Patent US6697017B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6697017B1
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All digital apparatus for bearing measurement of electromagnetic sources
Assignee: Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd
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Filing: 2000-11-06
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Granted: 2004-02-24
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Expires: 2020-11-06
Abstract
Abstract A device and method for determining the bearing of an incoming RF signal. The signal is received using a plurality of primary antenna element (5). Each antenna element feeds into a respective receiving channel (6) that downconverts the received RF signal to IF, preferably by mixing with a local oscillator signal. The local oscillator signal may be produced by diverting and combining portions of the received RF signals, by receiving the incoming RF signal using one or more auxiliary antennas (11), or by a tunable oscillator. Preferably, the local oscillator signal is conditioned and filtered before mixing. The IF signals are processed, either by analog or digital means, to infer the bearing of the incoming RF signal.
Inventors
- 👤 Amir Shmuel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 06:25
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S3/00; G01S3/02; G01S3/14; G01S3/46; G01S3/48; G01S3/04; G01S3/043
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
72 words
A device for determining a bearing of an incoming RF signal, comprising: (a) a plurality of primary antenna elements for receiving the RF signal; (b) for each said primary antenna, a receiving channel for downconverting the received RF signal to a respective IF signal, each said IF signal having a respective amplitude and a respective phase; and (c) a processing mechanism for explicitly inferring the bearing from said amplitudes and said phases.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
72 words
A device for determining a bearing of an incoming RF signal, comprising: (a) a plurality of primary antenna elements for receiving the RF signal; (b) for each said primary antenna, a receiving channel for downconverting the received RF signal to a respective IF signal, each said IF signal having a respective amplitude and a respective phase; and (c) a processing mechanism for explicitly inferring the bearing from said amplitudes and said phases.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 1 , wherein said primary antenna elements are equally spaced around at least a portion of a circle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 1 , further comprising: (d) for each said primary antenna, an amplifier for amplifying said received RF signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 1 , wherein said receiving channels are homodyne receivers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 1 , wherein said receiving channels are heterodyne receivers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
The device of claim 1 , further comprising: (d) a source of a local oscillator signal; and wherein each said receiving channel includes a port for receiving said local oscillator signal, said each receiving channel mixing said local oscillator signal with said RF signal to produce said respective IF signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
The device of claim 6 , wherein said source includes: (i) a complex weighting combiner; and (ii) for each said primary antenna, a power splitter for diverting a portion of said received RF signal to said complex weighting combiner.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device of claim 7 , wherein said complex weighting combiner includes, for each said primary antenna, a respective I/Q modulator.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 7 , wherein said complex weighting combiner includes, for each said primary antenna, a respective phase shifter and attenuator.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 6 , wherein said source includes at least one auxiliary antenna for receiving the RF signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 6 , wherein said source includes a tunable oscillator.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device of claim 6 , further comprising: (e) a distribution mechanism for distributing said local oscillator signal to said ports.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 12 , wherein said distribution mechanism is operative to condition said local oscillator signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 13 , wherein said conditioning is selected from the group consisting of amplifying, amplitude limiting and frequency shifting.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 12 , wherein said distribution mechanism is operative to filter said local oscillator signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
The device of claim 1 , wherein said processing mechanism includes: (i) for each said receiving channel, a digitizer for digitizing said respective IF signal; and (ii) a digital signal processor for computing the bearing from said digitized signals.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 1 , wherein said processing mechanism is an analog processing mechanism.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device of claim 17 , wherein said analog processing mechanism includes components selected from the group consisting of hybrid networks, phase shifters, attenuators and I/Q modulators.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 17 , wherein said processing mechanism includes an IF Butler matrix.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of determining a bearing of an incoming RF signal, comprising the steps of: (a) receiving the incoming RF signal, at a plurality of primary antenna elements, as a corresponding plurality of received RF signals; (b) downconverting the received RF signals to corresponding IF signals, each said IF signal having a respective amplitude and phase; and (c) explicitly inferring the bearing from said amplitudes and said phases.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of determining a bearing of an incoming RF signal, comprising the steps of: (a) receiving the incoming RF signal, at a plurality of primary antenna elements, as a corresponding plurality of received RF signals; (b) downconverting the received RF signals to corresponding IF signals, each said IF signal having a respective amplitude and phase; and (c) explicitly inferring the bearing from said amplitudes and said phases.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 20 , further comprising the step of: (d) amplifying said received RF signals.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 20 , further comprising the step of: (d) providing a local oscillator signal, said downconverting being effected by steps including mixing each said received RF signal with said local oscillator signal.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 22 , wherein said providing of said local oscillator signal is effected by steps including: (i) diverting a portion of each said received RF signal; and (ii) combining said diverted RF signals.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 23 , wherein said combining is effected using a complex weighting combiner.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 22 , wherein said providing of said local oscillator signal is effected by steps including receiving the incoming RF signal using at least one auxiliary antenna.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 22 , wherein said providing of said local oscillator signal is effected using a tunable oscillator.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
79 words
The method of claim 22 , wherein said providing of said local oscillator signal is effected by switching among at least two candidate signals selected from the group consisting of: (i) a first candidate signal obtained by steps including diverting and combining portions of said received RF signals; (ii) a second candidate signal obtained by steps including receiving the incoming RF signal using at least one auxiliary antenna; and (iii) a third candidate signal produced by a tunable oscillator.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
78 words
The method of claim 22 , wherein said providing of said local oscillator signal is effected by multiplexing at least two candidate signals selected from the group consisting of: (i) a first candidate signal obtained by steps including diverting and combining portions of said received RF signals; (ii) a second candidate signal obtained by steps including receiving the incoming RF signal using at least one auxiliary antenna; and (iii) a third candidate signal produced by a tunable oscillator.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 22 , further comprising the step of: (e) conditioning said local oscillator signal, prior to said mixing.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 29 , wherein said conditioning includes at least one step selected from the group consisting of amplifying, amplitude limiting and frequency shifting.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 22 , further comprising the step of: (e) filtering said local oscillator signal, prior to said mixing.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 20 , wherein said inferring is effected by steps including: (i) digitizing said IF signals; and (ii) digitally processing said digitized IF signals.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 32 , wherein said digital processing includes beam shaping.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 32 , wherein said digital processing includes emulating a Butler matrix.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 20 , wherein said inferring is effected using an analog processing mechanism.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 20 , wherein said downconverting is effected using, for each said received RF signal, a corresponding receiving channel, the method further comprising the step of: (d) calibrating each said receiving channel.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 36 , wherein said calibrating includes injecting a calibration signal into each said receiving channel.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 37 , wherein said injecting is effected, for all said receiving channels, at a common reference plane.
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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) | 2007-02-23 | 2007-08-25 | 2008-02-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-02-23 | 2011-08-25 | 2012-02-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-02-23 | 2015-08-25 | 2016-02-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |