01Q 25/007 (2013.01); H01Q 1/241 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An antenna system forming a phased array, comprising:
a plurality of lens sets positioned in a two-dimensional array, each lens set having:
a gradient index lens with a curved front surface and opposing rear flat surface, the gradient index lens having a nominal focal point;
a plurality of patch feed elements positioned in a two-dimensional arrangement and that are mechanically fixed in a plane underneath and adjacent to the rear flat surface of the gradient index lens and configured to transmit or receive a signal through the gradient index lens; and
lens set circuitry coupled to the plurality of patch feed elements and configured to select a specific patch feed element of the plurality of patch feed elements of the lens set; and
antenna circuitry coupled to the plurality of lens sets and configured to perform fine control of beam direction of a beam of the antenna system by combining signals associated with patch feed elements in different lens sets of the plurality of lens sets.