Phased array antenna system having prioritized beam command and data transfer and related methods

• US 6,473,037 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2001
• Issued: 10/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NETGEAR, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Harris Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Vail, David Kenyon, Tabor, Frank J., Blom, Daniel P., Wilson, Stephen S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Blum, Theodore M.
• Application Number:
  US09/991,536
• Publication Number:
  US 20020084934A1
• Time in Patent Office: 354 Days
• Field of Search: 342/372, 342/157, 342/368
• US Class Current: 342/372
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142
• 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: H01Q 3/36 with variable phase-shifters

Abstract

A phased array antenna system may include a substrate and a plurality of phased array antenna elements carried thereby, and a plurality of subarray controllers for controlling respective groups of phased array antenna elements. The phased array antenna system may further include a central controller for generating priority beam control commands and non-priority beam control commands for the subarray controllers, and a communications bus connecting the subarray controllers to the central controller. The central controller may send the priority beam control commands to the subarray controllers via the communications bus on a substantially real time basis with time gaps therebetween. Further, the central controller may also send the non-priority beam control commands to the subarray controllers via the communications bus during the time gaps.

Claims

1. A phased array antenna system comprising:

a substrate and a plurality of phased array antenna elements carried thereby;

a plurality of subarray controllers for controlling respective groups of phased array antenna elements;

a central controller for generating priority beam control commands and non-priority beam control commands for said subarray controllers; and

a communications bus connecting said subarray controllers to said central controller;

said central controller sending the priority beam control commands to said subarray controllers via said communications bus on a substantially real time basis with time gaps therebetween, and sending the non-priority beam control commands to said subarray controllers via said communications bus during the time gaps.

2. The phased array antenna system of claim 1 wherein said central controller comprises:

a priority first-in, first-out (FIFO) device for storing and outputting the priority beam control commands;

a non-priority FIFO device for storing and outputting the non-priority beam control commands; and

an arbiter for selectively connecting the outputs of said priority FIFO device and said non-priority FIFO device to said communications bus.

3. The phased array antenna system of claim 2 wherein said subarray controllers collect telemetry data for respective groups of phased array antenna elements and send the telemetry data to said central controller via said communications bus;

wherein said central controller further comprises a telemetry FIFO device connected to said arbiter; and

wherein said arbiter further selectively connects the telemetry FIFO device to said communications bus during the time gaps for storing the telemetry data.

4. The phased array antenna system of claim 1 wherein the priority beam control commands comprise at least one of phase gradient commands, beam spoiling commands, and operating frequency commands.

5. The phased array antenna system of claim 1 wherein the non-priority beam control commands comprise at least one of temperature compensation commands and telemetry request commands.

6. The phased array antenna system of claim 1 wherein the priority beam control commands are the same for all of the subarray controllers.

7. The phased array antenna system of claim 6 wherein the non-priority beam control commands are the same for all of the subarray controllers.

8. The phased array antenna system of claim 7 wherein each subarray controller converts the priority and non-priority beam control commands into commands for respective phased array antenna elements connected thereto.

9. The phased array antenna system of claim 1 wherein said central controller generates the priority beam control commands based upon host commands.

10. The phased array antenna system of claim 1 further comprising a respective element controller for controlling each of said phased array antenna elements.

11. A phased array antenna system comprising:

a substrate and a plurality of phased array antenna elements carried thereby;

a plurality of subarray controllers for controlling respective groups of phased array antenna elements;

a host processor for generating host commands;

a central controller connected to said host processor for generating priority beam control commands and non-priority beam control commands for said subarray controllers based upon the host commands; and

a communications bus connecting said subarray controllers to said central controller;

said central controller sending the priority beam control commands to said subarray controllers via said communications bus on a substantially real time basis with time gaps therebetween, and sending the non-priority beam control commands to said subarray controllers via said communications bus during the time gaps.

12. The phased array antenna system of claim 11 wherein said central controller comprises:

a priority first-in, first-out (FIFO) device for storing and outputting the priority beam control commands;

a non-priority FIFO device for storing and outputting the non-priority beam control commands; and

an arbiter for selectively connecting the outputs of said priority FIFO device and said non-priority FIFO device to said communications bus.

13. The phased array antenna system of claim 12 wherein said subarray controllers collect telemetry data for respective groups of phased array antenna elements and send the telemetry data to said central controller via said communications bus;

wherein said central controller further comprises a telemetry FIFO device connected to said arbiter; and

wherein said arbiter further selectively connects the telemetry FIFO device to said communications bus during the time gaps for storing the telemetry data.

14. The phased array antenna system of claim 11 wherein the priority beam control commands comprise at least one of phase gradient commands, beam spoiling commands, and operating frequency commands.

15. The phased array antenna system of claim 11 wherein the non-priority beam control commands comprise at least one of temperature compensation commands and telemetry request commands.

16. The phased array antenna system of claim 11 wherein the priority beam control commands are the same for all of the subarray controllers, and wherein the non-priority beam control commands are also the same for all of the subarray controllers.

17. The phased array antenna system of claim 16 wherein each subarray controller converts the priority and non-priority beam control commands into commands for respective phased array antenna elements connected thereto.

18. The phased array antenna system of claim 11 further comprising a respective element controller for controlling each of said phased array antenna elements.

19. A central controller for a phased array antenna system comprising:

a processor for generating priority beam control commands and non-priority beam control commands; and

a bus interface for outputting the priority beam control commands to a communications bus on a higher time priority basis than the non-priority beam control commands.

20. The central controller of claim 19 wherein the priority beam control commands are output on a substantially real time basis with time gaps therebetween, and wherein the non-priority beam control commands are sent during the time gaps.

21. The central controller of claim 19 wherein said bus interface comprises:

a priority first-in, first-out (FIFO) device connected to said processor for storing and outputting the priority beam control commands;

a non-priority FIFO device connected to said processor for storing and outputting the non-priority beam control commands; and

an arbiter for selectively connecting the outputs of said priority FIFO device and said non-priority FIFO device to the communications bus.

22. The central controller of claim 21 wherein said bus interface further comprises a telemetry FIFO device connected to said arbiter, and wherein said arbiter further selectively connects the telemetry FIFO device to the communications bus for receiving and storing telemetry data on a lower time priority basis than the priority beam control commands.

23. The central controller of claim 19 wherein said processor generates the priority beam control commands based upon host commands.

24. The central controller of claim 19 wherein the priority beam control commands comprise at least one of phase gradient commands, beam spoiling commands, and operating frequency commands.

25. The central controller of claim 19 wherein the non-priority beam control commands comprise at least one of temperature compensation commands and telemetry request commands.

26. A method for providing beam control commands to a plurality of subarray controllers in a phased array antenna system, the method comprising:

generating priority beam control commands and non-priority beam control commands for the subarray controllers; and

sending the priority beam control commands to the subarray controllers on a higher time priority basis than the non-priority beam control commands.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein sending the priority beam control commands comprises sending the priority beam control commands on a substantially real time basis with time gaps therebetween, and wherein sending the non-priority beam control commands comprises sending the non-priority beam control commands during the time gaps.

28. The method of claim 26 wherein the priority beam control commands comprise at least one of phase gradient commands, beam spoiling commands, and operating frequency commands.

29. The method of claim 26 wherein the non-priority beam control commands comprise at least one of temperature compensation commands and telemetry request commands.

30. The method of claim 26 wherein the priority beam control commands are the same for all of the subarray controllers.

31. The method of claim 26 wherein the non-priority beam control commands are the same for all of the subarray controllers.

32. The method of claim 26 wherein generating the priority beam control commands comprises generating the priority beam control commands based upon host commands.