Design of an electronic beam forming network for phased array applications
First Claim
1. In a phased array antenna having a plurality of antenna elements disposed in a predetermined pattern for radiating first RF signals having relative phase and amplitude characteristics and formed by a combination of second signals provided thereto, a method of controlling a beam comprising the steps of:
- (a) digitally computing the phase and amplitude characteristics of the first RF signals required at some phased array antenna elements, using a processor;
(b) digitally computing, for each of some phased array antenna elements, characteristics of a plurality of second signals and associating said second signals with said phased array antenna element of said some phased array antenna elements wherein a combination of some of the plurality of second signals at an associated phased array antenna element results in substantially an approximation of the required first RF signal of step (a) and wherein some of the second signals associated with a phased array antenna element are substantially the same as second signals associated with other phased array antenna elements;
(c) generating the plurality of associated second signals with characteristics computed in step (b) for some phased array antenna elements;
(d) providing to some phased array antenna elements the generated second signals for said phased array antenna elements; and
(e) from said phased array antenna elements, radiating an RF signal in dependence upon a combination of the generated second signals provided thereto.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A phased array antenna element design and method of using same is disclosed wherein the antenna elements are each provided several signals containing phase, and amplitude information for controlling a beam transmitted or received. The signals are mixed within each antenna element to produce RF signals for transmission or for use as filtering signals for reception. The signals are selected such that some antenna elements receive a same signal and more particularly, such that a single signal is provided to each row of the array and to each column of the array. The row and column signals are combined at elements located at an intersection of the row and column.
34 Citations
20 Claims
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1. In a phased array antenna having a plurality of antenna elements disposed in a predetermined pattern for radiating first RF signals having relative phase and amplitude characteristics and formed by a combination of second signals provided thereto, a method of controlling a beam comprising the steps of:
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(a) digitally computing the phase and amplitude characteristics of the first RF signals required at some phased array antenna elements, using a processor; (b) digitally computing, for each of some phased array antenna elements, characteristics of a plurality of second signals and associating said second signals with said phased array antenna element of said some phased array antenna elements wherein a combination of some of the plurality of second signals at an associated phased array antenna element results in substantially an approximation of the required first RF signal of step (a) and wherein some of the second signals associated with a phased array antenna element are substantially the same as second signals associated with other phased array antenna elements; (c) generating the plurality of associated second signals with characteristics computed in step (b) for some phased array antenna elements; (d) providing to some phased array antenna elements the generated second signals for said phased array antenna elements; and (e) from said phased array antenna elements, radiating an RF signal in dependence upon a combination of the generated second signals provided thereto. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. In a phased array antenna having a plurality of antenna elements disposed in a predetermined pattern for receiving first RF signals having relative phase and amplitude characteristics, a method of controlling a beam comprising the steps of:
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(a) digitally computing the phase and amplitude characteristics of the first RF signals for reception by some phased array antenna elements, using a processor; (b) digitally computing, for each of some phased array antenna elements, characteristics of a plurality of second signals and associating said second signals with said phased array antenna element of said some phased array antenna elements wherein a combination of some of the plurality of second signals at an associated phased array antenna element results in substantially an approximation of the required first RF signal for reception as computed in step (a) and wherein some of the second signals associated with a phased array antenna element are substantially the same as second signals associated with other phased array antenna elements; (c) generating the plurality of associated second signals with characteristics computed in step (b) for some phased array antenna elements; (d) providing to some phased array antenna elements the generated second signals for said phased array antenna elements; and (e) filtering signals received by said phased array antenna elements in dependence upon a combination of the generated second signals provided thereto. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A phased array antenna comprising:
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a plurality of antenna elements disposed in a predetermined pattern for radiating first RF signals having relative phase and amplitude characteristics and formed by a combination of second signals provided thereto; means for digitally computing the phase and amplitude characteristics of the first RF signals required at some phased array antenna elements; means for digitally computing, for each of some phased array antenna elements, characteristics of a plurality of second signals and associating said second signals with said phased array antenna element of said some phased array antenna elements wherein a combination of some of the plurality of second signals at an associated phased array antenna element results in substantially an approximation of the required first RF signal as computed in step (a) and wherein some of the second signals associated with a phased array antenna element are substantially the same as second signals associated with other phased array antenna elements; means for generating the plurality of associated second signals; means for providing to some phased array antenna elements the generated second signals associated with said phased array antenna elements; means for combining the generated second signals; and means for radiating, from said phased array antenna elements, an RF signal in dependence upon a combination of the generated second signals provided thereto. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification