Plural level beam-forming netowrk

• US 5,012,254 A
• Filed: 09/25/1989
• Issued: 04/30/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Thompson, James D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CAIN, DAVID C
• Application Number:
  US07/411,810
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: 342/373, 342/369, 342/375
• US Class Current: 342/373
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/22 Antenna units of the array energised non-uniformly in amplitude or phase, e.g. tapered array or binomial array
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/00 Antennas or antenna systems providing at least two radiating patterns arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern H01Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 2200/198 A hybrid coupler being used as coupling circuit between stages of an amplifier circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/602 Combinations of several amplifiers

Abstract

A beam-forming network (98) employs one or a plurality of first transmission delay lines (168, 170, 172, 174) for receiving transmit signals (T1-T4) applied thereto, and a plurality of second transmission lines (176), which serve as line summers. Each of the first transmission delay lines has first and second portions (168a, 168b; 170a, 170b; 172a; 172b; 174a; 174b) spaced apart from one another so as to define first and second levels displaced from one another. The set of second transmission lines (176) are arranged in first and second subsets (176a, 176b) which are respectively disposed adjacent to the first and second levels and respectively associated with the first and second portions of the first lines, such that the first subset of second lines is coupled to the first portion of the first lines, and the second subset of the second lines is coupled to the second portion of the first lines. Further, selected ones of the first subset of second lines are disposed adjacent to selected ones of the second subset of second lines in order to facilitate simple and orderly routing of transmission lines (126, 128, 130) between the beam-forming network and a novel equal power amplifier system (100) described herein.

Claims

1. A beam-forming network for producing, from at least one transmit signal, a plurality of output signals having a predetermined relationship with respect to one another for providing a predetermined excitation pattern to an array of radiating elements in an antenna system, comprising:

a first line for carrying the transmit signal; and

,

a set of second lines spaced from one another and operatively disposed at an angle to and crossing the first line so as to define cross-over points therewith, each of the second lines being coupled to the first line at the cross-over points such that a portion of the electromagnetic energy of the transmit signal carried by the first line is transferable to each of the second lines, each of the second lines having an output adapted to be placed in electromagnetic communication with the array,

the first line having first and second portions spaced apart from one another and respectively defining first and second levels displaced from one another, and

the set of second lines having first and second subsets of second line overlying each other and respectively arranged adjacent to said first and second level, the first and second subsets of second lines being respectively associated with the first and second portions of the first line, such that the first subset of second lines is coupled to the first portion of the first line, and the second subset of second lines is coupled to the second portion of the first line.

2. A network as in claim 1, wherein selected ones of said first subset of second lines are disposed adjacent to selected ones of said second subset of second lines.

3. A network as in claim 1, wherein the transmit signal is provided simultaneously to the first and second portion of the first line by coupling one end of the first and second portions of the first line together at a common signal splitting device, and the second portion of the first line has a second thereof having a predetermined length for providing a time delay for the transmit signal passing therethrough substantially equal to the length of the delay experienced by the transmit signal as it passes through the first portion of the first line.

4. A network as in claim 1 for use in a transmit system having amplifying means for amplifying a plurality of output signals before the output signals are applied to the array, wherein:

said predetermined excitation pattern defines an amplitude distribution function desired for driving said array of radiating elements to produce a microwave beam having selected characteristics.

5. A network as in claim 4, wherein the portion of the electromagnetic energy of each of the transmit signals carried by the first line and transferable to each of the second lines is substantially uniform for substantially all of the cross-over points, and the network further comprises:

means, operatively disposed between the outputs of the second lines and the amplifying means, for attenuating at least selected ones of the output signals before such selected output signals are amplified by the amplifying means.

6. A network as in claim 5, wherein the means for attenuating include a distinct attenuation device for at least the majority of output signals, and wherein the attenuation device have preselected attenuation values to thereby produce the desired distribution function.

7. A network as in claim 6, wherein the means for attenuating includes a distinct attenuation device for substantially all of the output signals.

8. A beam-forming network for producing, from at least one input signal, a plurality of output signals having a predetermined relationship to each other and providing a predetermined excitation pattern to an array of radiating elements of an antenna system, comprising:

at least a first set of stacked lines for carrying said input signals; and

,

at least a second set of lines arranged in first and second stacked groups thereof with the lines in each of the groups being associated with one of the lines in said first set thereof, the lines in each of the groups being disposed at an angle to and crossing an associated line in the first set thereof so as to define cross-over points therewith, each of the lines in each group of the second set being coupled to an associated line in the first set thereof at a cross-over point such that a portion of the electromagnetic energy of the input signal carried by the associated line in the first set thereof is transferred to the lines in each of the groups thereof, each of the lines in the first and second groups thereof having an output adapted to be placed in electromagnetic communication with the array.

9. A network as in claim 8, wherein the outputs of the lines of the first and second groups thereof are arranged to feed a single row of radiating elements in the array.

10. A network as in claim 8, wherein the lines in the first and second stacked groups respectively lie substantially in two spaced apart planes.