Digital delay generator for sonar and radar beam formers
First Claim
1. Beam former control apparatus for multi-transducer array antenna comprising:
- a delay circuit for generating a delay or phase shift control signal for each transducer, each delay circuit comprising a first digital apparatus for receiving one or a pair of signals representative of a target direction relative to a predetermined reference point and for providing in response thereto a first signal representing a function of an included angle between lines joining the reference point to the corresponding transducer and the same reference point to the target, and a second digital apparatus in circuit communication with the first digital apparatus for receiving the first signal and a second signal representative of the range of the target relative to the reference point and for providing in response thereto an output signal corresponding to said control signal.
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Abstract
This invention relates to apparatus and a method of controlling the amount of delay or phase-shift which is applied to a signal received at or transmitted from each transducer in a multi-transducer antenna to produce a beam directed at a specific target point. For each transducer a first look-up table is used for storing first digital words representative of the included angle between the lines joining the target to a reference point, and the same reference point to a transducer. A second look-up table is associated with the first look-up table for each transducer, and stores second digital words representing delay or phase-shift control signals corresponding to ranges of the target relative to the reference point for each of said first digital words. Each first look-up table is addressed with an address signal representing the direction of the line from the reference point to the target, to obtain a corresponding first digital word. Each second look-up table is addressed with a corresponding first digital word combined with a signal representing the range of the target to obtain a corresponding second digital word. A signal received or transmitted by the corresponding transducer is delayed or phase-shifted an amount represented by the second digital word.
56 Citations
16 Claims
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1. Beam former control apparatus for multi-transducer array antenna comprising:
a delay circuit for generating a delay or phase shift control signal for each transducer, each delay circuit comprising a first digital apparatus for receiving one or a pair of signals representative of a target direction relative to a predetermined reference point and for providing in response thereto a first signal representing a function of an included angle between lines joining the reference point to the corresponding transducer and the same reference point to the target, and a second digital apparatus in circuit communication with the first digital apparatus for receiving the first signal and a second signal representative of the range of the target relative to the reference point and for providing in response thereto an output signal corresponding to said control signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 14, 15)
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5. A multi-transducer array antenna comprising:
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(a) a plurality of digital time delay means, one corresponding to each transducer, for delaying transmission of a signal therethrough, and including a delay control input, (b) analog to digital converter connected to each transducer for receiving an output signal therefrom, having an output connected to an input of a corresponding time delay means, (c) summing means having inputs connected to the outputs of the time delay means, for receiving output signals of the transducers and for providing a beam output signal of the antenna, and (d) control apparatus for controlling the time delay of each time delay means, each control apparatus comprising a first look-up table for receiving a signal representative of the direction of a target relative to a predetermined reference point and for outputting in response thereto a first signal representative of an included angle between lines joining the reference point to a corresponding transducer and the same reference point to the target, and a second look-up table for receiving the first signal and a second signal representative of the range of the target relative to the reference point and for outputting in response thereto a delay control signal, (e) means for applying the delay control signal to a corresponding delay control input of a corresponding delay means for controlling the delay of transmission of a signal from a corresponding transducer therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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- 11. A method of controlling the beam direction of a multi-transducer antenna comprising storing first digital words representative of included angles between lines joining a reference point to a transducer and the same reference point to the target, for each transducer in a corresponding look-up table, storing second digital words representing delay control signals corresponding to ranges of a target relative to the reference point for each of said first digital words in a second look-up table associated with the first look-up table for each transducer, addressing each first look-up table with an address signal representing the direction of said target to obtain a corresponding first digital word, addressing each second look-up table with a corresponding first digital word combined with a signal representing the range of the target to obtain a corresponding second digital word, and delaying a signal received by a corresponding transducer an amount represented by the second digital word.
Specification