Antenna having distributed phase shift mechanism

Abstract

An antenna is provided. The antenna includes a first antenna element disposed over a ground plane and a second and third antenna element over the ground plane on opposing sides of the first antenna element, said first, second and third antenna elements forming a linear antenna array. The antenna further includes an electrical delay line having first and second conductors extending between the first and second antenna elements and between the first and third antenna elements, a parallel conductive elements disposed in series with each of the first and second conductors, the conductive elements extending away from the first and second conductors in a single direction perpendicular to a predominant axis of the linear array, a tuning substrate extending across the conductive elements of each of the delay lines with a pair of U-shaped conductive elements on opposing ends of the tuning substrate with opposing arms of each of the U-shaped tuning elements capacitively engaging respective, corresponding portions of the tuning stubs of the first and second conductors in a substantially identical manner and an actuator system that advances the tuning substrates transverse to the predominant axis thereby increasing an electrical delay on the second antenna and decreasing the electrical delay of the third antenna by substantially equal values.

Description

[0001] Cross references to related applications

[0002] This application is a partial continuation application of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 092,229 filed on August 27, 2008, and the content is incorporated herein by reference. Technical field

[0003] The field of the invention relates to antenna arrays, and in particular to signal phase shifts with such arrays. Background technique

[0004] Antenna arrays used in wireless communication systems are well known. Such an array can be used in any number of different types of systems (e.g., cellular communication network, WiFi, etc.).

[0005] One of the important features of known wireless systems is the ability to provide seamless coverage. For example, a user of a cellular phone on a car trip may find it annoying to frequently lose call connections (eg, call dropped) during use. This problem was once common, but it has become less serious due to advances in wireless technology.

[0006] In order to avoid dropped call...

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