SUPER-DIRECTIVE SYSTEM

• US 3,860,928 A
• Filed: 11/01/1973
• Issued: 01/14/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Stanley L. Ehrlich
• Original Assignee: Stanley L. Ehrlich
• Inventors: Ehrlich, Stanley L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hubler, Malcolm F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Montone, G. E.
• Application Number:
  US05/411,934
• Time in Patent Office: 439 Days
• Field of Search: 343/113R,119,16R,12R,1SA 340/6R,16R
• US Class Current: 342/375
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 11/346 using phase variation

Abstract

A system of radiating elements arranged for forming one or more beams of radiation having radiation patterns such as a monopole, dipole, quadrupole, other multipoles or combination thereof. The individual radiating elements of the array are interconnected by circuitry providing for the summing and differencing of signals provided by adjacent radiating elements in response to incident radiation. In one embodiment the signal of one radiating element is delayed relative to the signal of an adjacent radiating element. The differencing of the signals provides for the deep nulls found in radiation patterns such as the dipole and quadrupole radiation patterns, while the delay between signals of adjacent radiating elements is adjusted for varying the shape of the directivity pattern. The system provides for varying the direction and shape of beams of the radiation pattern to provide for the detection, classification and/or tracking of a distant source of radiation as well as for illuminating a distant object. The system is responsive to the intensity of radiation received along one or more beams of the radiation pattern, and in response thereto, varies the delay between the signals of adjacent radiating elements and also provides for the selective coupling of specific radiating elements of the system.

Claims

1. In combination:

an array of radiating elements, said array having dimensions less than a wavelength of energy radiated therefrom;

a plurality of signal carrying channels;

means for coupling individual ones of said channels with respective ones of said radiating elements, each of said channels being coupled to all of said radiating elements to provide combinations of signals of said radiating elements, one of said channels having means for varying the gain of its signal combination relative to that of another of said channels, at least one of said combinations having at least a portion thereof which is the signal of a quadrupole radiation pattern, at least one of said combinations having at least a portion thereof which is the signal of a dipole radiation pattern and at least one of said combinations having at least a portion thereof which is the signal of a monopole radiation pattern;

means for rotating said dipole pattern relative to said quadrupole pattern; and

means for arithmetically combining each of said radiation patterns to form a multiple mode type of radiation pattern, said varying of gain and said rotating serving to shape said multiple mode pattern.

2. A combination according to claim 1 further comprising means coupled between said arithmetic means and said gain varying means for varying the shape of said multiple mode type of radiation pattern in response to signals thereof.

3. A combination according to claim 1 further comprising means coupled between said arithmetic means and said rotating means for varying the shape of said multiple mode type of radiation pattern in response to signals thereof.

4. In combination:

an array of radiating elements;

a plurality of signal carrying channels;

means for coupling individual ones of said channel with respective ones of said radiating elements, said channels being coupled to provide combinations of signals of said radiating elements, one of said combinations being the summation of signals of alternate pairs of said radiating elements subtracted from the summation of the signals of the remaining radiating elements to provide a first quadrupole pattern, a second of said combinations being composed of the summation of signals of pairs of elements subtracted from the sum of the signals of the remaining elements wherein each pair of signals of said pair of elements of said second combination comprises only one signal of the corresponding pair of signals of said first combination to form a second quadrupole pattern having an axis inclined at an angle with respect to the axis of said first quadrupole pattern; and

means for combining at least one of said quadrupole patterns with signals of said channels to provide a polypole pattern.

5. In combination:

an array of radiating elements;

means for algebraically combining signals from individual ones of said raDiating elements, such algebraic combination comprising the summing and differencing of paired groups of said signals of said radiating elements, the number of signals in one of said groups of one of said combinations being double the number of signals in one of said groups of a second of said combinations;

means coupled to said combining means for varying the gain of one of said combinations relative to a second of said combinations;

means for determining which of said combinations provide a desired signal; and

means coupled to said determination means for displaying a direction of radiation corresponding to said determination.

6. The combination according to claim 5 further comprising multiplexing means and signal generation means, said array being coupled via said multiplexing means to said algebraic combining means, said array being coupled to said signal generation means via said multiplexing means, said signal generation means providing a signal for transmission by said array to be reflected from a distant object back towards said array to provide information with respect to the direction of said object from said array.

7. The combination according to claim 6 further comprising timing means and gating means, said timing means synchronizing said signal generation means with said gating means, said gating means inhibiting said algebraic combining means during periods of time different from a time delay corresponding to the anticipated range of said object for providing information relative to said range.

8. A system for combining signals of a radiator array comprising:

an array of radiating elements;

first combining means coupled to a first and a second group of said radiating elements for subtracting the sum of the signals of said second group from the sum of the signals of said first group of radiating elements;

second combining means coupled to a third group and a fourth group of said radiating elements, said third group comprising the radiating elements of a portion of said first group and the radiating elements of a portion of said second group, said fourth group comprising the radiating elements of a portion of said second group and a portion of said first group of radiating elements, said second combining means subtracting the sum of the signals of said fourth group from the sum of the signals of said third group of radiating elements;

means coupled to said first and said second combining means for comparing an output signal of said first combining means with an output signal of said second combining means; and

means coupled to said comparing means for varying the gain of an output signal of said first combining means relative to an output signal of said second combining means, said varying of gain providing a variation in the shape of a radiation pattern of said radiator array.

9. A system for combining signals of a radiator capable of vibrating in multiple modes comprising:

a ring of acoustically active material;

a plurality of electrodes positioned along a surface of said ring, each of said electrodes receiving a signal according to its position on said ring and in response to a mode of vibration of said ring, said ring being capable of vibrating in a mode of vibration corresponding to a monopole, a dipole and a quadrupole radiation pattern;

first combining means coupled to a first and a second group of said electrodes for subtracting the sum of the signals of said second group from the sum of the signals of said first group of electrodes;

second combining means coupled to a third group and a fourth group of said electrodes, said third group comprising the electrodes of a portion of said first group and the electrodes of a portion of said second group, said fourth group comprising the electrodes of a portion of said second group and a portion of said first group of radiating elements, said second combining means subtracting the sum of the signals of said fourth group from the sum of The signals of said third group of electrodes; and

means coupled to said first and said second combining means for comparing an output signal of said first combining means with an output signal of said second combining means.

10. A system according to claim 9 further comprising means coupled to said comparing means for varying the gain of an output signal of said first combining means relative to an output signal of said second combining means, said varying of gain providing a variation in the shape of a radiation pattern of said radiator.