Fast beam patterns
First Claim
1. An antenna system, comprising:
- an antenna having antenna elements; and
a control circuit configuredto activate a first group of the antenna elements during a first time to cause the antenna to generate a first beam pattern including a first main lobe having a main-lobe direction and having a main-lobe beam width and including a first side lobe having a first side-lobe direction, andto activate a second group of the antenna elements during a second time to cause the antenna to generate a second beam pattern that is different from the first beam pattern, the second beam pattern including a second main lobe having approximately the main-lobe direction and having approximately the main-lobe beam width and including a second side lobe having a second side-lobe direction that is different from the first side-lobe direction.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An embodiment of an antenna comprises an array of antenna elements arranged in groups of antenna elements adjustably coupled to respective reference waves. A multiplicity of patterns of antenna coupling settings are defined, each of which gives rise to a main lobe which points the antenna in a particular direction, each pattern also giving rise to respective side lobes. First and second such patterns may point the antenna in the same direction but with non-identical side lobes. In this way the clutter level from the side lobes relative to the main lobe is much smaller than would be the case if one of the patterns were employed both for transmitting and receiving. Alternatively, the first and second patterns may be used in quick succession both for transmitting, or used in quick succession both for receiving. The antenna may also switch rapidly between patterns where the main lobe points in a different direction in each pattern, allowing dithering of the beam or rapid switching between scanning and tracking.
23 Citations
24 Claims
-
1. An antenna system, comprising:
-
an antenna having antenna elements; and a control circuit configured to activate a first group of the antenna elements during a first time to cause the antenna to generate a first beam pattern including a first main lobe having a main-lobe direction and having a main-lobe beam width and including a first side lobe having a first side-lobe direction, and to activate a second group of the antenna elements during a second time to cause the antenna to generate a second beam pattern that is different from the first beam pattern, the second beam pattern including a second main lobe having approximately the main-lobe direction and having approximately the main-lobe beam width and including a second side lobe having a second side-lobe direction that is different from the first side-lobe direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method, comprising:
-
activating a first group of antenna elements of an antenna to generate a first beam pattern including a first main lobe having a main-lobe direction and having a main-lobe beam width and including a first side lobe having a first side-lobe direction; and activating a second group of antenna elements of the antenna to generate a second beam pattern that is different from the first beam pattern, the second beam pattern including a second main lobe having approximately the main-lobe direction and having approximately the main-lobe beam width and including a second side lobe having a second side-lobe direction that is different from the first side-lobe direction. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23)
-
-
22. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions, that when executed by at least one computing circuit, cause the at least one computing circuit, or at least one other circuit under control of the at least one computing circuit:
-
to activate a first group of antenna elements of an antenna to generate a first beam pattern including a first main lobe having a main-lobe direction and having a main-lobe beam width and including a first side lobe having a first side-lobe direction; and to activate a second group of antenna elements of the antenna to generate a second beam pattern that is different from the first beam pattern, the second beam pattern including a second main lobe having approximately the main-lobe direction and having approximately the main-lobe beam width and including a second side lobe having a second side-lobe direction that is different from the first side-lobe direction. - View Dependent Claims (24)
-
Specification