Antenna offset principal plane sidelobes for enhanced ground clutter suppression
AssigneeRockwell Collins, Inc.
InventorsJeffery A. Finley, James B. West
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electromechanically steered passive directional arrays and ESA antenna with the rectangular apertures' mathematically separable radiation pattern array lattice rotated to rotate the higher cardinal plane side lobes to ±45° relative to the vertical plane. Rotation minimizes clutter returns that mask weaker power returns and generates larger mean side lobe path loss. The higher sidelobe power levels are directed away from the critical area along the runway during approach. Individual array elements may be counter rotated to maintain desired antenna polarization state.
Claims20
An ESA antenna apparatus comprising a plurality of radiating element, wherein:
- the plurality of radiating elements are disposed in an array within a rectangular array lattice;
- the rectangular array is configured to produce a first set of sidelobes along a cardinal plane and a second set of sidelobes along an intercardinal plane;
- the first set of side lobes having a higher relative amplitude than the second set of side lobes;
- and
- the array being disposed to direct the intercardinal plane at a runway during a landing procedure.
A radar system comprising an ESA antenna comprising a plurality of radiating elements, wherein:
- the plurality of radiating elements are disposed in an array;
- the rectangular array is configured to produce a first set of sidelobes along a cardinal plane and a second set of sidelobes along an intercardinal plane;
- the first set of side lobes having a higher relative amplitude than the second set of side lobes;
- and
- the array being disposed to direct the intercardinal plane at a runway during a landing procedure.
An aircraft comprising an ESA antenna comprising a plurality of radiating elements, wherein:
- the plurality of radiating elements are disposed in an array;
- the rectangular array is configured to produce a first set of sidelobes along a cardinal plane and a second set of sidelobes along an intercardinal plane;
- the first set of side lobes having a higher relative amplitude than the second set of side lobes;
- and
- the array being disposed to direct the intercardinal plane at a runway during a landing procedure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.