Application of VICTS subarrays in coherently-combined large array antenna structures
AssigneeThinKom Solutions, Inc.
InventorsWilliam W. Milroy, Edward T. Kaszubski
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Abstract
A variable inclination continuous transverse stub (VICTS) antenna system includes a support structure, a plurality of VICTS antenna elements attached to the support structure, and a controller operatively coupled to the plurality of VICTS antenna elements, the controller configured to coherently combine signals through each of the plurality of VICTS antenna elements.
Claims26
A variable inclination continuous transverse stub (VICTS) antenna system, comprising:
- a support structure;
- at least two VICTS antenna elements attached to the support structure, each VICTS antenna element of the at least two VICTS antenna elements comprising a first plate including a lattice of continuous radiating stubs and a second plate spaced apart from the first plate;
- and
- a controller operatively coupled to the at least two VICTS antenna elements, the controller configured to coherently combine signals received from each of the at least two VICTS antenna elements.
A variable inclination continuous transverse stub (VICTS) antenna system, comprising:
- a support structure;
- at least two VICTS antenna elements attached to the support structure;
- and
- a controller operatively coupled to the at least two VICTS antenna elements, the controller configured to coherently combine signals received from each of the at least two VICTS antenna elements,
- wherein the controller is configured to select a signal of interest from each signal received from the at least two VICTS antenna elements, and apply a phase shift and true time delay (TTD) to the each of the selected signal of interest,
- wherein the controller is configured to use an expected phase shift and an expected TTD based on an expected geometric configuration of the VICTS antenna system and on expected geometric characteristics of the selected received analog signal, and,
- wherein the controller is configured to i) optimize the expected phase shift for each selected received signal by obtaining a phase difference between a reference signal and each selected received signal, and ii) and optimize the expected TTD for each selected signal by cross-correlating each selected received signal to find a time shift that aligns the selected received signals.
A method for obtaining a radio frequency (RF) signal using a variable inclination continuous transverse stub (VICTS) antenna system that includes at least two VICTS antenna elements attached to a support structure, comprising:
- receiving an analog signal from each of the at least two VICTS antenna elements, each VICTS antenna element of the at least two VICTS antenna elements comprising a first plate including a lattice of continuous radiating stubs and a second plate spaced apart from the first plate;
- and
- coherently combining each of the received analog signals.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.