SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR RADAR AND COMMUNICATIONS APPLICATIONS

• US 20090102716A1
• Filed: 10/23/2007
• Published: 04/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Sego, Daniel J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,782,255 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/377
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/0254 Active array antenna
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/003 Transmission of data between radar, sonar or lidar systems and remote stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/248 provided with an AC/DC converting device, e.g. rectennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/0018 Space- fed arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/0025 Modular arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/0087 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing antenna arrays manufacturing waveguides H01P11/00
• 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

A system and methods for radar and communications applications. In one embodiment the present system comprises a wireless, space-fed, phased array of antennas including a plurality of unit cells. A first one of the unit cells includes a first one of the antennas and a unit cell command interpreter configured to receive a command, determine whether the command is intended for the first unit cell, and relay the command to logic for enabling a phase shift controller of the first antenna. In one embodiment the present methods comprise the step of wirelessly beaming microwave power from a power and control beam transmit unit to illuminate a wireless, space-fed, phased array of antennas including a plurality of unit cells. The method further comprises the steps of beaming a command to the array and converting the microwave power into direct current within a first one of the unit cells. The first unit cell includes a first one of the antennas. The method further comprises the steps of supplying the direct current to components of the first unit cell to power the first unit cell, receiving the command within the first unit cell, determining whether the command is intended for the first unit cell, and relaying the command to logic for enabling a phase shift controller of the first antenna.

Claims

1. A system configured for radar or communications applications, comprising:

a wireless, space-fed, phased array of antennas including a plurality of unit cells;

wherein a first one of the unit cells includes

a first one of the antennas; and

a unit cell command interpreter configured to receive a command,

determine whether the command is intended for the first unit cell, and relay the command to logic for enabling a phase shift controller of the first antenna.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the unit cell command interpreter includes an address correlator configured to store an address of the first unit cell.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the unit cell command interpreter includes an N-bit buffer configured to store the command and to compare an address field of the command with the first unit cell address stored in the address correlator to determine whether the command is intended for the first unit cell.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the unit cell command interpreter includes an M-bit serial-to-parallel converter configured to remove command subfields for control functions within the unit cell and for functioning of the array.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the unit cell command interpreter includes a K-bit correlator configured to enable a phase shift controller of first unit cell.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a power and control beam transmit unit configured to beam microwave power to illuminate the array.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the first unit cell further comprises a power converter configured to convert the microwave power into direct current and to supply the direct current to components of the first unit cell to power the first unit cell.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the power converter comprises at least one rectenna.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a beam steering computer configured to generate the command in a digital format.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising a modem configured to convert the command into an analog format.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the power and control beam transmit unit is configured to amplify a signal received from the modem, the signal containing the command.

12. A method for radar or communications applications, the method comprising the steps of:

wirelessly beaming microwave power from a power and control beam transmit unit to illuminate a wireless, space-fed, phased array of antennas, the array including a plurality of unit cells;

beaming a command to the array;

converting the microwave power into direct current within a first one of the unit cells, the first unit cell including a first one of the antennas;

supplying the direct current to components of the first unit cell to power the first unit cell;

receiving the command within the first unit cell;

determining whether the command is intended for the first unit cell; and

relaying the command to logic for enabling a phase shift controller of the first antenna.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the microwave power is converted into direct current by at least one rectenna of the first unit cell.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of determining whether the command is intended for the first unit cell is performed by an N-bit buffer and an address correlator of the first unit cell.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the logic for enabling the phase shift controller comprises a K-bit correlator.

16. A backplane for a wireless phased array, comprising

a conducting layer;

first and second dielectric layers sandwiching the conducting layer;

first and second patch antenna conducting layers sandwiching the dielectric layers; and

a via extending through the dielectric layers and the conducting layer and connecting the patch antenna conducting layers.

17. The backplane of claim 16, wherein the conducting layer is aluminized Mylar.

18. The backplane of claim 16, wherein the dielectric layers are Kapton.

19. The backplane of claim 16, wherein the conducting layer is approximately 0.001″

thick.

20. The backplane of claim 16, wherein each of the patch antenna conducting layers is approximately 0.001″

thick.

21. The backplane of claim 16, wherein each of the dielectric layers is less than a wavelength thick.

22. The backplane of claim 16, wherein a weight of the backplane is less that 1 kg/m².