Conformal switched beam array antenna
First Claim
1. An antenna array for providing effective directional gain comprising:
- a supporting structure;
a plurality of antenna elements, said elements positioned on said support structure to define at least tow sub-arrays, each sub-array including one central antenna element secured to said structure and six planetary antenna elements connected to said structure and spaced from said central antenna element in an arrangement such that said planetary antenna elements define a regular hexagon about said central antenna element, wherein each of said sub-arrays may selectively provide, through the operative cooperation and contribution of its planetary antenna elements and central antenna element, effective directional gain about an axis passing through the hexagon defined by the planetary antenna elements of the sub-array;
at least one amplifier, wherein the number of said amplifiers is less than the number of said antenna elements; and
means for selectively connecting at least said one amplifier to one of said antenna elements in at least each of said two sub-arrays.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A conformal switched beam array antenna (10) is provided which includes a plurality of antenna elements (14) that are mounted onto a curved (16) or a planar surface (28) and that are arranged into a plurality of arrays (22). The antenna elements (14) in each array (22) are arranged in a hexagonal array with one antenna element (14) in the center of each hexagonal array space. A plurality of multiple-throw switches (34), a RF power divider or power combiner (42), and a digital programmer (46) cooperate to select antenna elements (14) in the direction of a given target, and also cooperate to reduce the required number of phase shifters (40) and amplifiers (38 or 58) to a fraction of the total number of antenna elements (14).
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. An antenna array for providing effective directional gain comprising:
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a supporting structure; a plurality of antenna elements, said elements positioned on said support structure to define at least tow sub-arrays, each sub-array including one central antenna element secured to said structure and six planetary antenna elements connected to said structure and spaced from said central antenna element in an arrangement such that said planetary antenna elements define a regular hexagon about said central antenna element, wherein each of said sub-arrays may selectively provide, through the operative cooperation and contribution of its planetary antenna elements and central antenna element, effective directional gain about an axis passing through the hexagon defined by the planetary antenna elements of the sub-array; at least one amplifier, wherein the number of said amplifiers is less than the number of said antenna elements; and means for selectively connecting at least said one amplifier to one of said antenna elements in at least each of said two sub-arrays. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An antenna which comprises:
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a plurality of antenna elements being disposed in a predetermined pattern defining at least two sub-arrays, each sub-array including a central antenna element and six planetary antenna elements spaced from said central antenna element such that said planetary elements define a regular hexagon about said central antenna element, and wherein each of said sub-arrays may selectively provide, through the operative cooperation and contribution of its planetary antenna elements and central antenna element, effective directional gain about an axis passing through the hexagon determined by the planetary elements of the sub-array; connecting means for connecting selected ones of said antenna elements to a single RF conductor; reselecting means for disconnecting one of said selected antenna elements from said RF conductor, and for connecting a different one of said antenna elements to said RF conductor; at least one phase shifter, wherein the number of said phase-shifters is less than the number of said antenna elements; and means for selectively connecting at least said one phase shifter to one of said antenna elements in at least each of said two sub-arrays. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification