Spiral-shaped array for broadband imaging

• US 5,838,284 A
• Filed: 03/06/1997
• Issued: 11/17/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Dougherty, Robert P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Hoanganh T.
• Application Number:
  US08/812,818
• Time in Patent Office: 621 Days
• Field of Search: 343/893, 343/700 MS, 343/769, 343/770, 343/771, 343/853, 343/792.5, 343/810
• US Class Current: 343/893
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/061 Two dimensional planar arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/22 Antenna units of the array energised non-uniformly in amplitude or phase, e.g. tapered array or binomial array
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/26 varying the relative phase or relative amplitude of energisation between two or more active radiating elements; varying the distribution of energy across a radiating aperture H01Q3/12, H01Q3/22, H01Q3/24 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/403 loud-speakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/401 2D or 3D arrays of transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/405 Non-uniform arrays of transducers or a plurality of uniform arrays with different transducer spacing
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2430/20 Processing of the output signals of the acoustic transducers of an array for obtaining a desired directivity characteristic H04R2203/12 takes precedence

Abstract

A phased array design in the shape of a logarithmic spiral. By distributing the elements of the array along a logarithmic spiral-shaped curve, spatial regularities are avoided and the array is therefore able to function over a wide frequency range.

Claims

1. A phased array having a plurality of elements disposed along a logarithmic spiral curve.

2. A phased array comprising a plurality of transducers positioned along a logarithmic spiral curve and coupled to a plurality of converters, said plurality of converters coupled to a computer for performing mathematical operations associated with beam forming.