Wireless local area network antenna system and method of use therefore

Abstract

An embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus, comprising a plurality of sub-arrays and at least one beamformer driving the plurality of sub-arrays, the at least one beamformer employing at least one phase shifter.

1 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 a plurality of radiating columns;    a transmit switch matrix transmitting through said plurality of radiating columns via at least one diplexer associated with a Butler matrix further associated with at least one phase shifter; and    a receive switch matrix receiving information from said plurality of radiating columns via at least one diplexer associated with a Butler matrix further associated with at least one phase shifter.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising transmit ports associated with said transmit switch matrix and receive ports associated with said receive switch matrix.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said phase shifters comprise a voltage tunable dielectric material.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said voltage tunable dielectric material is Parascan® dielectric material.  
     
     
         5 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 a plurality of sub-arrays; and    at least one beamformer driving said plurality of sub-arrays, said at least one beamformer employing at least one phase shifter.    
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said phase shifters comprise a voltage tunable dielectric material.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said voltage tunable dielectric material is Parascan® dielectric material.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said plurality of sub-arrays is 3 subarrays, enabling scanning a 45 degree beam in azimuth through 360 degrees and handling up to 3 simultaneous beams.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said  3  subarrays each are capable of producing a 22.5 degree beamwidth in elevation and 45 degrees in azimuth and may be stacked to create a single form factor.