Antenna

• US 20070146202A1
• Filed: 02/08/2006
• Published: 06/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leonardo S.p.A.
• Original Assignee: SELEX Sensors and Airborne Systems Ltd. (Leonardo S.p.A.)
• Inventors: Sinclair, Robert, Kinghorn, Anthony, Tanner, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,728,770 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/368
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/0006 Particular feeding systems
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/26 varying the relative phase or relative amplitude of energisation between two or more active radiating elements; varying the distribution of energy across a radiating aperture H01Q3/12, H01Q3/22, H01Q3/24 take precedence

Abstract

This invention relates to reducing the complexity and cost of antenna arrays and is more specifically concerned with reducing the complexity of an antenna apparatus (10). It provides an antenna array (62) made up of a vertical stack of horizontal linear structures (74) each having several groups of neighbouring array antenna elements (78), the groups (74) having variable numbers of the antenna elements (78) each connected to a transmit/receive module (66). The advantage of this configuration is that less communication modules (66), such as transmit/receive modules, are required to operate the antenna array (62), reducing the weight, power consumption and cost of an antenna apparatus (10) incorporating such an antenna array (62) without significantly limiting the capability and/or performance of a system compared to a conventional solution.

Claims

1. An antenna array comprising:

a plurality of phased array antenna elements, wherein the phased array antenna elements are arranged in groups, each said group comprising a variable number of the antenna elements;

a plurality of communication modules, wherein each communication module is connected to one of said groups of antenna elements.

2. An antenna array according to claim 1, wherein the groups of antenna elements are arranged in a plurality of sub-arrays.

3. An antenna array according to claim 2, wherein each said sub-array has a phase centre and said phase centres are arranged in an irregular configuration.

4. An antenna array according to claim 3, wherein each said group of antenna elements comprises at least two said antenna elements.

5. An antenna array according to claim 4, wherein the groups of phased array antenna elements are provided on lateral structures.

6. An antenna array according to claim 5, wherein the lateral structures are removable from the array.

7. An antenna array according to claim 6, wherein the communication modules are transmit/receive modules.

8. An antenna array according to claim 7, further comprising:

an antenna housing;

a drive shaft connected at a first end to the antenna housing and at another end to an aircraft body; and

a rotary joint disposed along the drive shaft for coupling therethrough electrical power, radio frequency and control signals to the antenna array;

wherein the drive shaft is operable to rotate the antenna assembly through 360°

.

9. An antenna array according to claim 1, wherein each said group of antenna elements comprises at least two said antenna elements.

10. An antenna array according to claim 9, wherein the groups of phased array antenna elements are provided on lateral structures.

11. An antenna array according to claim 10, wherein the lateral structures are removable from the array.

12. An antenna array according to claim 11, wherein the communication modules are transmit/receive modules.

13. An antenna array according to claim 12, further comprising:

an antenna housing;

a drive shaft connected at a first end to the antenna housing and at another end to an aircraft body; and

a rotary joint disposed along the drive shaft for coupling therethrough electrical power, radio frequency and control signals to the antenna array;

wherein the drive shaft is operable to rotate the antenna assembly through 360°

.

14. An antenna array according to claim 1, wherein the groups of phased array antenna elements are provided on lateral structures.

15. An antenna array according to claim 14, wherein the lateral structures are removable from the array.

16. An antenna array according to claim 15, wherein the communication modules are transmit/receive modules.

17. An antenna array according to claim 16, further comprising:

an antenna housing;

a drive shaft connected at a first end to the antenna housing and at another end to an aircraft body; and

a rotary joint disposed along the drive shaft for coupling therethrough electrical power, radio frequency and control signals to the antenna array;

wherein the drive shaft is operable to rotate the antenna assembly through 360°

.

18. An antenna array according to claim 1, wherein the communication modules are transmit/receive modules.

19. An antenna array according to claim 18, further comprising:

an antenna housing;

a drive shaft connected at a first end to the antenna housing and at another end to an aircraft body; and

a rotary joint disposed along the drive shaft for coupling therethrough electrical power, radio frequency and control signals to the antenna array;

wherein the drive shaft is operable to rotate the antenna assembly through 360°

.

20. An antenna array according to claim 1, further comprising:

an antenna housing;

a drive shaft connected at a first end to the antenna housing and at another end to an aircraft body; and

a rotary joint disposed along the drive shaft for coupling therethrough electrical power, radio frequency and control signals to the antenna array;

wherein the drive shaft is operable to rotate the antenna assembly through 360°

.