Optical beam former for high frequency antenna arrays

Claim 2

A transmit antenna beamforming network comprising: means for generating a beam of optical energy; modulating means for modulating said beam of optical energy in response to an input signal modulated about a first frequency; radiating means for generating a first electromagnetic field pattern by radiating said modulated beam in a first direction; constrained lens means including a first array of radiating elements for receiving said first field pattern and a second array of radiating elements for emitting an antenna driver feed beam in a second direction in response thereto; antenna array driving means electromagnetically coupled to said constrained lens means by said feed beam for providing a set of signals modulated about said first frequency; and antenna array means for radiating an electromagnetic scan beam modulated about said first frequency substantially in said second direction in response to said set of signals.

Claim 3

The transmit antenna beamforming network of claim 1 wherein said constrained lens means includes means for providing first and second concave surfaces for mounting said first and second arrays of radiating elements.

Claim 4

The transmit antenna beamforming network of claim 2 wherein said first and second concave surfaces are spherically shaped.

Claim 5

The transmit antenna beamforming network of claim 1 wherein said constrained lens means further includes interconnecting means for electro-magnetically coupling said first and second arrays of radiating elements.

Claim 6

The transmit antenna beamforming network of claim 4 wherein said interconnecting means includes a first number of transmission lines for electro-magnetically coupling each of said radiating elements within said first array to a corresponding radiating element within said second array.

Claim 7

The transmit antenna beamforming network of claim 5 wherein each of said transmission lines is of equal length.

Claim 8

The transmit antenna beamforming network of claim 1 wherein each of said first and second arrays includes a first number of radiating elements.

Claim 9

The transmit antenna beamforming network of claim 1 wherein said radiating means includes a plurality of radiating elements.

Claim 10

The transmit antenna beamforming network of claim 8 wherein said plurality of radiating elements are distributed on a convex, spherical surface positioned concentrically relative to said first concave surface.

Claim 11

The transmit antenna beamforming network of claim 1 further including matrix switching means for coupling at least a portion of said modulated beam to at least one of said radiating elements of said radiating means.

Claim 12

The transmit antenna beamforming network of claim 10 wherein said modulating means includes an electro-optic modulator positioned between said beam generating means and said matrix switching means.

Claim 13

The transmit antenna beamforming network of claim 1 wherein said antenna array driving means includes a photodiode coupled to an amplifier, said amplifier being in electrical communication with said antenna array means.

Claim 14

A phased array transmit antenna system comprising: means for generating a beam of optical energy; modulating means for modulating said beam of optical energy in response to an input signal modulated about a first frequency; first antenna means for generating a first electromagnetic field pattern by radiating said modulated beam in a first direction; constrained lens means including a first array of radiating elements for receiving said first field pattern and a second array of radiating elements for emitting an antenna driver feed beam in a second direction in response thereto, said constrained lens means further including means for providing first and second concave surfaces for mounting said first and second arrays of radiating elements; matrix switching means in communication with said modulating means for coupling at least a portion of said modulated beam to at least one of a plurality of radiating elements of said first antenna means; antenna array driving means electromagnetically coupled to said constrained lens means by said feed beam for providing a set of signals modulated about a first frequency; and antenna array means for radiating an electromagnetic scan beam modulated about a first frequency substantially in said second direction in response to said set of signals.

Claim 15

A phased array transmit antenna system comprising: means for generating a beam of optical energy; modulating means for modulating said beam of optical energy in response to an input signal modulated about a first frequency; first antenna means for generating a first electromagnetic field pattern by radiating said modulated beam in a first direction; constrained lens means including a first array of radiating elements for receiving said first field pattern and a second array of radiating elements for emitting an antenna driver feed beam in a second direction in response thereto, said constrained lens means further including means for providing first and second concave surfaces for mounting said first and second arrays of radiating elements; matrix switching means in communication with said modulating means for coupling at least a portion of said modulated beam to at least one of a plurality of radiating elements of said first antenna means; antenna array driving means electromagnetically coupled to said constrained lens means by said feed beam for providing a set of signals modulated about a first frequency; and antenna array means for radiating an electromagnetic scan beam modulated about a first frequency substantially in said second direction in response to said set of signals.

Claim 16

The transmit antenna system of claim 13 wherein said constrained lens means further includes interconnecting means for electromagnetically coupling said first and second arrays of radiating elements.

Claim 17

The transmit antenna system of claim 13 wherein said first and second concave surfaces are spherically shaped and wherein said first antenna means includes a plurality of radiating elements distributed on a convex, spherical surface positioned concentrically relative to said first concave surface.

Claim 18

The transmit antenna system of claim 13 wherein said antenna array driving means includes a photodiode coupled to an amplifier, said amplifier being in electrical communication with said antenna array means.

Claim 19

A receive antenna array system comprising: receiving antenna array means for receiving an input electromagnetic beam of a first direction modulated by a signal; constrained lens driving means for emitting a first optical beam substantially in said first direction in response to said input beam, said first beam carrying said signal; constrained lens means for receiving said first optical beam and for radiating an electromagnetic field pattern in a second direction in response thereto, said field pattern being focused on a focal plane; combining antenna means positioned in said focal plane for receiving said field pattern for forming a second optical beam carrying said signal; and receiving means operatively coupled to said first antenna means for extracting said signal from said second optical beam.

Claim 20

A receive antenna array system comprising: receiving antenna array means for receiving an input electromagnetic beam of a first direction modulated by a signal; constrained lens driving means for emitting a first optical beam substantially in said first direction in response to said input beam, said first beam carrying said signal; constrained lens means for receiving said first optical beam and for radiating an electromagnetic field pattern in a second direction in response thereto, said field pattern being focused on a focal plane; combining antenna means positioned in said focal plane for receiving said field pattern for forming a second optical beam carrying said signal; and receiving means operatively coupled to said first antenna means for extracting said signal from said second optical beam.

Claim 21

A dual mode transmit/receive antenna beamforming network/combiner comprising: means for generating a first beam of optical energy of a first wavelength; modulating means for modulating said first beam of optical energy in response to a transmit signal modulated about a first frequency; first antenna means for generating a first electromagnetic field pattern by radiating said modulated first beam in a first direction and for receiving a second electromagnetic field pattern of a second wavelength to form a second optical beam of said second wavelength; constrained lens means in communication with said first antenna means and including a first array of radiating elements for receiving said first field pattern and a second array of radiating elements for emitting a transmit feed beam in a second direction in response thereto and further for generating said second field pattern in response to a receive feed beam having said second wavelength; matrix switching means in communication with said first antenna means for coupling at least a portion of said modulated beam to at least one of a plurality of radiating elements of said first antenna means; antenna array driving means electromagnetically coupled to said constrained lens means by said transmit and receive feed beams for providing a set of signals modulated about said first frequency for driving an antenna array in response to said transmit feed beam and for generating said receive feed beam in response to an input electromagnetic beam modulated about said first frequency received by said antenna array; beam splitting means in electromagnetic communication with said first antenna means for separating said second optical beam and said modulated first beam; and receiving means coupled to said first antenna means by said second optical beam for extracting a receive signal from said second optical beam.

Claim 22

A dual mode transmit/receive antenna beamforming network/combiner comprising: means for generating a first beam of optical energy of a first wavelength; modulating means for modulating said first beam of optical energy in response to a transmit signal modulated about a first frequency; first antenna means for generating a first electromagnetic field pattern by radiating said modulated first beam in a first direction and for receiving a second electromagnetic field pattern of a second wavelength to form a second optical beam of said second wavelength; constrained lens means in communication with said first antenna means and including a first array of radiating elements for receiving said first field pattern and a second array of radiating elements for emitting a transmit feed beam in a second direction in response thereto and further for generating said second field pattern in response to a receive feed beam having said second wavelength; matrix switching means in communication with said first antenna means for coupling at least a portion of said modulated beam to at least one of a plurality of radiating elements of said first antenna means; antenna array driving means electromagnetically coupled to said constrained lens means by said transmit and receive feed beams for providing a set of signals modulated about said first frequency for driving an antenna array in response to said transmit feed beam and for generating said receive feed beam in response to an input electromagnetic beam modulated about said first frequency received by said antenna array; beam splitting means in electromagnetic communication with said first antenna means for separating said second optical beam and said modulated first beam; and receiving means coupled to said first antenna means by said second optical beam for extracting a receive signal from said second optical beam.