Controlled Lens Antenna Continuous Directivity

The patent implements continuous directivity control by making the antenna system dynamic. A voltage-controlled phase shifter continuously adjusts the phase of signals fed to antenna elements, enabling smooth variation of the beam direction rather than discrete switching. This dynamic control mechanism allows the antenna to adapt its directivity continuously across a range of angles while maintaining a compact form factor.

The patent changes the electrical parameters (phase and amplitude) of signals fed to antenna elements to achieve continuous directivity control. By varying the phase shift parameter continuously through voltage control, the beam direction can be adjusted smoothly. This parameter-based control approach replaces mechanical or discrete switching methods, enabling fine-grained directivity control without increasing antenna size.

Instead of increasing the number of antenna elements statically, the patent employs dynamic control of a smaller antenna array. A voltage-controlled phase shifter dynamically adjusts the phase relationships between elements, enabling continuous beam steering with fewer physical antennas. This reduces the required IC area while maintaining smooth directivity control capability.

The patent replaces what would traditionally require more antenna elements (a kind of mechanical expansion of the array) with an electronic control system. The voltage-controlled phase shifter uses electrical field manipulation rather than physical expansion of the antenna structure, substituting electronic control for geometric expansion and thereby reducing IC dimensions.