Patent US3787859A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3787859A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Scanning cylindrical antenna for a phase comparison guidance system
Assignee: TDK Micronas GmbH
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Filing: 1971-09-29
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Granted: 1974-01-22
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Expires: 1991-09-29
Abstract
Abstract A circular or cylindrical scanning antenna array having circumferentially spaced radiating elements fed substantially in phase from a source of a carrier frequency with an imposed reference signal. In addition, an additional energy component is coupled in discretely to each radiating element through a fixed phase shifter for each such element. The fixed phase shifters have values beginning at zero for an arbitrary predetermined element location and then increasing in equal steps of theta where theta is the angular radiating element spacing about the perimeter. The additional energy fed through these phase shifters is modulated by a predetermined modulation signal to produce a single sideband. The result is a scanning, or rotating, amplitude modulated pattern similar to that used in the VOR or TACAN system.
Inventors
- 👤 S Howard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 16:02
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01Q; H01Q3/00; H01Q3/26; H01Q3/30; H01Q3/34; G; G01; G01S; G01S1/00; G01S1/02; G01S1/08; G01S1/44; G01S1/46
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
228 words
An omni-directional antenna array and scanning system for rotating a predetermined substantially symmetrical pattern in a first plane; comprising: a plurality of antenna elements spaced around a substantially circular perimeter in said plane, said elements being arranged for radiation generally radially; first feed means connected from a source of radio frequency carrier energy and connected to provide substantially equal power and phase energization of said elements; controllable phase shift means connected through a coupler to receive a fraction of said carrier energy, said controllable phase shift means being responsive to a modulation frequency signal to produce a continuously phase shifted radio frequency signal as a function of said modulation frequency signal; second feed means for substantially equal power distribution of said continuously phase shifted radio frequency signal to said antenna elements; and a plurality of fixed phase shifters, one for each of said antenna elements, each of said fixed phase shifters connected discretely from said second feed means to a corresponding one of said antenna elements, the radio frequency phase shift of a first of said fixed shifters being an arbitrary value and each other of said fixed shifters providing an additional phase shift in degrees equal to theta , where theta is the angle in degrees, of location of the corresponding antenna element measured with respect to said first fixed phase shifter through 360* about said perimeter.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
228 words
An omni-directional antenna array and scanning system for rotating a predetermined substantially symmetrical pattern in a first plane; comprising: a plurality of antenna elements spaced around a substantially circular perimeter in said plane, said elements being arranged for radiation generally radially; first feed means connected from a source of radio frequency carrier energy and connected to provide substantially equal power and phase energization of said elements; controllable phase shift means connected through a coupler to receive a fraction of said carrier energy, said controllable phase shift means being responsive to a modulation frequency signal to produce a continuously phase shifted radio frequency signal as a function of said modulation frequency signal; second feed means for substantially equal power distribution of said continuously phase shifted radio frequency signal to said antenna elements; and a plurality of fixed phase shifters, one for each of said antenna elements, each of said fixed phase shifters connected discretely from said second feed means to a corresponding one of said antenna elements, the radio frequency phase shift of a first of said fixed shifters being an arbitrary value and each other of said fixed shifters providing an additional phase shift in degrees equal to theta , where theta is the angle in degrees, of location of the corresponding antenna element measured with respect to said first fixed phase shifter through 360* about said perimeter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said antenna elements are defined as being substantially equally angularly spaced about said perimeter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 in which said first plane is the azimuth plane and said antenna elements each comprise a linear array extending in a direction substantially normally to said first plane to form a cylindrical array.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 including a discrete directional coupler for connecting each of said fixed phase shifters to said corresponding antenna element, thereby to mix a predetermined phase modulated signal percentage into the energy radiated.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 including an amplifier responsive to the output of said controllable phase shift means to permit said controllable phase shift means to operate at a relatively low power level and, at the same time, providing adequate drive power for said second feed means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
133 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 including means for generating a second modulation signal which is a synchronous harmonic of said modulation frequency signal, a second controllable phase shifter coupled to said source of carrier and connected to be controlled by said second modulation signal to produce a second continuously phase shifted radio frequency signal as a function of said harmonic frequEncy, third feed means for substantially equal power distribution of said second continuously phase shifted radio frequency signal to said antenna elements, and a second plurality of fixed phase shifters having individual phase shifts at said harmonic frequency which are equal to the corresponding one of said fixed phase shifters multiplied by the order of said harmonic, said second fixed phase shifters being also discretely connected to corresponding ones of said antenna elements.
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) | 1977-01-21 | 1977-07-23 | 1978-01-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-21 | 1981-07-23 | 1982-01-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-21 | 1985-07-23 | 1986-01-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |