AU671214B2 - A steerable antenna - Google Patents

Description

1111111 111111 1111 111 1111 1111111111111 II AU9466100 (12) PATENT ABRIDGMENT (11) Document No. AU-B-66100/94 (19) AUSTRALIAN PATENT OFFICE (10) Acceptance No. 671214 (54) Title A STEERABLE ANTENNA International Patent Classification(s) (51) 5 H010 013/10 H01Q 003/34 (21) Application No. 66100/94 (22) Application Date 30.06.94 Priority Data (31) Number (32) Date (33) Country PL9739 01.07.93 AU AUSTRALIA (43) Publication Date: 12.01.95 (44) Publication Date of Accepted Application 15.08.96 (71) Applicant(s) COMMONWEALTH SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH ORGANISATION (72) Inventor(s) JOHN SEWARD KOT; NASIHA NIKOLIC; TREVOR STANLEY BIRD (74) Attorney or Agent SPRUSON FERGUSON, GPO Box 3898, SYDNEY NSW 2001 (56) Prior Art Documents CA 1305249 GB 2005922 US 4229744 (57) Claim 1. A steerable antenna comprising an electrically conductive layer on a dielectric substrate, the conductive layer defining a plurality, k, of coaxial ring-slot radiating elements formed therethrough, and controllable signal feed means coupled to each said ring-slot radiating element, and wherein said feed means selectively feed j of said k ring-slot radiating elements where j is in the range of 1 to k to excite a separate resonant mode on each of said ring-slot radiating elements, the mode excited being dependant upon the geometry of the respective said ring-slot radiating element, and generally lying in the plane of the conductive layer or the dielectric substrate, and wherein said resonant modes combine in the far-field to produce a radiation pattern I directional in azimuth and elevation, and said feed means is controllable to adjust the relative amplitude and relative phase of the excited modes to steer said radiation pattern in azimuth and elevation.

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A STEERABLE ANTENNA Field of the Invention The present invention relates to antennas and particularly to antennas that are steerable in azimuth and elevation.

The preferred embodiment of the antenna described finds particular application in a wireless local area network (WLAN) operating at 30 300 GHz, and preferably at approximately 60 GHz. Such an antenna plays an important part in communications between portable computing devices and/or peripherals and the remainder of a local area network. It is desirable in such application to have an antenna with a 'beam' (radiation pattern) that can be steered in azimuth electronically. Alternatively, this I steering property can be used to form an adaptive antenna for use in environments where there is an interfering signal, in which case the null's of the antenna can be *steered electronically to minimise the interference caused by a competing signal. It is 15 further desirable to be able to modify the beam pattern in elevation.

It is the object of the present invention to produce such an antenna.

Disclosure of the Invention ~According to one aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a steerable 20 antenna comprising an electrically conductive layer on a dielectric substrate, the conductive layer defining a plurality, k, of coaxial ring-slot radiating elements formed therethrough, anid controllable signal feed means coupled to each said ring-slot radiating S. element, and wherein said feed means selectively feed j of said k ring-slot radiating elements where j is in the range of 1 to k to excite a separate resonant mode on each of said ring-slot radiating elements, the mode excited being dependant upon the geometry of the respective said ring-slot radiating element, and generally lying in the plane of the conductive layer or the dielectric substrate, and wherein said resonant modes combine in he far-field to produc? a radiation pattern directional in azimuth and elevation, and i [n ibk]00023:BFD I [n:\libk]00023:BFD i L Ii S-2said feed means is controllable to adjust the relative amplitude and relative phase of the excited modes to steer said radiation pattern in azimuth and elevation.

The invention further discloses a wireless local area network including a plurality of planar antennas as described immediately above.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, there is disclosed a method of electronically steering a far-field radiation pattern of a planar antenna in elevation and azimuth, said antenna comprising an electrically conductive layer on a dielectric substrate, said conductive layer defining a plurality, k, of ring-slot radiating elements formed therethrough, and having controllable signal feed means coupled to each said ring-slot radiating element, said method comprising the steps of: selectively feeding j of said k radiating elements, where j is in the range of 1 to k, to excite a separate resonant mode on each of said j radiating elements, the mode excited being dependent upon the geometry of the respective said ring-slot radiating elements; and 15 adjusting the relative amplitude and relative phase of the excited modes to steer said radiation pattern in azimuth and elevation.

Brief Description of the Drawings Preferred embodiments of the antenna of the present invention will now be S 20 described with reference to the drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view from above of the antenna of one embodiment; Fig. 2 is an inverted plan view of the antenna of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 indicates angles for the antenna geometry; SFig. 4 is a sectional view of possible elevation radiation patterns for a single ring-slot antenna; Fig. 5 is a plan view showing beam steering in azimuth for a two ring-slot antenna; r 0 [n :\libk]00023:BFD' c- t o -3- Figs. 6A and 6B are plan views respectively of an izimuthal radiation pattern j jl and an elevation radiation pattern for an antenna supporting modes n= I and n= +2; Figs. 7A and 7B are similar azimuthal and elevation radiation patterns, but for modes n= +2 and n= i Figs. 8A and 8B are plan views respectively of an azimuthal radiation pattern and an elevation radiation pattern for an antenna supporting three modes n= n= +2 j J andn=+3; .Fig. 9 is a schematic view of signal forming electronics together with a plan Figs. 10 is a plan view of an interconnection arrangement for a three ring-slot antenna arrangement; Fig. 11 is a plan view of another interconnection arrangement for a three ringslot antenna; Fig. 12 is a side elevation view of a domed two ring-slot antenna; and Fig. 13 is a side elevation view of reflective or absorbent mounting arrangements.

Description of Preferred Embodiments As seen in Fig. 1, the array antenna 1 of a preferred embodiment is formed on i a dielectric substrate 2 which carries a conductive layer 3 on its upper surface. Two coaxial ring-slot elements 4 and 5 are etched through (defined by) the conductive layer S 3 to form three regions, which are respectively an inner conductor 6, a band conductor 7 and an outer conductor 8. All of the conductors 6-8 act as a ground plane (reference) for the antenna. The 'depth' of the slots 4, 5 must be such as to be completely through the conductive layer 3. Because of the particular geometry chosen, and because the slots 4, 5 are circular and concentric, the inner conductor 6 is a circular disc and the band conductor 7 is a circular annulus.

:i Fig. 2 illustrates a feed network 9 which acts to provide the excitation for the two ring-slots 4, 5. The feed network 9 conveniently is arranged on the underside of [n!\libk]00023:RIIK L 01 f i -4- 1 i the substrate 2. A transmitter/receiver (Tx/Rx) 10 connects to a feeder micro-strip transmission line 11, which is branched to supply each of two power dividers/phase shifters 12, 13, preferably realised either by gallium arsenide integrated circuits or by means of hybrid circuits. Each of the circuits 12, 13 has corresponding micro-strip tran~inission line probes 14, 15 that serve to excite the ring-slots 4,5. The probes 14,15 terminate beneath the respective slots 4, 5 and couple the excitation energy to the j} ring-slots 4, 5. i Operation of the antenna 1 can be understood in terms of the radiation from the I individual ring-slots 4,5 making up the coaxial array.

A single ring-slot antenna has the form of a slot transmission-line, connected in a circular loop. This forms a resonator, the resonant modes of which correspond to excitation frequencies for which the effective circumference of the ring is eqaal to an integral number of wavelengths of the guided wave on the slot. The effective wavelength of the guided wave is somewhere between that in free space and that in the dielectric substrate. The resonant modes are standing waves resulting from the superposition of running-wave resonances which travel clockwise and anticlockwise around the loop. At these resonant frequencies, the azimuthal dependence of the 0: *electric field carried by the slot has the form ejni, where n is an integer in the range -oo to oo, corresponding to the n-th mode of the resonator. Accordingly, the field in the j slot is represented as Fourier modes in the 4 direction.

To find the radial dependence of the field on the slot, it can be assumed that Ct the slot width is small compared to the free-space wavelength of the signal. The electric field on the slot then can be taken to be a purely radial field Er, with radial dependence E where p is the radial distance from the axis of the ring-slot.

Having found the form of the electric field on a single circular slot, the farfield radiation pattern for the slot can be determined. It can be shown (see K D i Stephen et al, IE Trans, Microwave Theory Tech., Vol. MT-31, No. 2, Feb. 1983, pp. 164-170) that the far-field radiation pattern for this type of the field distribution is [n\libk]00023:RHK OIL-i II i j such that the far field of the n-th mode is expressible in terms of the l)-th order Hankel transform of the slot electric field E, given by: b E IE(p)J (ap)dp (1) a i I where a and b are the inner and outer radius of the ring, and Jn is the Bessel function of the first kind of order n. Then the far-field electric field components Ee and EA are giv\ .glecting unimportant terms for clarity) by: e-jkr jn ejn

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O j (k sine) (2) 0 r 2 0 0 and a:n d: e-jkor n jn i E r j e cos e(ko sin0) (3) 0 r 2 ce o where o (4) e' +E are odd and even parts of the Hankel transform k 27 where X is the wavelength in free space, and the variables r, 0 (elevation) and 4 (azimuth) are defined in Fig. 3.

It is possible to independently excite the individual Fourier modes on the antenna by appropriate choice of.the circumference of a ring-slot resonator. Thus mode 1 1) has a main lobe along the axis of the loop, whereas all higher order modes (n=2 or greater) have a null along the loop axis. The radiation patterns in elevation for the first three modes 1, 2, 3) for a theorised single ring-slot antenna are shown in Fig. 4. The indices on the horizontal axis (0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1) represent a 'l-j normalised measure of signal strength. From the two equations and immediately above it will be apparent that the radiation patterns of the individual Fourier modes are circularly symmetric.

The two ring-slot array antenna previously shown in Figs. 1 and 2 has the radius of each ring 4, 5 chosen so that it supports a separate resonant mode at the centre frequency of operation of the antenna. As follows from above, the resultant far-

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field radiation pattern for the antenna 1 can be found by the superposition of the farfield radiation patterns of the individual modes excited on each ring-st t can be seen from equations above, that for the case of slots of infinitesi vidth, the farfield patterns for all the modes form a set of Bessel functions in k o sin(0), which can be used as a basis for the synthesis of far-field patterns having some desired elevation pattern, using the methods of the discrete Hankel transform. For finite-width slots this still applies, although the synthesis procedure is less standard.

Of more immediate application to WLAN antennas, it can be seen from equations above that the far field radiation patterns have a -dependence of the 10 form ein. This means that given a particular desired azimuthal pattern, an approximation to this pattern, can be obtained using standard Fourier series methods.

The 0-dependence is a direct function of the modal number excited on each of the two ring-slots 4,5, and the resultant far-field radiation pattern can be determined by the superposition of the respective modal patterns of a single ring-slot structure, for example, as shown in Fig. 4. Thus by appropriate choice of mode numbers, a desired far-field elevation pattern can be shaped.

As a simple example, consider the two ring-slot array shown in Figs. 1 and 2 supporting mode numbers n= +2 (on the inner ring slot 4) and n= +3 (on the outer ring-slot with equal amplitudes, but with varying relative phases between the modes. Fig. 5 shows the resulting far-field azimuthal patterns, representing the scalar magnitude of the electric field, for relative phase differences of 0, 120, and 240 degrees respectively. The indices on the horizontal axis again represent normalised signal 1strength. It can be seen that the resulting far-field pattern has the form of a beam which is steerable through 3600 in azimuth by adjusting the relative phase of the two modes. If this is achieved by means of a phase shifting device, the beam can then be electronically steered.

For WLAN applications, steerability has immediate advantage in directing an antenna to communicate with components elements of the local area network.

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Alternatively, or complementarily, the null's in the azimuth pattern can be steered to minimise interference from competing transmissions.

The steering characteristic also has application in scanning antennas, whether that be over a narrow azimuthal aperture or through the complete 360° range.

The set of far-field radiation patterns which can be approximated to some given tolerance can be increased by increasing the number of ring-slots in a coaxial i array and hence the number of modes which can be excited on the array. The greater I the number of modes, generally the greater the number of lobes in the polar pattern.

Further modelled azimuthal and elevation data shall be described to illustrate 10 the ste'ering function.

Figs. 6A and 6B respectively are azimuth and elevation radiation patterns for a two ring-slot antenna, similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The antenna supports two modes, n= 1 and n= and being of equal amplitude. In Fig. 6A, the radial scale is in respect of relative power measured in dB, whilst the circumferential scale of azimuth is in degrees. The plot shows the shaped nature of the azimuth pattern, having .a back-to-front ratio of about 30 dB. The plot shows both of the two orthogonal electric field components, Ee and E6, respectively represented as the solid and dashed lines. -i will be apparent that by arrangement of a relative phase difference between the i modes excited on the ring-slot antenna that the azimuthal beam pattern can be steered, in the manner previously described and as shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 6B, as noted, shows the elevation radiation pattern for the modes n= 1 and n +2 excited with equal |i amplitude. The vertical scale represents relative power in dB, the horizontal scale is elevation angles in degrees, and the soliO -nd dotted lines correspond to the two i orthogonal electric field components ,nd EA. The figure shows a cross-sectional view of the elevation pattern taken a''"ig the main lobe of the beam, i.e. in the direction of The elevation pattern contains a null at approximately Figs. 7A and 7B are similar representations to Fig. 6A and 6B, except being in respect of modes n= +2 and n= In this respect, the azimuthal radiation pattern shown in Fig. 7A is essentially the same as that shown in Fig. 5. Interestingly, the I [n:\libk100023,R1K -8elevation radiation pattern shown in Fig. 7B shows two null's at 00 and -450 Thus it can be seen that by the choice of a different combination of modes to be excited on the ring-slot antenna, the elevation radiation pattern can be advantageously steered with respect to null's and maxima in that pattern. As noted previously, the mode excited on each ring-slot is a function of the radial dimension of the slot.

Figs. 8A and 8B are in respect of a three ring-slot array supporting modes n= n= +2 and n= +3 excited with equal amplitude. In Fig. 8A, the azimuthal radiation pattern has been plotted with the radial scale representing relative power in dB and with the circumferential azimuthal scale in degrees. Again, the solid and dotted lines correspond to the two orthogonal electric fields components, E 0 and E As can .be noted, the radiation pattern has minima at approximately =215o and p=325o.

Steering of the far-field azimuth pattern again is by introduction of a relative phase difference between each mode. Generally this means all three modes have a differing relative phase arrangement, although it is conceivable that the relative phase of two of the three modes may coincide.

S- The elevation pattern shown in Fig. 8B has a vertical scale representing relative power in dB, with the horizontal scale of elevation angle in degrees. The convention concerning the two orthogonal electrical field components is the same.

Again, the cross sectional cut has been taken along the direction of the main beam, i.e.

,=901 The elevation pattern does not contain a null, and is somewhat more uniform throughout the range of elevation angles, hence can be considered to be somewhat omnidirectional with the elevation, especially in comparison with the elevation pattern shown in Figs. 6B and 7B.

Generation of different combinations of modes can be achieved by electronic means. One way of doing this is shown in Fig. 9, which illustrates a two ring-slot antenna 20. Here, an excitation signal from the transmitter/receiver (Tx/Rx) 10 carried by a micro-strip feed line 21 splits into two separate feed lines 22,23, which, in turn, carry the split excitation signal with the same relative amplitude and phase, One of the feeds 22 inputs to a phase shifting device 24, and otherwise both signals carried on the [n:\IibkOOO23tRHK

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I I II I I1 feeds 22,23 separately input to a variable gain amplifier 25,26. The respective outputs from the variable amplifiers 25,26 are provided to a respective mode port M1,M2 of a beam forming network 27. The beam forming network 27 has five output probe ports and associated micro strip transmission probes 28-32. The probes 28-32 provide the excitation for the two ring-slots 33,34. The number of mode ports of the beam forming network 27 corresponds to the number of modes to be excited. The number of probe ports is represented by N.

As previously noted, the ring-slots 33,34 are of a depth sufficient to pass completely through the conductive layer carried by the substrate. The width of the ring-slots must be small with respect to the circumference of each. The circumference corresponds to one wavelength, hence, as a guide, the width of a ring-slot should be i less than 1/10 of a wavelength. By way of example, a two ring-slot antenna, such as that shown in Fig. 9, operating at 60 GHz and supporting modes n= 1 and n= +2 has Sring-slot diameters of about 1.35 mm and 2.70 mm respectively.

A signal applied to a mode port is mapped by the network 27 into a set of N t signals appearing at the probes 28-32 which drive the array, having the property that this set of signals excites the desired mode and no others in each ring-slot. One solution to exciting the ring-slots 33,34 is to arrange the N probes symmetrically about the array, with the number of probes N required to independently excite M modes, on an array having L ring-slots, given by: N =2L 1.

The two ring-slot array (L 2) of Fig. 9 has the circumferences of the ringslots chosen so that the inner ring 33 supports modes n +I and n and the i' outer ring supports modes n +2 and n -2.

For clarity, let the connections from the network 27 to the probes 28-32 be assumed initially to have negligible electrical length. The case of finite electrical length 1 connections will be dealt with later by a simple modification. In operation of the network 27, a signal in the operating frequency band of the antenna is input via mode port M1 and divided by the network into a set of output signals at the five probe ports [n-.libk]00023:RHK 10- The amplitudes of the output signals at ports P1 and P5 ar? equal to one another. The phases of the output signals at ports P1 to P5, relative to the signal at P1, are 0, 27t/5, 4 7/5, 67t/5 and 8n/5 radians respectively. This set of signals then drives the ring-slot array via the probes 28-30. For modes having mode indices n =2, n n 0, n and n this excitation is orthogonal to all modes apart from mode ninber n and hence excites this mode and no others. Similarly, a signal input to port M2 of the network 27 results in outputs at ports P1 to P5 having equal amplitudes to one another, with phases relative to the signal at P1 of 0, 47/5, 87/5, 12n/5 or 167/5 radians respectively. This set of signals is orthogonal to all of 10 the aforementioned modes apart from mode number n and thus excites only this mode, and no other. In this way, a signal input at mode port M1 excites only mode number n +1 on the ring slot array, and a signal input at M2 excites only mode number n +2.

Any desired combination of these modes may be achieved by superposition.

For example, to excite modes n 1 and n with equal amplitude and a i relative phase of n7/2 radians, one would simply apply input signals of equal amplitude and relative phase 7t/2 radians to the mode ports M1 and M2. In the example shown in 'Figure 9, the amplitudes of the signals applied to each mode port of the network 27 are controlled independently by means of the variable amplifiers 25,26, and the relative phase between the signals is controlled by means of the phase-shifter 24.

In the case where the electrical length of the connections from the network 27 to the probes are non-negligible, the phase shift due to the connections must be compensated by an appropriate adjustment of the beam forming network 27.

Fig. 9 shows the probes 28-32 laid upon the underside of the substrate of the antenna 20. The probes are terminated in the nature of an open-circuit arrangement, with the ring slots 33,34 being excited by electromagnetic coupling of the excitation signal from the probes 28-32. In a mechanical sense, the probes simply have an end arranged to be just inside the inner edge of the inner ring slot 33.

ji [n:\libk]00023:RHK i S2 1 JUN 99 PROETY ORANISATION S[N:\LIBU]24994:BFD T Qf I -11 An alternate termination arrangement is shown in Fig. 10. Here, four of the probes 29-32 (shown conveniently in a closer spaced arrangement) are again laid on the underside of the substrate for the antenna 20, but extend through respective holes 35-38 to the top side of the substrate and are electrically terminated at a point close to the inner edge of the inner ring slot 33. Thus the connection is in the nature of an electrical short-circuit.

A further alternative way of arranging the transmission lines 24 is illustrated in SFig. 11 for a three ring-slot antenna 45. Only three probes 46-48 are shown f.r convenience. The transmission lines 46-48 form part of the conductive layer on the 10 substrate, and are thus formed (for example) by etching together with the inner conductor 49 and the two band conductors 50,51 and the outer conductor 52. In order to provide electrical continuity of the conductors, a number of air bridges 53 are provided. If a sufficient number of air bridges 53 are provided, there is no substantial **44 loss of performance. The three ring-slots 42-44 are formed in the spaces between the conductors 49-52.

It is not necessary for the antenna surface to be flat. Fig. 12 shows a dome antenna 55 with two ring-slots 56,57. This antenna represents a special case of a planar antenna, in that despite the domed structure, the ring-slots 56,57 remain planar and coaxial. An advantage of such an antenna is that the domed surface increases the radiation at the antenna horizon. The dome antenna 55 is able to be positioned below a ceiling 58 of a room, for example. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the antenna 55 radiates in two opposite directions away from the antenna's conductive surface.

As indicated in Fig. 13, if desired, the substrate 2 of an antenna embodying the invention can be mounted above a suitably spaced reflector 60, the spacing between the reflector 60 and conductive layer 3 being arranged to reinforce the radiated signal.

Alternatively, the space 62 between the conductive layer 3 and any base 61 can be filled with a material which can be either radiation absorbent or dielectric in nature.

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12- Although in Fig. 13 the conductive layer 3 is illustrated on the farthcr side of the substrate 2 relative to the reflector 60, it will be apparent that the position of the substrate can be inverted so that the conductive layer 3 is adjacent the reflector The foregoing describes only some embodiments of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention.

For example, the geometry need not be circular. Instead, the slots can b.

confocal ellipses, in which case Mathieu rather than Bessel functions arise in the description of the fields.

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Claims (15)

1. A steerable antenna comprising an electrically conductive layer on a dielectric substrate, the conductive layer defining a plurality, k, of coaxial ring-slot s radiating elements formed therethrough, and controllable signal feed means coupled to each said ring-slot radiating element, and wherein said feed means selectively feed j of said k ring-slot radiating elements where j is in the range of 1 to k to excite a separate resonant mode on each of said ring-slot radiating elements, the mode excited being dependant upon the geometry of the respective said ring-slot radiating element, and generally lying in the plane of the conductive layer or the dielectric substrate, and wherein said resonant modes combine in the far-field to produce a radiation pattern directional in azimuth and elevation, and said feed means is controllable to adjust the relative amplitude and relative phase of the excited modes to steer said radiation pattern in azimuth and elevation.

2. An antenna as claimed in claim 1, wherein said feed means comprises one or more microstrip probes coupling each said ring-slot radiating element to circuit means, said circuit means operable to adjust the relative phase and relative amplitude between each excited mode so that said radiation pattern is steerable.

3. An antenna as claimed in claim 2, wherein said probes are supported from the underside of said substrate.

4. An antenna as claimed in claim 3, wherein each said probe passes beneath a said ring-slot radiating element to couple an excitation signal to a respective said ring-slot radiating element. N:\Iblb00417:BFD ~5?R4(y I ii, I-LLI~ p al:: i-I /n n g I i~ ri -14- An antenna as claimed in claim 3, wherein each said probe is electrically terminated to said conductive layer at a point proximate the inner wall of a said ring-slot radiating element.

6. An antenna as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ring-slot radiating elements are circular, and the mode excited on a respective said ring-slot radiating element results for the effective circumference of a said ring-slot radiating element being an integral number of the excitation wavelength.

7. An antenna as claimed in claim 1, wherein there are k 3 said ring- slot radiating elements.

8. An antenna as claimed in claim 1, wherein s:id feed means comprises one or more coplanar waveguides coupling each said ring-slot radiating element to 15 circuit means.

9. An antenna as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ring-slot radiating elements are elliptical having their respective major axes aligned.

10. An antenna as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive layer and said dielectric substrate are shaped to form a dome.

11. An antenna as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a reflective sheet located behind and spaced apart from said dielectric substrate, and lying in a plane parallel with the plane of said dielectric substrate. o** a *o o *o 9 ii i i i ii !:i i i i i i :.j i i a !:r i I i i I' ;:i ji g i i iiii1 i i i t a 1 i [N:\lbkl00417BFD i [n:\libk]00023:BFD :I Ft I

12. An antenna as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a radiation absorptive material located in a space formed between said reflective sheet and said dielectric substrate to form a base for said antenna.

13. An antenna as claimed in claim 1, wherein said feed means comprises one or more transmission lines formed in said conductive layer that intersect one or more of said ring-slot elements, electrical continuity of said conductive layer proximate the region of intersection being achieved by electricaily conductive fly-overs.

14. An antenna as claimed in claim 2, wherein said circuit means includes one or more variable gain amplifiers to adjust said relative amplitude and one or more phase shifters to adjust said relative phase. .A wireless local area network incorporating a plurality of antennas as S 15 claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

16. A method of electronically steering a far-field radiation pattern of a planar antenna in elevation and azimuth, said antenna comprising an electrically "conductive layer on a dielectric substrate, said conductive layer defining a plurality, k, of ring-slot radiating elements formed therethrough, and having controllable signal feed i means coupled to each said ring-slot radiating element, said method comprising the *steps of: selectively feeding j of said k radiating elements, where j is in the range of 1 to k, to excite a separate resonant mode on each of said j radiating elements, the mode excited being dependent upon the geometry of the respective said ring-slot radiating elements; and INAIbk100417:BFD' y n Q [n:\libk]00023:BFD, -16- adjusting the relative amplitude and relative phase of the excited modes to steer said radiation pattern in azimuth and elevation.

17. A steerable antenna substantially as herein described and as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, Fig. 9, Fig. 10, Fig. 11, Fig. 12 or Fig. 13 of the accompanying i drawings. DATED this Twentieth Day of June 1996 Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Patent Attorneys for the Applicant SPRUSON FERGUSON I I 4 I 4 4 ,IbO i 4 4 ft 4. i 4.i i Ii "i'22 IN:\IIbklOO417:BFD two ring-slots 4, 5. The feed network 9 conveniently is arranged on the underside of Q 1_-ri i: -i VI(I i :bj [n:\Iibk]00023:RI3K o I ,tlr A Planar Antehfia ABSTRACT A planar antenna is disclosed. The antenna has an array oi coaxial ring- slot radiating elements formed through a conductive layer on a dielectric substrate A number of probes (14,15), coupled to the ring-slot elements excite a resonant mode on each ring-slot element The resonant modes combine in the far field to form a directional radiation pattern. By adjustment of the relative phase difference between the excited modes, the radiation pattern can be steered in azimuth. The phase difference can be controlled by electronic phase shifting means 10 (12,13). The radiation pattern also can be shaped in elevation by choice of the ring-slot element geometry to support desired resonant modes. 9 999* 99 99,9 p. 9 9999 p.. *9* Figure 2 9 9999 99** *9$9 9, 9. 99 9 9 I I iA IA i 14 IA i Ii Is P 1 L c- nA:il*]OoORK ii J