Electronic scanned cylindrical-array antenna using network approach for reduced system complexity
First Claim
1. A switching and interconnecting system for discretely exciting one of q groups comprising a fraction n/q contiguous elements of the total circumferentially arranged radiating elements n of an array of antenna elements extending over coupling least a portion of said circumference matrix producing a beam directive in the plane containing said circumference and for controllable coarse and fine pointing of said beam, comprising:
- a passive interconnecting matrix having n output ports each connected discretely to a corresponding one of said n antenna elements and also having n feed ports, said matrix including a plurality of interconnecting hybrid devices for couplign energy extant at each of said matris feed ports to and from at least two contiguous radiating elements;
an equal-amplitude distribution network having a single RF input-output port and n/q distribution ports, said input-output port constituting the input-output terminal for said switching and interconnecting system;
n/q phase shifters, one of said phase shifters being connected to each of said distribution ports of said equal-amplitude distribution network to provide a set of n/q discretely phase shifted RF drive signals for producing a corresponding predetermined fine beam pointing angle;
and n/q single pole, q position selector switches each arranged for switching a corresponding one of said phase-shifted RF drive signals among the like-positioned elements in each of said q groups of elements discretely to provide said coarse beam positioning with respect to which said fine beam pointing is effected.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic scan system with excitation arrangement for producing a directive radiation pattern from a circular or cylindrical array at a predetermined pointing angle.
The circular or cylindrical array provides random beam pointing. An RF input-output port feeds an equal amplitude distribution network providing as many outputs as there are elements of the array employed at any given time. An equal number of phase shifters is included, and gross beam positioning is effected through selection of the contiguous element group to be excited by means of RF switching. The phase shifters may then be controlled to provide the specific beam pointing or scan desired within the selected sector. The antenna elements of the array are fed through a passive interconnecting matrix responsive thereto, said matrix providing inherent amplitude taper across the effective aperture. The passive interconnecting matrix replaces the more complicated and expensive "ordering" matrix employed in prior art systems of the same general type.
35 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A switching and interconnecting system for discretely exciting one of q groups comprising a fraction n/q contiguous elements of the total circumferentially arranged radiating elements n of an array of antenna elements extending over coupling least a portion of said circumference matrix producing a beam directive in the plane containing said circumference and for controllable coarse and fine pointing of said beam, comprising:
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a passive interconnecting matrix having n output ports each connected discretely to a corresponding one of said n antenna elements and also having n feed ports, said matrix including a plurality of interconnecting hybrid devices for couplign energy extant at each of said matris feed ports to and from at least two contiguous radiating elements; an equal-amplitude distribution network having a single RF input-output port and n/q distribution ports, said input-output port constituting the input-output terminal for said switching and interconnecting system; n/q phase shifters, one of said phase shifters being connected to each of said distribution ports of said equal-amplitude distribution network to provide a set of n/q discretely phase shifted RF drive signals for producing a corresponding predetermined fine beam pointing angle; and n/q single pole, q position selector switches each arranged for switching a corresponding one of said phase-shifted RF drive signals among the like-positioned elements in each of said q groups of elements discretely to provide said coarse beam positioning with respect to which said fine beam pointing is effected. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. In an electronically scanned circular cylindrical array in which an element group comprising a plurality of contiguous circumferential antenna elements are excited by a set of RF signals in a predetermined phase relationship to generate a beam pattern in space at a corresponding pointing angle, the apparatus for providing amplitude taper across the aperture formed by said excited elements comprising:
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an interconnecting matrix responsive to said set of RF signals, said matrix having a number of output and input ports equal to the number of said elements in said element group and the number of signals in said RF signal set;
respectively;and coupling means within said interconnecting matrix for apportioning energy present at each of said input ports among at least two adjacent elements of said element group to provide said amplitude taper. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification