Radar and electronic warfare systems employing continuous transverse stub array antennas

• US 5,469,165 A
• Filed: 12/23/1993
• Issued: 11/21/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Milroy, William W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hellner, Mark
• Application Number:
  US08/173,291
• Time in Patent Office: 698 Days
• Field of Search: 343/772, 342/17, 342/149, 342/372, 342/13, 342/371, 342/147
• US Class Current: 342/13
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/28 comprising elements constituting electric discontinuities and spaced in direction of wave propagation, e.g. dielectric elements or conductive elements forming artificial dielectric
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/0087 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing antenna arrays manufacturing waveguides H01P11/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/22 varying the orientation in accordance with variation of frequency of radiated wave
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/44 varying the electric or magnetic characteristics of reflecting, refracting, or diffracting devices associated with the radiating element

Abstract

Radar and electronic warfare systems comprising a variety of continuous transverse stub antenna arrays combined with a radar and electronic warfare subsystem. A passive one- or two-dimensional passive electronically scanned antenna radar system is provided when the continuous transverse stub antenna array is fabricated from voltage variable dielectric material. A two-dimensional active array radar system is provided when active array transmit/receive modules are used in conjunction with the voltage variable dielectric continuous transverse stub antenna array. The passive radar system include a continuous transverse stub antenna array, a transmitter, a receiver/exciter, an analog signal converter, a radar display, and a signal processor for processing received radar return signals to produce a radar image. A power supply provides power to the components. A high voltage power supply is provided to drive the voltage variable dielectric material to achieve beam scanning. The electronically scanned and active array radar systems use a voltage variable dielectric continuous transverse stub array. The radar system additionally comprises a plurality of discrete phase shifters coupled to the array. A beam steering computer sets the phase-shifters to steer a radar beam produced by the antenna array in the H-Plane to a desired pointing angle. he high voltage power supply steers the radar beam produced by the antenna array in its E-Plane. The continuous transverse stub array comprises a radiator, a cold plate, a plurality of transmit and receive modules including a feed air strip, a power filter and distribution printed wiring board, and a monopulse network for providing signal outputs that include a sum signal, an elevation signal, an azimuth signal, and a guard signal.

Claims

1. A radar system comprising:

a continuous transverse stub antenna array;

a transmitter coupled to the continuous transverse stub antenna array;

a receiver/exciter coupled to the transmitter and the continuous transverse stub antenna array;

an analog signal converter coupled to the receiver/exciter;

a radar display;

a processor coupled to the analog signal converter and radar display for processing received radar return signals to produce a radar image that is displayed on the display; and

a power supply coupled to the processor, the analog signal converter, and the receiver/exciter for providing operational power thereto.

2. The radar system of claim 1 wherein the continuous transverse stub array is substantially immobile.

3. The radar system of claim 1 wherein the continuous transverse stub array is mechanically scanned.

4. The radar system of claim 1 that comprises an electronically scanned radar system wherein the continuous transverse stub array is comprised of voltage variable dielectric material, and wherein the radar system further comprises:

a plurality of discrete phase shifters coupled to the continuous transverse stub antenna array;

a beam steering computer coupled between the signal processor and the continuous transverse stub antenna array for setting the phase shifters to steer a radar beam produced by the antenna array in the H-Plane to a desired pointing angle; and

a high voltage power supply coupled to the continuous transverse stub antenna array for steering the radar beam produced by the antenna array continuous transverse stub antenna array in its E-Plane.

5. An active array radar system comprising:

a continuous transverse stub antenna array that is comprised of voltage variable dielectric material;

a receiver/exciter coupled to the continuous transverse stub antenna array;

an analog signal converter coupled to the receiver/exciter;

a radar display;

a processor coupled to the analog signal converter and radar display for processing received radar return signals to produce a radar image that is displayed on the display;

a power supply coupled to the signal processor, the analog signal converter, and the receiver/exciter for providing operational power thereto.

a plurality of transmit and receive modules that comprise discrete phase shifters coupled to the continuous transverse stub antenna array;

a beam steering computer coupled between the signal processor and the continuous transverse stub antenna array for setting the phase shifters to steer a radar beam produced by the antenna array in the H-Plane to a desired pointing angle;

a transmit and receive module power supply coupled to the continuous transverse stub antenna array for exciting the plurality of discrete phase shifters; and

a high voltage power supply coupled to the continuous transverse stub antenna array for steering the radar beam produced by the antenna array continuous transverse stub antenna array in its E-Plane.

6. The radar system of claim 5 wherein the continuous transverse stub array comprises a plurality of layers that comprise:

a continuous transverse stub radiating plate;

a cold plate attached to the continuous transverse stub radiating plate;

a plurality of transmit and receive modules that include an air stripline feed coupled to the continuous transverse stub radiating plate;

a power filter and distribution circuit coupled to the plurality of transmit and receive modules; and

a monopulse network for providing signal outputs that include a sum signal, an elevation signal, an azimuth signal, and a guard signal.

7. The radar system of claim 6 wherein the continuous transverse stub radiating plate comprises ceramic material.