ANTENNA PATTERN ROLL STABILIZATION

• US 3,719,949 A
• Filed: 12/31/1969
• Issued: 03/06/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Christian O. Hemmi
• Original Assignee: Christian O. Hemmi
• Inventors: Hemmi, Christian O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Quarforth, Carl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Potenza, J. M.
• Application Number:
  US04/889,568
• Time in Patent Office: 1,161 Days
• Field of Search: 343/117,7.4,756,705
• US Class Current: 342/424
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/4409 HF sub-systems particularly adapted therefor, e.g. circuits for signal combination multi-lobing aerials or aerial systems H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/185 by electronic means

Abstract

Elements of a phased array antenna are grouped and signals from the various groups are combined to produce an elevation difference signal and an azimuth difference signal. The elevation difference passes through circuitry having a control signal that varies with the cosine of the antenna roll angle and the azimuth difference signal passes through a circuit having a control input equal to the sine of the roll angle. The outputs of each of these circuits are combined to produce a roll stabilization signal.

Claims

1. Apparatus for stabilizing a radiation pattern from a phased array antenna oriented along a preferred axis, comprising:

means for generating an azimuth difference signal by combining signals from selected elements of the phased array antenna, means for generating an elevation difference signal by combining signals from selected elements from the phased array antenna, means for generating an azimuth correction signal and an elevation correction signal each related to the deviation of the phased array antenna from a preferred axis of orientation, means for modifying the azimuth difference signal by the azimuth correction signal of said generating means, means for modifying the elevation difference signal by the elevation correction signal of said generating means, and means for combining the modified signals into a radiation pattern roll stabilized along a preferred axis.

2. Apparatus for stabilizing a radiation pattern from a phased array antenna oriented along a preferred axis as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for modifying the azimuth difference signal includes a fixed gain amplifier having an input connected to the azimuth difference signal and having its output connected to a ring modulator responsive to the azimuth correction signal of said generating means for modifying the Azimuth signals.

3. Apparatus for stabilizing a radiation pattern from a phased array antenna oriented along a preferred axis as set forth in claim 2 wherein said means for modifying the elevation difference signal includes a fixed gain amplifier connected to said means for generating the elevation difference signal and having its output connected to a ring modulator responsive to the elevation correction signal for modifying the elevation difference signal.

4. Apparatus for stabilizing a radiation pattern from a phased array antenna oriented along a preferred axis as set forth in claim 3 wherein said generating means produces an azimuth correction signal that varies as the sine of the angle of deviation of the receiving antenna from a preferred orientation and an elevation correction signal equal to the cosine of the angle of deviation of the receiving antenna from the preferred orientation.

5. Apparatus for stabilizing a radiation pattern from a phased array antenna oriented along a preferred axis as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for modifying the azimuth difference signal includes an amplifier having a gain that varies in accordance with the azimuth correction signal for modifying the first signal and wherein said means for modifying the elevation difference signal includes a second amplifier having a gain that varies in accordance with the elevation correction signal for modifying the second signal.

6. A method for stabilizing a radiation pattern from a phased array antenna oriented along a preferred axis, comprising:

generating an azimuth difference signal by combining signals from selected elements of the phased array antenna, generating an elevation difference signal by combining signals from selected elements of the phased array antenna, and modifying the azimuth difference signal and the elevation difference signal in accordance with the deviation of the phased array antenna from a preferred orientation and combining the modified signals into a stabilized radiation pattern signal oriented along a preferred axis.

7. A method for stabilizing a radiation pattern oriented along a preferred axis as set forth in claim 6 including the step of generating an azimuth correction signal and an elevation correction signal each related to the deviation of the phased array antenna from a preferred axis of orientation for modifying the azimuth and elevation difference signals.

8. Apparatus for stabilizing a radiation pattern from a receiving antenna oriented along a preferred axis, comprising:

means for generating a first radiation difference signal along a first axis by combining signals from sections of the receiving antenna, means for generating a second radiation difference signal along an axis orthogonal to said first axis by combining signals from sections of the receiving antenna, and means for modifying said first and second signals by a correction signal and for combining the modified signals to form a stabilized radiation pattern signal oriented along a preferred axis, said means for modifying including a first amplifier having a gain that varies in accordance with the deviation of the receiving antenna from a preferred orientation for modifying said first signal, and a second amplifier also having a gain that varies in accordance with the deviation of the receiving antenna from a preferred orientation for modifying said second signal and having an output connected to the output of said first amplifier.

9. Apparatus for stabilizing a radiation pattern from a receiving antenna oriented along a preferred axis, comprising:

means for generating a first radiation difference signal along a first axis by combining signals from sections of the receiving antenna, means for generating a second radiation difference signal along an axis orthogonal to said first axis by combining signals from sections of the receiving antenna, and means for modifying said first and second signals by a correction signal and for combining The modified signals to form a stabilized radiation pattern signal oriented along a preferred axis, said means for modifying including a first ring modulator connected to the output of a fixed gain amplifier and responsive to the signal that varies with the deviation of the receiving antenna from a preferred orientation for modifying said first signal, and a second ring modulator connected to a fixed gain amplifier and responsive to the signal that varies with the deviation of the receiving antenna from a preferred orientation for modifying the second signal and having an output connected to the output of said first ring modulator.