USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Gregory C Tavik

Mark G Parent

Rashmi Mital

Dharmesh P Patel

Jaganmohan B Rao

Rickie W Kindt

Mark Kragalott

Jaganmohan B L Rao

A wideband multi-function phased array antenna aperture includes a plurality of low and high frequency phased array apertures that are asymmetrically dispersed over a largest aperture. Each aperture of the plurality of low and high frequency phased array apertures includes a plurality of frequency scaled radiating elements. The antenna aperture consolidates many functions into a single wideband multi-function phased array antenna where the use of frequency scaled elements reduces the total number of elements needed, thereby reducing the size, weight, power, cost and radar cross section when compared to conventional wideband phased array architectures.

Wideband multi-function phased array antenna aperture

An ultra-wideband antenna array architecture includes a first array of radiating elements, a second array of radiating elements, and a third array of radiating elements, with their respective element widths proportionately ascending in size. In one configuration, the first array radiating element width is half a wavelength at the highest frequency of operation, the second array element width is twice the first width, and the third array element width is twice the second width. The first, second, and third arrays are positioned in a wavelength-scaled lattice wherein the wavelength scaling is based on design operative frequencies and whereby adjacent actively-radiating elements for an operative frequency are aligned so as to produce constructive interference when powered up. Feed means such as a diplexer with a selected-band frequency control then provides power to each array.

Wavelength-scaled ultra-wideband antenna array

A method for electronically scanning a predetermined geostationary orbital arc segment around the earth with an antenna system. The antenna system includes a planar array. A number of fixed electronic squints is selected. Lengths of the total plurality of fixed delay line lengths are generated for the planar array based on the number of fixed electronic squints. All of the antenna elements in the planar array for the mobile earth station are fitted with the generated lengths. The orbital arc segment is electronically scanned with a single linear scan with the planar array. This method is extendable to the case of multiple beams by adding additional phase shifters at each column and keeping the number of fixed line lengths the same, regardless of the number of additional beams.

Method of designing a low cost multibeam phased array antenna for communicating with geostationary satellites

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Rockville, MD, United States of America

Gregory C Tavik