WO2018143903A1 - A transmit chain for performing mode s all call interrogation by active phased array iff antenna - Google Patents

A transmit chain for performing mode s all call interrogation by active phased array iff antenna Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2018143903A1
WO2018143903A1 PCT/TR2017/050277 TR2017050277W WO2018143903A1 WO 2018143903 A1 WO2018143903 A1 WO 2018143903A1 TR 2017050277 W TR2017050277 W TR 2017050277W WO 2018143903 A1 WO2018143903 A1 WO 2018143903A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
sum
omni
channel
antenna
signals
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/TR2017/050277
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Inanc ALTUNGUNES
Ibrahim GORGEC
Egemen YILDIRIM
Original Assignee
Aselsan Elektronik Sanayi Ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi
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.)
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Application filed by Aselsan Elektronik Sanayi Ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi filed Critical Aselsan Elektronik Sanayi Ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi
Publication of WO2018143903A1 publication Critical patent/WO2018143903A1/en

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Classifications

    • GPHYSICS
    • G01MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01SRADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S7/00Details of systems according to groups G01S13/00, G01S15/00, G01S17/00
    • G01S7/02Details of systems according to groups G01S13/00, G01S15/00, G01S17/00 of systems according to group G01S13/00
    • G01S7/28Details of pulse systems
    • G01S7/282Transmitters
    • GPHYSICS
    • G01MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01SRADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S13/00Systems using the reflection or reradiation of radio waves, e.g. radar systems; Analogous systems using reflection or reradiation of waves whose nature or wavelength is irrelevant or unspecified
    • G01S13/74Systems using reradiation of radio waves, e.g. secondary radar systems; Analogous systems
    • G01S13/76Systems using reradiation of radio waves, e.g. secondary radar systems; Analogous systems wherein pulse-type signals are transmitted
    • G01S13/78Systems using reradiation of radio waves, e.g. secondary radar systems; Analogous systems wherein pulse-type signals are transmitted discriminating between different kinds of targets, e.g. IFF-radar, i.e. identification of friend or foe
    • G01S13/781Secondary Surveillance Radar [SSR] in general
    • G01S13/782Secondary Surveillance Radar [SSR] in general using multimoding or selective addressing
    • GPHYSICS
    • G01MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01SRADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S13/00Systems using the reflection or reradiation of radio waves, e.g. radar systems; Analogous systems using reflection or reradiation of waves whose nature or wavelength is irrelevant or unspecified
    • G01S13/02Systems using reflection of radio waves, e.g. primary radar systems; Analogous systems
    • G01S2013/0236Special technical features
    • G01S2013/0245Radar with phased array antenna
    • G01S2013/0254Active array antenna

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a transmit chain for performing Mode-S All Call Interrogation by active phased array IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) antenna.
  • active phased array IFF Identity Friend or Foe
  • amplitude of the 180° synchronization phase transition information sent from the Sum channel is greater than the amplitude of the P5 SLS pulse sent from the Omni channel.
  • the transponders on the targets detect the 180° synchronization phase transition moment in the information signal sent from the Sum channel thereby realizing that the interrogation is made to them and thus reply to the concerned interrogation.
  • the amplitude of the P5 pulse sent from the Omni channel will be greater than the amplitude at the moment when there is 180° synchronization phase transition in the signal sent from the Sum channel. Therefore, the 180° synchronization phase transition information sent from the Sum channel will be suppressed by the P5 pulse sent from the Omni channel.
  • the transponders outside of the main lobe will not be able to detect the 180° synchronization phase transition moment in the interrogation and thus will not reply to the interrogation.
  • the number of antenna elements used and the number of power amplifier modules located behind each antenna element are reduced by about 50%
  • Figure 1 - is a schematic view of the transmit chain of the present invention.
  • Figure 2 - is a graphic of Sum ( ⁇ ), Sum ( ⁇ ) & Omni ( ⁇ ), 180° reversed state of the phase of the Sum pattern (- ⁇ ) & Omni patterns ( ⁇ + ⁇ -> - ⁇ + ⁇ ).
  • Figure 3 - is a graphic of the phase change ( ⁇ + ⁇ -> - ⁇ + ⁇ ) with respect to elevation and azimuth angle of 90° - 270°.
  • FIG. 4 - is a view of the Mode-S Interrogation Pulses.
  • the components in the figures are given reference numbers as follows:
  • a transmit chain (1) for IFF interrogator systems which enables to perform Mode-S All Call Interrogation by Active Phased Array IFF Antenna, basically comprises
  • an IFF interrogator (2) which is adapted to generate a transmit waveform in Mode-S All Call format and to send signals via a Sum channel and an Omni channel,
  • adjustable attenuators (4) which enable to adjust the amplitudes of one of each Sum and Omni signal received from the chains divided by the RF dividers (3) in order to obtain Sum ( ⁇ ), Sum ( ⁇ ) + Omni ( ⁇ ) and 180° synchronization phase transition Sum pattern (- ⁇ ) + Omni pattern ( ⁇ ) at the antenna output, adjustable phase shifters (5) which enable to carry out phase adjustments of the amplitude-adjusted Sum and Omni signals in order to obtain the said patterns at the antenna output, power combiners (6) which combine the amplitude- and phase-adjusted Sum and Omni signals,
  • the transmit chain (1) comprises an IFF interrogator (2), two RF dividers (3), N number of antenna elements (8) in the form of Active Phased Array IFF Antennas and a power amplifier (7) used behind each antenna element (8), adjustable attenuator (4), adjustable phase shifter (5), power combiner (6) and power amplifier (7) ( Figure 1).
  • the said IFF interrogator (2) generates a transmit waveform in Mode-S All Call format and sends signals from a Sum channel and an Omni channel to the RF dividers (3) having N number of arms.
  • the power of each of the combined Sum and Omni signals is amplified by means of the power amplifiers (7) used behind each antenna element (8), and transferred to the antenna elements (8), whose number (N) is equal to the number of chains divided by one of the RF dividers (3), so as to be conveyed by them.
  • the regions shown with white color in Figure 3 are regions wherein the amplitude of the fifth pulse (P5) sent from the Omni channel outside of the main lobe is greater than the amplitude when there is 180° synchronization phase transition in the signal sent from the Sum channel.
  • the fifth pulse (P5) sent from the Omni channel will be suppressed by the fifth pulse (P5) sent from the Omni channel.
  • the transponders outside of the main lobe will not detect the 180° synchronization phase transition moment in the interrogation and thus not reply to the interrogation, and will be able to perform Interrogator Side Lobe Suppression (ISLS) process.
  • ISLS Interrogator Side Lobe Suppression

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Radar, Positioning & Navigation (AREA)
  • Remote Sensing (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Radar Systems Or Details Thereof (AREA)
  • Variable-Direction Aerials And Aerial Arrays (AREA)

Abstract

The present invention relates to a transmit chain (1), which enables to perform Mode-S All Call Interrogation by Active Phased Array IFF Antenna, and basically comprises an IFF interrogator (2) which is adapted to generate a transmit waveform in Mode-S All Call format and to send signals via a Sum channel and an Omni channel; RF dividers (3) which divide the signals sent via the Sum channel and Omni channel into N number of chains; adjustable attenuators (4) and adjustable phase shifters (5) which enable to carry out the required amplitude and phase adjustments behind each antenna element (8) in order to obtain the desired Sum and Omni patterns at the output of the antennas; power combiners (6) which combine the amplitude- and phase-adjusted Sum and Omni signals; power amplifiers (7) which enable to amplify the power of the combined Sum and Omni signals and feed them to the input of the antennas.

Description

A TRANSMIT CHAIN FOR PERFORMING MODE S ALL CALL INTERROGATION BY ACTIVE PHASED ARRAY IFF ANTENNA
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a transmit chain for performing Mode-S All Call Interrogation by active phased array IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) antenna.
Background of the Invention
In the state-of-the-art IFF interrogation systems; in order to carry out the process of Interrogator Side Lobe Suppression (ISLS) in All Call format, which is a Mode-S Interrogation format, interrogation signals are sent from the Sum and Omni (difference) channels simultaneously and the Sum and Omni patterns are combined in the air. When a signal containing the interrogation information is sent from the Sum channel during Mode-S All Call interrogation, a Side Lobe Suppression (SLS) control signal, which does not carry any information, is sent from the Omni channel. In Figure 4, Mode-S Interrogation waveform is illustrated. During 180° synchronization phase transition of the information signal sent from the Sum channel during Mode-S All Call interrogation, P5 pulse is sent from the Omni channel. In this case, amplitude of the 180° synchronization phase transition information sent from the Sum channel is greater than the amplitude of the P5 SLS pulse sent from the Omni channel. As a result of this, the transponders on the targets detect the 180° synchronization phase transition moment in the information signal sent from the Sum channel thereby realizing that the interrogation is made to them and thus reply to the concerned interrogation. However, outside of the main lobe, the amplitude of the P5 pulse sent from the Omni channel will be greater than the amplitude at the moment when there is 180° synchronization phase transition in the signal sent from the Sum channel. Therefore, the 180° synchronization phase transition information sent from the Sum channel will be suppressed by the P5 pulse sent from the Omni channel. Thus, the transponders outside of the main lobe will not be able to detect the 180° synchronization phase transition moment in the interrogation and thus will not reply to the interrogation.
In the IFF Interrogators used with antenna in the current IFF system applications, two power amplifiers are used in order to create Sum and Omni patterns concurrently in the air in Mode-S All Call interrogations. In the interrogations conducted in modes other than Mode-S All Call, use of one power amplifier is sufficient.
In IFF interrogation systems comprising active phased array antenna arrays; in the case that the current method of producing the Sum and Omni patterns concurrently and combining them in the air is used for carrying out the process of Interrogator Side Lobe Suppression (ISLS) in Mode-S All Call interrogation, two different antenna arrays and two power amplifiers behind each antenna element are required to be used. In this case the following disadvantages occur:
- Using two different antenna arrays for the Sum and Omni channels and two different power amplifiers behind each antenna element increases the physical size and weight of the IFF system,
- an additional requirement arises for cooling two power amplifiers behind each antenna element,
- an additional requirement arises for energizing two power amplifiers behind each antenna element,
- the cost increases since the number of system hardware components increases, and
- due to the fact that the number of system hardware components increases, the system reliability decreases as well. Problems Solved by the Invention
The same Sum and Omni patterns, which are obtained as a result of the current method of sending Sum and Omni signals from different power amplifiers and combining them in the air, can be obtained at the output of the Active Phased Array antenna of the transmit chain of the present invention by using fewer hardware components. In the IFF interrogator systems comprising Active Phased Array antenna array, the following advantages are provided if the present invention is used in place of the state-of-the-art method for performing ISLS process in Mode-S All Call interrogation;
by means of the method of the present invention, the number of antenna elements used and the number of power amplifier modules located behind each antenna element are reduced by about 50%,
the requirement of cooling decreases as one power amplifier will be used behind each antenna element,
the requirement of energizing decreases as one power amplifier will be used behind each antenna element,
since the number of system hardware components will decrease, a more cost- effective solution is provided and the system reliability increases.
Detailed Description of the Invention
A transmit chain developed to fulfill the objective of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying figures wherein,
Figure 1 - is a schematic view of the transmit chain of the present invention. Figure 2 - is a graphic of Sum (∑), Sum (∑) & Omni (Ω), 180° reversed state of the phase of the Sum pattern (-∑) & Omni patterns (Σ+Ω -> -Σ+Ω).
Figure 3 - is a graphic of the phase change (Σ+Ω -> -Σ+Ω) with respect to elevation and azimuth angle of 90° - 270°.
Figure 4 - is a view of the Mode-S Interrogation Pulses. The components in the figures are given reference numbers as follows:
1. Transmit chain
2. IFF interrogator
3. RF divider
4. Adjustable attenuator
5. Adjustable phase shifter
6. Power combiner
7. Power amplifier
8. Antenna element
Pi. First pulse
P2. Second pulse
P5. Fifth pulse
P6. Sixth pulse
A transmit chain (1) for IFF interrogator systems, which enables to perform Mode-S All Call Interrogation by Active Phased Array IFF Antenna, basically comprises
- an IFF interrogator (2) which is adapted to generate a transmit waveform in Mode-S All Call format and to send signals via a Sum channel and an Omni channel,
two RF dividers (3) which divide the Sum and Omni signals sent via the Sum channel and Omni channel into a plurality of chains,
- adjustable attenuators (4) which enable to adjust the amplitudes of one of each Sum and Omni signal received from the chains divided by the RF dividers (3) in order to obtain Sum (∑), Sum (∑) + Omni (Ω) and 180° synchronization phase transition Sum pattern (-∑) + Omni pattern (Ω) at the antenna output, adjustable phase shifters (5) which enable to carry out phase adjustments of the amplitude-adjusted Sum and Omni signals in order to obtain the said patterns at the antenna output, power combiners (6) which combine the amplitude- and phase-adjusted Sum and Omni signals,
a power amplifier (7) for each antenna element (8) which enables to amplify the power of the combined Sum and Omni signals,
- antenna elements (8) which enable to obtain Sum and Omni patterns in the air.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the transmit chain (1) comprises an IFF interrogator (2), two RF dividers (3), N number of antenna elements (8) in the form of Active Phased Array IFF Antennas and a power amplifier (7) used behind each antenna element (8), adjustable attenuator (4), adjustable phase shifter (5), power combiner (6) and power amplifier (7) (Figure 1). The said IFF interrogator (2) generates a transmit waveform in Mode-S All Call format and sends signals from a Sum channel and an Omni channel to the RF dividers (3) having N number of arms. These Sum and Omni signals sent from the IFF Interrogator (2) are divided into N number of chains by the RF dividers (3) and then transmitted to the adjustable attenuators (4) and adjustable phase shifters (5). These adjustable attenuators (4) and adjustable phase shifters (5) enable to carry out the required amplitude and phase adjustments behind each antenna element (8) in order to obtain the desired Sum and Omni patterns at the output of the antenna elements (8). The Sum and Omni signals, whose amplitudes and phases are adjusted to the desired values, are combined at the input of the power amplifier (7) modules used behind each antenna element (8), which is in the form of Active Phased Array Antenna, by means of the power combiners (6). The power of each of the combined Sum and Omni signals is amplified by means of the power amplifiers (7) used behind each antenna element (8), and transferred to the antenna elements (8), whose number (N) is equal to the number of chains divided by one of the RF dividers (3), so as to be conveyed by them.
The same Sum and Omni patterns, which are obtained as a result of the current method of sending Sum and Omni signals from different power amplifiers (7) and combining them in the air, can be obtained at the output of the Active Phased Array antenna of the transmit chain (1) of the present invention by using fewer hardware components. In this newly suggested method for Mode-S All Call interrogation, the patterns of "Sum (∑)", "Sum (∑) + Omni (Ω)" and "180° synchronization phase transition Sum pattern (-∑) + Omni pattern (Ω)", shown in Figure 2 respectively, are produced at the Active Phased Array Antenna Array output for the Sum and Omni signals combined at the inputs of the power amplifiers (7) located in front of each antenna element (8). In order to maintain amplitude and phase balance of these patterns, a specific phase and amplitude distribution is provided by using adjustable attenuators (4) and adjustable phase shifters (5) located behind each antenna element (8).
In Figure 3, the regions remaining between 180° + 90° of the phase change occurring during the transition of Σ+Ω -> -Σ+Ω are shown with black color. At these regions, "synchronization phase transition" is detected by the transponders. In this case, the Sum channel pattern is larger than the Omni channel pattern in the main lobe. As a result of this, the transponders on the targets detect the phase transition moment in the information signal sent from the Sum channel thereby realizing that the interrogation is made to them and thus reply to the concerned interrogation. However, the regions shown with white color in Figure 3 are regions wherein the amplitude of the fifth pulse (P5) sent from the Omni channel outside of the main lobe is greater than the amplitude when there is 180° synchronization phase transition in the signal sent from the Sum channel. At these regions shown with white color, 180° synchronization phase transition information sent from the Sum channel will be suppressed by the fifth pulse (P5) sent from the Omni channel. Thus, the transponders outside of the main lobe will not detect the 180° synchronization phase transition moment in the interrogation and thus not reply to the interrogation, and will be able to perform Interrogator Side Lobe Suppression (ISLS) process.

Claims

A transmit chain (1) for IFF interrogator systems, which enables to perform Mode-S All Call Interrogation by Active Phased Array IFF Antenna, basicallv comprising
- an IFF interrogator
(2) which is adapted to generate a transmit waveform in Mode-S All Call format and to send signals via a Sum channel and an Omni channel,
- two RF dividers (3) which divide the Sum and Omni signals sent via the Sum channel and Omni channel into a plurality of chains,
- adjustable attenuators (4) which enable to adjust the amplitudes of one of each Sum and Omni signal received from the chains divided by the RF dividers (3) in order to obtain Sum (∑), Sum (∑) + Omni (Ω) and 180° synchronization phase transition Sum pattern (-∑) + Omni pattern (Ω) at the antenna output,
- adjustable phase shifters (5) which enable to carry out phase adjustments of the amplitude- adjusted Sum and Omni signals in order to obtain the said patterns at the antenna output,
- antenna elements (8) which enable to obtain Sum and Omni patterns in the air,
and characterized by
- power combiners (6) which combine the amplitude- and phase-adjusted Sum and Omni signals,
- a power amplifier (7) for each antenna element (8) which enables to amplify the power of the combined Sum and Omni signals.
A transmit chain (1) for IFF interrogator systems according to Claim 1, characterized by the antenna elements (8), which is in the form of Active Phased Array Antenna, and whose number (N) is equal to the number of chains divided by one of the RF dividers (3).
3. A transmit chain (1) for IFF interrogator systems according to Claim 2, characterized by a power amplifier (7), adjustable attenuator (4), adjustable phase shifter (5) and power combiner (6) used behind each antenna element (8).
PCT/TR2017/050277 2017-02-06 2017-06-20 A transmit chain for performing mode s all call interrogation by active phased array iff antenna WO2018143903A1 (en)

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TR2017/01707 2017-02-06
TR201701707 2017-02-06

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Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN113740839A (en) * 2021-08-09 2021-12-03 四川九洲空管科技有限责任公司 Secondary radar device and method
JP7465732B2 (en) 2019-07-29 2024-04-11 タレス Secondary radar with Mode S adaptive beam control for each aircraft

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JP2011176512A (en) * 2010-02-24 2011-09-08 Nec Corp Active phased array antenna device
JP2013156054A (en) * 2012-01-27 2013-08-15 Toshiba Corp Antenna device, module control method, and secondary surveillance radar apparatus

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JP2011176512A (en) * 2010-02-24 2011-09-08 Nec Corp Active phased array antenna device
JP2013156054A (en) * 2012-01-27 2013-08-15 Toshiba Corp Antenna device, module control method, and secondary surveillance radar apparatus

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Title
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Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP7465732B2 (en) 2019-07-29 2024-04-11 タレス Secondary radar with Mode S adaptive beam control for each aircraft
CN113740839A (en) * 2021-08-09 2021-12-03 四川九洲空管科技有限责任公司 Secondary radar device and method

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