US3701156A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Antenna array beam scanning system
Assignee: Teledyne Ryan Aeronautical Corp
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Filing: 1969-08-18
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Granted: 1972-10-24
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Expires: 1989-08-18
Abstract
Abstract An antenna array beam scanning system in which the antenna system beam pointing positions are scanned by providing a typical discriminator response for targets located at different angles to a given phase front alignment. The discriminator output is used to progressively phase the antenna array through step recovery diode local oscillators by using the discriminator output as a DC bias to linearly phase shift the step recovery diode local oscillators and make the antenna array beam track a target.
Inventors
- 👤 Derling G Killion
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 16:53
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01Q; H01Q3/00; H01Q3/26; H01Q3/2605; H01Q3/2652
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
An antenna array beam scanning system for tracking a target comprising, groups of a plurality of antenna elements having a given beam phase front with each of said antenna elements providing received signal outputs relative to the position of a target to the phase front, means for summing said signal outputs and supplying said summed signal outputs to a magic T-hybrid unit that provides sum and difference outputs, detector means for converting said sum and difference outputs to DC error signals having magnitudes that reflect the angle of said phase front to said target, each of said antenna elements having oscillator means for supplying RF energy to each of said antenna elements, and said oscillator means being responsive to said DC error signals for changing the phase front of said antenna elements to track the target.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
136 words
An antenna array beam scanning system for tracking a target comprising, groups of a plurality of antenna elements having a given beam phase front with each of said antenna elements providing received signal outputs relative to the position of a target to the phase front, means for summing said signal outputs and supplying said summed signal outputs to a magic T-hybrid unit that provides sum and difference outputs, detector means for converting said sum and difference outputs to DC error signals having magnitudes that reflect the angle of said phase front to said target, each of said antenna elements having oscillator means for supplying RF energy to each of said antenna elements, and said oscillator means being responsive to said DC error signals for changing the phase front of said antenna elements to track the target.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
An antenna array beam scanning system for tracking a target as claimed in claim 1 in which, said detector means includes a synchronous detector that supplies a DC signal to a resistance ladder, and said oscillator means being electrically connected to appropriate points along said resistance ladder.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
75 words
An antenna array beam scanning system for tracking a target as claimed in claim 2 in which, said groups comprise a pair of groups of antenna elements, power oscillator means for supplying RF energy to said oscillator means, delay means for changing the phase of the RF energy from said power oscillator means to individual ones of said antenna elements, and said means for summing comprises a summing circuit for each of said antenna groups.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
An antenna array beam scanning system for tracking a target as claimed in claim 3 in which, each of said groups of antennas have related and corresponding pairs of antenna elements, and each pair of said antenna elements are connected to a common point on said resistance ladder.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
66 words
An anTenna array beam scanning system for tracking a target as claimed in claim 4 in which, said oscillator means comprises a step recovery diode oscillator for each antenna element whose RF output frequency is determined by said power oscillator, and each of said step recovery diode oscillators being responsive to the magnitude of said DC bias for providing a given phase to said RF output.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
An antenna array beam scanning system for tracking a target as claimed in claim 5 including, circulator means electrically positioned between said step recovery diode oscillator and said antenna element and said summing circuit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
92 words
An antenna array beam scanning system for tracking a target as claimed in claim 4 in which, said oscillator means comprises a first oscillator and a second oscillator for each antenna unit, said first oscillator in response to the RF energy from said power oscillator supplies RF energy to said antenna unit, and said second oscillator comprises a step recovery diode oscillator that in response to the RF energy from said power oscillator and the magnitude of said DC bias provides a given phased error signal RF output to said antenna unit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
An antenna array beam scanning system for tracking a target as claimed in claim 7 including, a first mixing junction means for mixing the output of said first oscillator and the antenna received signal, and a second mixing junction means for mixing the output of said second oscillator and the antenna received signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
An antenna array beam scanning system for tracking a target as claimed in claim 8 including, means for feeding the signal from said first mixing junction to said summing circuit, and means for feeding the signal from said second mixing junction to an information channel output.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-24 | 1976-04-24 | 1976-10-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-24 | 1980-04-24 | 1980-10-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-24 | 1984-04-24 | 1984-10-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |