Multifrequency antenna array

A method for transmitting a plurality M channelized signals at different frequencies by means of an antenna array, comprising the steps of:

• dividing each of said M channelized signals into a plurality N of power-divided signals, to thereby generate M sets of power-divided signals, one set at each of said different frequencies;
• applying one of said N power-divided signals from each of said M sets of power-divided signals to one of N separate beam phasing M.times.P matrix, whereby each of said beam phasing matrices receives a set of M power-divided input signals, each at a different one of said frequencies;
• within each of said beam phasing matrices, generating P power-divided signal portion sets from each of said M power-divided input signals applied thereto;
• within each of said beam phasing matrices, phase-shifting each of said power-divided signal portions to produce M sets, each of P phase-shifted signal portions;
• within each of said beam phasing matrices, summing together sets of said phase-shifted signal portions, to produce P output signals, each of said P output signals being the sum of one of said phase-shifted signal portions from each of said M sets, to produce an array of beam phasing matrix output signals;
• and
• coupling each of said beam phasing matrix output signals to an individual antenna element of an antenna array.

A spacecraft, comprising:

• receiving means for receiving a plurality of uplink signals, each extending over a different frequency range within an uplink frequency band, and for processing said uplink signals to distribute said uplink signals to a like plurality of different channels, to thereby generate a plurality of information signals, each at a different operating frequency in an independent signal path of a plurality of signal paths;
• a plurality M of N-way power dividers, each of said N-way power dividers including an input port and N output ports, for dividing signal power applied to said input port into N portions, each of which N portions appears at a different one of said output ports of said N-way power divider, each of said N-way power dividers having its input port coupled to a different one of said signal paths, for generating power-divided channelized signals:
• a plurality N of N.times.P beam phasing matrices, each of said beam phasing matrices including N input ports and P output ports, and also including a node interconnecting each of said input ports with each of said output ports, whereby each of said input ports is coupled by one of said nodes to each of P of said output ports, each of said N input ports of each of said beam phasing matrices being coupled to an output port of a different one of said power dividers, each of said nodes comprising a first and second couplers, and a phase shifter, each of said first couplers being coupled to an associated one of said input ports for generating a sample of said power-divided channelized signals, said phase shifter of each node being coupled to said first coupler of each node for controllably phase shifting said sample for generating a phase-shifted signal sample, and said second coupler of each node being coupled to said phase shifter of said node and to one of said output ports, for coupling at least a portion of said phase-shifted signal sample to said one of said output ports;
• and
• a plurality N.times.P of antenna elements, each of said antenna elements being coupled to a different one of said output ports of said beam phasing matrices, for radiating in response to that one of said phase-shifted signal sample from said one of said output ports of said beam phasing matrices.