Method and apparatus for producing multiple, frequency-addressable scanning beams
First Claim
1. Apparatus for forming first and second frequency scanned beams of electromagnetic radiation, comprising:
- an array of antenna elements;
first and second inputs respectively receiving first and second pluralities of beam signals;
first and second delay means respectively coupled with said first and second inputs, for delaying the beam signals as a function of frequency such that said first and second beams each scan over a target area; and
means coupled between said antenna elements and said first and second delay means, for combining the beam signals from said first and second delay means, such that each of said antenna elements receives beam signals in said first and second pluralities thereof.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for producing multiple, frequency-addressable beams (66-80) employed in a satellite communication system. The beams (66-80) are effectively scanned over an area of the earth in order to communicatively interconnect small communication terminals on the earth. Multiple beams are formed which can be scanned independently of each other in the direction of scanning. Two or more beam formers (104, 106) are coupled in parallel and feed a single array of antenna elements. The outputs of the beam formers (104, 106) are combined in summers (98) and are then amplified by power amplifiers 38 and applied to excite the array elements (30). Phase shifters (92-96) are coupled between the beam formers (104, 106) and the array elements (30) to shift the phase of the beam signals and thereby aim or shift the beams in a direction orthogonal to the scanning direction in order to provide the desired coverage over the earth.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. Apparatus for forming first and second frequency scanned beams of electromagnetic radiation, comprising:
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an array of antenna elements; first and second inputs respectively receiving first and second pluralities of beam signals; first and second delay means respectively coupled with said first and second inputs, for delaying the beam signals as a function of frequency such that said first and second beams each scan over a target area; and means coupled between said antenna elements and said first and second delay means, for combining the beam signals from said first and second delay means, such that each of said antenna elements receives beam signals in said first and second pluralities thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. Apparatus for forming first and second pluralities of antenna beams respectively lying along first and second essentially parallel axes, wherein the positions of the beams in each plurality thereof is a function of frequency of the beam signals, comprising:
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an orthogonal array of antenna elements arranged in N rows and M columns; first means for receiving a first set of beam signals respectively associated with said first plurality of antenna beams; second means for receiving a second set of beam signals respectively associated with said second plurality of antenna beams; first delay means coupled with said first receiving means for progressively delaying the beam signals in said first set thereof which are delivered to the columns of antenna elements such that the excitation phase difference between adjacent elements in each of said rows is a function of frequency; second delay means coupled with said second receiving means for progressively delaying the beam signals in said second set thereof which are delivered to the columns of antenna elements such that the excitation phase difference between adjacent elements in each of said rows is a function of frequency; and means coupled between said antenna elements and said first and second delay means for combining the progressively delayed beam signals such that each of said antenna elements is excited by progressively delayed beam signals in said first and second sets thereof. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of forming first and second beams of electromagnetic radiation which are scanned over first and second areas as a function of frequency, comprising the steps of:
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(A) producing first and second sets of beam signals; (B) introducing time delays in said beam signals as a function of frequency to produce first and second sets of time delayed signals, said first and second sets being respectively related to said first and second areas; (C) combining said first and second sets of delayed beam signals; (D) delivering the delayed beam signals combined in step (C) to an array of antenna elements. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification