Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

A communication system for transferring data through the air over a relatively short fixed distance comprises a transmitting antenna comprising a leaky coaxial cable for radiating electromagnetic energy modulated with data to be transferred; and a non-linear fixed beam array antenna for receiving the modulated electromagnetic energy from the leaky coaxial cable. The fixed beam array antenna is juxtaposed with the transmitting antenna such that said transmitting antenna extends at least partially through the near-field region of the fixed beam array antenna. The fixed beam array antenna comprises four conductive patch elements comprising two inner patch elements and two outer patch elements juxtaposed linearly on a substantially flat substrate, wherein each of the patch elements is arranged to transduce electromagnetic energy with corresponding electric signals. The antenna also comprises means for shifting the phase of the signals obtained from each of the two inner patch elements by an amount substantially equivalent to the difference between the time the electromagnetic beam is incident upon each inner element and the time the electromagnetic beam is incident upon each outer element; and signal adding means for coherently adding the phase-shifted signals from each inner element and the non-phase-shifted signals from each outer element.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim