Transmitting adaptive array antenna

• US 4,492,962 A
• Filed: 08/31/1981
• Issued: 01/08/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Peder M. Hansen
• Original Assignee: Peder M. Hansen
• Inventors: Hansen, Peder M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Blum, Theodore M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Steinberger, Brian
• Application Number:
  US06/297,598
• Time in Patent Office: 1,226 Days
• Field of Search: 343/373, 343/375, 343/368, 343/369, 343/395, 343/463, 343/433, 343/7 AG, 343/351, 343/360, 455/9, 455/10, 455/52, 455/69, 455/72, 455/138, 455/249, 455/393
• US Class Current: 342/369
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/2605 Array of radiating elements provided with a feedback control over the element weights, e.g. adaptive arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/267 Phased-array testing or checking devices

Abstract

A low-power adaptive array for transmitting a signal may be used by itself in low-power applications or in high-power applications in conjunction with a commercial radio transmitter to optimize the radiation field of the transmitter used. The adaptive system comprises a continuous-wave (C-W) signal source having a certain amount of power. A power divider hybrid circuit, whose input is connected to the output of the C-W generator, divides its output power into N+1 parts. N quadrature hybrid circuits, one in each of N channels, whose inputs are connected to the output of the power divider hybrid circuit, divide their input signals into two quadrature components. One channel, a reference channel, does not require a quadrature circuit. A plurality of attenuators, each having inputs from the power divider hybrid circuit and the quadrature hybrid circuits, attenuates the power received from the quadrature hybrid circuit. A summer, having two inputs which are connected to the two outputs of its respective attenuator, sums its input signals. A linear amplifier, whose input is connected to the output of the summer, amplifies its input signal. An impedance matching network receives the signal from the linear amplifier and matches it to the input to an antenna. A plurality of monitors, distributed at various strategic locations within the environment, receives and monitors the phase and amplitude of the transmitted signal at the several locations. An antenna current monitor collects the currents from all the monitors, and transmits them by telemetry to a monitoring circuit, which transmits them directly to a microprocessor. The microprocessor, whose input is connected to the receiver of the monitored signals and whose output is connected to the inputs of the attenuators, processes the monitored signals and sends signals to the attenuator, to cause the attenuator to be adapted, that is, adjusted, in a manner to optimize a desired parameter, for example maximum power in a given direction.

Claims

1. An adaptive array system comprising N+1 channels for transmitting a signal, where N is some positive integer, comprising:

means for generating a continuous-wave (C-W) signal, having a predetermined amount of power;

means having N+1 outputs, whose input is connected to the output of the generating means, for dividing the power of the signal received at its input between the N+1 outputs;

a plurality of N means, whose signal inputs are connected to N of the outputs of the power dividing means, for controlling amplitude and phase for each of the N channels, said controlling means also having inputs for receiving d-c control signals;

means whose input is connected to an output of the power dividing means for providing a reference phase and amplitude for the adaptive system;

a plurality of N+1 means, whose inputs are connected to the outputs of the amplitude and phase control means and of the reference means, for linearly amplifying its input signal;

a plurality of N+1 means, whose inputs are connected to the output of the linear amplifying means, for matching the impedance at their inputs to the impedance at their outputs;

means, whose input is connected to the output of the impedance matching means, for transmitting the generated signal into the environment;

at least one monitoring means, distributed at various locations or sites, within the environment, for receiving, monitoring, and retransmitting the amplitude of the transmitted signal at the several locations; and

means, disposed to receive the amplitude of the retransmitted signal from the monitoring means, for processing the amplitude of the retransmitted signal according to a preselected optimization algorithm, said processing means outputs connected to the inputs for receiving d-c control signals of the d-c controlling means whereby control signals are relayed to cause the controlling means to readjust phase and amplitude levels for each of the N channels.

2. The adaptive system according to claim 1, wherein each amplitude and phase control means comprises:

means, whose input is connected to the output of the splitting means, for dividing its input signal into two quadrature components;

attenuating means, having inputs from the processing means and from the quadrature splitting means, for attenuating the power received from the quadrature splitting means; and

means for summing, having inputs which are connected to the outputs of the means for attenuating, for summing its input signals.