Tracking system with orthogonal polarizations and a retro-directive array
First Claim
1. A method for operating a retro-directive array, comprising:
- receiving a first input signal at a first antenna in the retro-directive array, wherein the first input signal is substantially circularly polarized, the first input signal comprising two signal components associated with different orthogonal polarizations, and wherein the two signal components comprise a first quadrature signal;
feeding the two signal components through a bi-directional quadrature gain (BQG) module, the BQG module to boost the first quadrature signal; and
transmitting the boosted first quadrature signal through an associated second antenna in the retro-directive array.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The disclosed embodiments relate to a retro-directive array that facilitates a tracking operation. This retro-directive array includes a first antenna configured to receive an input signal which is substantially circularly polarized from a tracking device. The first antenna separates the input signal into two signal components (e.g., Ex and Ey) associated with different orthogonal polarizations, wherein the two signal components comprise a quadrature signal wherein Ey=j·Ex. The retro-directive array also includes a bi-directional quadrature gain (BQG) module coupled to the first antenna which is configured to boost the quadrature signal. It additionally includes a second antenna which configured to transmit the boosted quadrature signal to the tracking device. The disclosed embodiments also relate to a transceiver switch, which includes: an input configured to receive a signal to be transmitted, and two phase mixers configured to receive the signal to be transmitted and phase inputs I and Q, and to produce a signal comprising two quadrature signal components SI and SQ, respectively, wherein SQ=j SI. The transmit switch also includes a hybrid coupler, which is configured to combine SI phase shifted by 180° with SQ phase shifted by 90° to produce a transmit output which is proportionate to S; and a switching mechanism configured to turn off the transmit output by swapping the phase inputs I and Q to the phase mixers.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for operating a retro-directive array, comprising:
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receiving a first input signal at a first antenna in the retro-directive array, wherein the first input signal is substantially circularly polarized, the first input signal comprising two signal components associated with different orthogonal polarizations, and wherein the two signal components comprise a first quadrature signal; feeding the two signal components through a bi-directional quadrature gain (BQG) module, the BQG module to boost the first quadrature signal; and transmitting the boosted first quadrature signal through an associated second antenna in the retro-directive array. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus which includes a retro-directive array, wherein the retro-directive array comprises:
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a first antenna to receive a first input signal which is substantially circularly polarized from a tracking device, the first input signal comprising two signal components associated with different orthogonal polarizations, and wherein the two signal components comprise a first quadrature signal; a bi-directional quadrature gain (BQG) module coupled to the first antenna and configured to boost the first quadrature signal; and a second antenna configured to transmit the boosted first quadrature signal to the tracking device. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 20)
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15. A method for implementing a transmit switch, comprising:
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feeding a signal to be transmitted through two phase mixers with phase inputs I and Q to produce a quadrature signal comprising SQ and SI; combining SQ phased shifted by 90°
with SI phase shifted by 180°
to produce a transmit output; andturning off the transmit output by, swapping the phase inputs I and Q at the two phase mixers, and combining SQ phase shifted by 180°
with SI phase shifted by 90°
to produce a null transmit output. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification