Mechanically scanned antenna system
AssigneeTexas Instruments Incorporated
InventorsJames H. Hubing, Charles C. Liu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mechanically scanned antenna system having a multiport rotary switch for sector scanning is disclosed. The switch includes a stationary subassembly and a rotating subassembly. The stationary subassembly contains the input ports and the rotating subassembly contains the multiple output ports associated with each input port. Each of the multiple output ports of the switch is sequentially activated through its designed active sector to produce the desired antenna scan pattern. The stationary subassembly includes a barrier member which is rotatable to selectively orient and maintain orientation of the active region of the antenna system at any position through 360.degree..
Claims7
A mechanically scanned antenna system comprising:
- (a) an antenna support means;
- and
- (b) an antenna scanning means being supported by the antenna support means;
- said antenna scanning means including:
- (i) an RF power channel means for conducting RF energy to and from a radar receiver and transmitter,
- (ii) a rotary switch having an input means and an output means, said input means being in RF energy conducting communication with the RF power channel means, and said output means being mounted on the input means with which it coacts for switching RF energy;
- (iii) orientation means being operatively connected to the input means of the rotary switch for continuously orienting the input means to a preselected reference point,
- (iv) a plurality of feedhorns being rigidly attached to the output means of the rotary switch in RF power communication with the output means,
- (v) a rotatable support means supporting the plurality of feedhorns and rotatably connected to the antenna support means, and
- (vi) a drive means being attached to the antenna support means for rotating the rotatable support means, and the plurality of feedhorns, together with the output means of the rotary switch about the input means of the rotary switch for producing a preselected scanning pattern.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.