Electronic steering of pattern of an antenna system
First Claim
1. A method for electronically steering a null in a total radiation pattern provided by a plurality of angularly-disposed RF antennae, comprising the steps of:
- providing a plurality of control signals responsive to received null-angle data;
modifying, responsive to an associated one of the control signals, the amplitude of a signal provided by each associated antenna, by the steps of;
dividing the signal from the associated antenna into N separate signals;
separately attenuating each of the N signals by a selected attenuation value α
N only if that signal is to be includable in the modified signal; and
combining all of the separately attenuated signals into the modified signal; and
combining the modified-amplitude signals to provide an output signal in which contributions arriving at the antennae at the null angle are substantially reduced.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for electronically steering a null in a total radiation-reception pattern provided by a set of angularly disposed (preferably substantially-orthogonally-positioned RF) antennae, uses: first and second N-bit binary attenuator subsystems for modifying the amplitude of a signal provided by an associated one of the pair of antennae, responsive to an associated one of first and second control data signals; a set of look-up tables, receiving null-angle input data, provide the first and second signals as the sine and cosine, respectively, of the input null-angle; and the output of the first and second attenuator means are then combined to provide an output signal in which contributions arriving at the set of antennae substantially at the null angle are substantially reduced. The signal combiner may include at least one polarity reversal circuit, possibly including a transformer and/or switch means, to accommodate nulling to all four quadrants of a full circular response pattern.
21 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for electronically steering a null in a total radiation pattern provided by a plurality of angularly-disposed RF antennae, comprising the steps of:
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providing a plurality of control signals responsive to received null-angle data; modifying, responsive to an associated one of the control signals, the amplitude of a signal provided by each associated antenna, by the steps of;
dividing the signal from the associated antenna into N separate signals;
separately attenuating each of the N signals by a selected attenuation value α
N only if that signal is to be includable in the modified signal; and
combining all of the separately attenuated signals into the modified signal; andcombining the modified-amplitude signals to provide an output signal in which contributions arriving at the antennae at the null angle are substantially reduced. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. Apparatus for electronically steering a null in a total radiation pattern provided by a plurality of angularly-disposed RF antennae, comprising:
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means for modifying, responsive to an associated control signal, the amplitude of a signal provided by each associated antenna, with each modifying means including;
means for dividng the signal from the associated antenna into N separate signals;
means for separately attenuating each of the N signals by a selected attenuation value α
N only if that signal is to be includable in the modified signal to be output from said modifying means; and
means for combining all of the separately attenuated signals into the modified signal;means receiving null-angle data for providing the control signals; and means for combining the modified-amplitude signal to provide an output signal in which contributions arriving at the antennae at the null angle are substantially reduced. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification