Current driver circuitry for ferrite phase shifters

Claim 2

In a phased array antenna assembly for collimating and directing a beam of electromagnetic energy by actuating, in accordance with control signals from a computer, each one of a plurality of magnetically saturable phase shifters, each one of such phase shifters including at least one magnetizable element having a first and a second saturation condition determined by the direction of electric current through an energizing coil, the improvement comprising: a. separate first and second switching means, disposed in circuit between each energizing coil and the computer, for passing electric current through each energizing coil in a direction determined by a signal from the computer; and b. switching means control circuitry, disposed in operative relationship to each one of the switching means and responsive to the saturation condition of the associated magnetizable element when a signal is applied by the computer, for permitting operation of the switching means in operative relationship with such element only when the signal from the computer commands a change in the saturating condition of the magnetizable element.

Claim 3

In a phased array antenna system wherein an antenna beam is collimated and directed in accordance with beam steering signals produced by a computer, the combination comprising: a. a plurality of magnetically saturable phase shifter elements, a portion thereof being in a saturation condition; and b. a plurality of means, each one thereof being coupled to a different one of the plurality of magnetically saturable phase shifter elements and responsive to the beam steering signals to establish a saturation condition in selected ones of such elements by supplying current to the selected ones of such magnetically saturable phase shifter elements which are in an unsaturated condition and by inhibiting current from being supplied to the selected ones of such magnetically saturable phase shifter elements which are in the saturation condition, each one of such plurality of means comprising: i. driving means having an input terminal in circuit with the computer and an output terminal in circuit with one of the plurality of magnetically saturable phase shifter elements, such driver meaNs being responsive to the beam steering signals to vary the rate of change of flux in the magnetically saturable phase shifter element in circuit therewith in accordance with the initial state of the flux therein; and ii. disabling means, coupled between the input terminal and the output terminal, and responsive to the rate of change of flux in such magnetically saturable phase shifter element to disable the driving means when the rate of change of flux produced therein reaches a saturation level.

Claim 4

In a phased array antenna system wherein an antenna beam is collimated and directed in accordance with beam steering signals produced by a computer, the combination comprising: a. a plurality of magnetically saturable phase shifter elements, a portion thereof being in a saturation condition; and b. a plurality of means, each one thereof being coupled to a different one of the plurality of magnetically saturable phase shifter elements and responsive to the beam steering signals to establish a saturation condition in selected ones of such elements by supplying current to the selected ones of such magnetically saturable phase shifter elements which are in an unsaturated condition and by inhibiting current from being supplied to the selected ones of such magnetically saturable phase shifter elements which are in the saturation condition, each one of such plurality of means comprising: i. driving means having an input terminal in circuit with the computer and an output terminal in circuit with one of the plurality of magnetically saturable phase shifter elements, such driver meaNs being responsive to the beam steering signals to vary the rate of change of flux in the magnetically saturable phase shifter element in circuit therewith in accordance with the initial state of the flux therein; and ii. disabling means, coupled between the input terminal and the output terminal, and responsive to the rate of change of flux in such magnetically saturable phase shifter element to disable the driving means when the rate of change of flux produced therein reaches a saturation level.

Claim 5

In a phased array antenna system wherein an antenna beam is collimated and directed in accordance with beam steering signals produced by a computer, the combination comprising: a. a plurality of magnetically saturable phase shifter elements; and, b. a plurality of driver means, each one thereof being coupled to a different one of the plurality of magnetically saturable elements and having means responsive to the beam steering signals, to vary the rate of change of flux, and thereby establish a saturation condition, in selected ones of such elements in accordance with such signals by supplying current to those of the selected ones of such elements which are in an unsaturated condition and by inhibiting current from being supplied to the selected elements which are in the saturation condition by means disabling each one of the plurality of driver means coupled to such remaining ones of the selected elements when the rate of change of flux produced therein reaches a saturation level.

Claim 6

In a phased array antenna system wherein an antenna beam is collimated and directed in accordance with beam steering signals produced by a computer, the combination comprising: a. a plurality of magnetically saturable phase shifter elements; and, b. a plurality of driver means, each one thereof being coupled to a different one of the plurality of magnetically saturable elements and having means responsive to the beam steering signals, to vary the rate of change of flux, and thereby establish a saturation condition, in selected ones of such elements in accordance with such signals by supplying current to those of the selected ones of such elements which are in an unsaturated condition and by inhibiting current from being supplied to the selected elements which are in the saturation condition by means disabling each one of the plurality of driver means coupled to such remaining ones of the selected elements when the rate of change of flux produced therein reaches a saturation level.