Sparse trifilar array antenna

• US 7,466,287 B1
• Filed: 02/22/2006
• Issued: 12/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Lam, Lawrence K., Ngo, Albert T., Mahmoud, Mohamed S., Peloquin, Marc L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; HoangAnh T
• Application Number:
  US11/358,044
• Time in Patent Office: 1,028 Days
• Field of Search: 343/895, 343/893, 343/700.MS
• US Class Current: 343/895
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/061 Two dimensional planar arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/22 Antenna units of the array energised non-uniformly in amplitude or phase, e.g. tapered array or binomial array

Abstract

An array antenna is arranged in an innovative sparse trifilar configuration. The antenna elements forming the array antenna are arranged to form three non-linear arrays. The antenna elements are approximately aligned to a triangular lattice structure with the antenna elements of each non-linear array occupying adjacent lattice positions. The three non-linear arrays are separated from each other by vacant lattice positions, thereby making the configuration a sparse array.

Claims

1. A trifilar array antenna, comprising a plurality of antenna elements arranged in three non-linear arrays,

wherein the plurality of antenna elements are aligned to a lattice structure with the antenna elements of each non-linear array arranged in adjacent lattice positions, and

wherein the three non-linear arrays are separated by vacant lattice positions.

2. The trifilar array antenna according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of antenna elements comprises planar patch antennas.

3. The trifilar array antenna according to claim 1, wherein the lattice structure is a triangular lattice.

4. The trifilar array antenna according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement of the plurality of antenna elements has no reflection symmetry.

5. The trifilar array antenna according to claim 1, wherein the three non-linear arrays have a common pattern.

6. The trifilar array antenna according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement of the plurality of antenna elements has three-fold rotational symmetry.

7. An array antenna, comprising a plurality of the trifilar array antennas according to claim 1.

8. A composite array antenna comprising a plurality of the array antennas according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of array antennas are arranged in a configuration having symmetry different from that of each of the plurality of the individual array antennas.

9. An array antenna, comprising:

a first plurality of antenna elements arranged in a first group of three non-linear arrays; and

a second plurality of antenna elements arranged in a second group of three-non-linear arrays,

wherein the first and second pluralities of antenna elements are aligned to a lattice structure with the antenna elements of each non-linear array arranged in adjacent lattice positions, and

wherein the antenna elements of the first group of non-linear arrays occupy lattice positions between the antenna elements of the second group of non-linear arrays.

10. The array antenna according to claim 9, wherein the first and second pluralities of antenna elements comprise planar patch antennas.

11. The array antenna according to claim 9, wherein the first plurality of antenna elements comprises antenna elements of a first type, and the second plurality of antenna elements comprises antenna elements of a second type different from the first type.

12. The array antenna according to claim 11, wherein the first plurality of antenna elements operates at a first frequency and the second plurality of antenna elements operates at a second frequency different from the first frequency.

13. The array antenna according to claim 9, wherein one of the first and second pluralities of antenna elements is configurable to transmit a first signal while the other one of the first and second pluralities is configurable to transmit a second signal.

14. The array antenna according to claim 9, wherein the first plurality of antenna elements is configured to transmit a first signal in a first direction and the second plurality of antenna elements is configured to transmit a second signal in a second direction.

15. The array antenna according to claim 9, wherein one of the pluralities of antenna elements is configurable to transmit a first signal and the other one of the pluralities of antenna elements is configurable to receive a second signal.

16. The array antenna according to claim 9, wherein the lattice structure is a triangular lattice.

17. The array antenna according to claim 9, wherein the arrangement of the first and second pluralities of antenna elements has no reflection symmetry.

18. The array antenna according to claim 9, wherein the three non-linear arrays of the first group and the three non-linear arrays of the second group have a common pattern.

19. The array antenna according to claim 9, wherein the arrangement of the first and second pluralities of antenna elements has three-fold rotational symmetry.

20. The array antenna according to claim 9, wherein the first and second pluralities of antenna elements are each configured using parameters stored in independent look-up tables.

21. An array antenna, comprising a plurality of the array antennas according to claim 9.

22. A composite array antenna, comprising a plurality of the array antennas according to claim 21, wherein the plurality of array antennas are arranged in a configuration having a symmetry different from that of each of the plurality of the individual array antennas.

23. The composite array antenna according to claim 22, wherein the individual array antennas have a three-fold rotational symmetry and the composite array antenna has a four-fold rotational symmetry.