US3653057A - Simplified multi-beam cylindrical array antenna with focused azimuth patterns over a wide range of elevation angles - Google Patents

Simplified multi-beam cylindrical array antenna with focused azimuth patterns over a wide range of elevation angles Download PDF

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Publication number
US3653057A
US3653057A US101300A US3653057DA US3653057A US 3653057 A US3653057 A US 3653057A US 101300 A US101300 A US 101300A US 3653057D A US3653057D A US 3653057DA US 3653057 A US3653057 A US 3653057A
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networks
feed
ports
forming
cylindrical array
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US101300A
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Gregory G Charlton
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TDK Micronas GmbH
ITT Inc
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Deutsche ITT Industries GmbH
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    • 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
    • H01Q3/30—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 varying the relative phase between the radiating elements of an array
    • H01Q3/34—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 varying the relative phase between the radiating elements of an array by electrical means
    • H01Q3/40—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 varying the relative phase between the radiating elements of an array by electrical means with phasing matrix

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A simplified multi-beam cylindrical array antenna system in which the feed and scanning system is simplified. Radiator elements grouped into columns are fed by a beam-forming matrix which has a number of input ports, each corresponding to a discrete elevation beam angle. The ports of the beam-forming matrix are grouped together in zones, each zone being fed by a combining network having a single common or input terminal.
  • the present invention relates to antenna systems, and more particularly, to electronic scanning cylindrical arrays most useful in the microwave region.
  • Cylindrical array antenna systems usually considered for scanning systems fall into two main categories.
  • the first is a simple separable ring with column feeds, where each ring (or column) has the same excitation as the other excited rings (or columns).
  • the other category comprises the complex independent clement feed arrangements, where each element in the array is independently controlled in amplitude and phase. Both these categories can be achieved without requiring any circuit losses to be included in the ideal sense.
  • the horizontal ring excitation in amplitude and phase, is formed independently of the vertical column excitation.
  • provisions for stepping and/or scanning the beam 360 in azimuth can be included in the form of a matrix feed.
  • Such a matrix feed has the capability for switching the excitation around the aperture one column at a time, thus maintaining the pattern shape.
  • a single ring feed for any arbitrary number of elements in a column follows from this relatively simple approach.
  • the column feed is constructed of passive elements to provide the required vertical fan beam.
  • the inherent disadvantage of such a system is that the vertical fan beam does not retain its azimuthal characteristics constant at all elevation angles. That is to say, the beam is not uniformly focused over its entire elevation angular coverage. This effect is caused by defocusing phase errors introduced by the geometry of the cylinder and is a fundamental property of a cylindrical array antenna. An illustration of this prior art effect is included in the drawings accompanying this specification.
  • the aforementioned more complex independent cylindrical array antenna system includes an independent element feed and amounts to a brute force" approach, in that every radiating element is controlled independently in amplitude and phase.
  • Such an approach completely eliminates the defocusing problem associated with the simpler separable technique, and accordingly, it could be regarded as the theoretically ideal approach.
  • the implementation of such a technique is, however, a very great task, results in a very large amount ofequipment, and is, therefore, very expensive.
  • programming means must be provided so that the excitation can be varied in an unusual pattern in amplitude and phase. Moreover, this excitation must be switched around the cylinder to provide 360 of scanning.
  • a switching matrix equivalent to the matrix in the so-called separable" technique, is required for each and every ring of elements in the array. Thus, for a cylindrical array with 20 elements in a column, 20 separate switching matrices would be used to scan the beam. It will be realized that such a system is much too expensive to be considered practical, except in the most demanding and sophisticated situations where cost is not a prime consideration.
  • the multi-beam cylindrical array antenna feed and scanning concepts included in this invention provide an approximation to the ideal excitation afforded by the independent" technique using a network to drive the radiating elements which is just slightly more complex than that required for the simple separable" technique. The ability to achieve this result without requiring any circuit loss is retained.
  • the present invention is subject to variations within the concepts.
  • each column drive would consist of a complete beam-forming matrix with N input beam ports and N output radiating element connections. Each port would form a horizontal fan beam at different elevation angle. Combining fan beams generated at the same elevation by each column by means of an azimuthal ring feed, results in a pencil beam at that elevation angle. Moreover, there will be a separate beam-forming matrix port representing each discrete elevation beam angle. Each pencil beam thus generated is, of course, focused for its particular elevation angle.
  • each pencil beam could, in a system of that type, be independently presented or generated contemporaneously in order to form a merging of beams to provide a vertically oriented fan beam pattern; still preserving the separate port concept thus applicable to each separate beam or each elevation angular level or zone within the composite fan beam.
  • the individual columns of radiators acting as linear arrays cooperate with adjacent columns over the cylindrical array aperture to combine beams with the required amplitude in phase to form the desired vertical fan beam.
  • An azimuth feed and scanning matrix applicable to each corresponding level (zone) of beam forming matrix ports provides for azimuth scanning in accordance with means to be described in more detail as this specification proceeds.
  • a very important aspect of the present invention is its adaptability to simplification by grouping together beamforming matrix ports, forming zoned portions of the elevation fan beam into fewer ring feeds and azimuth scanning matrices.
  • the beam-forming matrix which may be a Butler matrix, or the so-called equal path length beam-forming matrix using crossed-line directional couplers
  • These sidelobe ports can use the same ring feed (azimuth feed and scanning matrix) as the adjacent port that forms a portion of the required fan beam shape.
  • the sidelobes will, in that case, be defocused in azimuth which will tend to suppress their level.
  • This simplification reduces the number of total vertical ports as well as the number of ring feeds and azimuth scan matrices included with them. For example, for a cylindrical array having 20 elements in a column, only 6 total ports, ring feeds and scanning matrices are needed to form a shaped fan beam over about a 34 elevation angle.
  • each of the 6 beams, forming the total shaped fan beam and elevation is focused in azimuth by using separate ring feeds, resulting in ideal focus about every 5.7".
  • the amount of defocusing over 5.7 range is slight, it will be realized that the number of beam ports and ring feeds can be further reduced. If only 3 beam ports and ring feeds are used, each with two adjacent beams, then the perfect focusing angles are about I 1.4 apart.
  • the resulting simplified muIti-beam cylindrical array antenna affords a very substantial improve- 'm'ent over the aforementioned fseparable" technique array drive arrangement.
  • FIG. 1 is an Equi-Powe'r Contour illustration for a prior art cylindrical array antenna using a separable ring and column feed arrangement to show'the inherent defocusing problem;
  • FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating the principles and connections of a system in accordance with the present invention
  • FIG. 3 is a typical end-on view of a fan beam composed of3 pencil beams in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a more detailed showing of the beam-forming network connections within the device of FIG. 2.
  • FIG. 1 a self-explanatory diagram is presented illustrating the defocusing (beam broadening) effect encountered in the so-called prior art separable technique as applied to a cylindrical array.
  • the equal power contour lines are shown as viewed looking radially into a typical shaped beam cylindrical array antenna.
  • the array was focused in azimuth at an average elevation angle; however, significant defocusing takes place as the elevation angle departs from this design angle to either side of this arbitrarily selected elevation angle.
  • the actual amount of defocusing depends on the radius of the cylinder, the width of the sector of concern and the wavelength of operation. Nevertheless, the defocusing effect illustrated is pertinent for a typical situation and a typical combination of physical parameters.
  • FIG. 2 a functional and structural block diagram of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is presented.
  • a number of identical network column feed assemblies of which is typical, are distributed about the array aperture.
  • Each of these columns has a plurality of radiating elements illustrated as dipoles, typically 30. It should be understood that the representation of a dipole is typical only, other types of radiators, such as slots of the various types, are frequently employed in this art, and are entirely consistent with the concept of the present invention.
  • the element 10 referred to on FIG. 2 as an elevation beam forming network and radiators, is shown in more detail in FIG. 4. Suffice to say at this point in the description, that each of the three combination ports 16, 17 and 18 correspond to suitable feeds within 10 for producing the respective beams a, 15b and 150.
  • Each of the three ports 16, 17 and 18 is fed from a separate azimuth feed and scanning matrix, correspondingly 11, 12 and 13.
  • these three azimuth feed and scanning matrices ll, 12 and 13 each have a number of terminals identified as terminals 19 through 25.
  • the terminals 19 On 11, for example, the terminals 19,
  • the three input ports 16, 17 and 18, for the device 10 are typically fed from 21, 24 and 25, respectively, from the corresponding ones of I 1, l2 and 13. It will be seen from the foregoing, that three zones of elevation plane feed have thus been established, these corresponding directly to the three beams illustrated generally at 15.
  • the one remaining element consists of the elevation distribution network 14.
  • This device is merely a combining circuit or branching network. Such devices are known and used, for example, for the feeding of subarrays from a common line. Such a device instrumented in wave guide is illustrated in FIG. 49,
  • FIG. 3 is entirely self-explanatory when related to the beams, generally at 15, in FIG. 2.
  • the nature of an elevation fan beam synthesized in the manner of this invention is better understood from F IG. 3.
  • a beam forming matrix 10a is shown.
  • This device can be any one of several microwave circuits capable of providing the function. Basically, it is a muIti-port device which positions a beam from the associated linear array (column of radiating elements) at a different discrete angle according to which port is excited.
  • FIG. 57 Pages 11-66.
  • One is the so-called Equal Path Length Beam-Forming Matrix, and the other is the so-called Butler Matrix. Both are well known per se in this art.
  • the beam ports of such a beam-forming matrix are combined into three zones in accordance with the hereinbefore described theory of this invention.
  • three branch (combining) circuits 27, 28 and 29 are employed). These are equivalent in structure to the device 14 and functionanalogously.
  • the grouping of the ports of 10a in FIG. 4 is, of course, illustrative only, as are the number of array elements and the actual number of zones corresponding to terminals 16, 17 and 13.
  • a cylindrical antenna array system which includes a plurality of radiating elements circumferentially spaced in rows and columns and a plurality of beam-forming matrices, one for each of said columns of radiating elements, each of said beam-forming matrices having a descrete output connected to each of said radiating elements in a corresponding column to form a pattern composed of a combination of individual pencil beams at discrete angles in the direction of the axis of said cylindrical array, the combination comprising:
  • a plurality of combining circuits for assembling the feeds of said beam-forming matrix ports into adjacent groups each of an independent predetermined number of said ports, said combining circuits each having a combining circuit common feed terminal;
  • a multi-beam cylindrical array antenna system comprisa plurality of radiating elements spaced in rows and columns about said cylindrical array, said columns extending in the same direction as the axis of said cylindrical array;
  • each ofsaid beam-forming networks having a discrete output connected to each of said radiating elements in a corresponding column, each of said beam-forming networks also having a plurality of input ports each corresponding to a discrete beam angle in an axial plane containing said cylindrical axis and the corresponding column;
  • independent column zone feed means comprising a plurality of combining networks each having an input and a plurality of outputs, said outputs being interconnected with a predetermined plurality of adjacent input ports of a corresponding one of said beam-forming networks; scanning means comprising a plurality of orthogonal plane feed networks, each of said orthogonal feed networks having an input terminal and a plurality of output terminals each corresponding to a discrete beam angle measured in a plane substantially at right angles to said axis of said cylindrical array, each of said output terminals being connected to said input of one of said first combining networks corresponding to a discrete one of said column zones, thereby to produce a predetermined radiation pattern in said orthogonal plane; and means comprising a distribution network for connecting said orthogonal feed network input terminals to a common antenna system radio frequency terminal.
  • Apparatus according to claim 5 in which the number of input ports of said beam-forming networks combined in each of said combining networks is substantiall equal.
  • m w lch said beam-forming networks are Butler matrices each having a number of said input ports equal to the number of radiating elements in the corresponding column.

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US101300A 1970-12-24 1970-12-24 Simplified multi-beam cylindrical array antenna with focused azimuth patterns over a wide range of elevation angles Expired - Lifetime US3653057A (en)

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JP (1) JPS5330845U (OSRAM)
DE (1) DE2162068A1 (OSRAM)
FR (1) FR2119053B1 (OSRAM)
IT (1) IT943805B (OSRAM)

Cited By (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3731315A (en) * 1972-04-24 1973-05-01 Us Navy Circular array with butler submatrices
US3868695A (en) * 1973-07-18 1975-02-25 Westinghouse Electric Corp Conformal array beam forming network
US3887926A (en) * 1973-11-14 1975-06-03 Singer Co Phased array scanning antenna
US3940770A (en) * 1974-04-24 1976-02-24 Raytheon Company Cylindrical array antenna with radial line power divider
US3964066A (en) * 1975-01-02 1976-06-15 International Telephone And Telegraph Corporation Electronic scanned cylindrical-array antenna using network approach for reduced system complexity
US3979754A (en) * 1975-04-11 1976-09-07 Raytheon Company Radio frequency array antenna employing stacked parallel plate lenses
US4080605A (en) * 1976-08-26 1978-03-21 Raytheon Company Multi-beam radio frequency array antenna
EP0374008A1 (fr) * 1988-12-16 1990-06-20 Thomson-Csf Antenne à couverture tridimensionnelle et balayage électronique, du type réseau volumique raréfié aléatoire
US4980692A (en) * 1989-11-29 1990-12-25 Ail Systems, Inc. Frequency independent circular array
US5214436A (en) * 1990-05-29 1993-05-25 Hazeltine Corp. Aircraft antenna with coning and banking correction
US5793332A (en) * 1991-12-10 1998-08-11 Raytheon Ti Systems, Inc. Wide field-of-view fixed body conformal antenna direction finding array
WO2003019726A3 (en) * 2001-08-22 2003-04-10 Raytheon Co Conformal two dimensional electronic scan antenna with butler matrix and lens esa
US20050259005A1 (en) * 2004-05-20 2005-11-24 Interdigital Technology Corporation Beam forming matrix-fed circular array system
EP1733248A4 (en) * 2004-03-15 2008-11-05 Syracuse Res Corp PORTABLE ANTI-MORTAR RADAR SYSTEM
EP2290744A1 (en) * 2009-08-07 2011-03-02 Centre National D'etudes Spatiales Closed shape beam forming network
US20150323658A1 (en) * 2014-05-06 2015-11-12 Mark Resources, Inc. Marine Radar Based on Cylindrical Array Antennas with Other Applications
US20150323659A1 (en) * 2014-05-06 2015-11-12 Mark Resources, Inc. Marine Radar Based on Cylindrical Array Antennas with Other Applications

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5181850A (en) * 1987-11-27 1993-01-26 Stefan Neumeyer Mechanical connecting elements

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3568207A (en) * 1969-02-25 1971-03-02 Us Navy Parallel-plate feed system for a circular array antenna

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3568207A (en) * 1969-02-25 1971-03-02 Us Navy Parallel-plate feed system for a circular array antenna

Cited By (24)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3731315A (en) * 1972-04-24 1973-05-01 Us Navy Circular array with butler submatrices
US3868695A (en) * 1973-07-18 1975-02-25 Westinghouse Electric Corp Conformal array beam forming network
US3887926A (en) * 1973-11-14 1975-06-03 Singer Co Phased array scanning antenna
US3940770A (en) * 1974-04-24 1976-02-24 Raytheon Company Cylindrical array antenna with radial line power divider
US3964066A (en) * 1975-01-02 1976-06-15 International Telephone And Telegraph Corporation Electronic scanned cylindrical-array antenna using network approach for reduced system complexity
US3979754A (en) * 1975-04-11 1976-09-07 Raytheon Company Radio frequency array antenna employing stacked parallel plate lenses
US4080605A (en) * 1976-08-26 1978-03-21 Raytheon Company Multi-beam radio frequency array antenna
EP0374008A1 (fr) * 1988-12-16 1990-06-20 Thomson-Csf Antenne à couverture tridimensionnelle et balayage électronique, du type réseau volumique raréfié aléatoire
FR2640821A1 (fr) * 1988-12-16 1990-06-22 Thomson Csf Antenne a couverture tridimensionnelle et balayage electronique, du type reseau volumique rarefie aleatoire
US5038149A (en) * 1988-12-16 1991-08-06 Thomson-Csf Antenna with three-dimensional coverage and electronic scanning, of the random spare volume array type
US4980692A (en) * 1989-11-29 1990-12-25 Ail Systems, Inc. Frequency independent circular array
US5214436A (en) * 1990-05-29 1993-05-25 Hazeltine Corp. Aircraft antenna with coning and banking correction
US5793332A (en) * 1991-12-10 1998-08-11 Raytheon Ti Systems, Inc. Wide field-of-view fixed body conformal antenna direction finding array
WO2003019726A3 (en) * 2001-08-22 2003-04-10 Raytheon Co Conformal two dimensional electronic scan antenna with butler matrix and lens esa
AU2002331683B2 (en) * 2001-08-22 2004-04-22 Raytheon Company Conformal two dimensional electronic scan antenna with butler matrix and lens ESA
EP1733248A4 (en) * 2004-03-15 2008-11-05 Syracuse Res Corp PORTABLE ANTI-MORTAR RADAR SYSTEM
US20050259005A1 (en) * 2004-05-20 2005-11-24 Interdigital Technology Corporation Beam forming matrix-fed circular array system
EP2290744A1 (en) * 2009-08-07 2011-03-02 Centre National D'etudes Spatiales Closed shape beam forming network
US20110050498A1 (en) * 2009-08-07 2011-03-03 Centre National D'etudes Spatiales Closed shape beam forming network
US8384594B2 (en) 2009-08-07 2013-02-26 Centre National D'etudes Spatiales Closed shape beam forming network
US20150323658A1 (en) * 2014-05-06 2015-11-12 Mark Resources, Inc. Marine Radar Based on Cylindrical Array Antennas with Other Applications
US20150323659A1 (en) * 2014-05-06 2015-11-12 Mark Resources, Inc. Marine Radar Based on Cylindrical Array Antennas with Other Applications
US9599704B2 (en) * 2014-05-06 2017-03-21 Mark Resources, Inc. Marine radar based on cylindrical array antennas with other applications
US9696419B2 (en) * 2014-05-06 2017-07-04 Mark Resources, Inc. Marine radar based on cylindrical array antennas with other applications

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Publication number Publication date
DE2162068A1 (de) 1972-06-29
FR2119053A1 (OSRAM) 1972-08-04
FR2119053B1 (OSRAM) 1976-12-03
JPS5330845U (OSRAM) 1978-03-16
IT943805B (it) 1973-04-10

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