Phased array antenna provided with a calibration network

• US 5,977,930 A
• Filed: 09/29/1997
• Issued: 11/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thales Nederland BV (Thales SA)
• Original Assignee: Hollandse Signaalapparaten BV (Thales SA)
• Inventors: Fischer, Henk, Klein Breteler, Antonius B. M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): Malos, Jennifer H.
• Application Number:
  US08/913,950
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 343/853, 343/776, 333/161, 333/126, 342/375
• US Class Current: 343/853
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/267 Phased-array testing or checking devices

Abstract

A phased array antenna including a number of waveguide radiators in a power supply system. A calibration network provides a test pulse. By directly connecting the calibration network to the waveguide radiators, a more accurate calibration is obtained due to the processing of any phase and amplitude errors arising in the waveguide radiators in a calibration algorithm. The calibration network can be designed as a system of waveguides.

Claims

1. A phased array antenna comprising:

a two-dimensional array of waveguide radiators connected to a supply system; and

a calibration network configured to calibrate the antenna, and including a waveguide having a coupling device mounted to a side wall of each of a predetermined number of waveguide radiators of the array of waveguides radiators, said calibration network being arranged for leading a test signal to each of the predetermined number of waveguide radiators simultaneously,

wherein said coupling device comprises a directional coupler having a main directivity in a direction of the supply system, and

a widest side wall of the waveguide abuts on the widest side walls of the array of waveguide radiators.

2. The phased array antenna according to claim 1, wherein the array of waveguide radiators and the waveguide comprise a rectangular cross section, and the coupling device comprises a first hole and a second hole, located on a diagonal of a rectangular region formed by an overlap of the waveguide and the respective waveguide radiator of the array of waveguide radiators.

3. The phased array antenna according to claim 1, wherein the coupling device effects a signal attenuation of -35 to -45 dB.

4. The phased array antenna according to claim 1, wherein said waveguide radiators are mounted only on a first side of said waveguide.

5. The phased array antenna according to claim 1, wherein the waveguide radiators are mounted on first and second sides of said waveguide.

6. The phased array antenna according to claim 1, wherein said waveguide comprises a rectangular shape and includes a corresponding number of recesses to be fitted with respective waveguide radiators.

7. The phased array antenna according to claim 1, wherein said waveguide radiators comprise a recess portion to be fitted with said waveguide.

8. The phased array antenna according to claim 1, wherein the waveguide radiators are arranged in at least first, second and third rows and are positionally offset from respective waveguide radiators in adjacent rows.