Methods and apparatus for multi-beam, multi-signal transmission for active phased array antenna

A method of transmitting a plurality of signals from a common phased array antenna comprising an array of antenna elements, the method comprising:

• (a) generating a plurality of first modulated signals corresponding to antenna elements for transmission via a first transmit beam, and phase shifting the first modulated signals in accordance with phases of the antenna elements required to form the first transmit beam;
• (b) generating, separate from the plurality of first modulated signals, a plurality of second modulated signals corresponding to antenna elements for transmission via a second transmit beam, and phase shifting the second modulated signals in accordance with phases of the antenna elements required to form the second transmit beam;
• (c) forming a Plurality of composite signals by combining phase shifted first modulated signals with respective phase shifted second modulated signals, wherein phases of the composite signals are a function of signal modulations of the first and second modulated signals and phases of the respective antenna elements required to form the first and second transmit beams:
• (d) supplying the plurality of composite signals to the respective antenna elements of the phased array antenna;
• and
• (e) transmitting the composite signal from the common antenna, thereby transmitting the first modulated signal via the first transmit beam and transmitting the second modulated signal via the second transmit beam.

An apparatus for transmitting a plurality of signals, comprising:

• a phased array antenna comprising an array of antenna elements;
• and
• a transmitter system that receives a first signal for transmission via a first transmit beam and a second signal for transmission via a second transmit beam, the transmitter system forming a plurality of composite signals and supplying the plurality of composite signals to respective antenna elements of the phased array antenna, wherein phases of the composite signals are a function of signal modulations of the first and second signals and phases of the respective antenna elements required to form the first and second transmit beams, and wherein each of the composite signals has a constant amplitude envelope;
• wherein the phased array antenna transmits the first signal via the first transmit beam and transmits the second signal via the second transmit beam.

An apparatus for transmitting a plurality of signals, comprising:

• a phased array antenna comprising an array of antenna elements;
• and
• a transmitter system that receives a first signal for transmission via a first transmit beam and a second signal for transmission via a second transmit beam, the transmitter system forming a plurality of composite signals and supplying the plurality of composite signals to respective antenna elements of the phased array antenna, wherein phases of the composite signals are a function of signal modulations of the first and second signals and phases of the respective antenna elements required to form the first and second transmit beams;
• wherein the phased array antenna transmits the first signal via the first transmit beam and transmits the second signal via the second transmit beam;
• and
• wherein the transmitter system further comprises:
• a first power splitter that produces a plurality of first modulated signals from the first signal;
• a first array of phase shifters that phase shift the first modulated signals in accordance with phases of the respective antenna elements required to form the first transmit beam;
• a second power splitter that produces a plurality of second modulated signals from the second signal;
• a second array of phase shifters that phase shift the second modulated signals in accordance with phases of the respective antenna elements required to form the second transmit beam;
• and
• a combiner that combines the phase shifted first modulated signals with respective phase shifted second modulated signals to form the plurality of composite signals.

A method of transmitting a plurality of signals from a common antenna, comprising:

• (a) generating a first signal for transmission via a first transmit beam;
• (b) generating a second signal for transmission via a second transmit beam;
• (c) forming a composite signal by time interleaving the first signal and the second signal, wherein the phase of the composite signal accounts for signal modulation and beam forming characteristics of the first signal and, alternately, the signal modulation and beam forming characteristics of the second signal;
• (d) supplying the composite signal to the common antenna;
• and
• (e) transmitting the composite signal from the common antenna, thereby transmitting the first signal via the first transmit beam and transmitting the second signal via the second transmit beam.

An apparatus for transmitting a plurality of signals, comprising:

• a phased array antenna comprising an array of antenna elements;
• and
• a transmitter system that receives a first signal for transmission via a first transmit beam and a second signal for transmission via a second transmit beam, the transmitter system forming a plurality of composite signals by time interleaving the first signal and the second signal, and supplying the plurality of composite signals to respective antenna elements of the phased array antenna, wherein phases of the composite signals are a function of a signal modulation of the first signal and phases of the respective antenna elements required to form the first transmit beam and, alternately, a function of a signal modulation of the second signal and phases of the respective antenna elements required to form the second transmit beam;
• wherein the phased array antenna transmits the first signal via the first transmit beam and transmits the second signal via the second transmit beam.