Phased array antenna having efficient compensation data distribution and related methods

• US 6,522,293 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2001
• Issued: 02/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Harris Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, 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:
  US09/990,692
• Publication Number:
  US 20020105463A1
• Time in Patent Office: 466 Days
• Field of Search: 342/372, 342/157, 342/158
• US Class Current: 342/372
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/02 Arrangements for de-icing; Arrangements for drying-out ; Arrangements for cooling; Arrangements for preventing corrosion
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/246 specially adapted for base stations
• 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 21/062 using dipole aerials; H01Q21/067, H01Q21/068 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/24 Combinations of antenna units polarised in different directions for transmitting or receiving circularly and elliptically polarised waves or waves linearly polarised in any direction circularly polarised patch antennas H01Q9/0428; circularly polarised horns H01Q13/0241; cross-polarised horns H01Q13/0258; polarisation converters H01Q15/242; cross-polarised rear feeds H01Q19/136; crossed polarisation dual antenna H01Q25/001
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/04 using two or more spaced independent antennas

Abstract

A phased array antenna may include a substrate and at least one phased array antenna element carried thereby, at least one element controller for controlling the at least one phased array antenna element based upon desired compensation data, and a central controller for supplying to the at least one element controller a current value of a quick control parameter and a block of current compensation data. The block of current compensation data may be based upon a current value of a slow control parameter and a range of possible values for the quick control parameter. Further, the quick control parameter may vary more quickly than the slow control parameter. Additionally, the at least one element controller may determine the desired compensation data based upon the supplied block of current compensation data and the current value of the quick control parameter.

Claims

1. A phased array antenna comprising:

a substrate and at least one phased array antenna element carried thereby;

at least one element controller for controlling said at least one phased array antenna element based upon desired compensation data; and

a central controller for supplying to said at least one element controller a current value of a quick control parameter and a block of current compensation data, the block of current compensation data based upon a current value of a slow control parameter and a range of possible values for the quick control parameter, the quick control parameter varying more quickly than the slow control parameter;

said at least one element controller determining the desired compensation data based upon the supplied block of current compensation data and the current value of the quick control parameter.

2. The phased array antenna of claim 1 wherein said central controller supplies the block of current compensation data to said at least one element controller based upon a change of the current value of the slow control parameter.

3. The phased array antenna of claim 2 wherein said central controller supplies the block of current compensation data to said at least one element controller within a predetermined time of the change in the current value of the slow control parameter.

4. The phased array antenna of claim 1 wherein said central controller supplies the current value of the quick control parameter to said at least one element controller based upon a change in the quick control parameter.

5. The phased array antenna of claim 4 wherein said central controller supplies the current value of the quick control parameter to said at least one element controller within a predetermined time of the change in the quick control parameter.

6. The phased array antenna of claim 1 wherein said central controller supplies the current value of the quick control parameter to said at least one element controller on a periodic basis.

7. The phased array antenna of claim 1 wherein the quick control parameter comprises operating frequency.

8. The phased array antenna of claim 7 wherein the slow control parameter comprises temperature.

9. The phased array antenna of claim 7 wherein the slow control parameter comprises beam shape.

10. The phased array antenna of claim 1 wherein the quick control parameter comprises phase.

11. The phased array antenna of claim 10 wherein the slow control parameter comprises temperature.

12. The phased array antenna of claim 10 wherein the slow control parameter comprises beam shape.

13. The phased array antenna of claim 1 wherein the quick control parameter comprises attenuation.

14. The phased array antenna of claim 13 wherein the slow control parameter comprises temperature.

15. The phased array antenna of claim 1 wherein said at least one element controller comprises a memory for storing the block of current compensation data.

16. The phased array antenna of claim 15 wherein said central controller generates beam control commands;

and wherein said at least one element controller further comprises a processor for cooperating with said memory for controlling said at least one phased array antenna element based upon the beam control commands and the desired compensation data.

17. A phased array antenna comprising:

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

a respective element controller for controlling each of said phased array antenna elements based upon desired compensation data; and

a central controller for supplying to each of said element controllers a current value of a quick control parameter and a block of current compensation data, the block of current compensation data based upon a current value of a slow control parameter and a range of possible values for the quick control parameter, the quick control parameter varying more quickly than the slow control parameter;

each element controller determining the desired compensation data based upon the supplied block of current compensation data and the current value of the quick control parameter;

said central controller supplying the block of current compensation data to each element controller based upon a change of the current value of the slow control parameter.

18. The phased array antenna of claim 17 wherein said central controller supplies the block of current compensation data to each element controller within a predetermined time of the change in the current value of the slow control parameter.

19. The phased array antenna of claim 17 wherein said central controller supplies the current value of the quick control parameter to each element controller based upon a change in the quick control parameter.

20. The phased array antenna of claim 19 wherein said central controller supplies the current value of the quick control parameter to each element controller within a predetermined time of the change in the quick control parameter.

21. The phased array antenna of claim 17 wherein said central controller supplies the current value of the quick control parameter to each element controller on a periodic basis.

22. The phased array antenna of claim 17 wherein the quick control parameter comprises at least one of operating frequency, phase, and attenuation.

23. The phased array antenna of claim 17 wherein the slow control parameter comprises at least one of temperature and beam shape.

24. The phased array antenna of claim 17 wherein each element controller comprises a memory for storing the block of current compensation data.

25. The phased array antenna of claim 24 wherein said central controller further generates beam control commands;

and wherein each element controller further comprises a processor for cooperating with said memory for controlling a respective phased array antenna element based upon the beam control commands and the desired compensation data.

26. A method for using an element controller in a phased array antenna comprising:

supplying to the element controller a current value of a quick control parameter and a block of current compensation data, the block of current compensation data based upon a current value of a slow control parameter and a range of possible values for the quick control parameter, the quick control parameter varying more quickly than the slow control parameter; and

at the element controller, determining desired compensation data based upon the supplied block of current compensation data and the current value of the quick control parameter.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein supplying the block of current compensation data to the element controller comprises supplying the block of current compensation data to the element controller based upon a change of the current value of the slow control parameter.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein supplying the block of current compensation data to the element controller comprises supplying the block of current compensation data to the element controller within a predetermined time of the change in the current value of the slow control parameter.

29. The method of claim 26 wherein supplying the current value of the quick control parameter to the element controller comprises supplying the current value of the quick control parameter to the element controller based upon a change in the quick control parameter.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein supplying the current value of the quick control parameter to the element controller comprises supplying the current value of the quick control parameter to the element controller within a predetermined time of the change in the quick control parameter.

31. The method of claim 26 wherein supplying the current value of the quick control parameter to the element controller comprises supplying the current value of the quick control parameter to the element controller on a periodic basis.

32. The method of claim 26 wherein the quick control parameter comprises at least one of operating frequency, phase, and attenuation.

33. The method of claim 26 wherein the slow control parameter comprises at least one of temperature and beam shape.