Optimized two panel AESA for aircraft applications

• US 9,091,745 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2012
• Issued: 07/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Woodell, Daniel L., West, James B., Paulsen, Lee M., Buckley, Michael J., Herting, Brian J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brainard, Timothy A
• Application Number:
  US13/400,387
• Publication Number:
  US 20130214972A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,254 Days
• Field of Search: 342/372
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/0245 Radar with phased array antenna
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/0272 Multifunction radar
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/023 Interference mitigation, e.g. reducing or avoiding non-intentional interference with other HF-transmitters, base station transmitters for mobile communication or other radar systems, e.g. using electro-magnetic interference [EMI] reduction techniques auxiliary means for detecting or identifying radar signals or the like G01S7/021; means for anti-jamming G01S7/36
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/0235 Avoidance by time multiplex
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/281 Nose antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/061 Two dimensional planar arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/00 Antennas or antenna systems providing at least two radiating patterns arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern H01Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/24 varying the orientation by switching energy from one active radiating element to another, e.g. for beam switching

Abstract

A two panel radar system is disclosed. The radar system may include a pair of AESA panels respectively positioned on either side of a central axis, wherein a pointing direction of the first AESA panel is offset by a predetermined angle in a clockwise direction with respect to the central axis and a pointing direction of the second AESA panel is offset by the predetermined angle in a counterclockwise direction with respect to the central axis. A controller may be configured for selectively activating at least one of: the first AESA panel for providing a first coverage area in a first direction offset from the central axis, the second AESA panel for providing a second coverage area in a second direction offset from the central axis, or the pair of AESA panels jointly for providing a third coverage area between the first coverage area and the second coverage area.

Claims

1. A radar system for an aircraft, the radar system comprising:

a pair of Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) panels disposed in a nosecone radome of the aircraft, the pair of AESA panels respectively positioned on two opposing lateral sides of a longitudinal axis of the aircraft, wherein a pointing direction of the first AESA panel is offset by a predetermined angle in a clockwise direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft and a pointing direction of the second AESA panel is offset by the predetermined angle in a counterclockwise direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft;

a controller in communication with each of the pair of AESA panels, the controller configured for selectively switching between;

the first AESA panel individually for providing a first coverage area in a first direction offset from the longitudinal axis of the aircraft,

the second AESA panel individually for providing a second coverage area in a second direction offset from the longitudinal axis of the aircraft, and

the pair of AESA panels jointly for providing a third coverage area between the first coverage area and the second coverage area.

2. The radar system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined angle ranges between 30°

and 60°

.

3. The radar system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured for activating the pair of AESA panels jointly for providing a coverage area within plus/minus the predetermined angle along the longitudinal axis of the aircraft.

4. The radar system of claim 3, wherein the predetermined angle is 35°

, and the controller is configured for selectively activating at least one of;

the first AESA panel individually for providing a coverage area between −

45° and

−

60°

away from the longitudinal axis of the aircraft;

the second AESA panel individually for providing a coverage area between 45° and

60°

away from the longitudinal axis of the aircraft; and

the pair of AESA panels jointly for providing a coverage area within ±

45°

along the longitudinal axis of the aircraft.

5. The radar system of claim 3, wherein the predetermined angle is 45°

, and the controller is configured for selectively activating at least one of;

the first AESA panel individually for providing a coverage area between −

45° and

−

90°

away from the longitudinal axis of the aircraft;

the second AESA panel individually for providing a coverage area between 45° and

90°

away from the longitudinal axis of the aircraft; and

the pair of AESA panels jointly for providing a coverage area within ±

45°

along the longitudinal axis of the aircraft.

6. The radar system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured for activating both the first and the second AESA panels, wherein the first and the second AESA panels operate simultaneously and independently for providing the first and the second converge areas, respectively, and wherein transmitter pulses of the first and the second AESA panels are synchronized to mitigate potential interferences between the first and the second AESA panels.

7. The radar system of claim 1, wherein the AESA panels are implemented utilizing low off-axis loss radiating elements.

8. A radar system, comprising:

a pair of Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) panels, the pair of AESA panels respectively positioned on two opposing sides of a central axis, wherein a pointing direction of the first AESA panel is offset by a predetermined angle in a clockwise direction with respect to the central axis and a pointing direction of the second AESA panel is offset by the predetermined angle in a counterclockwise direction with respect to the central axis;

a controller in communication with each of the pair of AESA panels, the controller configured for selectively switching between;

the first AESA panel individually for providing a first coverage area in a first direction offset from the central axis,

the second AESA panel individually for providing a second coverage area in a second direction offset from the central axis, and

the pair of AESA panels jointly for providing a third coverage area between the first coverage area and the second coverage area.

9. The radar system of claim 8, wherein the predetermined angle ranges between 30°

and 60°

.

10. The radar system of claim 8, wherein the controller is configured for activating the pair of AESA panels jointly for providing a coverage area within plus/minus the predetermined angle along the central axis.

11. The radar system of claim 10, wherein the predetermined angle is 35°

, and the controller is configured for selectively activating at least one of;

the first AESA panel individually for providing a coverage area between −

45° and

−

60°

away from the central axis;

the second AESA panel individually for providing a coverage area between 45° and

60°

away from the central axis; and

the pair of AESA panels jointly for providing a coverage area within ±

45°

along the central axis.

12. The radar system of claim 10, wherein the predetermined angle is 45°

, and the controller is configured for selectively activating at least one of;

the first AESA panel individually for providing a coverage area between −

45° and

−

90°

away from the central axis;

the second AESA panel individually for providing a coverage area between 45° and

90°

away from the central axis; and

the pair of AESA panels jointly for providing a coverage area within ±

45°

along the central axis.

13. The radar system of claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured for activating both the first and the second AESA panels, wherein the first and the second AESA panels operate simultaneously and independently for providing the first and the second converge areas, respectively, and wherein transmitter pulses of the first and the second AESA panels are synchronized to mitigate potential interferences between the first and the second AESA panels.

14. The radar system of claim 8, wherein the AESA panels are implemented utilizing low off-axis loss radiating elements.

15. A method for providing wide azimuth coverage utilizing Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radars, the method comprising:

providing a first AESA panel on a first side of a central axis, wherein a pointing direction of the first AESA panel is offset by a predetermined angle in a clockwise direction with respect to the central axis;

providing a second AESA panel on a second side of the central axis, wherein a pointing direction of the second AESA panel is offset by the predetermined angle in a counterclockwise direction with respect to the central axis; and

switching between;

the first AESA panel for providing a first coverage area in a first direction offset from the central axis,

the second AESA panel for providing a second coverage area in a second direction offset from the central axis, and

the first AESA panel and the second AESA panel jointly for providing a third coverage area between the first coverage area and the second coverage area.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the predetermined angle ranges between 30°

and 60°

.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the first AESA panel and the second AESA panel are activated jointly for providing a coverage area within plus/minus the predetermined angle along the central axis.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the predetermined angle is 35°

, and the method further comprises;

activating the first AESA panel individually for providing a coverage area between −

45° and

−

60°

away from the central axis;

activating the second AESA panel individually for providing a coverage area between 45° and

60°

away from the central axis; and

activating the first AESA panel and the second AESA panel jointly for providing a coverage area within ±

45°

along the central axis.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the predetermined angle is 45°

, and the method further comprises;

activating the first AESA panel individually for providing a coverage area between −

45° and

−

90°

away from the central axis;

activating the second AESA panel individually for providing a coverage area between 45° and

90°

away from the central axis; and

activating the first AESA panel and the second AESA panel jointly for providing a coverage area within ±

45°

along the central axis.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the switching step further includes:

activating both first AESA panel and the second AESA panel, wherein the first and the second AESA panels operate simultaneously and independently for providing the first and the second converge areas, respectively, and wherein transmitter pulses of the first and the second AESA panels are synchronized to mitigate potential interferences between the first and the second AESA panels.