Array antenna for radiating doppler coded pattern using phase control

Claim 2

An antenna system for radiating wave energy into a region of space during a time period and in a desired radiation pattern wherein the frequency of said radiated energy within said region varies with at least one of the components of angular direction from said antenna system comprising: an array of antenna element columns arranged along a predetermined path for radiating supplied wave energy signals, said columns comprising one or more antenna elements and means for coupling supplied wave energy signals to said elements; means for supplying wave energy signals to said columns curing said time period; and means for controlling the phase of the individual wave energy signals supplied to each of said columns to produce phase reinforcement of the energy radiated by adjacent columns in a direction which continuously changes during said period, no two pairs of adjacent columns having the same direction of phase reinforcement at any particular time during said period; thereby causing said antenna system to radiate said desired radiation pattern.

Claim 3

An antenna system as specified in claim 1 wherein said predetermined path is linear.

Claim 4

An antenna system as specified in claim 2 wherein said wave energy signals are supplied to said columns during a succession of said time periods.

Claim 5

An antenna system as specified in claim 2 wherein said phase control means comprises a plurality of phase shifters and a control unit for supplying phase control signals to said phase shifters.

Claim 6

An antenna system as specified in claim 2 wherein each of said columns comprises a single element.

Claim 7

An antenna system for radiating wave energy into a region of space during a time period and in a desired radiation pattern wherein the frequency of said radiated energy within said region varies with at least one of the components of angular direction from said antenna system comprising: an array of antenna element columns, arranged along a predetermined curved path, for radiating supplied wave energy signals, said columns comprising one or more antenna elements and means for coupling supplied wave energy signals to said elements; means for supplying wave energy signals to said columns during said time period; and means for controlling the phase of the individual wave energy signals supplied to each of said columns to produce phase reinforcement of the energy radiated by adjacent columns in a direction which continuously changes during said period, no two pairs of adjacent columns having the same direction of phase reinforcement at any time during said period; thereby causing said antenna system to radiate said desired radiation pattern.

Claim 8

An antenna system for radiating wave energy into a region of space during a time period and in a desired radiation pattern wherein the frequency of said radiated energy within said region varies with at least one of the components of angular direction from said antenna system comprising: an array of antenna element columns, arranged along a predetermined curved path, for radiating supplied wave energy signals, said columns comprising one or more antenna elements and means for coupling supplied wave energy signals to said elements; means for supplying wave energy signals to said columns during said time period; and means for controlling the phase of the individual wave energy signals supplied to each of said columns to produce phase reinforcement of the energy radiated by adjacent columns in a direction which continuously changes during said period, no two pairs of adjacent columns having the same direction of phase reinforcement at any time during said period; thereby causing said antenna system to radiate said desired radiation pattern.

Claim 9

An antenna system as specified in claim 6 wherein said predetermined curved path is a circular arc.

Claim 10

An antenna system as specified in claim 6 wherein said wave energy signals are supplied to said columns during a succession of said time periods.

Claim 11

An antenna system as specified in claim 6 wherein said phase control means comprises a plurality of phase shifters and a control unit for supplying phase control signals to said phase shifters.

Claim 12

An antenna system as specified in claim 6 wherein each of said columns comprises a single element.

Claim 13

An antenna system as specified in claim 6 wherein the wave energy signals supplied to all columns have a particular rate of phase variation For each direction of phase reinforcement of the signals radiated by pairs of adjacent elements.

Claim 14

An antenna system for radiating wave energy into a region of space during a time period and in a desired radiation pattern wherein the frequency of said radiated energy within said region varies with at least one of the components of angular direction from said antenna system comprising: an array of antenna element columns, equally spaced along a circular arc, for radiating supplied wave energy signals, each of said columns comprising one or more antenna elements and means for coupling supplied wave energy signals to said elements; means for supplying wave energy signals to said columns during said time period; a plurality of phase shifters for individually controlling the phase of the wave energy signals supplied to each of said columns; and a control unit for controlling siad phase shifters such that the phase of the wave energy signal supplied to any column is continuously changing during said time period in relation to the phase of the wave energy signals supplied to the adjacent columns and at any time during said time period the wave energy signals supplied to any pair of adjacent columns have the same phase difference as the wave energy signals supplied to any other pair of adjacent columns; thereby causing said antenna unit to radiate said desired radiation pattern.

Claim 15

An antenna system for radiating wave energy into a region of space during a time period and in a desired radiation pattern wherein the frequency of said radiated energy within said region varies with at least one of the components of angular direction from said antenna system comprising: an array of antenna element columns, equally spaced along a circular arc, for radiating supplied wave energy signals, each of said columns comprising one or more antenna elements and means for coupling supplied wave energy signals to said elements; means for supplying wave energy signals to said columns during said time period; a plurality of phase shifters for individually controlling the phase of the wave energy signals supplied to each of said columns; and a control unit for controlling siad phase shifters such that the phase of the wave energy signal supplied to any column is continuously changing during said time period in relation to the phase of the wave energy signals supplied to the adjacent columns and at any time during said time period the wave energy signals supplied to any pair of adjacent columns have the same phase difference as the wave energy signals supplied to any other pair of adjacent columns; thereby causing said antenna unit to radiate said desired radiation pattern.

Claim 16

An antenna system as specified in claim 11 wherein said antenna element columns are slotted waveguides.

Claim 17

An antenna system as specified in claim 11 wherein wave energy signals are supplied to some of said columns during only a portion of said time period.

Claim 18

An antenna system for radiating wave energy into a region of space during a time period and in a desired radiation pattern wherein the frequency of said radiated energy within said region varies with at least one of the components of angular direction from said antenna system comprising: a planar array of antenna element columns, arranged along a predetermined path, for radiating supplied wave energy signals, said columns comprising one or more antenna elements and means for coupling wave energy signals to said elements; means for simultaneously supplying a plurality of wave energy signals during said time period, one to each of said columns; and means for controlling the phase of the individual wave energy signals supplied to each of said columns to produce phase reinforcement of the energy radiated by adjacent columns in a direction which continuously changes during said period, no two pairs of adjacent elements having the same direction of phase reinforcement at any time during said period; thereby causing said antenna system to radiate said desired radiation pattern.

Claim 19

An antenna system for radiating wave energy into a region of space during a time period and in a desired radiation pattern wherein the frequency of said radiated energy within said region varies with at least one of the components of angular direction from said antenna system comprising: a planar array of antenna element columns, arranged along a predetermined path, for radiating supplied wave energy signals, said columns comprising one or more antenna elements and means for coupling wave energy signals to said elements; means for simultaneously supplying a plurality of wave energy signals during said time period, one to each of said columns; and means for controlling the phase of the individual wave energy signals supplied to each of said columns to produce phase reinforcement of the energy radiated by adjacent columns in a direction which continuously changes during said period, no two pairs of adjacent elements having the same direction of phase reinforcement at any time during said period; thereby causing said antenna system to radiate said desired radiation pattern.

Claim 20

An antenna system for radiating wave energy into a region of space during a time period in a desired radiation pattern wherein the frequency of said radiated energy within said region varies with at least one of the components of angular direction to said antenna system comprising: a planar array of antenna element columns, equally spaced along a predetermined path, for radiating supplied wave energy signals, said columns comprising one or more antenna elements and means for coupling wave energy to said elements; means for simultaneously supplying a plurality of wave energy signals during said time period, one to each of said columns; a number of phase shifters, equal to the number of said columns of elements, for controlling the phase of the individual wave energy signals supplied to each of said columns; and a control unit for controlling said phase shifters such that the phase of the wave energy signals supplied to any column is constantly changing during said time period in relation to the phase of the wave energy signals supplied to the adjacent column and signals supplied to no two pairs of adjacent columns simultaneously have the same phase relation at any particular time during said periOd; thereby causing said antenna system to radiate said desired radiation pattern.

Claim 21

An antenna system for radiating wave energy into a region of space during a time period in a desired radiation pattern wherein the frequency of said radiated energy within said region varies with at least one of the components of angular direction to said antenna system comprising: a planar array of antenna element columns, equally spaced along a predetermined path, for radiating supplied wave energy signals, said columns comprising one or more antenna elements and means for coupling wave energy to said elements; means for simultaneously supplying a plurality of wave energy signals during said time period, one to each of said columns; a number of phase shifters, equal to the number of said columns of elements, for controlling the phase of the individual wave energy signals supplied to each of said columns; and a control unit for controlling said phase shifters such that the phase of the wave energy signals supplied to any column is constantly changing during said time period in relation to the phase of the wave energy signals supplied to the adjacent column and signals supplied to no two pairs of adjacent columns simultaneously have the same phase relation at any particular time during said periOd; thereby causing said antenna system to radiate said desired radiation pattern.