Phased array antenna employing linear scan for wide-angle arc coverage with polarization matching

TLDR: In this article, a linear phase taper along one axis across the array to produce or intercept a beam squinted at an angle 90 degrees-α to the face of the array and including a signal polarized in a first direction was proposed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an antenna arrangement which includes a polarization diplexer capable of bidirectionally directing two orthogonally polarized signals along one path in the far field of the antenna arrangement and along two separate paths in the near field for interception along at least one of the paths by an array of feed elements. The array is arranged to provide a fixed linear phase taper along one axis across the array to produce or intercept a beam squinted at an angle 90 degrees-α to the face of the array and including a signal polarized in a first direction. Phase shifting means selectively produce a linear phase taper along a second axis across the face of the array orthogonal to the first axis to cause the beam to traverse a predetermined arc in the far field of view. Polarization mismatch at the array from the diplexer is overcome by providing a single properly inclined 90 degree polarization rotator or by two properly inclined 90 degree polarization rotators depending on the direction of polarization and whether the array is a linear or a two-dimensional array.