Distributed adaptive combining system for multiple aperture antennas including phased arrays
First Claim
1. A method for adjusting signals received by a plurality of antenna elements of an array antenna, comprising:
- receiving a first signal using at least a first antenna element of said array antenna;
receiving a second signal using at least a second antenna element of said array antenna;
generating an adjusting signal using said first signal and said second signal, wherein said generating step is conducted without using any signal, having one or more frequencies, that is provided independently of at least one of said first and second signals; and
controlling a delay associated with said second signal after said generating step.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A phased array type antenna apparatus compensates for phase and time differences between signals received at different elements of the antenna. Each element within the antenna apparatus has an associated phase/time adjuster circuit. The signals from each element are divided, with the first output routed to a combining circuit. The second output of one element is used as a reference signal, with the second output from the remaining elements routed to a switch. One signal is selected at the switch, and is used as a non-reference signal. Phase difference between the reference signal and the non-reference signal is determined at a comparator circuit, and the phase/time adjuster circuit associated with the non-reference signal is adjusted to bring the two signals into phase alignment. Time difference between the reference and non-reference signal is determined using dual correlators and a comparator circuit. The comparator circuit compares the magnitude of an in-phase channel and a quadrature channel from each comparator to determine time difference between the signals. The phase/time adjuster circuit is adjusted to bring the signals into time alignment. When each element is phase and time aligned, the output of the combining circuit is enhanced. Time difference can also be determined for several distinct phased array apertures within an antenna apparatus.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method for adjusting signals received by a plurality of antenna elements of an array antenna, comprising:
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receiving a first signal using at least a first antenna element of said array antenna;
receiving a second signal using at least a second antenna element of said array antenna;
generating an adjusting signal using said first signal and said second signal, wherein said generating step is conducted without using any signal, having one or more frequencies, that is provided independently of at least one of said first and second signals; and
controlling a delay associated with said second signal after said generating step. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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13. A method for determining a signal phase relationship, comprising:
- receiving a reference signal and a non-reference signal;
mixing said reference and said non-reference signals using analog mixing circuitry to provide first and second mixed channel signals; and
determining a phase relationship between said reference signal and said non-reference signal using said first and second mixed channel signals.
- receiving a reference signal and a non-reference signal;
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17. An antenna apparatus, comprising:
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a plurality of antenna elements including at least first and second antenna elements, said first antenna element receiving a first signal and said second antenna element receiving a second signal; and
a determining circuit that includes processing circuitry that generates signals related to a first correlation envelope and a second correlation envelope and control circuitry responsive to said signals related to said first and second correlation envelopes to output a control signal having an amplitude, said control signal being used in controlling at least one of a time delay and a phase delay associated with said second signal.
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23. A method for combining signals received by at least two displaced apertures of a multiple aperture antenna, comprising:
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providing at least first and second apertures having a first plurality of antenna elements and a second plurality of antenna elements, respectively;
outputting a first aperture output signal and a second aperture output signal using signals obtained from said first plurality of antenna elements and said second plurality of antenna elements, respectively; and
determining a combined adjusting signal using said first and second output signals; and
controlling a delay related to said first and second aperture output signals using said combined adjusting signal.
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27. An antenna apparatus, comprising:
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a first aperture including a first plurality of antenna elements that provides a first aperture output signal;
a second aperture including a second plurality of antenna elements that provides a second aperture output signal; and
determining circuitry responsive to said first and second aperture output signals to provide a combined adjusting signal used to adjust a delay related to said first and second aperture output signals.
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Specification