Integrated defense communications system antijamming antenna system

• US 4,673,943 A
• Filed: 09/25/1984
• Issued: 06/16/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The United States of America As Represented By The Secretary of Agriculture
• Original Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Air Force
• Inventors: Hannan, Peter W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Blum, Theodore M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Barron, Jr., Gilberto
• Application Number:
  US06/654,338
• Time in Patent Office: 994 Days
• Field of Search: 343/16 M, 343/18 E, 343/361-366, 343/367, 343/378-384, 343/775, 343/776, 343/779, 343/840, 343/843, 343/781 P
• US Class Current: 342/367
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/195 wherein a reflecting surface acts also as a polarisation filter or a polarising device
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/293 one unit or more being an array of identical aerial elements adaptive arrays H01Q3/2605
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/007 using two or more primary active elements in the focal region of a focusing device for operation on different wavebands H01Q5/22
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/14 for the transfer of light or images, e.g. for video-surveillance, for television or from a computer screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 2203/32 including a particular configuration of antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/228 Elimination in the received signal of jamming or of data corrupted by jamming interference suppression in receivers H04B1/10

Abstract

The isolation of mainbeam and sidelobe jamming signals from the desired signal being relayed by microwave communication links is accomplished by an antijamming antenna comprising a flat radome, a curved reflector and a transmit dipole. Positioned adjacent the dipole is a monopulse feed and comparator for main-beam jammers (dual-plane monopulse, multi-mode multilayer feed). Also forming part of the integrated antenna are auxiliary units for near-sidelobe and far-sidelobe jammers. An alternative embodiment includes a Cassegrain grating sub-reflector. Since the direction of the desired incoming signal in microwave communication links is precisely known, the antijamming antenna uses azimuth and elevation monopulse to make a spatial distinction between the desired incoming signal and the jamming signals. The antijamming antenna system outputs: a sum, azimuth difference elevation difference signals and isolated near-sidelobe jamming signals and far-sidelobe jamming signals on output ports which allow an adaptive processor to place pattern nulls on jammers located in the mainbeam and sidelobe region of the antenna.

Claims

1. In combination with a signal processing system and an adaptive processor, an antijamming antenna system receiving and transmitting a desired communication signal and mainbeam and sidelobe jamming signals, said antijamming antenna system outputting a sum, azimuth difference, elevation difference signals, said antijamming antenna system outputting near-sidelobe and far-sidelobe signals, said antijamming antenna system comprising:

a curved parabolic reflector having a focus and, receiving said jamming signals and a desired communication signal;

first, second, third and fourth waveguides which are located in the focus of said curved parabolic reflector, said first, second, and third and fourth waveguides receiving and conducting all signals into said antijamming antenna system and having interior dimensions designed to conduct signals having the frequency of said desired communication signal, said first waveguide being a single mode horn;

said second waveguide being a multimode horn fixed between said first and third waveguides;

said third waveguide being a multimode horn;

said fourth waveguide being a single mode horn attached to said third waveguide;

a comparator means being electronically attached and receiving signals from said first, second, third and fourth waveguides, said comparator means outputting said sum, azimuth, difference and elevation difference signals;

a first and second auxiliary antenna means each having a null in the direction of said desired communication signal and each being fixed in proximity to said curved parabolic reflector, said first auxiliary antenna means being an array of crossed-slot radiators which is fixed in proximity to said curved parabolic reflector, said array having an aperture size in range of 3 to 10 wavelengths of said desired communication signal, said array having a null in the direction of said desired communication signal, a first electrical connection attached to and receiving from said array only said near-sidelobe signal, and conducting said near-sidelobe signal as an output of said antijamming antenna system;

said second auxiliary antenna means outputting said far-sidelobe jamming signal; and

a transmit means being located in the focus of said curved parabolic reflector, said transmit means transmitting an output signal, said output signal being cross polarized to said desired communication signal.

2. An antijamming antenna system as defined in claim 1 wherein said second antenna means comprises:

a horn waveguide having an aperture at its front, and having a null directed in the direction of said desired communication signal;

a radiating pin attached to said horn waveguide in front of the aperture, said radiating pin radiating as excited by said horn; and

a second electrical connection attached to and receiving from said horn waveguide only said far-sidelobe signal, said second electrical connection conducting said far-sidelobe signal as an output of said antijamming antenna system.

3. An antijamming system as defined in claim 2 including:

a shroud attached to the perimeter of said curved parabolic reflector, said shroud shielding said curved parabolic reflector so that substantially all radiation at 90°

to the axis of said curved parabolic reflector is greatly reduced; and

a radome attached to the outer edges of said shroud and providing a protective skin to said antijamming antenna system.

4. An antijamming antenna system as defined in claim 3 including:

a Cassegrain subreflector grating being fixed in said curved parabolic reflector between said feed means and said transmit means, said Cassegrain subreflector grating permitting said transmit means'"'"' feed to be separated from the feed means'"'"' receive feed by allowing said cross-polarized output signal of said transmit means to pass through the Cassegrain subreflector grating unimpeded, said Cassegrain subreflector grating allowing the size of said shroud to be reduced.

5. An antijamming antenna system as defined in claim 2 wherein said transmit means comprises a dipole wherein said tranmit means comprises a dipole placed a quarter wavelength in front of said feed means.

6. An antijamming antenna system as defined in claim 3 wherein said feed means is horizontally polarized and said dipole is vertically polarized.

7. An antijamming antenna system as defined in claim 3 wherein said feed means is vertically polarized and said dipole is horizontally polarized.