Electronically scanned array using manifolds

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10476168-B2
Application number	US-201715613421-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 5, 2017
Priority date	Jun 5, 2017
Publication date	Nov 12, 2019
Grant date	Nov 12, 2019

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for an antenna assembly including one or more array blocks having one or more corporate manifolds, each having an input port, a plurality of output ports, and a plurality of phase shifters, each of the phase shifters located at a respective one of the output ports. Array blocks can further include a plurality of serial manifolds each having an input port and a plurality of output ports, the input port coupled to a respective output port of one of the corporate manifolds; and plurality of antenna elements coupled to respective output port of one of the serial manifolds.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An antenna assembly comprising:
one or more array blocks, at least one of the array blocks including:
one or more corporate manifolds, each of the corporate manifolds having an input port, a plurality of output ports, and a plurality of phase shifters, each of the phase shifters located at a respective one of the output ports of the corporate manifold, each of the plurality of phase shifters being arranged to receive a control signal that determines phase shift in azimuth, each of the corporate manifolds being configured to phase shift an applied RF signal in the azimuth by using the corporate manifold's respective plurality of phase shifters; and
a plurality of serial manifolds, each having an input port and a plurality of output ports, the input port of each of the serial manifolds coupled to a respective output port of one of the corporate manifolds, each of the serial manifolds being configured to passively phase shift the applied RF signal in elevation based on a frequency of the applied RF signal; and
a plurality of antenna elements coupled to each respective output port of one of the serial manifolds.

2. The antenna assembly of claim 1 wherein the serial manifolds are passive electronic elements.

3. The antenna assembly of claim 1 wherein the one or more array blocks includes at least two array blocks mechanically connected together.

4. The antenna assembly of claim 1 wherein the at least two array blocks are connected by hinged connectors.

5. The antenna assembly of claim 1 further comprising one or more support structures, wherein each of the serial manifolds is coupled to one of the support structures.

6. The antenna assembly of claim 5 wherein the support structures comprise a rigid foam material.

7. The antenna assembly of claim 5 wherein at least two serial manifolds are coupled to each of the support structures.

8. The antenna assembly of claim 5 wherein the support structures are arranged in a stack.

9. The antenna assembly of claim 8 wherein the serial manifolds are positioned on the respective support structures that all the antenna elements coupled thereto are adjacent to a first side of the stack.

10. The antenna assembly of claim 9 wherein the corporate manifolds are coupled to a second side of the stack opposite of the first side.

11. The antenna assembly of claim 5 wherein the one or more support structures includes at least six support structures each having at least two serial manifolds coupled thereto.

12. An electronically scanned array (ESA) radar system comprising:
a transmitter;
a receiver; and
an antenna assembly comprising:
one or more array blocks, at least one of the array blocks including:
one or more corporate manifolds, each of the corporate manifolds having an input port, a plurality of output ports, and a plurality of active phase shifters, each of the phase shifters located at a respective one of the output ports of the corporate manifold, each of the plurality of phase shifters being arranged to receive a control signal that determines phase shift in azimuth, each of the corporate manifolds being configured to phase shift an applied RF signal in the azimuth by using the corporate manifold's respective plurality of phase shifters; and
a plurality of serial manifolds, each having an input port and a plurality of output ports, the input port of each serial manifold coupled to a respective output port of one of the corporate manifolds, each of the serial manifolds being configured to passively phase shift the applied RF signal in elevation based on a frequency of the applied RF signal; and
a plurality of antenna elements coupled to each respective output port of one of the serial manifolds.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the serial manifolds are passive electronic elements.

14. A method for providing an antenna assembly comprising:
providing one or more array blocks, at least one of the array blocks including:
providing one or more corporate manifolds, each of the corporate manifolds having an input port, a plurality of output ports, and a plurality of phase shifters, each of the phase shifters located at a respective one of the output ports of the corporate manifold, each of the plurality of phase shifters being arranged to receive a control signal that determines phase shift in azimuth, each of the corporate manifolds being configured to phase shift an applied RF signal in the azimuth by using the corporate manifold's respective plurality of phase shifters;
providing a plurality of serial manifolds, each having an input port and a plurality of output ports, the input port of each of the serial manifolds coupled to a respective output port of one of the corporate manifolds, each of the serial manifolds being configured to passively phase shift the applied RF signal in elevation based on a frequency of the applied RF signal; and
providing a plurality of antenna elements coupled to each respective output port of one of the serial manifolds.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the serial manifolds are passive electronic elements.

Assignees

• Raytheon Co

Inventors

• Pruett James A
• Grimm Jerry M
• Clairmont Fred H
• Bernard Robert P

Classifications

• H01Q21/061

  Two dimensional planar arrays · CPC title

• H01Q21/0025 Primary

  Modular arrays · CPC title

• G01S13/878

  Combination of several spaced transmitters or receivers of known location for determining the position of a transponder or a reflector (G01S13/874 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01Q3/30

  varying the {relative} phase {between the radiating elements of an array (H01Q3/2605, H01Q3/2658, H01Q3/2682, H01Q3/44 take precedence)} · CPC title

• H01Q3/267

  Phased-array testing or checking devices · CPC title