US3604000A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Antenna testing apparatus and method
Assignee: Raytheon Co
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Filing: 1969-07-31
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Granted: 1971-09-07
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Expires: 1989-07-31
Abstract
Abstract An antenna radiation pattern-measuring system and method for permitting measurement of a selected parameter of a pattern to be measured without requiring the use of a standard target or a remotely located receiver. According to the invention, the beam from an optically fed phased array is periodically focused on a sensor, which may be the feed horn of the antenna, so that substantially all of the energy radiated in the test beam or beams from the array is utilized to measure the selected parameter.
Inventors
- 👤 Anthony Briana
- 👤 Arthur Crain
- 👤 Burrell R Hatcher
- 👤 Edward J Sheldon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 15:06
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01Q; H01Q3/00; H01Q3/26; H01Q3/267; G; G01; G01R; G01R29/00; G01R29/08; G01R29/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
In a radar system normally operated sequentially to generate radiofrequency signals in a transmitter, then to form and propagate such signals in a collimated beam from an antenna array including a radiating source and beam-forming elements and, finally, to pass reflected signals from distant targets back through such array to a receiver, a monitoring arrangement comprising: a. first means for periodically adjusting each one of the beamforming elements in the antenna array to focus energy propagated therefrom on the radiating source; b. second means synchronously operated with the first means for energizing the radiating source with radiofrequency energy to actuate the beam-forming elements; and c. third means for measuring a predetermined parameter of the radiofrequency energy finally propagated from the beam-forming elements and returned to the radiating source.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
128 words
In a radar system normally operated sequentially to generate radiofrequency signals in a transmitter, then to form and propagate such signals in a collimated beam from an antenna array including a radiating source and beam-forming elements and, finally, to pass reflected signals from distant targets back through such array to a receiver, a monitoring arrangement comprising: a. first means for periodically adjusting each one of the beamforming elements in the antenna array to focus energy propagated therefrom on the radiating source; b. second means synchronously operated with the first means for energizing the radiating source with radiofrequency energy to actuate the beam-forming elements; and c. third means for measuring a predetermined parameter of the radiofrequency energy finally propagated from the beam-forming elements and returned to the radiating source.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
93 words
A monitoring arrangement as in claim 1 wherein: a. the radiating source is at least one feed horn; b. each one of the beam-forming elements includes at least one reentrant phase shifter for the radio frequency energy, each such phase shifter being responsive to a control signal impressed thereon to change the phase energy redirected thereby; and, c. the first means includes a source of control signals to change the phase of the radiofrequency energy to effect focusing of energy redirected by the at least one reentrant phase shifter on the radiating source.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
A monitoring arrangement as in claim 2 wherein the third means includes means for measuring the sum of and the difference between the power of the radiofrequency energy returned to each feed horn of a selected pair thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A monitoring arrangement as in claim 2 wherein the third means includes radiofrequency power means for measuring the power of the radiofrequency energy returned to the at least one feed horn.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
84 words
The method of monitoring a selected parameter of the radiation pattern of an antenna array which includes at least one radiating element and a plurality of individually adjustable beam-forming elements comprising the steps of: a. periodically adjusting each one of the beam-forming elements to focus energy redirected therefrom back to the at least one radiating element; b. measuring a predetermined parameter of such redirected energy; and c. readjusting each one of the beam-forming elements to restore the normal radiation pattern of the antenna array.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
84 words
The method of monitoring a selected parameter of the radiation pattern of an antenna array which includes at least one radiating element and a plurality of individually adjustable beam-forming elements comprising the steps of: a. periodically adjusting each one of the beam-forming elements to focus energy redirected therefrom back to the at least one radiating element; b. measuring a predetermined parameter of such redirected energy; and c. readjusting each one of the beam-forming elements to restore the normal radiation pattern of the antenna array.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3221328A
Cited
US3449746A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-09-06 | 1975-03-08 | 1975-09-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-06 | 1979-03-08 | 1979-09-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-06 | 1983-03-08 | 1983-09-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |