Impulse radar antenna array and method
First Claim
1. An impulse radar antenna comprising:
- (a) an antenna control system;
(b) a substantially planar ground element having a first surface and a second surface; and
(c) a plurality of antenna elements coupled with said antenna control system;
a first set of antenna elements of said plurality of antenna elements being electrically coupled with said first surface in a first array;
a second set of antenna elements of said plurality of antenna elements being electrically coupled with said first surface in a second array;
each respective antenna element of said plurality of antenna elements being configured for handling ultra wideband electromagnetic signals;
said first array and said second array being substantially symmetrically arranged on opposing sides of an axis in said first surface;
each respective antenna element of said first set having a most proximate antenna element of said second set;
said antenna control system controlling driven pairs of antenna elements of said plurality of antenna elements in a plurality of driving modes;
each driven pair of said antenna elements comprising a first pair member selected from said first set and a second pair member selected from said second set;
in a first driving mode of said plurality of driving modes said second pair member is said most proximate antenna element of said first pair member;
in other said driving modes of than said first driving mode said second pair member is more distal from said first pair member than said most proximate antenna element of said first pair member.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An antenna array comprising a ground plane and a plurality of elements mounted thereon, said elements being capable of emitting and receiving ultra wideband emissions. Elements are arrayed on the ground plane in two parallel rows, a transmitting row, and a receiving row, such that a given element in the receiving row is aligned in at least one direction with a corresponding element in the transmitting row. Additionally, the elements are configured on the ground plane to elicit a symmetrical product response in the azimuthal plane, and to produce horizontally polarized signals. An alternative embodiment places the elements with unique inter-element spacing within the rows. An embodiment comprises a fence structure between rows. A method for use comprises the step of transmitting a signal via an element in the transmitting row and receiving said signal through an element in the receiving row, not aligned with the transmitting element.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. An impulse radar antenna comprising:
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(a) an antenna control system;
(b) a substantially planar ground element having a first surface and a second surface; and
(c) a plurality of antenna elements coupled with said antenna control system;
a first set of antenna elements of said plurality of antenna elements being electrically coupled with said first surface in a first array;
a second set of antenna elements of said plurality of antenna elements being electrically coupled with said first surface in a second array;
each respective antenna element of said plurality of antenna elements being configured for handling ultra wideband electromagnetic signals;
said first array and said second array being substantially symmetrically arranged on opposing sides of an axis in said first surface;
each respective antenna element of said first set having a most proximate antenna element of said second set;
said antenna control system controlling driven pairs of antenna elements of said plurality of antenna elements in a plurality of driving modes;
each driven pair of said antenna elements comprising a first pair member selected from said first set and a second pair member selected from said second set;
in a first driving mode of said plurality of driving modes said second pair member is said most proximate antenna element of said first pair member;
in other said driving modes of than said first driving mode said second pair member is more distal from said first pair member than said most proximate antenna element of said first pair member.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for operating an impulse radar antenna, said antenna including an antenna control system;
- a substantially planar ground element having a first surface and a second surface; and
a plurality of antenna elements coupled with said antenna control system;
a first set of antenna elements of said plurality of antenna elements being electrically coupled with said first surface in a first array;
a second set of antenna elements of said plurality of antenna elements being electrically coupled with said first surface in a second array;
each respective antenna element of said plurality of antenna elements being configured for handling ultra wideband electromagnetic signals;
said first array and said second array being substantially symmetrically arranged on opposing sides of an axis in said first surface;
each respective antenna element of said first set having a most proximate antenna element of said second set; and
an antenna control system to control driven pairs of antenna elements of said plurality of antenna elements in a plurality of driving modes;
each driven pair of said antenna elements comprising a first pair member selected from said first set and a second pair member selected from said second set;
the method comprising the steps of;(a) selecting a particular driving mode from said plurality of driving modes;
(b) when said particular driving mode is a first driving mode of said plurality of driving modes, driving each said second pair member as said most proximate antenna element of each said first pair member; and
(c) when said particular driving mode is another driving mode than said first driving mode, driving each said second pair member as more distal antenna element of said second set of antenna elements than said most proximate antenna element of each said first pair member. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
- a substantially planar ground element having a first surface and a second surface; and
- 25. A method for operating an impulse radar antenna as recited in wherein the antenna further comprises a fence structure depending substantially perpendicularly from said first surface between said first set of antenna elements and said second set of antenna elements.
Specification