Electronically agile multi-beam antenna
US6771218B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 13, 1995 |
| Grant date | Aug 3, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 12, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01Q25/02
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The present invention provides an antenna system including a body for use in determining N unknown parameters values relating to an object located in the vicinity of the system. The system further includes an antenna array comprised of a plurality of elements that are spaced to reduce ambiguities in the subsequently determined N values. In one embodiment, several pair of elements are used. The spacing between the elements comprise the pairs and the spacing between pairs reduces ambiguities. The antenna system also includes a beamformer for producing a plurality of beams and a device for using the plurality of beams to determine N values associated with the object. The amplitude of the plurality of beams can be compared to obtain coarse data on the object. The phases of the plurality of spatially independent but overlapping beams are compared to realize an interferometer that can provide coarse resolution data and/or fine resolution data on the position and/or polarization of an object relative to the antenna system. The amplitudes of the beams can also be compared to obtain coarse data on the position and/or polarization of the object. The beamformer includes a switching network fo…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.