Distributed-array radar system comprising an array of interconnected elementary satellites
First Claim
1. A radar system for primary and secondary surveillance of an airspace, comprising:
- a plurality of elementary satellites spaced apart in a distributed array in space and each provided with;
an antenna element forming with the antenna elements of the other elementary satellites of the distributed array a phased array antenna of an area corresponding substantially to the area of said distributed array of elementary satellites,receiver means connected to said antenna element for receiving radar signals from said airspace,transmitter means connected to said antenna element for transmitting radar signals into said airspace, andcommunication means for receiving signals for controlling the element and transmitting radar signals from the elementary satellite;
a main satellite spaced from said distributed array of elementary satellites in space and provided with communication means in communication with the communication means of each of said elementary satellites for transmitting signals for controlling the antenna element thereof and for receiving radar signals transmitted from individual ones of said elementary satellites; and
a ground station in wireless communication with said main satellite for receiving radar information from said main satellite corresponding to the radar signals received thereby and transmitted from the individual ones of said elementary satellites.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A radar system for primary and secondary airspace surveillance, and especially for the detection and tracking of moving targets, consisting of a number of elementary satellites connected to nonrigid structures and of a main satellite, which performs accurate measurement of the position and altitude of elementary satellites and real-time adaptive combination of radar signals coming from them, so as to provide a large-phased array operating in the microwave band. This system overcomes the limitations on dimensioned large space-bound antennae found in the literature, minimizing the incidence and effects of undesired echoes and interference and assuring high detection accuracy. The fact that the elementary satellites are all the same (modular) makes possible gradual assembly of the system with possible expansion in time and assures particularly high operating availability.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A radar system for primary and secondary surveillance of an airspace, comprising:
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a plurality of elementary satellites spaced apart in a distributed array in space and each provided with; an antenna element forming with the antenna elements of the other elementary satellites of the distributed array a phased array antenna of an area corresponding substantially to the area of said distributed array of elementary satellites, receiver means connected to said antenna element for receiving radar signals from said airspace, transmitter means connected to said antenna element for transmitting radar signals into said airspace, and communication means for receiving signals for controlling the element and transmitting radar signals from the elementary satellite; a main satellite spaced from said distributed array of elementary satellites in space and provided with communication means in communication with the communication means of each of said elementary satellites for transmitting signals for controlling the antenna element thereof and for receiving radar signals transmitted from individual ones of said elementary satellites; and a ground station in wireless communication with said main satellite for receiving radar information from said main satellite corresponding to the radar signals received thereby and transmitted from the individual ones of said elementary satellites.
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2. A radar system for primary and secondary surveillance of an airspace, comprising:
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a plurality of elementary satellites spaced apart in a distributed array in space and each provided with; an antenna element forming with the antenna elements of the other elementary satellites of the distributed array a phased array antenna of an area corresponding substantially to the area of said distributed array of elementary satellites, receiver means connected to said antenna element for receiving radar signals from said airspace, transmitter means connected to said antenna element for transmitting radar signals into said airspace, and communication means for receiving signals for controlling the element and transmitting radar signals from the elementary satellite; a main satellite spaced from said distributed array of elementary satellites in space and provided with communication means in communication with the communication means of each of said elementary satellites for transmitting signals for controlling the antenna element thereof and for receiving the transmitted radar signals from individual ones of said elementary satellites; a ground station in wireless communication with said main satellite for receiving radar information from said main satellite corresponding to the radar signals received thereby and transmitted from the individual ones of said elementary satellites; means interconnecting said elementary satellites in a generally planar array of polygonal outline to form a nonrigid structure with said elementary satellites; a plurality of tension segments connected to said array and connected to said nonrigid structure to apply tension thereto; a plurality of pulling satellites connected to said tension segments and exerting outward force on said nonrigid structure; and dampers connected between satellites of said nonrigid structure for damping oscillation of the satellites of said nonrigid structure, said pulling satellites being provided with; attitude and orbit control means for positioning said nonrigid structure in space, and communication means connected to said attitude and orbit control means and receiving control signals from said main satellite for operating said attitude and orbit control means. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification