Phased array antenna using aperiodic lattice formed of aperiodic subarray lattices

• US 6,456,244 B1
• Filed: 07/23/2001
• Issued: 09/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harris Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Harris Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Goldstein, Mark L., Nink, Richard J., Phelan, Richard, Tammen, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Tan
• Application Number:
  US09/911,350
• Time in Patent Office: 428 Days
• Field of Search: 343/700.MS, 343/792.5, 343/844, 343/853, 343/893, 343/895, 342/375, 455/562
• US Class Current: 343/700.0MS
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/0087 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing antenna arrays manufacturing waveguides H01P11/00
• 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

Abstract

A phased array antenna (10) includes a plurality of subarray lattices (16) arranged in an aperiodic array lattice (14). Each subarray lattice (16) includes a plurality of antenna elements (20) arranged in an aperiodic configuration such as formed on a multilayer circuit board (24). Electronic circuitry (26) are supported by the circuit board and mounted between the antenna elements (20) and operatively connected thereto for amplifying, phase shifting and beam forming any transmitted or received signals.

Claims

1. A phased array antenna comprising:

a plurality of subarray lattices arranged in an aperiodic array lattice, each subarray lattice comprising

a circuit board,

a plurality of antenna elements arranged in an aperiodic configuration on said circuit board; and

electronic circuitry supported by said circuit board and operatively connected to said antenna elements for amplifying, phase shifting and beam forming any transmitted or received signals with reduced side lobes and grating lobes.

2. A phased array antenna according to claim 1, and further comprising an antenna support member that supports each circuit board and said plurality of subarray lattices as an aperiodic array lattice.

3. A phased array antenna according to claim 1, wherein each antenna element arranged in an aperiodic configuration is spaced from each other a distance greater than one-half wavelength of a transmitted or received signal.

4. A phased array antenna according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of subarray lattices that form the aperiodic array lattice are formed as concentric circles in an aperiodic configuration.

5. A phased array antenna according to claim 1, wherein said antenna elements of each subarray lattice are configured in a spiral.

6. A phased array antenna according to claim 1, wherein each subarray lattice is substantially identical to each other.

7. A phased array antenna according to claim 1, wherein the number of subarray lattices arranged in the aperiodic array is substantially the same as the number of antenna elements forming each subarray lattice.

8. A phased array antenna according to claim 1, wherein said antenna elements comprise surface mounted antenna elements.

9. A phased array antenna according to claim 1, wherein said antenna elements comprise printed antenna elements.

10. A phased array antenna comprising:

a plurality of subarray lattices arranged in an aperiodic array lattice, each subarray lattice comprising

a multi-layer circuit board,

a plurality of antenna elements arranged in an aperiodic configuration on said multilayer circuit board; and

electronic circuitry supported by said circuit board and operatively connected to aid antenna elements for amplifying, phase shifting and beam forming any transmitted or received signals with reduced side lobes and grating lobes.

11. A phased array antenna according to claim 10, wherein electronic circuitry is mounted between said antenna elements.

12. A phased array antenna according to claim 10, and further comprising an antenna support member that supports each circuit board and said plurality of subarray lattices as an aperiodic array lattice.

13. A phased array antenna according to claim 10, wherein said multilayer circuit board is formed of green tape.

14. A phased array antenna according to claim 10, wherein each antenna element arranged in an aperiodic configuration is spaced from each other a distance greater than one-half wavelength of a transmitted or received signal.

15. A phased array antenna according to claim 10, wherein said plurality of subarray lattices that form the aperiodic array lattice are formed as concentric circles in an aperiodic configuration.

16. A phased array antenna according to claim 10, wherein said antenna elements of each subarray lattice are configured in a spiral.

17. A phased array antenna according to claim 10, wherein each subarray lattice is identical to each other.

18. A phased array antenna according to claim 10, wherein the number of subarray lattices arranged in the aperiodic array is substantially the same as the number of antenna elements forming each subarray lattice.

19. A phased array antenna according to claim 10, wherein said antenna elements comprise surface mounted antenna elements.

20. A phased array antenna according to claim 10, wherein said antenna elements comprise printed antenna elements.

21. A phased array antenna comprising:

a plurality of subarray lattices arranged in an aperiodic array lattice, each subarray lattice comprising a plurality of antenna elements arranged in an aperiodic configuration such that any transmitted or received signals have reduced side lobes and grating lobes.

22. A phased array antenna according to claim 21, and further comprising a circuit board on which each plurality of antenna elements forming a subarray lattice are mounted.

23. A phased array antenna according to claim 22, and further comprising an antenna support member that supports said circuit board.

24. A phased array antenna according to claim 21, and further comprising an antenna support member that supports said plurality of subarray lattices as an aperiodic array lattice.

25. A phased array antenna according to claim 21, wherein each antenna element arranged in an aperiodic configuration is spaced from each other a distance greater than one-half wavelength of a transmitted or received signal.

26. A phased array antenna according to claim 21, wherein said plurality of subarray lattices that form the aperiodic array lattice are formed as concentric circles in an aperiodic configuration.

27. A phased array antenna according to claim 21, wherein said antenna elements of each subarray lattice are configured in a spiral.

28. A phased array antenna according to claim 21, wherein each subarray lattice is identical to each other.

29. A phased array antenna according to claim 21, wherein the number of subarray lattices arranged in the aperiodic array is substantially the same as the number of antenna elements forming each subarray lattice.