US5084708A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Pointing control for antenna system with electronic scannning and digital beam forming
Assignee: Thales SA
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Filing: 1990-08-15
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Granted: 1992-01-28
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Expires: 2010-08-15
Abstract
Abstract This antenna system has a plurality of elementary antennas configured into an array, wherein there is a reception (or transmission) channel associated with each antenna or sub-array of antennas, said reception channel having, in series: an active reception module, delay means capable of selectively introducing a pure delay of propagation of the signal picked up by the elementary antenna so as to produce a gradation of delays for the different respective elementary antennas, said gradation of delays enabling the definition of a desired pointing in the direction of the wave to be received with respect to the orientation proper to the array; and an analog/digital converter receiving, at input, the analog signal received, to deliver, at output, a corresponding digitized signal to a beam forming computer. The delay means are digital means, positioned at output of the analog/digital converter and typically comprise a digitally programmable delay generator comprising a programming input that receives a digital control word, defining the delay to be produced, from a pointing computer, a triggering input that receives pulses digitally representing the signal to be delayed and a signal output deliverying the delayed signal pulses.
Inventors
- 👤 Andre Champeau
- 👤 Serge Maclman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 07:34
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01Q; H01Q3/00; H01Q3/26; H01Q3/2682
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
An antenna system with electronic scanning and digital beam forming, including a plurality of elementary antennas configured into an array, wherein there is a reception channel associated with each elementary antenna or sub-array of elementary antennas, said reception channel comprising: an active reception module receiving a signal from said elementary antenna or of sub-array elementary antennas; an analog/digital converter receiving, at input, an analog signal from the active reception module, and outputting a corresponding digitized signal to a beam forming computer, said analog/digital converter comprising an analog signal input, a digitized signal output, and a clock signal input receiving a clock signal that controls the instant of sampling of the conversion; and a digitally programmable delay generator with a programming input that receives a digital control word from a pointing computer, said word defining a time delay to be produced, a triggering input that receives said clock signal controlling the instant of sampling of the conversion of said analog/digital converter, and a signal output connected to said clock signal input of said analog/digital converter.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
174 words
An antenna system with electronic scanning and digital beam forming, including a plurality of elementary antennas configured into an array, wherein there is a reception channel associated with each elementary antenna or sub-array of elementary antennas, said reception channel comprising: an active reception module receiving a signal from said elementary antenna or of sub-array elementary antennas; an analog/digital converter receiving, at input, an analog signal from the active reception module, and outputting a corresponding digitized signal to a beam forming computer, said analog/digital converter comprising an analog signal input, a digitized signal output, and a clock signal input receiving a clock signal that controls the instant of sampling of the conversion; and a digitally programmable delay generator with a programming input that receives a digital control word from a pointing computer, said word defining a time delay to be produced, a triggering input that receives said clock signal controlling the instant of sampling of the conversion of said analog/digital converter, and a signal output connected to said clock signal input of said analog/digital converter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
An antenna system according to claim 1, wherein each channel also includes controlled phase shifter means, for selectively introducing a phase delay in the analog signal, so as to enable a fine adjustment of the time delays produced by the digital delay means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
181 words
An antenna system with electronic scanning and digital beam forming, including a plurality of elementary antennas configured into an array, wherein there is a transmission channel associated with each elementary antenna or sub-array of elementary antennas, said transmission channel comprising: a digital/analog converter receiving, at input, from a beam forming computer, a digital signal to be transmitted and delivering, at output, a corresponding analog signal comprising a digital input, an analog signal output, and a clock signal input receiving a clock signal that controls the instant of sampling of the conversion; an active transmission module receiving the analog signal delivered by said digital/analog converter and delivering a transmitted signal to said elementary antenna or sub-array of elementary antennas; and a digitally programmable delay generator with a programming input that receives a digital control word from a pointing computer, said word defining a time delay to be produced, a triggering input that receives said clock signal controlling the instant of sampling of the conversion of said digital/analog converter, and a signal output connected to said clock signal input of said digital/analog converter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
181 words
An antenna system with electronic scanning and digital beam forming, including a plurality of elementary antennas configured into an array, wherein there is a transmission channel associated with each elementary antenna or sub-array of elementary antennas, said transmission channel comprising: a digital/analog converter receiving, at input, from a beam forming computer, a digital signal to be transmitted and delivering, at output, a corresponding analog signal comprising a digital input, an analog signal output, and a clock signal input receiving a clock signal that controls the instant of sampling of the conversion; an active transmission module receiving the analog signal delivered by said digital/analog converter and delivering a transmitted signal to said elementary antenna or sub-array of elementary antennas; and a digitally programmable delay generator with a programming input that receives a digital control word from a pointing computer, said word defining a time delay to be produced, a triggering input that receives said clock signal controlling the instant of sampling of the conversion of said digital/analog converter, and a signal output connected to said clock signal input of said digital/analog converter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
An antenna system according to claim 3, wherein each channel also includes controlled phase shifter means, for selectively introducing a phase delay in the analog signal, so as to enable a fine adjustment of the time delays produced by the digital delay means.
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) | 1995-01-27 | 1995-07-29 | 1996-01-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-01-27 | 1999-07-29 | 2000-01-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-01-27 | 2003-07-29 | 2004-01-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |