SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTERROGATING A TARGET USING POLARIZED WAVES

• US 20110115674A1
• Filed: 11/13/2009
• Published: 05/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Incorporated (BAE Systems Plc)
• Original Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Incorporated (BAE Systems Plc)
• Inventors: Lackey, Raymond J.
• Application Number:
  US12/618,001
• Publication Number:
  US 20110115674A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/361
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/765 with exchange of information between interrogator and responder
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/781 Secondary Surveillance Radar [SSR] in general
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/026 involving the transmission of elliptically or circularly polarised waves
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/00 Antennas or antenna systems providing at least two radiating patterns arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern H01Q3/00

Abstract

A system and method for communication that could be used in an interrogate friend or foe system. The method comprises generating a first message by a processor and controlling a beam steerer to transmit waves polarized in a first polarization-direction toward a first spatial angle. The method further comprises transmitting the first message through an antenna in communication with the beam steerer toward the first spatial angle. The method further comprises receiving the first message at a target through a second antenna and generating a second message responsive to the first message by a second processor in communication with the second antenna. The method further comprises transmitting the second message in a responsive wave through the second antenna, the responsive wave polarized in a second polarization-direction distinct from the first polarization-direction; and receiving the responsive wave at the first antenna through the beam steerer.

Claims

1. A method for communicating, the method comprising:

generating a first message by a first processor;

controlling a beam steerer to transmit waves polarized in a first polarization-direction toward a first spatial angle;

transmitting the first message through a first antenna in communication with the beam steerer toward the first spatial angle;

receiving the first message at a target through a second antenna;

generating a second message responsive to the first message by a second processor in communication with the second antenna;

transmitting the second message in a responsive wave through the second antenna, the responsive wave polarized in a second polarization-direction distinct from the first polarization-direction; and

receiving the responsive wave at the first antenna through the beam steerer.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first polarization-direction is opposite to the second polarization-direction.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the controlling the beam steerer includes applying a current to the beam steerer.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first antenna is a horn antenna.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first antenna is a flat plate antenna.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the first antenna is effective to transmit sum illumination;

the first antenna is effective to receive waves as difference illumination; and

the method further comprises separating the sum illumination and the difference illumination using a coupler in communication with the first antenna.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the first antenna is effective to transmit waves polarized in the first polarization-direction;

the first antenna is effective to receive waves polarized in the second polarization-direction; and

the method further comprises separating waves polarized in the first and second polarization-direction using a coupler in communication with the first antenna.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first message is an interrogation message.

10. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein the control the beam steerer includes applying a current to the beam steerer.

14. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein:

the first antenna is effective to transmit waves polarized in the first polarization-direction;

the first antenna is effective to receive waves polarized in the second polarization-direction; and

the system further comprises

a coupler in communication with the first antenna, the coupler effective to separate the waves polarized in the first and second polarization-direction.

15. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein the first message is an interrogation message.

9. A communication system, the system comprising:

a first processor;

a first antenna in communication with the first processor; and

a beam steerer in communication with the first antenna and the first processor;

wherein the first processor is effective to

generate a first message;

control the beam steerer to transmit waves polarized in a first polarization-direction toward a first spatial angle; and

cause the first antenna to transmit the first message toward the first spatial angle;

a second processor;

a second antenna in communication with the second processor, the second antenna effective to receive the first message;

the second processor effective to receive the first message from the second antenna and to generate a second message responsive to the first message, the second processor further effective to cause the second antenna to transmit the second message in a responsive wave polarized in a second polarization-direction distinct from the first polarization-direction; and

the first antenna effective to receive the second message in the responsive wave.

11. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein the first antenna is a horn antenna.

12. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein the first antenna is a flat plate antenna.

13. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein:

the first antenna is effective to transmit sum illumination;

the first antenna is effective to receive waves as difference illumination; and

the system further comprises

a coupler in communication with the first antenna, the coupler effective to separate the sum illumination and the difference illumination.

16. A method for communicating, the method comprising:

generating a first message by a first processor;

controlling a beam steerer to transmit waves polarized in a first polarization-direction toward a first spatial angle;

transmitting the first message through a first antenna in communication with the beam steerer toward the first spatial angle;

receiving a second message at a target through a second antenna;

generating a third message responsive to the second message by a second processor in communication with the second antenna;

transmitting the third message in a responsive wave through the second antenna, the responsive wave polarized in a second polarization-direction distinct from the first polarization-direction;

receiving the responsive wave at the first antenna through the beam steerer simultaneous with the transmitting the first message.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the first and second messages are distinct.

18. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the first polarization-direction is opposite to the second polarization-direction.

19. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein:

the first antenna is effective to transmit sum illumination;

the first antenna is effective to receive waves as difference illumination; and

the method further comprises separating the sum illumination and the difference illumination using a coupler in communication with the first antenna.

20. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein:

the first antenna is effective to transmit waves polarized in the first polarization-direction;

the first antenna is effective to receive waves polarized in the second polarization-direction; and

the method further comprises separating waves polarized in the first and second polarization-direction using a coupler in communication with the first antenna.