Congruent non-uniform antenna arrays

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016172767-A1
Application number	US-201414569413-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 12, 2014
Priority date	Dec 12, 2014
Publication date	Jun 16, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatus for forming an antenna array are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, the disclosed method involves determining at least one coprime moduli set based upon a differential phase gain requirement and a differential phase range requirement for the antenna array. The method further involves producing at least one configuration for relative spacing of antenna elements of the antenna array by using at least one coprime moduli set. Also, the method involves choosing one of configurations for the antenna array to employ by evaluating a resultant gain and an unambiguous angle of arrival (AOA) for each of the configurations. Further, the method involves determining the absolute spacing of the antenna elements of the antenna array for the chosen configuration for the antenna array according to a wavelength requirement for the antenna array.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A method for forming an antenna array, the method comprising:
determining, with at least one processor, at least one coprime moduli set based upon a differential phase gain requirement and a differential phase range requirement for the antenna array; producing, with the at least one processor, at least one configuration for relative spacing of antenna elements of the antenna array by using the at least one coprime moduli set; choosing, with the at least one processor, one of the at least one configuration for the antenna array to employ by evaluating a resultant gain and an unambiguous angle of arrival (AOA) for each of the at least one configuration; and determining, with the at least one processor, absolute spacing of the antenna elements of the antenna array for the chosen configuration for the antenna array according to a wavelength requirement for the antenna array.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the antenna array is a linear array.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the antenna array is a planar array.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the antenna elements are receive elements.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the antenna elements are transmit elements.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the antenna elements are transmit and receive elements.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the absolute spacing between the antenna elements is equal to or greater than the wavelength requirement divided by two.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one coprime moduli set is determined by using a Chinese Remainder Theorem.

9 . A system for forming an antenna array, the system comprising:
the antenna array comprising a plurality of antenna elements; and at least one processor to determine at least one coprime moduli set based upon a differential phase gain requirement and a differential phase range requirement for the antenna array, to produce at least one configuration for relative spacing of the antenna elements of the antenna array by using the at least one coprime moduli set, to choose one of the at least one configuration for the antenna array to employ by evaluating a resultant gain and an unambiguous angle of arrival (AOA) for each of the at least one configuration, and to determine absolute spacing of the antenna elements of the antenna array for the chosen configuration for the antenna array according to a wavelength requirement for the antenna array.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the antenna array is a linear array.

11 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the antenna array is a planar array.

12 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the antenna elements are receive elements.

13 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the antenna elements are transmit elements.

14 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the antenna elements are transmit and receive elements.

15 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the absolute spacing between the antenna elements is equal to or greater than the wavelength requirement divided by two.

16 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the at least one coprime moduli set is determined by using a Chinese Remainder Theorem.

17 . An apparatus for forming an antenna array, the apparatus comprising:
the antenna array comprising a plurality of antenna elements; and at least one processor to determine at least one coprime moduli set based upon a differential phase gain requirement and a differential phase range requirement for the antenna array, to produce at least one configuration for relative spacing of the antenna elements of the antenna array by using the at least one coprime moduli set, to choose one of the at least one configuration for the antenna array to employ by evaluating a resultant gain and an unambiguous angle of arrival (AOA) for each of the at least one configuration, and to determine absolute spacing of the antenna elements of the antenna array for the chosen configuration for the antenna array according to a wavelength requirement for the antenna array.

18 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the antenna array is a linear array.

19 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the antenna array is a planar array.

20 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the absolute spacing between the antenna elements is equal to or greater than the wavelength requirement divided by two.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Ray Gary

Classifications

• G01S3/46

  using antennas spaced apart and measuring phase or time difference between signals therefrom, i.e. path-difference systems · CPC title

• Y02T10/82

  Elements for improving aerodynamics · CPC title

• H01Q21/0087 Primary

  Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing antenna arrays (manufacturing waveguides H01P11/00) · CPC title

• G06F30/36

  Circuit design at the analogue level · CPC title

• H01Q21/08

  the units being spaced along or adjacent to a rectilinear path {(waveguide fed H01Q21/0037)} · CPC title