Ultra wideband phased array antenna
First Claim
1. A phased array antenna system for illuminating a given radar surveillance volume, said system covering a plurality of separate frequency bands, comprising:
- a space-fed frequency multiplexing lens comprising first and second radiating apertures, said first aperture facing a space feed means, said second aperture for illuminating said volume, each aperture comprising a plurality of radiating elements each in turn coupled to a corresponding radiating element of the other radiating aperture through a phase shifter device, each said aperture comprising means for multiplexing an incoming wideband signal into separate frequency band signals, said multiplexing means comprising a first plurality of arrays of radiating elements comprising said plurality of radiating elements of said first radiating aperture, each array operating at a particular one of said separate frequency bands, and a corresponding second plurality of arrays of radiating elements comprising said plurality of radiating elements of said second radiating aperture, and wherein the radiating elements of said first plurality of arrays share a common physical first aperture, and the radiating elements of said second plurality of arrays share a common physical second aperture, and wherein said phase shifter devices are each associated with signals of one of said frequency bands and are only required to perform a phase shifting function over the particular frequency band with which said phase shifter is associated; and
said space feed means for illuminating said first aperture with signals covering said plurality of separate frequency bands, said feed means comprising a plurality of radiators each for radiating signals of a particular one of said separate frequency bands, and wherein said radiators share a common phase center.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An ultra wideband (UWB) phased array antenna using a frequency-multiplexing, space-fed lens with a UWB feed horn achieves multi-octave bandwidth. The lens includes two UWB radiating apertures with relatively narrow band phase shifters connecting corresponding radiating elements of the arrays. Each aperture multiplexes the incoming UWB signal into separate frequency bands so that the phase shifters need only be tuned to these narrower frequency bands, and are set to form a beam in the desired direction. For wide instantaneous bandwidth operation, the beams from the various frequency bands are collimated in the same direction. For multi-mode operation, the beams corresponding to the various frequency bands are formed in different directions. The phase shifters need have a maximum phase shift of 360 degrees.
88 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A phased array antenna system for illuminating a given radar surveillance volume, said system covering a plurality of separate frequency bands, comprising:
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a space-fed frequency multiplexing lens comprising first and second radiating apertures, said first aperture facing a space feed means, said second aperture for illuminating said volume, each aperture comprising a plurality of radiating elements each in turn coupled to a corresponding radiating element of the other radiating aperture through a phase shifter device, each said aperture comprising means for multiplexing an incoming wideband signal into separate frequency band signals, said multiplexing means comprising a first plurality of arrays of radiating elements comprising said plurality of radiating elements of said first radiating aperture, each array operating at a particular one of said separate frequency bands, and a corresponding second plurality of arrays of radiating elements comprising said plurality of radiating elements of said second radiating aperture, and wherein the radiating elements of said first plurality of arrays share a common physical first aperture, and the radiating elements of said second plurality of arrays share a common physical second aperture, and wherein said phase shifter devices are each associated with signals of one of said frequency bands and are only required to perform a phase shifting function over the particular frequency band with which said phase shifter is associated; and said space feed means for illuminating said first aperture with signals covering said plurality of separate frequency bands, said feed means comprising a plurality of radiators each for radiating signals of a particular one of said separate frequency bands, and wherein said radiators share a common phase center. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A phased array antenna system for illuminating a given radar surveillance volume, said system covering a plurality of separate frequency bands, comprising:
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a space-fed frequency multiplexing lens comprising first and second radiating apertures, said first aperture facing a space feed means, said second aperture for illuminating said volume, each aperture comprising a plurality of radiating elements each in turn coupled to a corresponding radiating element of the other radiating aperture through a phase shifter device, each said aperture comprising means for multiplexing an incoming wideband signal into separate frequency band signals., said multiplexing means comprising a first plurality of arrays of radiating elements comprising said plurality of radiating elements of said first radiating aperture, each array operating at a particular one of said separate frequency bands, and a corresponding second plurality of arrays of radiating elements comprising said plurality of radiating elements of said second radiating aperture, and wherein the radiating elements of said first plurality of arrays share a common physical first aperture, and the radiating elements of said second plurality of arrays share a common physical second aperture, and wherein said phase shifter devices are each associated with signals of one of said frequency bands and is only required to perform a phase shifting function over the particular frequency band with which said phase shifter is associated; said space feed means for illuminating said first aperture with signals covering said plurality of separate frequency bands, said feed means comprising a plurality of radiators each for radiating signals of a particular one of said separate frequency bands, and wherein said radiators share a common phase center; wideband transmitter means for generating transmitter wideband signals covering said frequency bands; receiver means responsive to signals received by said lens to provide radar receiver signals; signals duplexing means coupling said transmitter means and said receiver means to said space feed means, said duplexing means separating said transmitter signals and said received signals. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification