FR2781087A1 - DEVICE FOR TRANSMITTING AND / OR RECEIVING ELECTROMAGNETIC SIGNALS, WITH ADAPTIVE ANTENNA WITH EXTENDED DIAGRAM - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a device for transmitting and/or receiving electromagnetic signals comprising first (1) and second (3) antenna means transmitting/receiving electromagnetic signals according to a first radiation pattern with selected extended shape and a second radiation pattern with selected shape at least partially similar to that of the first radiation pattern. Managing means (6) jointly control the first (1) and second (3) antenna means such that they provide electromagnetic signal transmission/reception according to a third radiation pattern whereof the shape results from a selected combination of contributions from the first and second radiation patterns respectively.

Description

Device for transmitting and / or receiving electronic signals

  The invention relates to the field of transmission and

  reception of electromagnetic signals.

  In transmission / reception, there are known antennas capable of working according to a so-called "radiation" diagram of chosen extended (or wide) shape, that is to say having a

angular opening of at least 90.

  The transmission and / or reception devices using these antennas have the advantage of being able to provide wide angular coverage, but this advantage can turn into a disadvantage under certain conditions of use. This is particularly the case when one wishes to ensure a certain discretion, or to get rid of interference problems with parasitic signals, or even to ensure a certain

protection of people.

  The object of the invention is to provide a device for transmitting and / or receiving electromagnetic signals, and the

  corresponding process, which do not have the drawbacks

  mentioned above. By transmission and / or reception is meant here a device capable only of transmitting, or capable only of receiving, or even capable of both

to send and receive.

  To this end, it proposes a device of the type described in the introduction, in which, on the one hand, provision is made in combination with the (first) antenna means with (first) extended diagram, second means for antenna providing a second diagram, the shape of which is chosen at least partially similar to that of the first diagram, and on the other hand, the management means are capable of jointly controlling the first and second antenna means so that they provide a transmission / reception of electromagnetic signals according to a third diagram of electromagnetic signals according to a third diagram

  the shape of which results from a selected combination of

  respective stops of the first and second diagrams.

  "Partially similar" means that the narrow diagram and the extended diagram have a

non-zero intersection.

  Such a combination of the contributions of the diagrams makes it possible in particular to create one or more holes (or "zero") on transmission or on reception, or else one or more bumps (or "amplification zone") on transmission or at the reception, or even one or more bumps and one or more holes at the emission or at the reception. In others

  terms it is possible to ban or reinforce the emiss

  or reception in at least one chosen area, of

  predetermined direction, from the extended diagram.

  This predetermined direction (spatial orientation) can

  be fixed or variable for the same device.

  Advantageously, the second antenna means comprise a multiplicity of antenna elements, shaped into at least one network. Of course, to generate several holes or

  bumps, you can use multiple networks.

  Preferably, the first and second antenna means are produced using the same technology. This solution is particularly advantageous in cases where the diagram of the second antenna means is cut off, since the level of the maximum of the combined diagram (extended and narrow) varies at the first order, so that only one attenuation value brings the level of the narrow diagram to the level of the

  extended diagram, whatever the depointing of this di-

narrow gram.

  To make the first antenna means, it is possible to use a unitary antenna element chosen, in particular, from so-called isotropic radiation technologies, with a slot, with a dipole mounted on a ground plane, with a printed block, with a notch, with a helix. , monopole mounted on a ground plane,

with annular slot.

  Furthermore, in order to simplify the processing at the level of the management means, the second antenna means are arranged to present a phase center common with the phase center of the first antenna means. An example of configuration consists in surrounding the antenna element

  unit of network antenna elements.

  Many other arrangements can be envisaged separately or in combination, as indicated below: - the device may include weighting means for managing the contributions of possible secondary lobes of the second diagram; - the management means may include adjustment means (attenuator or amplifier) making it possible to

  jointly manage the respective powers of emiss

  transmission / reception of the first and / or second antenna means; - the management means may include switching means making it possible to switch the device from a first operating mode in which it simultaneously uses the first and second antenna means, to a second operating mode in which it does not use than the first antenna means, or to a third operating mode in which it only uses the second

antenna means.

  As will be specified below, many embodiments of the device according to the invention can be envisaged, and in particular depending on whether it operates in transmission or in reception, for example by using couplers, decouplers, setting-up means. phase, means of

phase shift.

  The invention also provides a transmission / reception method.

  tion of electromagnetic signals for the implementation of devices of the type described above. This process includes the following steps: - providing first and second antenna means

  providing transmission / reception of electromagnetic signals

  ticks respectively according to a first diagram of chosen extended shape and a second diagram of chosen shape at least partially similar to that of the first diagram; and - jointly control the first and second antenna means so that they provide transmission / reception of electromagnetic signals according to a third diagram resulting from a selected combination of contributions

  respective of the first and second diagrams.

  Other characteristics and advantages of the invention

  will appear on examination of the detailed description which will

  follow and attached drawings, in which: - Figure 1 schematically illustrates an extended shape diagram associated with a unitary antenna element; - Figure 2 schematically illustrates a narrow shape diagram associated with an array of antenna elements; - Figures 3A to 3D schematically illustrate the main steps of obtaining a wide diagram with "narrow hole" from the diagrams of Figures 1 and 2; and - Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating a first embodiment of a reception device according to the invention; - Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating a second embodiment of a reception device according to the invention; - Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating a third embodiment of a reception device according to the invention; - Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating a preferred configuration of the antenna elements; - Figure 8 schematically illustrates the superimposition in polar representation of the extended and narrow diagrams, as well as the diagram of their combination, ensuring a centered "hole"; - Figure 9 schematically illustrates the representation

  three-dimensional combination diagram of the fig-

  re 8; - Figure 10 schematically illustrates the superimposition in polar representation of the extended and narrow diagrams, as well as the diagram of their combination, ensuring an off-center "hole" of about 40; - Figure 11 schematically illustrates the representation

  three-dimensional combination diagram of the fig-

  re 10; - Figure 12 schematically illustrates the three-dimensional representation of a combination diagram with two "holes"; and - Figure 13 schematically illustrates the three-dimensional representation of a combination diagram with a

"Hump".

  The attached drawings are, for the most part, certain. Consequently, they can not only serve to supplement it, but also contribute to the definition

of the invention if applicable.

  The invention starts from a transmission and / or reception device.

  tion of electromagnetic signals, provided with an antenna 1 capable of radiating according to a radiation diagram of extended form, also called broad diagram 2, of the type of

  the one illustrated in figure 1. Such a ray diagram

  wide represents both a reception diagram and an antenna transmission diagram. In what follows, we

  equates the main lobe of a diagram to the diagram itself

  same, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. But, it is clear that a diagram includes both a main lobe

and side lobes.

  Broad diagram 2 is understood here to mean a diagram corresponding to an angularly extended beam, that is to say the opening of which in transmission or in reception is at least equal to 90, and preferably equal to 180 as illustrated in FIG. 1. However, such a wide diagram 2 can extend over an angular sector greater than 180, or even up to approximately 360 as in the case of an antenna with isotropic radiation. Consequently, any antenna offering a wide (or extended) diagram as defined above, can be used in a device according to the invention. In particular, antennas with an isotropic type radiating element may be used, but

  also weakly directional radiating element antennas

  tif, such as those with a diagram

  both a maximum in a given direction, and more precise-

  ment radiant elements of the slot type, dipole on ground plane, printed pavement, notch, propeller, and the like. It will also be possible to use radiating elements offering a toroidal diagram, and in particular elements of the monopole type on ground plane, annular slot, and the like. The invention aims to transform a device with a wide diagram antenna of fixed shape, into a device with a wide diagram of adaptable shape. The term “adaptable” is understood here to be able to modify the shape of the extended or wide diagram by forming what the skilled person calls a narrow “zero” (see FIG. 9), so as to cancel reception. , or else prohibit the transmission of a signal in a preferred direction, for example a spurious signal, and / or a narrow "bump" (see FIG. 13), so as to reinforce the level of transmission or reception in a privileged direction of the diagram

wide or wide 2.

  It is clear that the invention can make it possible to create one or more zeros, or one or more bumps, or else

  a combination of zero (s) and bump (s).

  To achieve this aim, the invention adds to the broad diagram antenna transmission and / or reception device 1 an antenna 3 with a narrow diagram 4 of the type of that

illustrated in figure 2.

  Preferably, the antenna 3 with a narrow diagram 4 is produced from an array of radiating elements 3-i (in FIG. 2, i = 1 or 2). Even more preferably, the unitary element which generally constitutes the antenna 1 with a wide diagram 2 and the radiating elements 3-i which constitute the array antenna 3 are produced using the same technology. Thus, in the event of the deflection of the beam of the array antenna 3, in order to favor a zero or a bump in the preferred direction of depointing, the level of the maximum of this beam varies at first order according to an "envelope" defined by the diagram of each element 3-i of said array antenna 3. With the aid of a single attenuation value (notion to which we will return later), it is therefore possible to bring the level of the beam of the array antenna 3 at the same level as that of the diagram of the unitary radiating element 3-i forming this antenna 3, and this whatever the angular depointing of the beam of

the network antenna 3.

  The level (emission or reception) of an antenna is defined as the maximum amplitude of the diagram of this antenna in a given direction or in other

  terms the amplitude difference between a point and the envelope

  loppe delimiting the diagram of the level of zero amplitude.

  This envelope is materialized by broken lines

in Figures 1 to 3).

  In the example illustrated in FIGS. 3A to 3D, the diameter

  narrow gram 4 of the array antenna 3 is offset approximately with respect to the main axis I of the extended diagram 2, so that by electromagnetically combining the broad 2 and narrow diagrams 4, a modification (here a zero) of said wide diagram is brought in said depointing direction, or approximately 45 of its main axis I. Of course, in other examples, one could generate a bump and / or a zero, or more

  bumps and / or more zeros, in possible directions-

  slightly different from that illustrated, relative to the main axis I, or in the direction of this axis I. It should also be noted that the diagrams represented in FIGS. 1 to 3 are two-dimensional projections of three-dimensional diagrams, c that is to say that the beam emitted or received by the antenna is not contained in a plane, but that it is contained in a volume. The depointing of the narrow diagram 4 of the array antenna 3 is therefore defined by two angles related to the main axis I. To modify (or adapt) an extended diagram 2, it is

  necessary to carry out at least the following operations.

  First (see Figure 3B), the beam direction of the array antenna is selected 3. Second (see Figure 3C), the respective levels of the wide 2 and narrow diagrams are adjusted. The setting being relative , it is obvious that we can either adjust the level of one of the two diagrams, or adjust the two levels

  jointly. When zero is desired in a direction

  privileged tion, the adjustment consists in making substantially

  coincide the two levels of the two diagrams.

  In a third step, we combine (from an electromagnetic point of view) the two diagrams thus obtained by playing on their relative phases. For example, when the device functions as a receiver, the generation of a zero in a direction D of the extended diagram 2, may

  be obtained either by subtraction of the electromagnetic signals

  ticks in phase associated respectively with the two antennas 1 and 3, or by summation of said signals in phase opposition. On the other hand, when the device operates as a transmitter, the generation of a zero in a direction D of the extended diagram 2 can be obtained by summing said

signals in phase opposition.

  In the same way, to generate a bump, that is to say to reinforce the level of the extended diagram in a given direction D, it will suffice to sum the electromagnetic signals in phase from the two antennas 1 and 3 or to subtract said said

  electromagnetic signals in phase opposition.

  There are shown in Figures 4 to 6 three possible embodiments for performing the steps of

aforementioned treatment.

  In the first example illustrated in FIG. 4, a unitary radiating element 1 is provided to produce the antenna at

  extended diagram, as well as a plurality of radius elements

  nants 3-i (i = 1 to N) to form the array antenna 3 providing the narrow diagram 4. Each radiating element 3-i is connected to phase-shifting means 5-i such as a phase-shifter or a line to length programmable. The phase shifting means 5-i are jointly controlled by a management module 6, for example from a phase law (or

illumination).

  It is clear that the transmission and / or reception device can offer either a modification of angular position

  fixed, or a change in variable angular position.

  In the first case, each phase-shifter or line with programmable length, or the like, can only take a single value, always the same. In the second case, the management module 6 is capable of generating for each depointing

  considered an appropriate phase law defining the

  phase ment for each radiating element 3-i.

  In addition to the phase law, it is also necessary to manage a possible phase shift due to the position difference between the respective phase centers of the two antennas 1 and 3, and opposite the direction of depointing D of the network antenna 3 with respect to the main axis I of the antenna with a wide diagram 1. Such a position deviation adjustment can be directly managed by the management module 6, using only the phase shifting elements 5-i. FIG. 7 shows an example of configuration of the radiating elements 1 and 3-i of the extended diagram antenna 1 and of the array antenna 3 which makes it possible to confuse the positions of the phase centers of each of the two antennas 1 and 3. More specifically, in the example illustrated, the unit radiating element 1 of the extended diagram antenna 1 is placed at the center of the configuration, and the radiating elements 3-i constituting the array antenna 3 are distributed regularly at the periphery of this unitary element 1. The phase centers of the two antennas are thus merged at the point C materializing the center of the unitary radiating element 1, through which the axis passes

  principal I of its extended diagram 2.

  Of course, many other configurations can be envisaged, and in particular a configuration in

  which the antenna is in the form of a ring (or cylindrical).

  Preferably, when the device operates as a transmitter, a power distributor 7 of type 1 by N is provided.

  upstream of the phase shift means 5-i, relative to the direction

  tion of signal propagation. On the other hand, when the device operates as a receiver, instead of the power distributor 7, an N by 1 type coupler (or summator) is used, which is then considered to be placed downstream of the phase shifters relative to the direction of propagation of the signals. In transmission, the signal supply of the antenna with a wide diagram 1 and of the array antenna with a narrow diagram 3 is provided by a power supply module 8, preferably radiofrequency.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 4, this power module

  Radio frequency station 8 has an output 9 coupled to the input of a decoupler (or coupler depending on whether one is transmitting or receiving). Here, the decoupler (or coupler) is a "magic tee", for example, the two outputs 10 and 11 of which are coupled respectively to the antenna with extended diagram 1 and the antenna with narrow diagram 3, and more precisely to its power distributor 7 (or at its

  summing depending on whether one is transmitting or receiving).

  The magic tee has the advantage of providing one of

  its two exit (or entry) channels, known as the "different

  rence ", a phase shift of 180 compared to the other of its two channels. Of course, we could provide other types

decoupler or coupler.

  In transmission, if P is the signal power which reaches the level of the unit radiating element of the antenna with extended diagram 1, and if the N radiating elements 3-i of the array antenna 3 are supplied with the same power by the power distributor 7, then the power necessary to supply this power distributor

  7, received on its input 14, is equal to P / (qxN2); n represents

  feeling the attenuation due to the additional losses created in the beam forming circuit of the array antenna by the distributor 7 and the phase shifting means 5-i with respect to the link losses of the diagram antenna

  extended 1, and 9 being strictly less than 1.

  In reception, a power attenuation equal to 1 / qxN2 must be applied to the signal delivered by the network antenna 3, before it is added to the signal delivered.

  by the extended diagram antenna 1.

  In order to finely manage the power delivered on each antenna, there is also provided, here on one of the two outputs of the magic tee 12, an attenuator 13 whose value can be fixed during the construction of the device,

  is managed through the management module 6.

  Alternatively, an amplifier could be provided instead of the attenuator 13. Similarly, each output (or input) of the tee

  can be fitted with an attenuator or amplifier

designer, as needed.

  The device which has just been described, with reference to FIG. 4, can only generate zeros (or holes), due to the phase shift of 180 which exists between the respective signals

  antennas 1 and 3. To get a bump in the diameter

  gram of the device, it would be necessary to use, for transmission, a decoupler with phase outputs, and for reception, a coupler with phase inputs, instead of the aforementioned phase-shifted magic tee. It is also clear that, when the device functions as a receiver, it does not include a radio frequency power supply module 8, but a signal analyzer connected to the output of the coupler. FIG. 8 schematically illustrates, firstly, the polar representation of an extended diagram 2, secondly, the polar representation of a narrow diagram 4 oriented along the main axis I of the diagram

  extended 2, and thirdly, diagram 27 represents

  both the combination by subtraction, in a representation

  polar, extended 2 and narrow diagrams 4.

  FIG. 9 schematically illustrates the three-dimensional representation of the combination diagram illustrated in FIG. 8, which generates a zero (or "hole") centered by

  relative to the main axis I of the extended diagram 2.

  FIG. 10 is a variant of FIG. 8 in which the array antenna 3 is arranged, and controlled, so as to provide a narrow diagram 4 formed of a main lobe 4-i, here depointed, and of secondary lobes 4- 2 and 4-3, so as to generate a resulting diagram 28 having, on the one hand, an off-center zero of approximately 40, and a bump off-center substantially at the same angle as the main lobe 4-1 of the

narrow diagram.

  Figure 11 schematically illustrates the three-dimensional representation of the combination diagram 28 illustrated

in figure 10.

  Figure 13 schematically illustrates the three-dimensional representation of a combination diagram showing

a substantially centered bump.

  The device illustrated in FIG. 4 may alternatively include several network antennas, or a network antenna subdivided into sub-arrays, each sub-array or each network antenna presenting its own narrow diagram, so as to generate as many zeros or bumps as of needs. FIG. 12 schematically illustrates the three-dimensional representation of a combination diagram with two zeros (or holes) obtained using two combined array antennas

  to an antenna with extended diagram.

  The second example illustrated in FIG. 5 is a simplified variant of the first embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4. In this second embodiment, the decoupler 12 and the attenuator 13 are advantageously replaced by an asymmetrical decoupler 15 when the device is operating. as a transmitter, or by an asymmetrical coupler

  when operating as a receiver.

  On transmission, the asymmetrical decoupler, supplied by the radio frequency power supply module 8 with a power P0, supplies the power connected to the network antenna 3 with a power equal to P0x [1 / (N + 1)] 2, and on its output connected to the antenna with extended diagram 1, a power equal to P0x [N / (N + 1)] 2, if we suppose, for simplicity, that the

  losses are zero (or in other words when (n = 1).

  When it is desired to generate a zero, an asymmetrical decoupler (in transmission) or an asymmetrical coupler (in reception) is preferably used, which preferably incorporates the phase shifter of 180. Such an arrangement is not required when one or more bumps are desired, unless it is desired to subtract the

  signals received, since from an electromagnetic point of view

  tick, a subtraction of signals in phase opposition

  is equivalent to summing signals in phase.

  FIG. 6 illustrates a third embodiment of the invention, in which the device can operate according to one of the following three modes: - a first mode in which it presents in transmission or reception the only extended diagram; - a second mode in which it presents in transmission or reception the only narrow diagram; and - a third mode in which it presents in transmission or reception a suitable extended diagram (to zero (s) and / or to

bump (s)).

  To do this, the device illustrated in FIG. 6 takes up the elements constituting the device illustrated in FIG. 5, and adds two switches 17 and 18 to it, the respective states of which are preferably managed by the module.

management 6 (not shown).

  More precisely, the switch 17 comprises, in the transmitter version, an input 19 supplied by the radio frequency power supply module 8, and two outputs 20 and 21,

  supplying the input of the dissymmetrical decoupler respectively

  that 15 and one 22 of the two inputs of the second switch 18. The second input 23 of the second switch 18 is

  connected to one 24 of the two outputs of the asymmetrical decoupler

  plate 15, the other output 25 of which is, in this example, connected to the network antenna 3, and more precisely to the input of the power distributor 7. Furthermore, the second switch 18 has a single output 26 which

  feeds the extended diagram antenna 1.

  In this example, as in the previous example, when the device must generate zeros, an asymmetrical decoupler (in transmission), or an asymmetrical coupler (in reception) is preferably provided, which preferably incorporates the phase shifter of 1800. This simplifies assembly. Of course, this 180-phase shifter could be placed on the line supplying the network antenna 3, upstream of the power distributor 7 (in transmission) or downstream of the power summator (in reception), or even on the line supplying

extended diagram antenna 1.

  The first switch 17 can take two states, a first state in which its input 19 is connected to its output 20, itself connected to the input of the asymmetrical decoupler 15, and a second state in which its input 19 is connected to the other output 21 connected to input 22 of the

second switch 18.

  Furthermore, the second switch 18 can also take two states, a first state in which its input 23, connected to the output 24 of the asymmetric decoupler 15, is connected to its output 26, which feeds the extended diagram antenna 1, and a second state in which its entry

  22 is connected to said outlet 26.

  Thus, when the first switch 17 is in its first state and the second switch 18 is in its

  second state, the device can function as a transmitter

  tor or narrow diagram receiver. When the first 17 and second 18 switches are in their first state, the transmitting or receiving device can generate zero (s) and / or bump (s) in the extended diagram provided by

  the unitary element antenna 1. Finally, when the first

  mier 17 and second 18 switches are in their second state, the sending and / or receiving device produces the

single extended diagram.

  In order to avoid that zeros or sharp holes form in a combination diagram, the network antenna 3 can be subjected to a specific phase law (or lighting law) intended to form what the man of the profession calls for a "flat" beam. Such a flat beam, and the specific lighting laws enabling it to be obtained, are for example taught in the document by D. CADIO & C.

  RENARD: "Adaptivity of the radiation pattern of the past

  our electronic scanning network ", CNES Seminar,

  Active antennas - M.M.I.C., Saint-Raphaël, June 23-26, 1997.

  Furthermore, in order to reduce possible oscillation phenomena on the level of the combination diagram, apart from its zero, or its bump, provision may be made for

  weighting means intended to manage the power supply

  both each radiating element 3-i of the network antenna (in transmission), or to attenuate or amplify each signal received by each element 3-i of this same network antenna. In this way, it is possible to reduce the level of the secondary lobes which accompany the main lobe of the diagram.

  narrow formed by the network antenna 3.

  Weighting, and / or obtaining a specific illumination or phase law, can advantageously be obtained using elements with a fixed or variable state, such as

  amplitude level adjusters (attenuators or amplification

according to the variants).

  The invention is not limited to the embodiments

  described above, but it embraces all the varian-

  that the skilled person can develop within the framework of

claims below.

  Thus, we have described exemplary embodiments of

  tifs operating as a transmitter or as a receiver, but it is clear that the invention applies

  also to devices operating as a transmitter / -

  receiver. Furthermore, transmission and / or reception devices have been described operating in the radio frequency field, but it is clear that the invention could be applied to

other areas.

Claims (18)

claims   1. Device for transmitting and / or receiving electromagnetic signals, comprising management means (6) and first antenna means (1) suitable for ensuring, under control of said management means, transmission / reception of electromagnetic signals according to a first diagram of extended shape chosen (2), characterized in that it comprises second antenna means (3) suitable for ensuring transmission / reception of electromagnetic signals according to a second diagram of chosen shape (4) at least partially similar to that of said first diagram (2), and in that said management means are arranged to jointly control said first and second antenna means so that they   provide transmission / reception of electromagnetic signals   ticks according to a third diagram, the shape of which results from a chosen combination of the respective contributions of   first (2) and second (4) diagrams.   2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the management means (6) are arranged to control   the spatial orientation of the second diagram (4).   3. Device according to one of claims 1 and 2,   characterized in that the second antenna means (3) comprise a multiplicity of antenna elements (3-i) conformed into at least one network.   4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that said multiplicity of antenna elements (3-i) is shaped into two networks so as to generate two seconds   diagrams of different respective shapes.   5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4,   characterized in that the first antenna means (1) comprise an antenna element chosen, in particular, from so-called isotropic radiation technologies, with a slot, with a dipole mounted on a ground plane, with printed pavement, with notch, propeller, monopoly mounted on a ground plane, annular slot.   6. Device according to one of claims 3 to 5,   characterized in that the first (1) and second (2) means   antenna are made in the same technology.   7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6,   characterized in that the second antenna means (3) are arranged so as to have a common phase center   with the phase center of the first antenna means (1).   8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7,   characterized in that it includes weighting means capable of managing the contributions of secondary lobes of the second diagram (4).   9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, charac-   characterized in that the management means (6) include   means of adjustment suitable for jointly managing the   Respective transmission / reception sessions of the first (1) and / or second (3) antenna means.   10. Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, charac-   characterized in that the management means (6) comprise switching means (17,18) suitable for placing said device in one of the first, second and third operating modes, corresponding respectively to simultaneous use of the first (1 ) and second (3) antenna means, a use of only the first antenna means and a use of only the second antenna means.   11. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, charac-   terized in that it is arranged to transmit / receive   radio frequency electromagnetic signals.   12. Device according to one of claims 3 to 11,   characterized in that each element (3-i) of the second antenna means (3) is coupled to the output of a phase shifting means (5-i) controlled by said management means (6), said phase shifting means each having an input connected to one of the outputs of a power distributor (7), itself having an input connected to a first output channel of a decoupler (12; 15) controlled by said management means ( 6), in that the element of said first antenna means (1) is connected to a second outlet channel of said decoupler (12; 15), and in that it comprises means (16; 15) suitable for ensure a phase shift of n between the   first and second output channels of said decoupler.   13. Device according to one of claims 3 to 11,   characterized in that each element (3-i) of the second antenna means (3) is coupled to the output of a phase shift means controlled by said management means, said phase shifters each having an input connected to one of outputs of a power divider, itself having an input connected to a first output channel of a decoupler controlled by said management means, in that the element of said first antenna means is connected to a second channel output of said decoupler, and in that said management means comprise means suitable for ensuring a phasing of the first and second channels of output of said decoupler.   14. Device according to one of claims 3 to 11,   characterized in that each element of the second antenna means is coupled to the input of a phase shifter controlled by said management means, each phase shifter having an output connected to the input of a power summator, itself having an output connected to a first input channel of a coupler-summator controlled by said management means, in that the element of said first antenna means is connected to a second input channel of said coupler-summator, and in that said management means comprise means suitable for ensuring a phase shift of n   between the first and second input channels of said coupler- adder.   15. Device according to one of claims 12 and 14,   characterized in that the coupler and the phase shift means of T are integrated in the same component of type "Tee magic "(12).   16. Device according to one of claims 3 to 11,   characterized in that each element of the second antenna means is coupled to the input of a phase shifter controlled by said management means, each phase shifter having an output connected to the input of a power summator, itself having an output connected to a first input channel of a coupler-summator controlled by said management means, in that the element of said first antenna means is connected to a second input channel of said coupler-summator, and in that said management means include means suitable for ensuring a phasing   first and second input channels of said coupler- adder.   17. Device according to one of claims 3 to 11,   characterized in that each element of the second antenna means is coupled to the input of a phase shifter controlled by said management means, each phase shifter having an output connected to the input of a power summator, itself having an output connected to a first input channel of a coupler-subtractor controlled by said management means, in that the element of said first antenna means is connected to a second input channel of said coupler-subtractor, and in that said management means include means suitable for ensuring implementation   phase of the first and second input channels of said coupler- subtractor.   18. Method of transmitting / receiving electromagnetic signals   including a step in which   first antenna means (1) capable of ensuring transmission   transmission / reception of electromagnetic signals according to a first diagram of chosen extended form (2), characterized in that it comprises the following steps: - providing second antenna means (3) suitable for ensuring transmission / reception of electromagnetic signals according to a second diagram of chosen shape (4) at least partially similar to that of said first diagram (2), and5 - jointly control said first and second antenna means so that they provide transmission / reception   electromagnetic signals according to a third diagram, the shape of which results from a chosen combination of the respective contributions of the first and second diagrams.