Systems and methods for phased array beam control

• US 10,340,593 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2016
• Issued: 07/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Micono, Jeffrey G., Pace, Michael T., Petty, Michael A., Patscheck, Christopher S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Akonai, Olumide Ajibade
• Application Number:
  US15/053,278
• Publication Number:
  US 20170250467A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,223 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/66 Radar-tracking systems; Analogous systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/72 for two-dimensional tracking, e.g. combination of angle and range tracking, track-while-scan radar
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/0245 Radar with phased array antenna
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/0254 Active array antenna
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/04 Display arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/22 Producing cursor lines and indicia by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/005 using remotely controlled antenna positioning or scanning
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/34 by electrical means active lenses or reflecting arrays H01Q3/46

Abstract

Described embodiments provide techniques for controlling a phased array system by a control system including one or more distributed control stations. At least one of the control stations displays a control interface having a status window, a beam window, and a scan window. The control system instructs the phased array system to operate in an operating mode selected from among selectable operating modes displayed in the status window. In the beam window, at least one beam is selected from among selectable beams available to track a target. The control system instructs the phased array system to form the selected beam and assigns the formed beam to (i) track a target detected by the phased array system, or (ii) monitor a selected location. The scan window displays (i) targets tracked by the phased array system, and (ii) beams generated by the phased array system.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for controlling a phased array system by a distributed control system comprising one or more control stations, the method comprising:

displaying, by each of the one or more control stations, a control interface of the phased array system, the control interface comprising a status window, a beam window and a scan window;

instructing the phased array system to operate in a selected operating mode, the operating mode selected from among at least one selectable operating mode of the phased array system displayed in the status window of the control interface, wherein the at least one selectable operating mode of the phased array system comprises at least one of an open loop mode and a closed loop mode;

receiving a selection in the beam window of at least one beam, the at least one beam selected from among one or more selectable beams of the phased array system available to track a target;

instructing, through each of the one or more control stations, the phased array system to form the selected at least one beam;

assigning, through each of the one or more control stations, the formed beam to (i) track a selected target detected by the phased array system, or (ii) monitor a selected location;

displaying, in the scan window of the control interface, (i) targets tracked by the phased array system, and (ii) beams generated by the phased array system;

receiving a selection of the closed loop operating mode of the phased array system in the status window;

receiving a selection of an available beam in the beam window;

receiving a drag of the selected beam from the beam window over a desired target in the scan window;

assigning the selected beam to track the desired target,

after receiving the selection of the closed loop mode and receiving the selection of the available beam, instructing the phased array system to form the selected beam at a determined azimuth and elevation; and

in response to telemetry data of the formed beam, automatically adjusting the azimuth and elevation of the formed beam to acquire and track a desired target.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

updating the one or more beams displayed in the beam window when a beam is assigned to track the desired target.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a selection of the open loop operating mode of the phased array system in the status window;

receiving a selection of an available beam in the beam window;

receiving a drag of the selected beam from the beam window over a desired region in the scan window; and

assigning the selected beam to monitor the desired region.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

after receiving the selection of the open loop mode and receiving the selection of the available beam, instructing the phased array system to form the selected beam at a determined azimuth and elevation.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

updating the one or more beams displayed in the beam window when a beam is assigned to monitor the desired region.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying, in the scan window, telemetry data of at least one assigned target; and

providing feedback indicative of the telemetry data, wherein the feedback is at least one of;

audible feedback, visual feedback and haptic feedback.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more control stations are in communication via a communications network and wherein the one or more control stations are located in separate geographic locations.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the one or more control stations are located in separate geographic locations than the phased array system.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one beam is operable in at least one of:

an L-frequency band, an S-frequency band, and a C-frequency band.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more control stations comprises a touchscreen, the method further comprising:

receiving input from an operator of the control station by one or more touch gestures, wherein the one or more touch gestures include at least one of;

a tap, a double tap, a multiple tap, a tap and hold, a tap and drag, a release, and a drag and drop.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein:

receiving a single tap selects an operating mode of the phased array system;

receiving a double tap turns off a generated beam;

receiving a tap and hold shows information associated with a generated beam;

receiving a tap and drag selects an available beam and moves the available beam over a target or region, and a release generates the beam and assigns the beam to monitor the target or region.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising acquiring a target along a dynamic path, the dynamic path set by an operator of the phased array system.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising steering an assigned beam around an unintended or interfering target.

14. A distributed control system for a phased array system, the control system comprising:

one or more distributed control stations, the control stations each comprising at least one screen;

each control station configured to;

display, on the at least one screen, a control window of the phased array system, the control window comprising a status window, a beam window, and a scan window;

display, in the status window, at least one selectable operating mode of the phased array system, wherein the at least one selectable operating mode of the phased array system comprises at least one of;

an open loop mode and a closed loop mode;

display, in the beam window, one or more beams of the phased array system available to track a target;

operate the phased array system in a selected operating mode;

receive a selection input selecting at least one beam and cause the phased array system to form the selected at least one beam;

assign the formed beam to (i) track a selected target detected by the phased array system, or (ii) monitor a selected location;

display, in the scan window, (i) targets tracked by the phased array system, and (ii) beams formed by the phased array system;

cause the phased array system to track each of the assigned targets and monitor each of the assigned locations,

receive a selection input selecting the closed loop operating mode of the phased array system in the status window;

receive a selection input selecting an available beam in the beam window;

receive a selection input dragging the selected beam from the beam window over a desired target in the scan window;

cause the phased array system to generate the selected beam at a determined azimuth and elevation;

assign the selected beam to track the desired target and, in response to telemetry data of the formed beam, automatically adjust the azimuth and elevation of the formed beam to acquire and track the desired target; and

update the one or more beams displayed in the beam window when a beam is assigned to track the desired target.

15. The control system of claim 14, each control station further configured to:

receive a selection input selecting the open loop operating mode of the phased array system in the status window;

receive a selection input selecting an available beam in the beam window;

receive a selection input dragging the selected beam from the beam window over a desired region in the scan window;

cause the phased array system to generate the selected beam at a determined azimuth and elevation;

assign the selected beam to monitor the desired region; and

update the one or more beams displayed in the beam window when a beam is assigned to track the desired target.

16. The control system of claim 14, wherein:

at least one of the one or more control stations provides feedback indicative of the telemetry data, the feedback comprising at least one of;

audible feedback, visual feedback and haptic feedback;

the one or more control stations are in communication via a communications network; and

each of the one or more control stations comprises a touchscreen configured to receive input from an operator of the control station by one or more touch gestures.