Lockheed Martin Corporation

General Electric Company

Bryan L Cleaveland

Brian J Edward

Stephen B Adams

Erik Lier

Robert E Munson

Milton L Noble

Alan Cherrette

David P Charette

Bruce R Lanning

Chris S Foster

Joseph A Ottaviano

David D Liu

Breyt L Coakley

James P Snyder

A method and apparatus for detection of multiple pulses present in a radio frequency (RF) environment comprises receiving the RF signal, sampling the RF signal and converting the samples from analog to digital. In-phase and quadrature components of the samples are converted to magnitude and phase. Magnitude and phase information is processed in parallel paths, each path tuned to detect pulses of a specific pulse width of interest. Filtered magnitude and phase data is processed to detect pulses. Multiple detected pulses from different processing paths are analyzed to characterize each detected pulse as to its originating source. Pulse width and time of incidence are compared to determine if multiple detected pulses represent a single pulse or unique and separate pulses. Pulse descriptor words are generated for each uniquely identified pulse.

Method and apparatus for detection of multiple pulses in a radio frequency spectrum

Methods and apparatus are provided for determining aperture phase distributions for use in radiating signals with an active phased array antenna having multiple beams and multiple carriers. Distinct initial phase distributions corresponding to the carriers are allocated. The initial phase distributions are modified for each of the carriers to generate respective radiation patterns that substantially correspond to respective coverage areas in accordance with amplification and radiation of signals having the initial phase distributions. The modified phase distributions are optimized to simultaneously increase carrier-signal power and reduce an intermodulation product radiated in the respective coverage areas in accordance with amplification and radiation of signals having the modified phase distributions.

Intermodulation suppression for transmit active phased array multibeam antennas with shaped beams

A photonically controlled antenna element made of a material such as silicon is disclosed wherein one or more of such antenna elements are mounted in an array on a light waveguide made of glass or sapphire. Light is injected into the light waveguide and reflects therein until it is absorbed by the antenna elements due to the higher refractive index of silicon which makes the reflection break down, and thus allows the laser beam to leak out of the waveguide into the silicon antenna elements. When the photonically controlled antenna elements are illuminated they are switched to a conductive state and can transmit and receive electromagnetic signals. When no light is injected into the light waveguide the photonically controlled antenna elements are not illuminated and are in a non-conductive state wherein they cannot receive or transmit electromagnetic signals. A number of these light waveguides with their antenna arrays thereon may be stacked together to form a single antenna system. When the antenna elements on each light waveguide are designed to operate at different frequencies an extremely broadband antenna system is the result. By providing appropriate time or phase delay to the signals going to each antenna array on a light waveguide a phased array antenna is the result with the ability to electronically steer the radiated electromagnetic signal. Different portions of the broadband antenna system may be operating at the same time, with some parts transmitting and other parts receiving electromagnetic energy.

Photonically controlled, phased array antenna

A photonically controlled antenna array is made of a plurality of stacked light waveguides made of a material such as silicon whereon each of which one or more photonically controlled antenna elements are mounted. Light is injected into ones of the light waveguides and reflects therein until it is absorbed by the antenna elements mounted thereon due to the higher refractive index of silicon. When the photonically controlled antenna elements are illuminated they are switched to a conductive state and can transmit and receive electromagnetic signals. When no light is injected into the light waveguide the photonically controlled antenna elements are not illuminated and are in a non-conductive state wherein they cannot receive or transmit electromagnetic signals. One edge of each of the light waveguides is adjacent to a ground plane, and the antenna elements on each light waveguide are spaced from said ground plane a distance equal to a quarter wavelength at the frequency at which each of said photonically controlled antenna elements is designed to operate. The antenna elements radiate and receive signals in a direction parallel to said waveguides that is opposite to said ground plane.

Photonically controlled antenna array

The invention relates to an electron discharge device in which radio frequency energy is generated or amplified by high speed electrons traveling in a beam along the axis of a waveguide and subjected to a periodic magnetic field. The periodic field causes the electrons to travel in periodic orbits producing electromagnetic energy. When suitably adjusted, the energy in the beam is converted into electromagnetic energy of a given frequency. The device herein disclosed has an improved magnetic structure for causing the beam to travel in a helical path and for focusing it as it pursues this path. The helical path is produced by a static, spatially circularly polarized transverse field. Focusing of the beam is achieved by a pair of similar helically disposed axial magnetic fields having mutually opposite polarization. The fields are created by a plurality of short permanent magnets with cooperating pole pieces for directing the magnetic fields into the waveguide, and disposed in four rows arranged about the perimeter of the waveguide.

Electron discharge device with a spatially periodic focused beam

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Baldwinsville, NY, United States of America

Bryan L Cleaveland