US4491845A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wide angle phased array dome lens antenna with a reflection/transmission switch
Assignee: United States Department of the Air Force
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Filing: 1982-11-23
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Granted: 1985-01-01
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Expires: 2002-11-23
Abstract
Abstract An antenna assembly configured by the combination of the high forward gain of a conventional planar phased array antenna with the wide angle scanning capability of a dome antenna. The invention includes an optically fed phased array, which may be structurally configured similar to a conventional lens array, but comprises a reflection/transmission switch and an electronic phase shifter at each radiating element. The switches facilitate operation of the phased array in two distinct modes; when the switches are set for the transmission mode, the phased array operates substantially as a conventional lens array to scan a +/-60 DEG conical sector; when the switches are set for the reflection mode, the phased array behaves like a reflect array to scan an additional +/-60 DEG to +/-120 DEG sector.
Inventors
- 👤 Carl Rothenberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 11:03
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01Q; H01Q1/00; H01Q1/27; H01Q1/28; H01Q1/281; H01Q3/00; H01Q3/44; H01Q3/46
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
An antenna arrangement for directing a collimated beam of radio frequency energy, such arrangement comprising the combination of: a stationary, dome lens antenna having substantially ogive geometry; a beam forming means, including a feed horn, situated at the zenith of said dome antenna for forming a beam of radio frequency energy; a phased array antenna situated at the opening of said dome, said phased array antenna fed by said beam of radio frequency energy and having beam directing means for creating a transmission mode of operation whereby a beam of radio frequency energy is produced in free space, or, alternately, for creating a reflection mode of operation whereby a beam of radio frequency energy is produced and directed into said dome whereby said beam undergoes refraction as it propagates through said dome lens antenna and into free space.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
138 words
An antenna arrangement for directing a collimated beam of radio frequency energy, such arrangement comprising the combination of: a stationary, dome lens antenna having substantially ogive geometry; a beam forming means, including a feed horn, situated at the zenith of said dome antenna for forming a beam of radio frequency energy; a phased array antenna situated at the opening of said dome, said phased array antenna fed by said beam of radio frequency energy and having beam directing means for creating a transmission mode of operation whereby a beam of radio frequency energy is produced in free space, or, alternately, for creating a reflection mode of operation whereby a beam of radio frequency energy is produced and directed into said dome whereby said beam undergoes refraction as it propagates through said dome lens antenna and into free space.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The antenna arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said beam directing means is composed of a plurality of radiating elements, each element having a controllable electronic phase shifter in tandem with a switch; and wherein said lens antenna is composed of discrete elements.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
85 words
The antenna arrangement according to claim 2 wherein said phase shifter and said switch includes a latching reciprocal ferrite phase shifter employing Faraday rotation in tandem with a Faraday rotator ferrite switch whereby the radio frequency energy propagates through both the phase shifter and the switch in said transmission mode of operation, and, alternately the switch effectively places a short circuit across the output of the phase shifter to direct the radio frequency energy into the dome lens antenna in the reflection mode of operation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
The antenna arrangement according to claim 3 wherein said transmission mode of operation includes means for creating an angular scanning coverage from zero to ±60 degrees as measured from an axis drawn perpendicular to said phased array antenna and passing through said beam forming means with its origin at said beam forming means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The antenna arrangement according to claim 4 wherein said reflection mode of operation includes means for creating a second angular scanning coverage from ±60 degrees to ±120 degrees as measured from said axis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The antenna arrangement according to claim 5 wherein said beam forming means includes a feed horn with a sum channel and two difference channels.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The antenna arrangement according to claim 6, further including a radome substantially enclosing said dome antenna, said beam forming means, and said phased array antenna and adaptable for use on the nose of an aircraft.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-01-01 | 1988-07-02 | 1989-01-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-01-01 | 1992-07-02 | 1993-01-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-01-01 | 1996-07-02 | 1997-01-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |