Frequency scanning antenna
First Claim
1. A frequency scanning antenna structure for a radar system, the antenna structure being capable of steering a radio frequency beam to a plurality of different angles about the antenna structure across a substantially contiguous angular region, the antenna structure comprising first and second travelling wave antennas and a controller for controlling input of radio frequency energy to the two travelling wave antennas and for controlling a frequency of the radio frequency energy,wherein the controller is arranged to:
- input the radio frequency energy to the first travelling wave antenna and to control the frequency of said radio frequency energy such that the antenna structure is capable of steering the beam across a first part of the angular region, andinput the radio frequency energy to the second travelling wave antenna and to control the frequency of said radio frequency energy such that the antenna structure is capable of steering the beam across a second part of the angular region, andinput the radio frequency energy to the first travelling wave antenna and to control the frequency of said radio frequency energy such that the antenna structure is capable of steering the beam across a third part of the angular region,wherein the first and second travelling wave antennas are disposed within the antenna structure such that, in use, the second part of the angular region is positioned between the first and third parts of the angular region.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the invention are concerned with frequency scanning antennas for transceiving radio frequency energy for use in detecting and monitoring ground-based targets.
In one arrangement the frequency scanning antenna is embodied as a structure that is capable of steering a radio frequency beam to a plurality of different angles about the antenna structure: the antenna structure comprises at least two array antennas and a controller for controlling input of energy to the two array antennas, and the array antennas are disposed within the antenna structure such that the antenna structure is capable of steering a beam to a first angle using one of said two array antennas and of steering a beam to a second angle, different to said first angle, using the other of said two array antennas.
Thus in embodiments of the invention two or more array antennas are arranged to form an antenna structure, and the feed to a respective antenna array of the antenna structure is coordinated so that individual scan areas can be combined to generate an increased overall scan region.
13 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A frequency scanning antenna structure for a radar system, the antenna structure being capable of steering a radio frequency beam to a plurality of different angles about the antenna structure across a substantially contiguous angular region, the antenna structure comprising first and second travelling wave antennas and a controller for controlling input of radio frequency energy to the two travelling wave antennas and for controlling a frequency of the radio frequency energy,
wherein the controller is arranged to: -
input the radio frequency energy to the first travelling wave antenna and to control the frequency of said radio frequency energy such that the antenna structure is capable of steering the beam across a first part of the angular region, and input the radio frequency energy to the second travelling wave antenna and to control the frequency of said radio frequency energy such that the antenna structure is capable of steering the beam across a second part of the angular region, and input the radio frequency energy to the first travelling wave antenna and to control the frequency of said radio frequency energy such that the antenna structure is capable of steering the beam across a third part of the angular region, wherein the first and second travelling wave antennas are disposed within the antenna structure such that, in use, the second part of the angular region is positioned between the first and third parts of the angular region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification