Shared phased array beamformer

• US 7,369,085 B1
• Filed: 01/09/2007
• Issued: 05/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Jacomb-Hood, Anthony W.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, DAO LINDA
• Application Number:
  US11/651,028
• Time in Patent Office: 483 Days
• Field of Search: 342/368, 342/372, 342/374, 455/277.1
• US Class Current: 342/374
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/24 varying the orientation by switching energy from one active radiating element to another, e.g. for beam switching
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/36 with variable phase-shifters
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/40 with phasing matrix
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18515 Transmission equipment in satellites or space-based relays

Abstract

A shared beamformer flexibly allocates beams among phased array antenna apertures of a satellite (or other type of platform). By sharing the beamformer among the apertures, if one aperture is not providing useful coverage (due to orientation, traffic volume, signal frequency, signal polarization, etc.), the beams may be reallocated to one or more other apertures that are providing useful coverage. To share the beamformer among the phased array antenna apertures, a selector network (e.g., one or more switches) is used to select which particular apertures are to send or receive signals.

Claims

1. A phased array antenna system, comprising:

a first and second phased array antenna element, wherein each phased array antenna element is configured to transmit electromagnetic energy; and

a selector configured to provide an electromagnetic signal from a signal divider to the first phased array antenna element or the second phased array antenna element.

2. The phased array antenna system of claim 1, wherein the first and second phased array antenna elements are located on separate phased array antennas.

3. The phased array antenna system of claim 1, further comprising:

a phase shifter configured to adjust the phase of the electromagnetic signal provided to the selector from the signal divider.

4. The phased array system of claim 1, wherein the selector includes a switch.