Reconfigurable antenna

Abstract

Reconfigurable Antenna This description relates to an antenna (100) comprising: – an amplifying array (101) comprising a plurality of first elementary cells (103); and – a transmitting array (105) comprising a plurality of second elementary cells (107), in which the amplifying array (101) is configured to radiate, or to be irradiated, by the transmitting array (105). Figure for the abbreviation: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: Reconfigurable antenna technical field

[0001] This description relates generally to electronic devices, more particularly to reconfigurable antennas. Previous technique

[0002] Compared to traditional antennas, reconfigurable antennas can offer improved gain and provide access to additional features, such as electronic pointing correction or the emission of multiple, pinched, or shaped beams. This benefits the development of numerous applications, such as radar systems, detection systems, and communication systems from the C-band (approximately 4 to 8 GHz) to the D-band (approximately 110 to 170 GHz). The use of reconfigurable antennas is also being considered in a frequency band around 300 GHz.

[0003] Multiple fields of application are likely to benefit from reconfigurable antennas, including: - automotive radar systems for assistance and / or driver assistance, for example for active safety purposes; - very high resolution imaging and surveillance systems; - very high speed communication systems using millimeter waves, for example for inter or intra-building communications in home or building automation environments; - antennas for space applications, for example, Ka-band LEO (Low Earth Orbit) ground-to-satellite telemetry links, reflector antennas dedicated to satellite communications with a reconfigurable primary source, satellite-on-the-move (SOTM) telecommunications systems, internet access devices or systems, television broadcasting devices or systems, etc.; and - point-to-point and point-to-multipoint communication systems such as metropolitan networks, "fronthaul" and "backhaul" systems for cellular networks, radio access for 5G mobile networks, etc.

[0004] Among existing high-gain antennas, reflector antennas have been proposed in particular. However, these antennas are complex and expensive to manufacture because the reflectors require, especially for high-frequency applications, very precise curvature. In addition, motors are used to direct the beam into the desired direction. Phased array antennas have been proposed to allow electronic beam control. However, these antennas are expensive to develop and produce, particularly because they include amplification modules to compensate for losses induced by phase-shifting circuits.

[0005] Other reconfigurable beam-shifting and / or beamforming antennas have also been proposed. Among these antennas, there are, in particular, transmit array antennas, also called discrete lens antennas. Existing transmit array antennas generally comprise a radiating panel with reconfigurable elementary cells, or transmitting cells. Each elementary cell of the radiating panel comprises a first antenna element irradiated by an electromagnetic field emitted by one or more focal sources, a second antenna element transmitting a modified signal outward from the antenna, and a coupling element between the first and second antenna elements.Elementary cells are designed to control the electromagnetic field distribution near a radiating aperture of the antenna, thus enabling the production of one or more beams in a given direction or the synthesis of a beam with a defined shape. Ideally, each elementary cell is capable of compensating for every path difference between the focal source(s) and the radiating aperture. In practice, to simplify the antenna, elementary cells can only compensate for a limited number of phase states, for example, 2N phase states, where N is a positive integer, in the case of N-bit phase quantization compensation. The same transmitting array can alternate between transmit and receive phases, provided it is free of non-reciprocating elements such as amplifiers or attenuators.Otherwise, the transmitting network can only function in either transmission or reception mode.

[0006] However, transmitting array antennas suffer from various drawbacks. In particular, existing transmitting array antennas have a relatively large thickness, imposed by the need to keep the focal source(s) away from the transmitting array. Summary of the invention

[0007] It would be desirable to overcome all or part of the drawbacks of existing reconfigurable antennas. In particular, there is a need for reconfigurable antennas with improved performance, reduced energy consumption, and a smaller footprint compared to existing reconfigurable antennas, in order, for example, to meet the needs of applications such as satellite communications (SATCOM).

[0008] To this end, one embodiment provides an antenna comprising: - an amplifier network comprising a plurality of primary elementary cells; and - a transmitting network comprising a plurality of elementary second cells, in which the amplifying network is configured to irradiate, or to be irradiated, by the transmitting network.

[0009] According to one embodiment, each first elementary cell comprises a first antenna element located opposite the transmitting network.

[0010] According to one embodiment, each first elementary cell further comprises at least one amplifier connected to the first antenna element.

[0011] According to one embodiment, each first elementary cell comprises: - a first amplifier, preferably a power amplifier, intended to amplify a signal emitted by the antenna; - a second amplifier, preferably a low-noise amplifier, intended to amplify a signal received by the antenna; and - a switch configured to activate the first or second amplifier based on a control signal.

[0012] According to one embodiment, each first elementary cell is connected to a radio frequency signal transmission / reception circuit.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the antenna further comprises at least one source configured to irradiate, or to be irradiated, by the amplifier network.

[0014] According to one embodiment, said at least one source is connected to a radio frequency signal transmission / reception circuit.

[0015] According to one embodiment, each first cell further comprises a second antenna element located opposite said at least one source.

[0016] According to one embodiment, said at least one source is a single horn antenna.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the antenna comprises fewer first elementary cells than second elementary cells, preferably four times fewer first elementary cells than second elementary cells.

[0018] According to one embodiment, each second elementary cell comprises third and fourth antenna elements connected by a phase-shifting circuit.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the amplifier network is devoid of phase-shifting circuits. Brief description of the drawings

[0020] These features and advantages, as well as others, will be described in detail in the following description of particular embodiments, given by way of non-limiting example, in relation to the accompanying figures, among which:

[0021] [Fig.1] is a schematic and partial side view of a reconfigurable antenna according to one embodiment;

[0022] [Fig.2] is a detail view of part of the antenna of [Fig.1];

[0023] [Fig.3] is a schematic and partial top view of the antenna of [Fig.1] according to a particular embodiment;

[0024] [Fig. 4] is a schematic and partial side view of a reconfigurable antenna according to one embodiment; and

[0025] [Fig.5] is a detail view of part of the antenna of [Fig.4]. Description of the implementation methods

[0026] The same elements have been designated by the same reference numerals in the different figures. In particular, the structural and / or functional elements common to the different embodiments may have the same reference numerals and may have identical structural, dimensional and material properties.

[0027] For the sake of clarity, only the steps and elements necessary for understanding the described embodiments have been shown and are detailed. In particular, the manufacturing processes for the described transmitter networks will not be detailed, as the construction of the described structures is within the capabilities of a person skilled in the art, based on the information provided in this description, for example by implementing standard printed circuit board manufacturing techniques.

[0028] Unless otherwise specified, when referring to two elements connected together, this means directly connected without intermediate elements other than conductors, and when referring to two elements coupled together, this means that these two elements can be connected or linked through one or more other elements.

[0029] In the following description, when reference is made to absolute position qualifiers, such as the terms "front", "back", "top", "bottom", "left", "right", etc., or relative position qualifiers, such as the terms "above", "below", "superior", "inferior", etc., or to orientation qualifiers, such as the terms "horizontal", "vertical", etc., reference is made, unless otherwise specified, to the orientation of the figures.

[0030] Unless otherwise specified, the expressions "approximately", "about", "substantially", and "in the order of" mean within 10%, preferably within 5%.

[0031] In the following description, the terms "insulating" and "conducting" mean, unless otherwise specified, electrically insulating and electrically conductive respectively.

[0032] The [Fig.1] is a schematic and partial side view of a reconfigurable antenna 100 according to one embodiment.

[0033] According to this embodiment, the reconfigurable antenna 100 comprises an amplifier array 101 having a plurality of elementary cells 103, and a transmitter array 105 having a plurality of elementary cells 107. According to one embodiment, the amplifier array is configured to radiate or to be irradiated by the transmitter array 105. The amplifier array 101 is preferably positioned in a near-field region of the transmitter array 105.

[0034] The elementary cells 103 of the amplifier array 101 are, for example, arranged in a matrix in rows and columns. Furthermore, the elementary cells 103 are, for example, substantially located in the same plane, the amplifier array 101 being in this case planar. In the illustrated example, each elementary cell 103 comprises several antenna elements 103b, for example four antenna elements 103b (only two antenna elements 103b of each elementary cell 103 are visible in [Fig. 1]), located on the side of a face of the amplifier array 101 facing the transmitter array 105. By way of example, the amplifier array 101 is implemented using planar technology, for example on a printed circuit board.

[0035] Similarly, the elementary cells 107 of the transmitting array 105 are, for example, arranged in a matrix in rows and columns. Furthermore, the elementary cells 107 are, for example, substantially located in the same plane, for example, a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the amplifying array 101. By way of example, the amplifying array 101 is separated from the transmitting array 105 by a distance on the order of one center wavelength of transmission and / or reception of the antenna 100. Each elementary cell 107 comprises, for example, a first antenna element 107a, located on the side of a first face of the transmitting array 105 facing the amplifying array 101, and a second antenna element 107b, located on the side of a second face of the transmitting array 105 opposite the first face. The second side of the transmitting network 105 is for example turned towards an emission medium, or external medium, of the antenna 100.

[0036] In the example shown, the reconfigurable antenna 100 comprises a number of elementary cells 103 strictly less than the number of elementary cells 107. By way of example, the reconfigurable antenna 100 comprises four times fewer elementary cells 103 than elementary cells 107. This example is not limiting, however, the reconfigurable antenna 100 could, by way of alternative, comprise for example nine or sixteen times fewer elementary cells 103 than elementary cells 107.

[0037] In the illustrated example, the amplifier network 101 comprises a number of antenna elements 103b equal to the number of first antenna elements 107a of the transmitting network 105, each antenna element 103b of the amplifier network 101 being, for example, located opposite one of the first antenna elements 107a of the transmitting network 105. However, this example is not limiting and the amplifier network 101 may, as an alternative, comprise a number of antenna elements 103b strictly less than, or strictly greater than, the number of first antenna elements 107a of the transmitting network 105.

[0038] Although only five elementary cells 103 and ten elementary cells 107 have been shown in [Fig.1], the reconfigurable antenna 100 can of course include different numbers of elementary cells 103 and elementary cells 107 than those shown, for example several tens, several hundreds or several thousand elementary cells 103 and elementary cells 107.

[0039] In the illustrated example, the elementary cells 103 of the amplifier network 101 are connected to a circuit 109. The circuit 109 is, for example, a radio frequency signal transmission / reception circuit, for example, a circuit designed to produce signals to be transmitted by the reconfigurable antenna 100 and / or to process signals received by the reconfigurable antenna 100. This example is not limiting, however; the circuit 109 may also implement additional functions such as analog-to-digital conversion, filtering, impedance matching, interference suppression, etc. By way of example, the elementary cells 103 are connected to the circuit 109 by conductive traces and / or conductive vias of the printed circuit board in and on which the amplifier network 101 is implemented.

[0040] Figure 1 illustrates more particularly a case in which the reconfigurable antenna 100 operates in transmit mode. In this case, each elementary cell 103 of the amplifier array 101 is capable of receiving a signal from the circuit 109 and of emitting electromagnetic radiation, corresponding to the received signal, from its antenna elements 103b towards the transmitting array 105. Each elementary cell 107 of the transmitting array 105 is capable of receiving, on its first antenna element 107a, the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the elementary cells 103 of the amplifier array 101 and of re-emitting this radiation from its second antenna element 107b, for example by introducing a known phase shift.

[0041] The characteristics of the near or far field radiation produced by the antenna 100, in particular its shape (or template), its intensity and its maximum emission direction (or pointing direction), depend on the values ​​of the phase shifts respectively introduced by the different elementary cells 107 of the transmitting network 105.

[0042] Although not shown, the reconfigurable antenna 100 can, as an alternative, operate in receive mode. In this case, each elementary cell 107 of the transmitting array 105 is capable of receiving electromagnetic radiation from the external environment on its second antenna element 107b and re-emitting this radiation from its first antenna element 107a, towards the amplifying array 101, with the phase shift Δ ...

[0043] The transmitting network 105 of the antenna 100 is said to be reconfigurable when the elementary cells 107 can be electronically controlled individually to modify their phase shift value ¢) and / or their amplitude, which makes it possible to dynamically modify the characteristics of the radiation generated by the antenna, and in particular to modify its pointing direction without mechanically moving the antenna or part of the antenna by means of a motorized element.

[0044] Fig. 2 is a detailed view of part of the reconfigurable antenna 100 of Fig. 1. Fig. 2 more specifically illustrates one elementary cell 103 and two elementary cells 107 located opposite each other.

[0045] In the example shown, the elementary cell 103 includes an amplification circuit 200 comprising a switch 201, for example a single-pole double-throw (SPDT) switch. In this example, the switch 201 more specifically comprises an input connected to the circuit 109, a first output connected to an input of a first amplifier 203 (PA) of the amplification circuit 200, and a second output connected to an output of a second amplifier 205 (LNA) of the amplification circuit 200. The switch 201 receives, for example, a control signal to connect its input to its first output when the reconfigurable antenna 100 is used for transmission, and to its second output when the reconfigurable antenna 100 is used for reception.

[0046] The amplifier 203 of the elementary cell 103 is, for example, intended to amplify a signal emitted by the antenna 100. By way of example, the amplifier 203 is a power amplifier, for example a class A linear amplifier in CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) SOI (Silicon On Insulator) technology, for example of the type described in the article by A. Hamani, A. Siligaris, B. Blampey and JLG Jimenez entitled "167-GHz and 155-GHz High Gain D-band Power Amplifiers in CMOS SOI 45-nm Technology" from the fifteenth conference “European Microwave Integrated Circuits Conference (EuMIC)” in Utrecht, Netherlands in 2021, pages 261 to 264.

[0047] The amplifier 205 of the elementary cell 103 is, for example, intended to amplify a signal received by the antenna 100. By way of example, the amplifier 205 is a low-noise amplifier (LNA). This allows for optimizing the noise figure of the elementary cell 103 when used for reception. By way of example, the amplifier 205 comprises a class AB amplifier having, for example, one or two operating stages. The amplifier 205 has, for example, an electrical power output of between 10 and 20 mW.

[0048] In the example shown, the amplifier 203 of the elementary cell 103 includes an output connected to each antenna element 103b of the cell. Furthermore, in this example, the amplifier 205 includes an input connected to each antenna element 103b of the cell, for example, to a region of each antenna element 103b different from a region to which the output terminal of the amplifier 203 is connected. By way of example, each antenna element 103b is a patch antenna comprising, for example, a rectangular or square conducting plane in which a U-shaped slot is formed.

[0049] In the illustrated example, each elementary cell 107 comprises a phase-shifting circuit 207, the first terminal of which is connected to the antenna element 107a located opposite one of the antenna elements 103b of the elementary cell 103, and the second terminal of which is connected to the antenna element 107b facing the external environment. The phase-shifting circuit 207 is configured, for example, to apply a phase shift Δc) between the signal received by the antenna element 107a and the signal emitted by the antenna element 107b, in the case where the reconfigurable antenna 100 is operating in transmit mode, and to apply the phase shift Δc) between the signal received by the antenna element 107b and the signal emitted by the antenna element 107a, in the case where the reconfigurable antenna 100 is operating in receive mode.

[0050] Figure 2 illustrates an example in which each elementary cell 107 is configured to introduce a phase shift between the signals received or transmitted by the antenna element 107a and the signals transmitted or received by the antenna element 107b. This example is not limiting, however; the elementary cell may, as an alternative or complementary function, implement other functions, for example, a polarization state-change function enabling a signal to be converted from a left-handed circularly polarized signal to a right-handed circularly polarized signal. By way of example, each elementary cell 107 of the reconfigurable transmitter array 105 has a structure identical or analogous to the elementary cell of the transmitter array described in patent application EP. 4117117, the cell then being for example adapted to switch between two polarization states and four phase states.

[0051] Figure 2 illustrates an example in which the amplification circuit 200 of the elementary cell 103 includes the switch 201 for activating either the amplifier 203 during transmission phases or the amplifier 205 during reception phases. This example is not limiting, however; the amplification circuit 200 of each elementary cell 103 of the amplifier network 101 may, alternatively, be without the switch 201 and include only one amplifier, for example, the amplifier 203, in a case where the antenna 100 is intended for use exclusively in transmission, or the amplifier 205, in a case where the antenna 100 is intended for use exclusively in reception.

[0052] Figure 3 is a schematic and partial top view of the antenna 100 of Figure 1 according to one embodiment. Figure 3 illustrates more precisely a case in which the amplifier network 101 of the reconfigurable antenna 100 comprises four times fewer amplifier circuits 200 than antenna elements 103b.

[0053] In the example shown, each amplification circuit 200 is located substantially directly above the center of a square formed by the four antenna elements 103b of the corresponding elementary cell 103. In the illustrated example, each amplification circuit 200 is connected to the circuit 109 by radio frequency lines 301, symbolized by bold line segments in [Fig. 3]. Although not detailed in [Fig. 3], power dividers may be provided at the intersections of the radio frequency lines 301 in order to divide the power of the signal transmitted from the circuit 109 to the circuits 200.

[0054] For the sake of simplification, the amplification circuits 200 and the antenna elements 103b have been symbolized, in [Fig.3], by squares, it being understood that the amplification circuits 200 and the antenna elements 103b can, in practice, have any shape.

[0055] The reconfigurable antenna 100 described previously in relation to Figures 1 to 3, for example, has a hybrid structure between that of a phased array antenna and that of a transmitting array antenna. In particular, the antenna 100 differs from a phased array antenna in that the amplifier array 101 lacks phase-shifting circuits. This advantageously avoids energy losses and eliminates the time-consuming steps of synchronizing and calibrating radio frequency lines used to connect each elementary antenna of the phased array to a control circuit, for example, analogous to circuit 109. In the case of the antenna 100, the phase shifts are applied by the transmitting array 105, for example, by using radio frequency switches.

[0056] Furthermore, unlike transmitting array antennas, which generally comprise one or more primary sources adapted to produce a beam of generally conical shape radiating all or part of the transmitting array, each primary source comprising, for example, a horn antenna, the reconfigurable antenna 100 uses the amplifying array 101 as its source, radiating the transmitting array 105. This advantageously allows the antenna 100 to have a thickness less than that of a comparable transmitting array antenna. This also provides the advantage, compared to a transmitting array antenna, of facilitating the implementation of amplification systems for the transmitted or received radio frequency signal.

[0057] Figure 4 is a schematic, partial side view of a reconfigurable antenna 400 according to one embodiment. The reconfigurable antenna 400 of Figure 4 shares some features with the reconfigurable antenna 100 of Figure 1. These shared features will not be described in detail again below.

[0058] The reconfigurable antenna 400 of [Fig.4] differs from the reconfigurable antenna 100 of [Fig.1] in that the antenna 400 comprises, instead of the amplifier network 101, an amplifier network 401 comprising a plurality of elementary cells 403.

[0059] The elementary cells 403 of the amplifier array 401 are, for example, arranged in a matrix along rows and columns. Furthermore, the elementary cells 403 are, for example, substantially located in the same plane, the array 401 being in this case planar. In the illustrated example, each elementary cell 403 comprises a first antenna element 403a located on the side of a first face of the amplifier array 401 facing one or more primary sources 451 (a single source 451 in the example shown), and a second antenna element 403b, located on the side of a second face of the array 401 opposite the first face. The antenna element 403b of the elementary cells 403 is, for example, identical or analogous to one of the antenna elements 103b of the elementary cells 103 described above. As an example, the 401 amplifier network is made using planar technology, for example on a printed circuit board.

[0060] In the illustrated example, the primary source 451 is connected to the circuit 109. The primary source includes, for example, a horn antenna irradiating the first face of the array 401. By way of example, the central axis of each primary source is substantially orthogonal to the mean plane of the array 401.

[0061] Figure 4 illustrates more particularly a case in which the reconfigurable antenna 400 operates in transmit mode. In this case, each elementary cell 403 of the amplifier array 401 is capable of receiving, on its first antenna element 403a, electromagnetic radiation from the primary source 451, and of transmitting, from its second antenna element 403b, electromagnetic radiation towards the transmitting array 105. Each elementary cell 107 of the array transmitter 105 is capable of receiving, on its first antenna element 107a, the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the elementary cells 403 of the amplifier network 401, and of re-emitting this radiation from its second antenna element 107b, for example by introducing a known phase shift ¢).

[0062] Although not shown, the reconfigurable antenna 400 can, as an alternative, operate in receive mode. In this case, each elementary cell 107 of the transmitting array 105 is capable of receiving, on its second antenna element 107b, electromagnetic radiation from the external environment and of re-emitting this radiation, from its first antenna element 107a, towards the amplifying array 401, with the phase shift Δ ...

[0063] Figure 4 illustrates an example in which the amplifier network 401 comprises a number of elementary cells 403 strictly less than the number of elementary cells 107 of the transmitting network 105. By way of example, the reconfigurable antenna 400 comprises four, nine, or sixteen times fewer elementary cells 403 than elementary cells 107. This example is not, however, limiting; the reconfigurable antenna 400 may, as an alternative, comprise as many elementary cells 403 as elementary cells 107.

[0064] Furthermore, [Fig. 4] illustrates an example in which each elementary cell 403 of the amplifier array 401 comprises a single first antenna element 403a and a single second antenna element 403b. However, this example is not limiting, and each elementary cell 403 of the amplifier array 401 may, alternatively, comprise several first antenna elements 403a and several second antenna elements 403b.

[0065] Fig. 5 is a detailed view of part of the antenna 400 of Fig. 4. Fig. 5 more specifically illustrates an elementary cell 403 and two antenna elements 107 located opposite each other.

[0066] The elementary cell 403 differs for example from the elementary cell 103 previously described in that, in the elementary cell 403, the input of the switch 201 is connected to the first antenna element 403a of the elementary cell 403.

[0067] The operation of the reconfigurable antenna 400, in particular the control of the switch 201 of each elementary cell 403 depending on whether the antenna 400 is used in transmission or reception, is analogous to the operation previously described in relation to [Fig.2] for the reconfigurable antenna 100.

[0068] Figure 5 illustrates an example in which the elementary cell 403 includes the switch 201, which allows activation of either the amplifier 203 during transmission phases or the amplifier 205 during reception phases. This example is not, however, limiting; each elementary cell 403 of the network 401 may, as an alternative, be without the switch 201 and include only one amplifier, for example, the amplifier 203, in a case where the antenna 400 is used exclusively for transmission, or the amplifier 205, in a case where the antenna 400 is used exclusively for reception.

[0069] The reconfigurable antenna 400 has advantages similar to those of the reconfigurable antenna 100.

[0070] Various embodiments and variations have been described. Those skilled in the art will understand that certain features of these various embodiments and variations could be combined, and other variations will become apparent to those skilled in the art. In particular, those skilled in the art are able to adjust the ratio between the number of elementary cells 103, 403 of the amplifier array 101, 401 and the number of elementary cells 107 of the transmitter array 105 according to the application, for example, according to the heating produced by each elementary cell 103, 403. Those skilled in the art are further able to adjust the number of antenna elements of each elementary cell 103, 403 of the amplifier array 101, 401, in particular according to the proportion of elementary cells 103, 403 of the amplifier array 101, 401 relative to the elementary cells 107 of the transmitter array 105.

[0071] Finally, the practical implementation of the described embodiments and variants is within the capabilities of a person skilled in the art, based on the functional specifications given above. In particular, the practical implementation of the antenna element(s), the switch, and the amplifier(s) of the elementary cells of the amplifier network, as well as the practical implementation of the elementary cells of the transmitter network, are within the capabilities of a person skilled in the art, based on the specifications in this description.

[0072] Furthermore, the elementary cells 107 of the transmitting network 105 can be calibrated to correct phase errors related to the structure of the antenna.

Claims

Demands

1. Antenna (100; 400) comprising: - an amplifier array (101; 401) comprising a plurality of first elementary cells (103; 403); and - a transmitting array (105) comprising a plurality of second elementary cells (107), wherein the amplifier array (101; 401) is configured to irradiate, or to be irradiated, by the transmitting array (105), wherein the amplifier array (101; 401) is separated from the transmitting array (105) by a distance equal, within 10%, to a center transmit and / or receive wavelength of the antenna.

2. Antenna (100; 400) according to claim 1, wherein each first elementary cell (103; 403) comprises a first antenna element (103b; 403b) located opposite the transmitting array (105).

3. Antenna (100; 400) according to claim 2, wherein each first elementary cell (103; 403) further comprises at least one amplifier (203, 205) connected to the first antenna element (103b; 403b).

4. Antenna (100; 400) according to claim 3, wherein each first elementary cell (103; 403) comprises: - a first amplifier (203), preferably a power amplifier, for amplifying a signal emitted by the antenna; - a second amplifier (205), preferably a low-noise amplifier, for amplifying a signal received by the antenna; and - a switch (201) configured to activate the first or second amplifier according to a control signal.

5. Antenna (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein each first elementary cell (103) is connected to a radio frequency signal transmission / reception circuit (109).

6. Antenna (400) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising at least one source (451) configured to irradiate, or to be irradiated, by the amplifier array (401).

7. Antenna (400) according to claim 6, wherein said at least one source (451) is connected to a radio frequency signal transmit / receive circuit (109).

8. Antenna (400) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein each first cell (403) further comprises a second antenna element (403a) located opposite said at least one source (451).

9. Antenna (400) according to claim 6, 7 or 8, wherein said at least one source (451) is a single horn antenna.

10. Antenna (100; 400) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising fewer first elementary cells (103; 403) than second elementary cells (107), preferably four times fewer first elementary cells than second elementary cells.

11. Antenna (100; 400) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein each second elementary cell (107) comprises third and fourth antenna elements (107a, 107b) connected by a phase-shifting circuit (207).

12. Antenna (100; 400) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the amplifier network (401) is devoid of phase-shifting circuits.

Images