Phased Array Antenna Using Segmented Cells

Each antenna element is divided into multiple sub-elements (first, second, third, and fourth sub-elements). By controlling the phases of these sub-elements independently, the patent achieves effective grating lobe suppression while maintaining reduced element spacing, thus enabling thinner antenna design without sacrificing radiation pattern quality.

The antenna element is segmented into multiple sub-elements that can be controlled independently. This segmentation allows for more flexible circuit integration and packaging, as the control structures can be optimized for each sub-element group, making it feasible to implement the design with currently available circuit packaging technologies.

By dividing each antenna element into multiple sub-elements with independent phase control, the patent enables effective grating lobe suppression at higher frequencies where element spacing must be reduced. This segmentation approach allows the antenna to operate at higher frequencies without requiring proportionally smaller circuits, as the sub-element structure provides additional degrees of freedom for beamforming and pattern control.

The patent employs a selection structure that activates only a subset of sub-elements based on operational conditions. This partial action approach maintains sufficient radiation power by selectively using the necessary number of sub-elements, while reducing the overall power density across the antenna array, thereby enabling the use of simpler convection cooling solutions instead of complex active cooling systems.