Angular position determining systems using time scanned arrays

Claim 2

System for determining the angular position of a target with respect to a reference location, comprising: an array of antenna units at said reference location; means for supplying a pulse type signal to a unit of said array; delay means for coupling said pulse type signal to each of the remaining units of said array in a predetermined sequence and having a predetermined phase relationship such that each unit radiates a corresponding pulse type signal during a time interval unique to that unit, whereby a target located in the field of said array is illuminated by a train of radiated pulses having a phase distribution which is proportional to the angular position of said target in relation to said array; means for receiving the train of radiated pulses which have illuminated said target; and means for detecting the phase distribution of said received pulse train, by forming an electrical signal having a waveshape substantially equivalent to the field intensity characteristic which would be formed at said target by a predetermined scanning beam illuminating said target, and for providing an output indication of the angular position of said target with respect to said array and therefore with respect to said reference location.

Claim 3

A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said receiving and detecting means are at said reference location and wherein said target includes means for receiving and retransmitting said radiated pulse train to said reference location, thereby providing said output indication at said reference location.

Claim 4

A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said receiving and detecting means are at said reference location and wherein said radiated pulse train is reflected by said target to said reference location, thereby providing said output indication at said reference location.

Claim 5

A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said detecting means comprises a plurality of matched filters each matched to the phase distribution due to a selected angular position thereby providing said electrical signal from the particular filter matched to the phase distribution which corresponds to the angular position of said target with respect to said reference location.

Claim 6

A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said receiving means and said detecting means are at said target thereby providing said target with an indication of its angular position with respect to said reference location.

Claim 7

A system in accordance with claim 4, additionally capable of transmitting and receiving selected other information; wherein said pulse type signal supplying means comprises means for supplying a pulse type signal coded to represent said other information; and wherein there is additionally included at said target means for decoding said received pulses and for providing a second output indication representative of said other information.

Claim 8

System for determining the angular position of a target with respect to a reference location, comprising: an array of antenna units at said reference location; means for supplying a pulse type signal to a unit of said array; delay means for coupling said pulse type signal to each of the remaining units of said array in a predetermined sequence and having a predetermined phase relationship such that each unit radiates a corresponding pulse type signal during a time interval unique to that unit, whereby a target located in the field of said array is illuminated by a train of radiated pulses having a phase distribution which is proportional to the angular position of said target in relation to said array; means for receiving the train of radiated pulses which have illuminated said target; and a Fourier transformer for Detecting the phase distribution of said received pulse train, by forming an electrical signal having a waveshape substantially equivalent to the field intensity characteristic which would be formed at said target by a predetermined scanning beam illuminating said target, and for providing an output indication in real time which is representative of the angular position of said target with respect to said array and therefore with respect to said reference location.

Claim 9

System for determining the angular position of a target with respect to a reference location, comprising: an array of antenna units at said reference location; means for supplying a pulse type signal to a unit of said array; delay means for coupling said pulse type signal to each of the remaining units of said array in a predetermined sequence and having a predetermined phase relationship such that each unit radiates a corresponding pulse type signal during a time interval unique to that unit, whereby a target located in the field of said array is illuminated by a train of radiated pulses having a phase distribution which is proportional to the angular position of said target in relation to said array; means for receiving the train of radiated pulses which have illuminated said target; and a Fourier transformer for Detecting the phase distribution of said received pulse train, by forming an electrical signal having a waveshape substantially equivalent to the field intensity characteristic which would be formed at said target by a predetermined scanning beam illuminating said target, and for providing an output indication in real time which is representative of the angular position of said target with respect to said array and therefore with respect to said reference location.

Claim 10

A landing system for determining the angular position of an aircraft with respect to a reference location, comprising: an array of antenna units at said reference location; means for supplying a pulse type signal to a unit of said array; delay means for coupling said pulse type signal to each of the remaining units of said array in a predetermined sequence and having a predetermined phase relationship such that each unit radiates a corresponding pulse type signal during a time interval unique to that unit, whereby an aircraft located in the field of said array is illuminated by a train of radiated pulses having a phase distribution which is proportional to the angular position of said target in relation to said array; means for receiving the train of radiated pulses which have illuminated said aircraft; and means including a frequency lock loop for combining the pulses of said received pulse train to form an electrical signal having a waveshape substantially equivalent to the field intensity characteristic which would be formed at said aircraft by a predetermined scanning beam illuminating said aircraft, the center frequency of said electrical signal being representative of the angular position of said aircraft with respect to said array and therefore with respect to said reference location.

Claim 11

A landing system for determining the angular position of an aircraft with respect to a reference location, comprising: an array of antenna units at said reference location; means for supplying a pulse type signal to a unit of said array; delay means for coupling said pulse type signal to each of the remaining units of said array in a predetermined sequence and having a predetermined phase relationship such that each unit radiates a corresponding pulse type signal during a time interval unique to that unit, whereby an aircraft located in the field of said array is illuminated by a train of radiated pulses having a phase distribution which is proportional to the angular position of said target in relation to said array; means for receiving the train of radiated pulses which have illuminated said aircraft; and means including a frequency lock loop for combining the pulses of said received pulse train to form an electrical signal having a waveshape substantially equivalent to the field intensity characteristic which would be formed at said aircraft by a predetermined scanning beam illuminating said aircraft, the center frequency of said electrical signal being representative of the angular position of said aircraft with respect to said array and therefore with respect to said reference location.

Claim 12

Apparatus usable in a system for determining the angular position of a target with respect to a reference location comprising: an array of antenna units at said reference location; means for supplying a pulse type signal to a unit of said array; and delay means for coupling said pulse type signal to each of the remaining units of said array in a predetermined sequence and having a predetermined phase relationship such that each unit radiates a corresponding pulse type signal during a time interval unique to that unit and such that all units of said array do not radiate simultaneously, whereby a target located in the field of said array is illuminated by a train of radiated pulses having a phase distribution which is proportional to the angular position of said target in relation to said array.

Claim 13

Apparatus usable in a system for determining the angular position of a target with respect to a reference location comprising: an array of antenna units at said reference location; means for supplying a pulse type signal to a unit of said array; and delay means for coupling said pulse type signal to each of the remaining units of said array in a predetermined sequence and having a predetermined phase relationship such that each unit radiates a corresponding pulse type signal during a time interval unique to that unit and such that all units of said array do not radiate simultaneously, whereby a target located in the field of said array is illuminated by a train of radiated pulses having a phase distribution which is proportional to the angular position of said target in relation to said array.

Claim 14

Apparatus in accordance with claim 9, wherein each unit of said array comprises a single antenna element and wherein said supplied pulse type signal comprises a single predetermined pulse thereby producing from said array a series of radiation patterns each corresponding to the radiation pattern produced by a single antenna element.

Claim 15

Apparatus in accordance with claim 9, wherein each unit of said array comprises a single antenna element and wherein said supplied pulse type signal comprises a plurality of pulses having a predetermined width and spacing thereby producing from said array a series of radiation patterns each corresponding to the radiation pattern produced when a number of said antenna elements, equal to the number of pulses supplied, simultaneously radiate a single pulse.

Claim 16

Apparatus in accordance with claim 9, wherein each antenna unit comprises a plurality of antenna elements thereby providing from said array a series of radiation patterns each corresponding to the radiation pattern produced by a number of said antenna units, equal to the number of pulses supplied in said pulse type signal, simultaneously radiating a single pulse.

Claim 17

Apparatus in accordance with claim 9, wherein said array is a linear array and wherein said delay means comprises fixed delay lines connected between units of said array.

Claim 18

Apparatus in accordance with claim 9, additionally capable of transmitting selected other information wherein said pulse supplying means comprises means for supplying a pulse type signal coded to represent said other information.

Claim 19

Apparatus usable in a system for determining the angular position of a target with respect to a reference location, wherein said target is illuminated by a train of radiated pulses having a phase distribution which is proportional to the angular position of said target with respect to said reference location comprising: means for receiving the train of radiated pulses which have illuminated said target; and means for detecting the phase distribution of said received pulse train, by forming an electrical signal having a waveshape substantially equivalent to the field intensity characteristic which would be formed at said target by a predetermined scanning beam illuminating said target, and for providing an output indication of the angular position of said target with respect to said array and therefore with respect to said reference location.

Claim 20

Apparatus usable in a system for determining the angular position of a target with respect to a reference location, wherein said target is illuminated by a train of radiated pulses having a phase distribution which is proportional to the angular position of said target with respect to said reference location comprising: means for receiving the train of radiated pulses which have illuminated said target; and means for detecting the phase distribution of said received pulse train, by forming an electrical signal having a waveshape substantially equivalent to the field intensity characteristic which would be formed at said target by a predetermined scanning beam illuminating said target, and for providing an output indication of the angular position of said target with respect to said array and therefore with respect to said reference location.

Claim 21

Apparatus in accordance with claim 15, wherein said receiving means comprises: an array of antenna units; and delay means for coupling said units together in a predetermined sequence such that said pulses, when received by said antenna units, are assembled into a train of pulses having a staircase function waveform, said staircase function pulse train being representative of said phase distribution.

Claim 22

Apparatus in accordance with claim 15, wherein said detecting means comprises a plurality of matched filters each matched to the phase distribution due to a selected angular position thereby providing said electrical signal from the particular filter matched to the phase distribution which corresponds to the angular position of said target with respect to said reference location.

Claim 23

Apparatus in accordance with claim 15, wherein said detecting means comprises a Fourier transformer for developing said electrical signal and for providing said output indication in real time.

Claim 24

Apparatus usable in a system for determining the angular position of a target with respect to a reference location, wherein said target is illuminated by a train of radiated pulses having a phase distribution which is proportional to the angular position of said target with respect to said reference location comprising: means for receiving the train of radiated pulses which have illuminated said target; and means, including a frequency locked loop, for combining the pulses of said received pulse train to form an electrical signal having a waveshape substantially equivalent to the field intensity characteristic which would have been formed at said target by a predetermined scanning beam illuminating said target, the center frequency of said electrical signal being representative of the angular position of said target with respect to said array and therefore with respect to said reference location.

Claim 25

Apparatus usable in a system for determining the angular position of a target with respect to a reference location, wherein said target is illuminated by a train of radiated pulses having a phase distribution which is proportional to the angular position of said target with respect to said reference location comprising: means for receiving the train of radiated pulses which have illuminated said target; and means, including a frequency locked loop, for combining the pulses of said received pulse train to form an electrical signal having a waveshape substantially equivalent to the field intensity characteristic which would have been formed at said target by a predetermined scanning beam illuminating said target, the center frequency of said electrical signal being representative of the angular position of said target with respect to said array and therefore with respect to said reference location.