Constrained feed techniques for phased array subarrays

Abstract

A constrained feed can enable a phased array to be fed from a number of subarray ports while maintaining good sidelobe control. The invention pertains to using constrained feed networks, like Rotman lenses, Butler matrices and waveguide networks instead of a single space feed, to produce these subarrays. The formed subarrays are partially overlapped, and this is required to develop good sidelobe control. The invention solves the problem of having high sidelobes when an array is fed by contiguous, uniformly illuminated subarrays and so allows optical time delay, digital time delay and limited field of view scanning with a constrained network while maintaining low sidelobe radiation.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.