Ferroelectric-scanned phased array antenna

Claim 1

A phased array antenna, comprising: a plurality of elements disposed in an array arrangement, wherein each element includes (A) an input waveguide which receives and routes RF energy; (B) a phase shifting element disposed to receive the RF energy from said input waveguide, each of said phase shifting elements includes (i) a quantity of phase shifting material whose refractive index varies in the presence of an applied electric field, said phase shifting material being disposed in the path of the RF energy and having a first face through which the RF energy enters said material and a second face through which the RF energy exits said material as a phase shifted RF signal; (ii) a pair of impedance matching layers including a first layer disposed adjacent to said first face and a second layer disposed adjacent said second face, such that, the RF energy propagates through said first layer before entering said phase shifting material and propagates through said second layer upon exiting said phase shifting material; (iii) means for applying a variable electric field across said phase shifting material to vary the refractive index of said phase shifting material, said means for applying includes a first electrode which bisects said phase shifting material in a direction parallel to the propagation direction of the RF energy, and second and third electrodes located on opposite sides of said first electrode and spaced apart from said first electrode by said phase shifting material, such that a variable electrical potential applied to said first electrode creates an electric field across said phase shifting material in a direction normal to the propagation direction of the RF energy and parallel to the polarization direction of the RF energy; and (C) an output waveguide which receives said phase shifted RF energy from said phase shifting element and routes said phase shifted RF energy.