Helical Phased Array Antenna for Satellite Beam Steering

The patent applies a curved surface geometry to the phased array antenna elements, arranging them on a spherical or curved surface rather than a flat plane. This curvature allows the array to maintain a constant effective aperture and consistent element spacing relative to the beam direction, even when steering through large angles. The curved arrangement preserves beam quality and narrow beam width across the full steering range by ensuring that all elements remain equidistant from the focal point regardless of beam orientation.

The patent employs dynamic beam steering capability that allows the antenna to electronically track and maintain continuous contact with a fixed point on Earth as the satellite orbits. The phased array can rapidly change beam direction through phase shifting of individual elements, enabling a single antenna to serve multiple positions that would otherwise require multiple redundant antennas. This dynamic adaptation eliminates the need for redundant hardware while maintaining continuous power transmission capability.

The patent replaces mechanical rotating joints with an electronic beam steering system. The solar array can be fixed in a Sun-pointing orientation while the phased array antenna electronically steers the beam to track Earth positions. The phase shifters and signal processing systems provide the steering function without any moving mechanical parts, thereby maintaining both high power collection efficiency and system reliability. The electronic control system achieves the same functional result as mechanical rotation but with significantly improved reliability.