US3747098A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Phased array antenna
Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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Filing: 1970-07-23
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Granted: 1973-07-17
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Expires: 1990-07-23
Abstract
Abstract A phased-array radar antenna system has a scan pattern which is pivotal about the center of the array. The scan pattern is directed from a common set of scan-control circuitry which consists primarily of digital counters and logic whose output describe the settings of ON-OFF ferrite phase shifters for the elements on one side of the array. The one''s complements of these outputs are used to control the settings for the other one-half of the array, without need for an extra least bit. Each phase shifter consists of four bits. When all four bits are in their ON state, a phase shift of 360* is obtained. The minimum or increment of phase shift is 24*.
Inventors
- 👤 G Kirkpatrick
- 👤 N Wild
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 22:14
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01Q; H01Q3/00; H01Q3/26; H01Q3/30; H01Q3/34; H01Q3/36; H01Q3/38; H01Q3/385
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
A phased-array antenna system comprising: a. an array of radiating elements; b. a microwave signal source; c. coupling means providing branch coupling between said signal source and the individual elements of said array; d. phase shifters in the individual branches of said coupling means; e. pulse-signal scan generating means for generating phaseshifter control signals; f. means coupling said scan generating means to individual phase-shifters in various branches to control the conditions of the phase shifters, thereby to control the phase shift of said microwave signal in each branch as it passes therethrough to its associated radiating element; g. each of said phase shifters comprising a plurality of individual ferrite units each of a different size to introduce a phase shift corresponding to one of a series of binary bits; h. the ferrite unit which introduces a phase shift corresponding to the minimum bit being of a size to introduce a phase shift equal to 360* divided by 2n-1, where n is equal to the number of ferrite units in the ferrite phase shifters.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
173 words
A phased-array antenna system comprising: a. an array of radiating elements; b. a microwave signal source; c. coupling means providing branch coupling between said signal source and the individual elements of said array; d. phase shifters in the individual branches of said coupling means; e. pulse-signal scan generating means for generating phaseshifter control signals; f. means coupling said scan generating means to individual phase-shifters in various branches to control the conditions of the phase shifters, thereby to control the phase shift of said microwave signal in each branch as it passes therethrough to its associated radiating element; g. each of said phase shifters comprising a plurality of individual ferrite units each of a different size to introduce a phase shift corresponding to one of a series of binary bits; h. the ferrite unit which introduces a phase shift corresponding to the minimum bit being of a size to introduce a phase shift equal to 360* divided by 2n-1, where n is equal to the number of ferrite units in the ferrite phase shifters.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
A phased-array antenna system according to claim 1 characterized in that the sum of the phase shifts capable of being introduced by the plurality of individual ferrite phase shifter units in each phase shifter is equal to 360*.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
91 words
A phased-array antenna system according to claim 1 characterized in that said phased-array antenna system is characterized by having two complementary sides, each side comprising an even number of radiating elements on each side of a center element; and further characterized in that said coupling means is an assembly which is symmetrical on each side of the branch to the center radiating element, and in that each ferrite phase shifter on one side of the center branch has a corresponding ferrite phase shifter on the other side of the center branch.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A phased-array antenna system according to claim 3 characterized in that a pulse counter is provided for each phase shifter in each branch on one side only of the center branch.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A phased-array antenna system according to claim 4 characterized in that said pulse counters comprise a plurality of bistable circuits connected in series.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A phased-array antenna system according to claim 3 characterized in that driver means are provided for driving the ferrite phase shifters.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
A phased-array antenna system according to claim 1 wherein n is equal to 4, and the phase shift introduced by the minimum ferrite units, when in the one state, is equal to 24*.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
A phased-array antenna system according to claim 1 wherein n is equal to 4 and the phase shifts introduced by the four ferrite units when in the one states are equal to 24*, 48*, 96* and 192*.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
A phased-array antenna system according to claim 6 characterized in that said driver means includes common driver means for driving corresponding ferrite phase shifter units on the two sides of the antenna array.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A phased-array antenna system according to claim 6 characterized in that the coupling means provides a corporate feed between the microwave signal source and the individual elements of the array.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
71 words
A phased-array antenna system according to claim 10 characterized: a. in that each branch of the corporate feed includes a meander line, b. in that the phase-shifter units are ferrite toroids through the aligned centers of which the meander line passes, and c. in that each ferrite toroids unit of a phase shifter has a different width along the meAnder line than the other toroid units of the same phase shifter.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
A phased-array antenna system according to claim 11 characterized in that the toroid having the greatest width and providing the largest phase shift is more remote from the radiating element than the other toroids of the same phase shifter.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
95 words
A phased-array antenna system according to claim 9 wherein: a. said system includes means for establishing and controlling the durations of a transmit period and a receive period; b. said common driver means are adapted for setting the phase-shifter units in one state for the trasmit period and in the opposite state for the receive period; c. the setting of the phase-shifter units on one side of the array is the one''s complement of the setting of the corresponding unit on the other side of the array during both of the transmit and receive periods.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
45 words
A phased-array antenna system according to claim 13 wherein: a. said driver means includes reset means; b. said reset means are dual means including dual storage capacitors for collecting energy to provide sufficient reset current to reset the phase-shifter units twice during each transmit-receive cycle.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
A phased-array antenna system according to claim 14 characterized in that a set driver is provided for each pair of corresponding ferrite toroids, and in that a separate dual reset or clear driver is provided for each pair of corresponding 4-bit phase shifters.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
56 words
A phased-array antenna system according to claim 1 wherein said system has two complimentary sides, wherein said coupling means is an assembly which is symmetrical on each side of the branch to center, and wherein each ferrite phase shifter on one side of center has a corresponding ferrite phase shifter on the other side of center.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
A phased-array antenna system according to claim 10 characterized in that: a. each branch of the corporate feed includes a meander line, and b. the phase shifter units are ferrite toroids through the aligned centers of which the meander line passes.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
A phased-array antenna system according to claim 9 characterized in that each common driver means is utilized but once during each transmit-receive cycle.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-16 | 1977-01-15 | 1977-07-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-16 | 1981-01-15 | 1981-07-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-16 | 1985-01-15 | 1985-07-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |