US3787858A - Electronic-scan antenna - Google Patents

Electronic-scan antenna Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3787858A
US3787858A US00179428A US3787858DA US3787858A US 3787858 A US3787858 A US 3787858A US 00179428 A US00179428 A US 00179428A US 3787858D A US3787858D A US 3787858DA US 3787858 A US3787858 A US 3787858A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
output
signals
frequency
coupled
circuit
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US00179428A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
J Salmon
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.)
Thales SA
Original Assignee
Thomson CSF SA
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 Thomson CSF SA filed Critical Thomson CSF SA
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3787858A publication Critical patent/US3787858A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • 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

Definitions

  • a circuit supplies the n modules [22] F'led: selfl- 1971 (where n is an integer) forming the antenna with n ⁇ 21] Appl. No.; 179,428 respective synchronization signals.
  • H0111 3/26 adder forming the sum of the output signals of the am- [58] Field of Search 343/100 SA, 854; 323/121 plitude varying means, n respective fixed gain attenuating means for attenuating said sum, n adding means [56] References Cited for respectively adding the n output signals of said n UNITED STATES PATENTS attenuating means with one of said components, and 3.329.397 7/1967 Preble 343/:00 SA multiplying mans mupled respectively to the adding 3.022.459 2/1962 Alper 323/121 means and Supplying said synchwnizam" Pn'mary ExaminerBenjamin A. Borchelt Assistant Examiner-Denis H. McCabe Attorney, Agent, or FirmCushman et al.
  • Such antennas comprise a plurality of elements or modules of identical structure, each including in particular at least one microwave power generator element, such as an elementary oscillator or amplifier, and that it is necessary to supply these with respective low-power reference signals having an identical frequency but respective different phases.
  • microwave power generator element such as an elementary oscillator or amplifier
  • phase-shifters or diode logic systems phaseshifters or diode logic systems
  • phaseshift devices In known devices, the phaseshift devices must cover the full range of phase variation (2 17) of the radiator elements of the modules with which they are associated. In the case of directional antennas, where the beam has to scan a substantial sector, say of 90, this results in very high cost equipment as soon as the number of modules is great (currently this number is for example 100 and even more).
  • controllable amplitude modifying device having a signal input coupled to said second output, a control input and a third output;
  • n fixed gain amplitude modifying devices having respective inputs, coupled in parallel, to one of said second and third outputs, and respective outputs;
  • respective adders having respective first inputs coupled respectively to said outputs of said it fixed gain modifying devices, respective second inputs coupled to that one of said second and third outputs which is not coupled to said it modifying devices, and respectives outputs;
  • respective frequency multipliers producing frequency multiplication by p, having respective inputs coupled to said adder outputs and n outputs supplying respectively said reference signals;
  • control means for controlling said controllable amplitude modifying means, said control means having an output coupled to said control input.
  • FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 illustrate by way of a reminder, a known modular antenna and the essential elements of examples of active modules, with which the invention is concerned;
  • FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate respectively block diagrams of two circuits for generating reference signals in an electronic-scan antenna using active modules, in accordance with the invention
  • FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram and FIGS. 7 and 8 are general block diagrams of improved electronicscan antennas in accordance with the invention.
  • phaseshift devices are incorporated in the respective modules with which they are associated.
  • a phase computer C or a memory device, supplies to n phase control devices C to C,, the values of the phases to be applied to devices D D,, respectively, as a function of the angle 0 of the radiation direction.
  • phaseshift elements D (i 1, 2....n), in all cases, supply n respective reference signals S S ..S,, of frequency F, which are phase shifted with respect to the master signal by d: ,(i 1,2 ..n), a quantity which may range between 0 and 2 1r.
  • the signal S and, consequently the signals S, (i l,2 togethern) will have a higher or lower power, but in all cases they will have a very low power compared with that radiated by the modules.
  • a duplexer located between the phaseshift devices and the receiver, ensures that the transmitted and receiver signals are correctly switched.
  • the invention relates to active module antennas in which the phaseshift devices are not incorporated in the modules themselves.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a known active module in the case where simultaneous transmission and reception are possible the module then essentially comprises a transmitter oscillator OE of frequency F whose phase is controlled by a synchronisation signal SE of frequency F through a phase loop PE essentially embodying a phase detector DE and an amplifier AE the signals produced by the oscialltor OE can, if required, be amplitude-modulated by an external signal 2;
  • a local oscillator OR of frequency F which differs from F whose phase is controlled by a synchronisation signal SR of frequency F through a phase loop PR essentially comprising a phase detector DR and an amplifier AR a mixer MR with one input coupled to the oscillator OR and another input coupled to the reception" terminal of the duplexer DR, which in turn is coupled to the antenna and to the oscillator OE.
  • the intermediate frequency signals at the output of the mixer MR are amplified in the amplifier Al which is coupled to the receiver R.
  • a single oscillator can be used as shown in the diagram of FIG. 3, where SW, and SW, are switches which are synchronised with the duplexer, and R, a grounding resistor for switch SW,.
  • the object of the invention is precisely the supply of the signals SE and SR; these signals are similar to the signals S, of FIG. 1.
  • the signals SE and SR are generally of the same power and may be possibly obtained from the same master generator.
  • the signals 8, are obtained in accordance with the invention from a master generator output signal of lower frequencyfequal to F/p (F being equal to F, or F, as the case may be), and, a control device.
  • Respective intermediate reference waves S, of frequency F/p are obtained for each module by the addition of two components which are in phase quadrature with respect to each other, the amplitude of at least one said components being modified (attenuated or amplified) as a function of the angle of the desired radiation direction (and this modification being the same for all the modules) and at least one of said two components being furthermore subjected to a fixed modification (attenuation or amplification) which is different for each module.
  • the signals S are then obtained from the signals S,'by frequency multiplication.
  • FIG. 4 illustrates the block diagram of a circuit for generating the signals S, in accordance with the invention
  • the two component waves respectively illustrated by the vectors V, and V, in FIG. 6 are respectively applied to the input signals of amplitude modifying devices, for example variable-gain attenuators AV, and AV,, whose gain vary as a function of the desired radiation direction 0.
  • a computer Ca or a memory device (when the values of remains fixed) supplies, to the devices CG, and CG, controlling the gain of the attenuators, the appropriate gain value indication as a function of 6.
  • the output of the attenuator AV,, producing the signal K, V, and the output of the attenuator AV,, producing the signal K, V, are coupled respectively to the inputs of an adder AD, the output of which is directly coupled in parallel to the inputs of n attenuators ATi (i l, 2.... n); the outputs of these attenuators ATi are coupled respectively to the first inputs ofn adders AD, (1' l,2...n); the respective second inputs of adders AD, are fed with signal V, (and, more generally, with one of signals V,, V,, K, V, or K, V,).
  • the outputs of the adders are connected to respective frequency multipliers X, (i l to n). For an odd value of n, the first input of the central adder [i n l/ 2 is not supplied and this adder can be discarded.
  • phase-shifting method is of particular interest in the case of a transmit-receive antenna, since it is carried out simply by means of attenuators and adders,
  • the attenuator of signal V shown at AV, comprises two symmetrical outputs supplying the signals K, V, and K, V,.
  • the signals K, V are applied to n/2 attenuators AT,....AT,,,, and the signals K, V, to the attenuators AT,,,, ,...AT,,. If n is odd, the signal K, V, supplies the attenuators AT,....AT,,, and the signal I(, V, the attenuators AT,,,,,,,,,...AT,,.
  • the signal K, V supplies the attenuators AT,....AT,,, and the signal I(, V, the attenuators AT,,,,,,,,,,...AT,.
  • FIG. 7 is the most general block diagram of a transmit/ receive electronic scan antenna comprising active modules, in accordance with the invention.
  • Two identical assemblies E, and 5,, operating at different frequencies off, and f, f, f, (or f, +f,-), f, being the intermediate frequency utilised, respectively supply the signals K, V,, K, V, and, as the case may be, K, V,, with the frequencies F, and f,.
  • the signals are applied to two sets of attenuators, adders and multipliers, B, and B, having respective structures identical to the sets AT,, AD, AD, and X, of FIG. 4 or 5.
  • the outputs of the set B are coupled to the transmission reference inputs of the modules M, and those of the set B, to the reception reference inputs of the latters.
  • a single reference input in each module is used if the modules are equipped with means for switching signals of frequency f, and f to appropriate circuits, or if it is not intended that the antenna carry out simultaneously transmission and reception in this latter case the antenna will be provided with a single set, identical to B, and B,, and a device for switching between E, and E,.
  • f does not exceed f, by more than about one-tenth of f
  • a switch SW selectively couples oscillators O, and O, to the phase-splitter MD, which is coupled to a single circuit Bo comprising the various elements shown in FIG. 4 downstream the signal generator G or in FIG. 5 downstream the phase-splitter MD.
  • the computation of K: may be carried out for each desired value of 8 in a computer, for example a digital computer associated with the antenna and coupled to a dig ital analog converter which supplies a voltage which may be applied to the control input of a diode attenuator for example.
  • the following table gives the values of the phase error due to the non linearity
  • FIG. 4 in this case I, a, (r, K )/(l r, K K and K satisfying the relation K,/( l+l(,) I, a it results that t, a, [r, (l+K,) t, a,,]/[l +r, K which is a function of K,.
  • modules for example if n 9, the modules can be grouped in three, three waves of different phases can be derived from the wave of frequency f, and each of these dealt with in the manner indicated with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.
  • An electronic scan antenna system comprising n modules Mi (1 l, 2 n) and a circuit supplying the modules with n respective reference signals Si of frequency F said circuit comprising:
  • AV controllable amplitude amplifying device
  • AD further adding means having a first input connected to said output of said controllable amplitude amplifying device (AV 1 a second input and an output,
  • respective adders AD,, ADg having respective first inputs coupled respectively to said outputs of said n fixed gain modifying devices, respective sec ond inputs coupled in parallel to said first output and respective outputs;
  • respective frequency multipliers (X., X, producing frequency multiplication by p, having respective inputs coupled to said adder outputs and n outputs supplying respectively said reference signals;
  • control means for controlling said controllahlc amplitude modifying means, said control means having an output coupled to said control input;
  • said circuit further comprises further control means (CO having an output, further controllable amplitude modifying means (AV,) having a control input coupled to said output of said further control means, a signal input coupled to said second output, and an output connected to the second input of said further adding means (AD) and further comprising a circuit for supplying said modules with n respective reference signals of frequency F said circuit having a structure identical to that of said circuit suplying said signals of frequency F with the exception that said component signals supply means supply signals of frequency f, Fg/P.
  • CO further control means
  • AV further controllable amplitude modifying means
  • AD further adding means
  • An electronic scan antenna system comprising n modules Mi (i l, 2, n) and a circuit supplying the modules with n respective reference signals Sr of frequency F, said circuit comprising:
  • AV controllable amplitude amplifying device
  • controllable amlitude amplifying device AVl a second input and an output n fixed gain amplitude modifying devices (AT,, AT having respective inputs, coupled in parallel, to said output of said further adding means and re spective outputs;
  • respective adders AD,, AD, having respective first inputs coupled respectively to said outputs of said n fixed gain modifying devices, respective second inputs coupled in parallel to said second output, and respective outputs;
  • control means for controlling said controllable amplitude modifying means, said control means having an output coupled to said control in- P wherein said circuit further comprises further control means (C62) having an output, further controllable amplitude modifying means (AV2) having a control input coupled to said output of said further control means, a signal input coupled to said second output, and an output connected to the second input of said further adding means;
  • An antenna system wherein all the elements of said two circuits are common with the exception of said oscillators, said antenna system further comprising a switch between said oscillators and said common phase-splitter, selectively coupling one of said oscillators to said phase-splitter,

Landscapes

  • Variable-Direction Aerials And Aerial Arrays (AREA)
US00179428A 1970-09-11 1971-09-10 Electronic-scan antenna Expired - Lifetime US3787858A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR7033096A FR2104973B1 (xx) 1970-09-11 1970-09-11

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3787858A true US3787858A (en) 1974-01-22

Family

ID=9061207

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00179428A Expired - Lifetime US3787858A (en) 1970-09-11 1971-09-10 Electronic-scan antenna

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US3787858A (xx)
DE (1) DE2145429C3 (xx)
FR (1) FR2104973B1 (xx)
GB (1) GB1351146A (xx)
IL (1) IL37592A0 (xx)
SE (1) SE366157B (xx)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2019044274A1 (ja) * 2017-08-30 2019-03-07 株式会社村田製作所 アンテナモジュール

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3022459A (en) * 1956-11-05 1962-02-20 Bendix Corp Phasing apparatus
US3329897A (en) * 1965-08-05 1967-07-04 Honeywell Inc Switching control apparatus for transceiver with linear phased array

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB979971A (en) * 1960-03-25 1965-01-06 Emi Ltd An improved aerial arrangement
US3454945A (en) * 1964-09-18 1969-07-08 Texas Instruments Inc Modular integrated electronics radar

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3022459A (en) * 1956-11-05 1962-02-20 Bendix Corp Phasing apparatus
US3329897A (en) * 1965-08-05 1967-07-04 Honeywell Inc Switching control apparatus for transceiver with linear phased array

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2104973B1 (xx) 1973-11-23
DE2145429A1 (de) 1972-03-16
DE2145429B2 (de) 1979-08-09
GB1351146A (en) 1974-04-24
DE2145429C3 (de) 1980-04-17
FR2104973A1 (xx) 1972-04-28
SE366157B (xx) 1974-04-08
IL37592A0 (en) 1971-12-29

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
CN103401072B (zh) 基于周期性幅度控制的相控阵天线系统及波束控制方法
US5034752A (en) Multiple-beam antenna system with active modules and digital beam-forming
US3460145A (en) Electronic scanning system for wave energy beam forming and steering with receptor arrays
US20120142280A1 (en) Low cost, active antenna arrays
CN109444824B (zh) 多通道射频应用中的相位或延迟控制
US5038147A (en) Electronically scanned antenna
US20190245598A1 (en) Method and transmitter for transmit beamforming in a wireless communication system
US5818386A (en) Design of an electronic beam forming network for phased array applications
US3474447A (en) Electronically scanned tacan antenna
US20060125687A1 (en) Distributed exciter in phased array
US3471855A (en) System for generating test signals for an array of receiver channels
US3238527A (en) Steerable antenna array
US3792478A (en) Phase control circuit
EP1208646B1 (en) Master frequency generator
CA1122284A (en) Two into three port phase shifting power divider
US3787858A (en) Electronic-scan antenna
GB1425143A (en) Antenna system for radiating doppler coded pattern using multiple beam antenna
US3555458A (en) Side band generator
US3319249A (en) Antenna array having an electrically controllable directivity pattern
AU3834293A (en) TACAN antenna and phase shifter
US2863042A (en) Echo transmitter and receiver having means to produce stable intermediate frequency despite transmitter frequency drift
US3737686A (en) Shielded balanced microwave analog multiplier
US3718933A (en) Microwave antenna
US4521893A (en) Clock distribution circuit for active aperture antenna array
US3772584A (en) Homodyne multiplier