Rotating multi-beam antenna

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11923604-B2
Application number	US-202117339845-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 4, 2021
Priority date	Jun 4, 2021
Publication date	Mar 5, 2024
Grant date	Mar 5, 2024

Abstract

Apparatus and associated methods relate to using a plurality of antennas radially distributed about a rotatable turret to sequentially scan a field of view. Each of the plurality of antennas directs an electromagnetic beam and senses its reflection along a principal direction defined by a roll position of the rotatable turret and an azimuthal beam angle. The principal directions of the antennas have a unique azimuthal beam angle relative to a boresight (i.e., axis of rotation). As the turret rotates, each of these antennas is sequentially turned on at a first roll position and off at a second roll position. This enables electromagnetic beams generated by the antennas to pan a scene both in azimuth and roll. An image processor then determines, based on the reflected signals received by the plurality of antennas, directions to and/or velocities of objects within the scanned field of view.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system for radar-scanning a field of view, the system comprising:
a signal generator that generates electromagnetic signals;
a plurality of antennas radially distributed about a nose cone of a projectile, each of the plurality of antennas electrically connected to the signal generator so as to receive an electromagnetic signal that causes the antenna to direct an electromagnetic beam along a principal direction characterized by a rotational position θ to which the antenna is rotated by the nose cone of the projectile and an azimuthal beam angle ϕ with respect to a rotational axis of the nose cone of the projectile, the azimuthal beam angles of the plurality of antennas being different from one another, each of the plurality of antennas sensing a reflected portion of the electromagnetic beam reflected from objects within the field of view upon to which the electromagnetic beam has been directed,
wherein as the nose cone of the projectile rotates about the rotational axis the principal directions sweep conical figures about the rotational axis, at least a portion of the conical figures intersecting the field of view; and
an image processor that determines, based on the reflected portions of the electromagnetic beams sensed by the plurality of antennas, directions and/or ranges to and/or velocities of the objects within the field of view.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a sequencer that sequentially activates each of the plurality of antennas in sequence when the principal direction of the antenna is rotationally positioned so as to direct the electromagnetic beam toward the field of view.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a sequencer that sequentially deactivates each of the plurality of antennas in sequence when the principal direction of the antenna is rotationally positioned so as to not direct the electromagnetic beam toward the field of view.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a sequencer that sequentially activates each of the plurality of antennas when the antenna is at a first rotational position θ 1 and deactivates each of the plurality of antennas when the antenna is at a second rotational position θ 2 , wherein the first rotational position θ 1 and the second rotational position θ 2 determine boundaries of the field of view.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a rotator that rotates the nose cone of the projectile about the rotational axis.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of antennas is a patch antenna.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of antennas is a waveguide antenna.

8. A system for radar-scanning a ground-surface field of view, the system comprising:
a signal generator that generates electromagnetic signals;
a plurality of antennas radially distributed about a nose-cone of a missile, each of the plurality of antennas electrically connected to the signal generator so as to receive an electromagnetic signal that causes the antenna to direct an electromagnetic beam along a principal direction characterized by a roll orientation θ to which the antenna is rotated by the missile and an azimuthal beam angle ϕ with respect to a roll axis of the missile, the azimuthal beam angles of the plurality of antennas being different from one another, each of the plurality of antennas sensing a reflected portion of the electromagnetic beam reflected from objects within the ground-surface field of view upon to which the electromagnetic beam has been directed,
wherein as the missile rotates about the roll axis the principal directions sweep conical figures about the roll axis, at least a portion of the conical figures intersecting the ground-surface field of view; and
an image processor that determines, based on the reflected portions of the electromagnetic beams sensed by the plurality of antennas, directions and/or ranges to and/or velocities of the objects within the ground-surface field of view.

9. The system of claim 8 , further comprising:
a sequencer that sequentially activates each of the plurality of antennas in sequence when the principal direction of the antenna is rotationally positioned so as to direct the electromagnetic beam toward the field of view.

10. The system of claim 8 , further comprising:
a sequencer that sequentially deactivates each of the plurality of antennas in sequence when the principal direction of the antenna is rotationally positioned so as to not direct the electromagnetic beam toward the ground-surface field of view.

11. The system of claim 8 , further comprising:
a sequencer sequentially activates each of the plurality of antennas when the antenna is at a first rotational position θ 1 and deactivates each of the plurality of antennas when the antenna is at a second rotational position θ 2 , wherein the first rotational position θ 1 and the second rotational position θ 2 determine boundaries of the field of view.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of antennas is a patch antenna.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of antennas is a waveguide antenna.

14. The system of claim 8 , further comprising:
a nose-cone rotator that rotates the nose-cone about the roll axis.

15. A method for radar-scanning a field of view, the method comprising:
generating, via a signal generator, electromagnetic signals;
receiving, via a plurality of antennas radially distributed about a nose-cone of a projectile or missile, the electromagnetic signals generated by the signal generator;
rotating the nose-cone of the projectile or missile about a rotational axis;
directing, via each of the plurality of antennas, an electromagnetic beam along a principal direction characterized by a rotational position θ to which the antenna is rotated by the nose-cone of the projectile or missile and an azimuthal beam angle ϕ with respect to a rotational axis of the nose-cone of the projectile or missile, the azimuthal beam angles of the plurality of antennas being different from one another,
wherein as the nose-cone of the projectile or missile rotates about the rotational axis the principal directions sweep conical figures about the rotational axis, at least a portion of the conical figures intersecting the field of view;

sensing, via each of the plurality of antennas, a reflected portion of the electromagnetic beam reflected from objects within the field of view upon to which the electromagnetic beam has been directed; and
determining, via an image processor and based on the reflected portions of the electromagnetic beams sensed by the plurality of antennas, directions and/or ranges to and/or velocities of the objects within the field of view.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
sequentially activating, via a sequencer, each of the plurality of antennas in sequence when the principal direction of the antenna is rotationally positioned so as to direct the electromagnetic beam toward the field of view.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
sequentially deactivating, via a sequencer, each of the plurality of antennas in sequence when the principal direction of the antenna is rotationally positioned so as to not direct the electromagnetic beam toward the field of view.

18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising;
sequentially activating, via a sequencer, each of the plurality of antennas when the antenna is at a first rotational position θ 1 ; and
sequentially deactivating, via the sequencer, each of the plurality of antennas when t

Assignees

• Raytheon Co

Inventors

• Gamalski Andrew David
• Robledo Jaime

Classifications

• H01Q1/281 Primary

  Nose antennas · CPC title

• F41G7/2246

  Active homing systems, i.e. comprising both a transmitter and a receiver · CPC title

• F41G7/2286

  using radio waves · CPC title

• G01S13/426

  Scanning radar, e.g. 3D radar (G01S13/66 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01S13/50

  Systems of measurement based on relative movement of target · CPC title