Antenna transceiver system

• US 7,545,322 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2005
• Issued: 06/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Chang, Ike Y., Newberg, Irwin L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza; Thomas H
• Assistant Examiner(s): LIU, HARRY K
• Application Number:
  US11/230,376
• Publication Number:
  US 20080030404A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,358 Days
• Field of Search: 342/372, 342/370
• US Class Current: 342/372
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/276 for mounting on helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/28 Adaptation for use in or on aircraft, missiles, satellites, or balloons
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/32 Adaptation for use in or on road or rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/0025 Modular arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/0087 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing antenna arrays manufacturing waveguides H01P11/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/2647 Retrodirective arrays

Abstract

Provided is an antenna transceiver system for transmitting and receiving voice, digital data, radar and IR signals, and for processing received signals for use by an operator. The system includes an antenna array having a plurality of radiating elements, each element connected to a transmit/receive (“T/R”) module. Each T/R module includes phase shifters, as well as a phase conjugation module for transmitting a return signal to a location along a beam path of an incoming signal. Transmission of the return signal does not require knowledge of the location of either the signal source or the antenna transceiver system. The antenna transceiver system is disposed on a plurality of vertically aligned planes integrated into a compact unit. The units can be embedded in headgear of a user, allowing for hands-free operation of the system. Alternatively, the antenna transceiver system can be integrated into a vehicle, man-transportable backpack, or other designated platforms.

Claims

1. An antenna transceiver system comprising:

a plurality of transmit/receive modules for transmitting and receiving signals, each transmit/receive module comprising a phase conjugation module; and

an antenna array comprising a plurality of radiating elements,

wherein the transmit/receive modules and antenna array are components integrated as structural elements of a platform, the platform comprising a plurality of planes aligned vertically relative to an outer surface of the platform, wherein the transmit/receive modules are disposed on a first plane of the plurality of planes and the antenna array is disposed on a second plane of the plurality of planes.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a power supply;

a signal processor;

and a data processor/controller.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the power supply, signal processor and data processor/controller are formed as integral components of the structure of the platform.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the frequencies of transmitted and received signals are in the range of 1-100 GHz.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the frequencies of transmitted and received signals are in the range of 300-3000 GHz.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising an infrared (IR) receiver array for detecting IR signals, wherein the IR receiver array is formed as an integral component of the structure of the platform.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a global positioning system receptor for transmitting and receiving geo-location data.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising extender arms for increasing the size of the antenna array.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising a cold plate for cooling the antenna array and transmit/receive modules.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the antenna array is an electronically scanned array including a plurality of phase shifters for electronically steering transmitted and received RF signals.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein each phase conjugation module of the plurality of transmit/receive modules comprises:

a RF mixer;

a first switch;

a second switch; and

a filter

wherein the RF mixer, first switch, second switch and filter are used to generate a transmitted signal having a wavefront identical to a wavefront of a received signal, and further wherein the transmitted signal travels along a beam path of the received signal to a source of the received signal.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein a location of the source of the received signal and a location of the antenna transceiver system are unknown.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the receive signal is coded to prevent the generation of a transmitted signal.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of radiating elements are arrayed in a multi-layer dielectric film.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein at least one logic chip is positioned on the dielectric film, and further wherein RF, direct current and input/output connectors for interconnecting the radiating elements and the logic chip are embedded in the dielectric film.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the connectors are selected from a group consisting of metal traces or fiber optic interconnects.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the platform is a headgear.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising a heads-up display for visually displaying data received by the system.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the platform is a vehicle.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the multi-layer dielectric film is flexible.