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US 7,741,997 B1Granted
Multiple-beam phased array with switchable element areas
AssigneeLockheed Martin Corporation
InventorAnthony W. Jacomb-Hood
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A phased array antenna system is provided, which includes one or more switchable sub-groups. Each switchable sub-group can be switchably configured to associate one or more waveform signals with one or more of a plurality of controller circuits using a first switching network, and to associate one or more of the plurality of controller circuits with one or more of a plurality of antenna elements using a second switching network. The switching networks permit a phased array antenna system to switchably control one or more beams, with different scanning ranges and coverage areas depending upon mission requirements.
Claims18
A phased array antenna system including one or more switchable sub-groups, each switchable sub-group comprising:
- M controller circuits, where M is a positive integer greater than one, each controller circuit having a controller input and a controller output;
- a first switching network having X first network inputs, where X is a positive integer greater than one, each first network input being configured to receive a waveform signal, the first switching network having M first network outputs, each first network output corresponding to one of the M controller inputs, the first switching network being configured to switchably associate one or more of the waveform signals with one or more of the M controller circuits by switchably associating connections between the X first network inputs and the M first network outputs;
- N antenna elements, where N is a positive integer greater than one;
- and
- a second switching network disposed between the M controller circuits and the N antenna elements, the second switching network having M second network inputs, each second network input corresponding to one of the M controller outputs, the second switching network having N second network outputs, each second network output corresponding to one of the N antenna elements, the second switching network being configured to switchably associate one or more of the M controller circuits with one or more of the N antenna elements by switchably associating connections between the M second network inputs and the N second network outputs,
- wherein the second switching network includes one or more switches and at least one of a combiner and a divider by which the M second network inputs are switchably associated with the N second network outputs.
3 more elements
A phased array antenna system including one or more switchable sub-groups, each switchable sub-group comprising:
- N antenna elements, where N is a positive integer greater than one, each antenna element being configured to receive an input signal;
- M controller circuits, where M is a positive integer greater than one, each controller circuit having a controller input and a controller output;
- a first switching network disposed between the N antenna elements and the M controller circuits, the first switching network having N first network inputs, each first network input corresponding to one of the N antenna elements, the first switching network having M first network outputs, each first network output corresponding to one of the M controller circuits, the first switching network being configured to switchably associate one or more of the N antenna elements with one or more of the M controller circuits by switchably associating connections between the N first network inputs and the M first network outputs, the first switching network including one or more switches and at least one of a combiner and a divider by which the N first network inputs are switchably associated with the M first network outputs;
- and
- a second switching network having M second network inputs, each second network input corresponding to one of the M controller outputs, the second switching network having X second network outputs, where X is a positive integer greater than one, each second network output being configured to output a waveform signal, the second switching network being configured to switchably associate one or more of the M controller circuits with one or more of the waveform signals by switchably associating connections between the M second network inputs and the X second network outputs.
2 more elements
A phased array antenna system including one or more switchable sub-groups, each switchable sub-group comprising:
- M controller circuits, where M is a positive integer greater than one, each controller circuit having a controller input and a controller output;
- a first switching network having X first network inputs, where X is a positive integer greater than one, each first network input being configured to receive a waveform signal, the first switching network having M first network outputs, each first network output corresponding to one of the M controller inputs;
- and
- N antenna elements, where N is a positive integer greater than one;
- a second switching network disposed between the M controller circuits and the N antenna elements, the second switching network having M second network inputs, each second network input corresponding to one of the M controller outputs, the second switching network having N second network outputs, each second network output corresponding to one of the N antenna elements,
- wherein the phased array antenna system further includes one or more processors configured to perform the steps of:
- switchably associating, in the first switching network of each switchable sub-group, one or more of the waveform signals with one or more of the M controller circuits by switchably associating connections between the X first network inputs and the M first network outputs, and
- switchably associating, in the second switching network of each switchable sub-group, one or more of the M controller circuits with one or more of the N antenna elements by switchably associating connections between the M second network inputs and the N second network outputs,
- wherein the second switching network includes one or more switches and at least one of a combiner and a divider by which the M second network inputs are switchably associated with the N second network outputs.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.