Wideband phased array antennas and methods

A multibeam phased array antenna, comprising:

• an electronic signal generator which generates first and second variable-frequency scanning signals s.sub.s1 and s.sub.s2 and first and second reference signals s.sub.r1 and s.sub.r2 wherein the frequency of said first reference signal s.sub.r1 is substantially a selected one of the sum and the difference of the frequencies of said first scanning signal s.sub.s1 and a first operating signal s.sub.o1 and the frequency of said second reference signal s.sub.r2 is substantially a selected one of the sum and the difference of the frequencies of said second scanning signal s.sub.s2 and a second operating signal s.sub.o2 ;
• a reference manifold that receives and divides each of said reference signals s.sub.r1 and s.sub.r2 into n reference signal samples which are progressively time delayed by a selectable one of m reference differential time delays .DELTA.t.sub.r ;
• a scanning manifold that receives and divides each of said scanning signals s.sub.s1 and s.sub.r2 into n scanning signal samples which are progressively time delayed by a scanning differential time delay .DELTA.t.sub.s ;
• and
• an array of n radiative modules that each include:
• a) a first mixing device that receives and mixes a respective one of the reference signal samples of said first reference signal s.sub.r1 and a respective one of the scanning signal samples of said first scanning signal s.sub.s1 ;
• b) a second mixing device that receives and mixes a respective one of the reference signal samples of said second scanning signal s.sub.r2 and a respective one of the scanning signal samples of said second scanning signal s.sub.s2 ;
• c) an electromagnetic radiator;
• and
• d) first and second filters that respectively couple said first and second mixing devices to said radiator and that are configured to respectively pass said first and second operating signals s.sub.o1 and s.sub.o2 ;
• first and second antenna beams thereby radiated from said array at m selectable scan angles with said scan angles respectively varying in response to the frequency of said first and second scanning signals s.sub.s1 and s.sub.s2.

A method of forming and scanning an antenna beam, comprising the steps of:

• forming a variable frequency scanning signal s.sub.s and a reference signal s.sub.r whose frequency is a selected one of the sum and the difference of the frequencies of said scanning signal s.sub.s and an operating signal s.sub.o ;
• dividing said scanning signal into n scanning signal samples;
• progressively time delaying said scanning signal samples by a scanning differential time delay .DELTA.t.sub.s ;
• dividing said reference signal into n reference signal samples;
• progressively time delaying said reference signal samples by a selectable one of m reference differential time delays .DELTA.t.sub.r ;
• mixing each of said scanning signal samples with a respective one of said reference signal samples to generate n sets of mixing products;
• filtering said mixing products to recover n phase-shifted signal versions of said operating signal s.sub.o ;
• and
• radiating each of said phase-shifted signal versions from a respective one of n radiators to form an antenna beam having a scan angle that is determined by the selected one of said m reference differential time delays .DELTA.t.sub.r and by the frequency of said scanning signal s.sub.s.