Rolling radar array with a track

• US 6,882,321 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2002
• Issued: 04/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Tietjen, Byron W.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHEN, SHIH CHAO
• Application Number:
  US10/334,434
• Publication Number:
  US 20040004575A1
• Time in Patent Office: 840 Days
• Field of Search: 343/757, 343/758, 343/761, 343/765, 343/766, 343/878, 343/882, 343/893
• US Class Current: 343/757
• 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 3/08 for varying two co-ordinates of the orientation
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0464 Annular ring patch
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/36 with top loading

Abstract

A radar antenna system comprises a wheel, cone or frustum having an axis. The wheel, cone or frustum has a circumferential portion adapted to engage at least one path disposed on a platform for revolving the radar array about the platform. A radar array is mounted on the wheel, cone or frustum, with the axis normal to a face of the radar array. The wheel, cone or frustum rotates about the platform as the radar array revolves around the platform during operation.

Claims

1. A radar antenna system, comprising:

a radar array mounted on a first wheel, the first wheel having a circumferential portion shaped to engage a track for revolving the radar array about the track, the first radar array having an axis normal to the first radar array,

wherein the first wheel rotates about the axis as the radar array revolves around the track during operation.

2. A radar antenna system, comprising:

a radar array mounted on a first wheel, the first wheel having a circumferential portion shaped to engage a track for revolving the radar array about the track, the first wheel having an axis normal to the first radar array, wherein the first wheel rotates about the axis as the radar array revolves around the track during operation, and wherein the first wheel has a first wheel size, the system further comprising a second wheel engaging a second track, the first and second wheels coupled to an axle through which the axis extends, the second wheel having a second wheel size smaller than the first wheel size, so that the radar array is tilted between being vertical and horizontal.

3. The radar antenna system of claim 2, wherein the first and second tracks are concentric circles, so that at least the radar array is tilted at a constant angle as it rotates around the axis.

4. The radar antenna system of claim 2, wherein the first and second tracks are conductive.

5. The radar antenna system of claim 4, wherein power and a ground are provided to the radar array through the first track and first wheel and through the second track and second wheel.

6. The radar antenna system of claim 2, further comprising a drive train contained within the first wheel and the axle that causes the first wheel to revolve around the first track.

7. A radar system, comprising:

a first track and a second track concentric with the first track;

a first wheel having a radar array mounted thereon, the first wheel having a circumferential portion shaped to engage the first track for revolving the radar array about the first track, the first radar array having an axle normal to the first radar array; and

a second wheel coupled to an axle, the second wheel having a second wheel size smaller than the first wheel size, the second wheel revolving around the second track while the first wheel revolves around the first track during operation.

8. The radar system of claim 7, wherein the first and second tracks are separable from each other and separately transportable.

9. The radar system of claim 8, further comprising means for leveling the first track and the second track.

10. The radar antenna system of claim 8, wherein the first and second tracks are concentric circles, so that at least the radar array is tilted at a constant angle as it rotates around the axle.

11. The radar system of claim 8, further comprising means for supplying power and ground to the first and second tracks.

12. The radar system of claim 8, wherein the first and second tracks are connected by a plurality of frame members.

13. The radar system of claim 8, wherein at least one of the first and second tracks comprises a plurality of arcs that are joined together to form a circular track.

14. A radar antenna system, comprising:

a first radar array mounted on a first wheel, the first wheel having a circumferential portion adapted to engage a track for revolving the radar array about the track, the first radar array having a first axis normal to the first radar array; and

a second radar array mounted on a second wheel, the second wheel having a circumferential portion adapted to engage the track for revolving the second radar array about the track, the second radar array having a second axis normal to the second radar array;

wherein the first wheel rotates about the first axis as the first radar array revolves around the track, and the second wheel rotates about the second axis as the second radar array revolves around the track during operation.

15. The radar antenna system of claim 14, wherein the first radar array and second radar arrays have respectively different frequency bands.

16. The radar antenna system of claim 14, wherein the first wheel has a first wheel size, the system further comprising a third wheel coupled to a first axle through which the first axis extends, the third wheel having a third wheel size different from the first wheel size.

17. The radar antenna system of claim 16, wherein the third wheel size is smaller than the first wheel size, and the third wheel engages a second track, so that the first radar array is tilted between being vertical and horizontal.

18. The radar antenna system of claim 17, wherein the first and second tracks are conductive.

19. The radar antenna system of claim 17, wherein the first and second tracks are concentric circles, so that at least the first radar array is tilted at a constant angle as it rotates around the first axis.

20. The radar antenna system of claim 18, wherein power and a ground are provided to the first radar array through the first track and first wheel and through the second track and second wheel, and power and a ground are provided to the second radar array through the first track and second wheel and through the second track and a fourth wheel coupled to the second wheel.

21. The radar antenna system of claim 14, further comprising a first drive train that causes the first wheel to revolve around the first track, and a second drive train that causes the second wheel to revolve around the first track, the first and second drive trains being independently controlled from each other.

22. A radar antenna system, comprising:

a first wheel, cone or frustum having a first axis, the wheel, cone or frustum having a circumferential portion adapted to engage a first track for revolving the first radar array about the first track; and

a first radar array mounted on the first wheel, cone or frustum, with the first axis normal to a face of the first radar array,

a second wheel, cone or frustum having a second axis, the second wheel, cone or frustum having a circumferential portion adapted to engage either the first track or a second track for revolving the second radar array about the first track or second track; and

a second radar array mounted on the second wheel, cone or frustum, with the second axis normal to a face of the second radar array,

wherein the first wheel, cone or frustum rotates about the first axis as the first radar array revolves around the first track during operation, and the second wheel, cone or frustum rotates about the second axis as the second radar array revolves around the first or second track during operation.

23. The radar antenna system of claim 22, wherein the first and second radar arrays have respectively different frequency bands.

24. A method for operating a radar system comprising the steps of:

(a) revolving a radar array around a first track, the first radar array having a front face;

(b) rotating the radar array about an axis normal to the front face as the radar array revolves.

33. The method of claim 24, further comprising assembling the first track from a plurality of arc-shaped track sections before step (a).

25. A method for operating a radar system comprising the steps of:

(a) revolving a radar array around a first portable track, the first radar array having a front face;

(b) rotating the radar array about an axis normal to the front face as the radar array revolves;

(c) laying the first portable track on at least one support surface, before step (a).

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising leveling the support surface before the laying step.

27. The method of claim 25, further comprising laying at least one support on the ground before laying the first portable track.

28. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

laying a second portable track on the first support surface or a second support surface before step (a), so that the second portable track is concentric with the first portable track; and

revolving a wheel around the second track while the radar revolves around the first track, the wheel being coupled to the radar array by an axle.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the first and second tracks are first and second conductive tracks, respectively.

30. The method of claim 28, further comprising providing power and ground to the radar array by way of the first and second portable tracks.

31. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

transporting the track and the radar array to a new location after step (b); and

then

repeating steps (c), (a) and (b) at the new location.

32. The method of claim 28, further comprising connecting the first and second tracks using a plurality of frame members.

34. A method for operating a radar system comprising the steps of:

revolving a first radar array around a track, the first radar array having a first front face;

rotating the first radar array about a first axis normal to the first front face as the first radar array revolves,

revolving a second radar array around the same track, the second radar array having a second front face; and

rotating the second radar array about a second axis normal to the second front face as the second radar array revolves.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising transmitting radar signals from the first and second radar arrays using respectively different frequency bands.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein the first and second radar arrays are mounted on first and second wheels, respectively, the method further comprising revolving third and fourth wheels around a second track concentric with the first track, the third and fourth wheels being mechanically coupled to the first and second wheels, respectively.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising providing power and ground to the first and second radar arrays by way of the first and second tracks.

38. A method for operating a radar system comprising the steps of:

revolving a first wheel, cone or frustum housing a first radar array around a first track, the first radar array having a first front face;

rotating the first wheel, cone or frustum about a first axis normal to the first front face, so the first wheel, cone or frustum rotates as the first wheel, cone or frustum revolves,

revolving a second wheel, cone or frustum housing a second radar array around the first track or a second track, the first radar array having a first front face; and

rotating the second wheel, cone or frustum about a second axis normal to the second front face, so the second wheel, cone or frustum rotates as the second wheel, cone or frustum revolves.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising transmitting radar signals from the first and second radar arrays using respectively different frequency bands.