EP0104173A1 - An electronically scanned antenna system having a linear array of yagi antennas. - Google Patents

An electronically scanned antenna system having a linear array of yagi antennas.

Info

Publication number
EP0104173A1
EP0104173A1 EP82901744A EP82901744A EP0104173A1 EP 0104173 A1 EP0104173 A1 EP 0104173A1 EP 82901744 A EP82901744 A EP 82901744A EP 82901744 A EP82901744 A EP 82901744A EP 0104173 A1 EP0104173 A1 EP 0104173A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
antenna
yagi
antenna system
elements
yagi antennas
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP82901744A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0104173B1 (en
EP0104173A4 (en
Inventor
Frederick M Ganz
Justine D Cermignani
Richard H Imgram
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Grumman Corp
Original Assignee
Grumman Aerospace Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Grumman Aerospace Corp filed Critical Grumman Aerospace Corp
Publication of EP0104173A1 publication Critical patent/EP0104173A1/en
Publication of EP0104173A4 publication Critical patent/EP0104173A4/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0104173B1 publication Critical patent/EP0104173B1/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q21/00—Antenna arrays or systems
    • H01Q21/06—Arrays of individually energised antenna units similarly polarised and spaced apart
    • H01Q21/08—Arrays of individually energised antenna units similarly polarised and spaced apart the units being spaced along or adjacent to a rectilinear path
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q1/00—Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
    • H01Q1/27—Adaptation for use in or on movable bodies
    • H01Q1/28—Adaptation for use in or on aircraft, missiles, satellites, or balloons
    • H01Q1/286—Adaptation for use in or on aircraft, missiles, satellites, or balloons substantially flush mounted with the skin of the craft
    • H01Q1/287—Adaptation for use in or on aircraft, missiles, satellites, or balloons substantially flush mounted with the skin of the craft integrated in a wing or a stabiliser
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q1/00—Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
    • H01Q1/42—Housings not intimately mechanically associated with radiating elements, e.g. radome
    • H01Q1/428—Collapsible radomes; rotatable, tiltable radomes
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q19/00—Combinations of primary active antenna elements and units with secondary devices, e.g. with quasi-optical devices, for giving the antenna a desired directional characteristic
    • H01Q19/28—Combinations of primary active antenna elements and units with secondary devices, e.g. with quasi-optical devices, for giving the antenna a desired directional characteristic using a secondary device in the form of two or more substantially straight conductive elements
    • H01Q19/30—Combinations of primary active antenna elements and units with secondary devices, e.g. with quasi-optical devices, for giving the antenna a desired directional characteristic using a secondary device in the form of two or more substantially straight conductive elements the primary active element being centre-fed and substantially straight, e.g. Yagi antenna
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q3/00—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system
    • H01Q3/26—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system varying the relative phase or relative amplitude of energisation between two or more active radiating elements; varying the distribution of energy across a radiating aperture

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to antennas, and more particularly to an electronically scanned antenna system having a linear array of endfire elements.
  • An endfire element is defined as an element whose maximum gain is obtained along the element axis.
  • Electronically scanned linear arrays of simple elements are well known. Such arrays are generally characterized by relatively low gain, and a broad elevation pattern. Arrays of endfire elements in which scanning is accomplished mechanically by rotating the entire array are also known. These arrays are unsatisfactory when conformal mounting in the plane of the array is required, e.g., on or within airfoil surfaces (wings and horizontal stabilizer) of an aircraft.
  • United States Patent 2,236,393 discloses a broad bandwidth endfire antenna.
  • United States Patent 3,182,330 discloses an antenna array having non-uniform spacing of the individual elements.
  • United States Patent 2,425,887 discloses an endfire antenna in which all the elements are energized wittn equal voltages in proper phase.
  • United States Patent 3,258,774 discloses a series-fed phased antenna array. See also United States Fatent 3,509,577 (Kinsey).
  • United States Patent 2,419,562 discloses a binomial array for producing a clover leaf pattern having highly directive orooerties.
  • a conventional Yagi antenna is referenced in United States Patent 3,466,655 (Mayes et al.).
  • Endfire elements are known to produce nigh density with narrow patterns in both planes (azimuth and elevation), and are therefore, according to conventional practice, considered unsuitable for wide angle electronic scanning when multiple elements are are arrayed. (The scan angle limits being established by the width of the in-array element pattern.)
  • the invention advantageously utilizes arrayed multipl- elements for wide angle scanning by employing mutv. ⁇ i coupling between the elements to broaden the endfire element pattern in the plane in which electronic scanning is desired.
  • the present invention includes an electronically scanned antenna system having a linear array of endfire elements in which the endfire elements are laterally spaced between about 0.3 ⁇ to about 0.9 ⁇ apart, preferably about 0.5 ⁇ apart, to enhance the effects of the mutual coupling therebetween for broadening the radiation signal pattern in the plane of the array.
  • Electrode scanning as the term is used herein entails adjustments in the excitation coefficients (e.g., phase and amplitude) of the elements in the array in accordance with the direction in which the formation of a beam is desired.
  • Zit is well known to those skilled in the art that the beam of an antenna points in a direction that is normal to the phase front.
  • the beam of an antenna points in a direction that is normal to the phase front.
  • phase shifters are electronically actuated to permit rapid scanning and are adjusted in phase to a value between 0 and 2 ⁇ radians. While this method of electronic scanning is perhaps the most commonly used, other means may be employed to effect the same changes in the phase front of the array to produce steerage of the beam.
  • Control of the excitation coefficients of the elements of the array is commonly known as "antenna feed", and includes all means for independently or dependently controlling the amplitude and phase of the signals to or from the individual elements of the antenna array, and dividing or combining means therefor.
  • FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a linear array of endfire elements according to the present invention
  • FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a Yagi endfire element for the linear array of the present invention
  • FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of a linear array o
  • FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of a linear array of endfire elements similar to Fig. 3 being scanned at an angle ⁇ ;
  • FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of an aircraft with parts broken away to indicate the mounting thereon of linear arrays of endfire elements in accordance with the present invention.
  • an antenna according to the present invention is generally illustrated at 10. It should be understood that the antenna 10 may be used with acoustic as well as electromagnetic waves, although in the description the antenna will be described with reference to electromagnetic waves.
  • the antenna 10 includes a linear array of endfire elements 12 electronically coupled to an element driving network 14 which is conventionally known as an antenna feed.
  • Each endfire element 12 is laterally spaced a distance (D) between about 0.3 ⁇ and about 0.9 ⁇ apart, preferably about 0. 55 ⁇ apart (center-to-center) to enhance the effects of mutual coupling between the elements 12, resulting in a broadened element pattern of the mainbeam in the plane of the array, see the dotted lines and arrows in Fig. 1.
  • the length (L) of each individual element 12 is approximately 1.25 ⁇
  • a Yagi endfire element 12A for use in the array of the present invention is shown.
  • a Yagi endfire array includes at least two parasitic elements in addition to the driven element.
  • the Yagi endfire element 12A includes six conductive elements 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26.
  • Such a multiparasitic array is known as a 6-element beam. Each element has a diameter of approximately 0.01 ⁇ and a length of approximately 0.5 ⁇ .
  • the six elements 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26 are positioned in spaced parallel relationship along the same line of sight (transverse axis) with the spacing between adjacent elements being approximately . 25 ⁇ .
  • the six elements 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26 are supporte on a pair of non-conductive Plexiglass supports 28 and 30, e.g., by inserting the elements 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26 into mating holes in the Plexiglass support.
  • the supports 28 and 30 electrically insulate the elements 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26 from one another, and advantageously are substantially invisible to the resulting electromagnetic waves.
  • Element 16 is the reflector element, element 18 the driven element, and elements 20, 22, 24 and 26 the director elements.
  • a coaxial cable 32 is electrically coupled to the driven element 18 for providing a signal thereto.
  • the reflector 16 and directors 20-26 interact in a conventional manner to provide increased gain and unidirectivity to the radiated signal pattern.
  • the freespace half-power beam-widths of element 12A is 42° in the E plane and 48° in the H plane.
  • endfire elements 12A-J of the type shown in Fig. 2 are arranged in a linear array 10A.
  • the endfire elements 12A-J have a common reflector 16A and are closely spaced laterally a distance of between about 0.3 A and about 0.9 A apart, preferably about 0.55 ⁇ apart (center-to-center), to increase the effects of mutual coupling therebetween.
  • the in-array pattern i.e., the angle over which the antenna mainlobe can be electronically scanned increases from 42° for the single endfire element 12A of Fig. 2, see the dotted lines and arrows of Fig. 2, to greater than 90° in the array 10A.
  • the narrow H plane pattern of 48° for the single endfire element 12A is maintained in the array 10A.
  • the effect of closely spacing the endfire elements 12A in the linear array 10 is to broaden the element pattern in the plane of the array 10A (E plane) while preserving the narrow H plane pattern.
  • the broadened E-plane pattern of the in-array endfire element may be demonstrated as follows:
  • the elements 12A-D and 12F-J have individual terminating impedances 34A-D and 34F-J coupled to ground 36 in the array 10A.
  • the terminating impedances 34A-D and 34F-J are chosen to match the antenna driving point impedance to an antenna scan angle of 0° in the E-plane.
  • the terminating impedances 34A-D and 34F-J are 50 ohms.
  • Element 12E is monitored by meter 38 which measures the power received by element 12E when the array 10A is used as a receiving device to receive signals transmitted by a radiating device (not shown) positioned at sufficient distance from the array 10A so as to be in the far field of the array 10A.
  • the power measured in meter 38 will vary in proportion to the in-array element.pattern of element 12E. This method of pattern measurement is well known in the art.
  • the in-array element pattern measured in this manner is approximately proportional to the gain of the array 10A as a function of angle when the outputs of all of the elements 12A-J are utilized to form a beam.
  • the array 10A operates as follows: A feed means (not shown) applies transmission signals to a combining/dividing network 40 which splits the signals for transmission by the individual elements 42 of the array 44 (N elements are shown). N phase shifters 46 shift the phase of the signals in accordance with the direction in which a beam is desired. In applications where unequal amplitudes are desired for each antenna element to provide lower antenna sidelobes (commonly known as amplitude taper), the combining/dividing network 48 advantageously provides such a distribution.
  • the antenna array 10A with its feed is linear passive and bilateral and is subject to the law of re- ciprocity so that when it is used in the receiving mode its characteristics are unaltered.
  • an aircraft 48 is illustrated with antenna arrays 10 B, C and D in accordance with the present invention positioned in the wing leading edges 50 and 52 and in the horizontal stabilizer 54.
  • 360° azimuthal coverage is obtained by electronically scanning the arrays 10B-D and conventional side- looking antennas 56 and 58 mounted on opposite sides of the fuselage 60.
  • such an arrangement avoids the need for a large dome mounted on the fuselage 60 which must be mechanically rotated to provide the same 360° azimuthal coverage.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Astronomy & Astrophysics (AREA)
  • Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Remote Sensing (AREA)
  • Variable-Direction Aerials And Aerial Arrays (AREA)
  • Aerials With Secondary Devices (AREA)

Abstract

Système d'antenne à balayage électronique ayant un réseau linéaire d'élément à rayonnement longitudinal (12). Les éléments à rayonnement longitudinal (12) sont espacés latéralement entre 0,3 lambda et 0,9 lambda environ, de préférence l'espacement mutuel étant d'environ 0,55 lambda, pour améliorer les effets d'accouplement mutuel entre ces éléments pour élargir la configuration des signaux de radiation des éléments dans le plan du réseau. Avantageusement, les éléments à rayonnement longitudinal (12) peuvent être du type Yagi, chaque élément à rayonnement longitudinal comprenant un réflecteur commun (16), un élément d'attaque (18), et une pluralité d'éléments directeurs (20, 22, 24, 26).An electronic scanning antenna system having a linear array of longitudinal radiation elements (12). The longitudinal radiation elements (12) are spaced laterally between about 0.3 lambda and about 0.9 lambda, preferably the mutual spacing being about 0.55 lambda, to improve the effects of mutual coupling between these elements for expand the configuration of the radiation signals of the elements in the network plane. Advantageously, the elements with longitudinal radiation (12) can be of the Yagi type, each element with longitudinal radiation comprising a common reflector (16), a driving element (18), and a plurality of guiding elements (20, 22, 24, 26).

Description

AN ELECTRONICALLY SCANNED ANTENNA SYSTEM HAVING A LINEAR ARRAY OF ENDFIRE ELEMENTS
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to antennas, and more particularly to an electronically scanned antenna system having a linear array of endfire elements. An endfire element is defined as an element whose maximum gain is obtained along the element axis.
Electronically scanned linear arrays of simple elements are well known. Such arrays are generally characterized by relatively low gain, and a broad elevation pattern. Arrays of endfire elements in which scanning is accomplished mechanically by rotating the entire array are also known. These arrays are unsatisfactory when conformal mounting in the plane of the array is required, e.g., on or within airfoil surfaces (wings and horizontal stabilizer) of an aircraft.
Various antenna element configurations are known, United States Patent 2,236,393 (Beck et al.) discloses a broad bandwidth endfire antenna. United States Patent 3,182,330 (Blume) discloses an antenna array having non-uniform spacing of the individual elements. United States Patent 2,425,887 (Lindenblad) discloses an endfire antenna in which all the elements are energized wittn equal voltages in proper phase. United States Patent 3,258,774 (Kinsey) discloses a series-fed phased antenna array. See also United States Fatent 3,509,577 (Kinsey). United States Patent 2,419,562 (Kandoian) discloses a binomial array for producing a clover leaf pattern having highly directive orooerties. A conventional Yagi antenna is referenced in United States Patent 3,466,655 (Mayes et al.).
Moreover, generally in known antenna array construction mutual coupling is regarded as detrimental and means are taken to minimize its effect. In contrast the present invention utilizes mutual coupling to enhance antenna performance.
Endfire elements are known to produce nigh density with narrow patterns in both planes (azimuth and elevation), and are therefore, according to conventional practice, considered unsuitable for wide angle electronic scanning when multiple elements are are arrayed. (The scan angle limits being established by the width of the in-array element pattern.) In contrast with conventional practice, the invention advantageously utilizes arrayed multipl- elements for wide angle scanning by employing mutv.όi coupling between the elements to broaden the endfire element pattern in the plane in which electronic scanning is desired.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an antenna array having a high gain and narrow elevation beam, with a narrow azimuthal beam which can be electronically scanned throughout a wide azimuthal sector.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an antenna array of very small elevation so as to be suitable for installation on or within the airfoil surfaces of an aircraft, e.g., wing leading edges and the horizontal stabilizer trailing edge, usable with a suitable radome which is an integral part of the airfoil.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an anienna array having a hiah gain and broadened in-array element pattern for increasing the angle over which the antenna mainlobe can be electronically scanned.
It is a still further object of the present invention to broaden the narrow in-array element pattern of an endfire element array.
It is a still further object of the present invention to broaden the in-array pattern of an endfire element array in one plane only.
Other objects, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent when the detailed description is considered with the drawings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly, the present invention includes an electronically scanned antenna system having a linear array of endfire elements in which the endfire elements are laterally spaced between about 0.3 λ to about 0.9 λ apart, preferably about 0.5λ apart, to enhance the effects of the mutual coupling therebetween for broadening the radiation signal pattern in the plane of the array.
"Electronic scanning" as the term is used herein entails adjustments in the excitation coefficients (e.g., phase and amplitude) of the elements in the array in accordance with the direction in which the formation of a beam is desired.
Zit is well known to those skilled in the art that the beam of an antenna points in a direction that is normal to the phase front. In phased arrays the
-phas-e front is adjusted to steer the beam by individual .control of the phase excitation of each radiating element. Phase shifters are electronically actuated to permit rapid scanning and are adjusted in phase to a value between 0 and 2 π radians. While this method of electronic scanning is perhaps the most commonly used, other means may be employed to effect the same changes in the phase front of the array to produce steerage of the beam. Control of the excitation coefficients of the elements of the array is commonly known as "antenna feed", and includes all means for independently or dependently controlling the amplitude and phase of the signals to or from the individual elements of the antenna array, and dividing or combining means therefor. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a linear array of endfire elements according to the present invention;
FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a Yagi endfire element for the linear array of the present invention; FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of a linear array o
Yagi endfire elements of the type shown in Fig. 2 in which all the endfire elements have a common reflector;
FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of a linear array of endfire elements similar to Fig. 3 being scanned at an angle θ ; and
FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of an aircraft with parts broken away to indicate the mounting thereon of linear arrays of endfire elements in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to Fig. 1, an antenna according to the present invention is generally illustrated at 10. It should be understood that the antenna 10 may be used with acoustic as well as electromagnetic waves, although in the description the antenna will be described with reference to electromagnetic waves. The antenna 10 includes a linear array of endfire elements 12 electronically coupled to an element driving network 14 which is conventionally known as an antenna feed.
Each endfire element 12 is laterally spaced a distance (D) between about 0.3 λ and about 0.9 λ apart, preferably about 0. 55 λ apart (center-to-center) to enhance the effects of mutual coupling between the elements 12, resulting in a broadened element pattern of the mainbeam in the plane of the array, see the dotted lines and arrows in Fig. 1. The length (L) of each individual element 12 is approximately 1.25 λ
Referring to Fig. 2, a Yagi endfire element 12A for use in the array of the present invention is shown. As is well known, a Yagi endfire array includes at least two parasitic elements in addition to the driven element. The Yagi endfire element 12A includes six conductive elements 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26. Such a multiparasitic array is known as a 6-element beam. Each element has a diameter of approximately 0.01 λ and a length of approximately 0.5 λ .
The six elements 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26 are positioned in spaced parallel relationship along the same line of sight (transverse axis) with the spacing between adjacent elements being approximately . 25 λ . The six elements 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26 are supporte on a pair of non-conductive Plexiglass supports 28 and 30, e.g., by inserting the elements 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26 into mating holes in the Plexiglass support. The supports 28 and 30 electrically insulate the elements 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26 from one another, and advantageously are substantially invisible to the resulting electromagnetic waves.
Element 16 is the reflector element, element 18 the driven element, and elements 20, 22, 24 and 26 the director elements. A coaxial cable 32 is electrically coupled to the driven element 18 for providing a signal thereto. The reflector 16 and directors 20-26 interact in a conventional manner to provide increased gain and unidirectivity to the radiated signal pattern. The freespace half-power beam-widths of element 12A is 42° in the E plane and 48° in the H plane.
Referring to Fig. 3, ten endfire elements 12A-J of the type shown in Fig. 2 are arranged in a linear array 10A. The endfire elements 12A-J have a common reflector 16A and are closely spaced laterally a distance of between about 0.3 A and about 0.9 A apart, preferably about 0.55λ apart (center-to-center), to increase the effects of mutual coupling therebetween. With such an arrangement, the in-array pattern, i.e., the angle over which the antenna mainlobe can be electronically scanned increases from 42° for the single endfire element 12A of Fig. 2, see the dotted lines and arrows of Fig. 2, to greater than 90° in the array 10A. The narrow H plane pattern of 48° for the single endfire element 12A is maintained in the array 10A. Thus the effect of closely spacing the endfire elements 12A in the linear array 10 is to broaden the element pattern in the plane of the array 10A (E plane) while preserving the narrow H plane pattern.
The broadened E-plane pattern of the in-array endfire element may be demonstrated as follows: The elements 12A-D and 12F-J have individual terminating impedances 34A-D and 34F-J coupled to ground 36 in the array 10A. The terminating impedances 34A-D and 34F-J are chosen to match the antenna driving point impedance to an antenna scan angle of 0° in the E-plane. In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 3, the terminating impedances 34A-D and 34F-J are 50 ohms. Element 12E is monitored by meter 38 which measures the power received by element 12E when the array 10A is used as a receiving device to receive signals transmitted by a radiating device (not shown) positioned at sufficient distance from the array 10A so as to be in the far field of the array 10A. As the array 10A is rotated in angle with respect to the radiating device, the power measured in meter 38 will vary in proportion to the in-array element.pattern of element 12E. This method of pattern measurement is well known in the art. Moreover, it is also well known in the art that the in-array element pattern measured in this manner is approximately proportional to the gain of the array 10A as a function of angle when the outputs of all of the elements 12A-J are utilized to form a beam.
With reference to Fig. 4, the array 10A operates as follows: A feed means (not shown) applies transmission signals to a combining/dividing network 40 which splits the signals for transmission by the individual elements 42 of the array 44 (N elements are shown). N phase shifters 46 shift the phase of the signals in accordance with the direction in which a beam is desired. In applications where unequal amplitudes are desired for each antenna element to provide lower antenna sidelobes (commonly known as amplitude taper), the combining/dividing network 48 advantageously provides such a distribution.
The antenna array 10A with its feed is linear passive and bilateral and is subject to the law of re- ciprocity so that when it is used in the receiving mode its characteristics are unaltered.
Referring to Fig. 5, an aircraft 48 is illustrated with antenna arrays 10 B, C and D in accordance with the present invention positioned in the wing leading edges 50 and 52 and in the horizontal stabilizer 54. With this arrangement 360° azimuthal coverage is obtained by electronically scanning the arrays 10B-D and conventional side- looking antennas 56 and 58 mounted on opposite sides of the fuselage 60. Advantageously, such an arrangement avoids the need for a large dome mounted on the fuselage 60 which must be mechanically rotated to provide the same 360° azimuthal coverage.
It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, as described in the specification and defined in the appended claims .

Claims

1. An antenna system for conformal mounting on an aircraft for generating an electronically scanned main radiation lobe comprising:
(a) a linear array of Yagi antennas which are laterally spaced from one another a distance of about 0.3 λ to 0. 9 λ center to center, each of said Yagi antennas including a driven element, a reflector member and a director member, each of which having a length less than the spacing between each adjacent Yagi antenna, each of said Yagi antennas being operative to radiate: i. free space beam widths Bx and
By in the coordinate X and Y planes, respectively, the values of Bx and By being substantially less than 90°; and ii. free space maximum gain in the direction of the lengths of said Yagi antennas; and
(b) means for scanning the antenna system main lobe in the X plane over an angle A sub- stantially greater than Bx, while at the same time maintaining a system main lobe beam width in the Y plane which approximates By, said scan angle A being able to be broadened to greater than 90° as a result of enhanced mutual coupling between said Yagi antennas.
2. The antenna system of Claim 1 wherein:
The spacing between said Yagi antennas is about 0.55 λ .
3. The antenna system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein:
Bx is approximately 42°.
4. The antenna system of Claim 1, wherein:
The system main lobe beam width in the Y plane, is about 48°.
5. The antenna system claimed in Claim 1, wherein: said linear array includes ten Yagi antennas which are arrayed in the E-plane, each Yagi antenna further including three additional director members.
6. The system as defined in Claim 1, further including means for conformally mounting said Yagi antennas in an aircraft wing.
7. The system as defined in Claim 1, further including-
(1) a pair of side-looking antennae;
(2) means for conformally mounting said side-looking antennae and said electronically scanned antenna system in an aircraft whereby wide azimuthal coverage is obtained.
8. The system as defined in Claim 7, wherein there are two of said electronically scanned antenna systems and wherein said mounting means include further means for mounting said two systems in a back-to-back relationship.
9. The system as defined in Claim 7, in which said mounting means are adapted to conformally mount said electronically scanned antenna systems within the wing of said aircraft.
10. The system as defined in Claim 8, in which said further means are adapted to conformally mount said two systems in the wing and horizontal stabilizer of said aircraft, respectively.
11. The system as defined in Claim 10, wherein said side-looking antennae are conformally mounted on an aircraft fuselage.
12. The antenna system of Claim 1, wherein the reflector member of each of said Yagi antennas is a common reflector member.
13. The antenna system of Claim 1, wherein each Yagi antenna has a length of approximately 1.25λ.
14. The antenna system of Claim 1, wherein said Yagi antennas include non-conductive support means for fixedly positioning the driven element, reflector member, and driven member of each Yagi antenna relative to one another.
15. The antenna system of Claim 1 in which said driven element, reflector member and director member of each Yagi antenna are spaced from one another a distance of about 0.25λ.
EP82901744A 1982-03-26 1982-03-26 An electronically scanned antenna system having a linear array of yagi antennas Expired EP0104173B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US1982/000377 WO1983000952A1 (en) 1982-03-26 1982-03-26 An electronically scanned antenna system having a linear array of endfire elements

Publications (3)

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EP0104173A1 true EP0104173A1 (en) 1984-04-04
EP0104173A4 EP0104173A4 (en) 1984-09-28
EP0104173B1 EP0104173B1 (en) 1988-10-12

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JP (1) JPS59500645A (en)
BE (1) BE892812A (en)
DE (1) DE3279118D1 (en)
WO (1) WO1983000952A1 (en)

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GB9004024D0 (en) * 1990-02-22 1997-03-12 British Aerospace Airborne radar
FR2677813B1 (en) * 1991-06-17 1994-01-07 Tecnes Sa LOW SIZE ACTIVE ANTENNA FOR METEOROLOGICAL SATELLITE.

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US2407169A (en) * 1941-05-26 1946-09-03 Hazeltine Research Inc System for locating radiated-signal reflectors
US3373434A (en) * 1964-12-01 1968-03-12 Sperry Rand Corp Lightweight antenna formed from net of dielectric cord, having metalized sectors thereon

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Title
No relevant documents have been disclosed. *
See also references of WO8300952A1 *

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EP0104173B1 (en) 1988-10-12
JPS59500645A (en) 1984-04-12
BE892812A (en) 1982-08-02
EP0104173A4 (en) 1984-09-28
JPH0480561B2 (en) 1992-12-18
WO1983000952A1 (en) 1983-03-17
DE3279118D1 (en) 1988-11-17

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