Electro-optically controlled wideband multi-beam phased array antenna
US4736463A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 22, 1986 |
| Grant date | Apr 5, 1988 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 22, 2006 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01Q3/2676
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An optical network (46) for providing a wideband, true time delay phased antenna array (100) with simultaneous multiple beam capability is disclosed. The network (46) is provided for connection between plural beam ports (48-52M) and plural antenna elements (20-24N) for converting a received radio frequency (RF) planar wavefront (10) to plural in-phase signals at one and only one beam port (48-52M) for each respective one of a plurality of directions of wave propagation. The converse is true for a transmitted wave. The network (46) includes a laser (30-34N) for each antenna element (20-24N) or each beam port (48-52N) modulated by RF energy which is separated and delayed via optical dividers (35-39N) connected to optical combiners (40-44M) by optical fibers (46) of different lengths. Substantially all signals then arrive in-phase at one particular beam port (48-52M) for a receiver (56-60M) receiving a wave at one particular corresponding angle. In transmitted waves, appropriate radiations from the phased array ( 400) differ by an amount to effect transmission in one particular direction corresponding to the beam port (208-212M) selected for energization by the transmitter (218).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.