Structural deformation compensation system for large phased-array antennas
US6333712A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 4, 1999 |
| Grant date | Dec 25, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 4, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01Q3/267
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A deformation compensation system for use with a large phased-array antenna system to electronically compensate for surface deformations occurring on the phased-array antenna which would otherwise compromise antenna performance. In one embodiment, a plurality of strain gauges are disposed on or integrally formed in structure forming the phased-array antenna. The strain gauges are placed at those locations on the antenna structure, where, through prior structural modeling and testing, it has been determined that high strains associated with the expected deformation of the phased-array antenna are expected to occur to a significant degree. The strain gauges output signals to a data acquisition system which uses a strain-to-displacement algorithm to produce displacements corresponding to the estimated, deformed shape of the phased-array antenna. These displacements are input to a beam steering controller which is used to generate phase shift or time delay commands used for electronically compensating, in real time, for the overall estimated, deformed shape of the phased-array antenna. The invention eliminates the need for heavy and large structural supports or trusses which have tradi…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.