Array antenna having multiple independently steered beams

• US 6,232,920 B1
• Filed: 06/26/2000
• Issued: 05/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Brookner, Eli, Sarcione, Michael G., Schuss, Jack Jerome, Payne, William J., Upton, Jeffrey C., Mather, John R., OʼShea, Richard L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hellner, Mark
• Application Number:
  US09/603,591
• Time in Patent Office: 323 Days
• Field of Search: 342/372, 343/778
• US Class Current: 342/372
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/061 Two dimensional planar arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/00 Antennas or antenna systems providing at least two radiating patterns arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern H01Q3/00
• 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

Abstract

An array antenna system for forming multiple independently steered beams is described. The antenna system includes series or parallel feed circuits and phase shifters which are not disclosed directly in the signal path between the feed circuits and antenna elements included in the array antenna system.

Claims

1. An RF circuit comprising:

a first directional coupler having a first port, a second port, a third port and a fourth port;

a phase shifter having a first port coupled to the third port of said first directional coupler and having a second port;

a second directional coupler having a first port coupled to the second port of said phase shifter and having a second port, a third port and a fourth port;

an antenna element coupled to the first port of said first coupler;

a first termination coupled to the second port of said first directional coupler; and

a second termination coupled to the third port of said second directional coupler.

2. The RF circuit of claim 1 further comprising a transmitter coupled to the fourth port of said second directional coupler.

3. The RF circuit of claim 2 further comprising:

a first signal path coupled between said antenna element and the first port of said first coupler; and

a second signal path coupled between the fourth port of said second directional coupler and said transmitter.

4. The RF circuit of claim 3 further comprising:

a signal combiner having an input port coupled to the second end of said second signal path and having an output port; and

a receiver having an input port coupled to the output port of said signal combiner.

5. The RF circuit of claim 1 further comprising a further directional coupler connected to the second port of the second directional coupler.

6. The RF circuit of claim 1 further comprising a further directional coupler connected to the fourth port of the first directional coupler.

7. A system for steering multiple antenna beams independently, comprising:

first, second, third, and fourth RF circuits each including

a first directional coupler having a first port, a second port, a third port and a fourth port;

a phase shifter having a first port coupled to the third port of said first directional coupler and having a second port;

a second directional coupler having a first port coupled to the second port of said phase shifter and having a second port, a third port and a fourth port;

an antenna element coupled to the first port of said first coupler;

a first termination coupled to the second port of said first directional coupler; and

a second termination coupled to the third port of said second directional coupler,

wherein the second port of the second directional coupler of the first RF circuit is coupled to the fourth port of the second directional coupler of the second directional coupler, the fourth port of the first directional coupler of the first RF circuit is coupled to the first port of the first directional coupler of the third directional coupler, the fourth port of the first directional coupler of the second RF circuit is coupled to the first port of the first directional coupler of the fourth RF circuit, and the second port of the second directional coupler of the third RF circuit is coupled to the fourth port of the second directional coupler of the third RF circuit.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the respective antenna elements form an array having a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the respective antenna elements provide a phased array.