Rockwell Collins, Inc.

B/e Aerospace, Inc.

Jiwon L Moran

James B West

Russell David Wyse

Venkata A Sishtla

Jacob G Teague

Lee M Paulsen

Michael L Hageman

Brandon C Hamilton

Alexander B Kozyrev

Michael C Meholensky

Christopher G Olson

A radar system including an AESA illuminates a target with a first pulse for a desired beam pointing angle (azimuth and elevation). The AESA then illuminates the target with a second pulse for the desired pointing angle, the second pulse defining a radiation pattern with a main beam in phase with the first pulse, but side lobes that are out of phase. The radar system receives return signals and combines the return signals to null the side lobes by the principle of superposition. The radar processing unit is time synced such that the pulse-pair is interpreted as a single ultra-low level side lobe return radiation pattern.

AESA TX pulse pair radiation pattern phase conjugation for low side lobe/maximum EIRP radiation pattern

An ESA includes radiating elements having a normal mode radiating element and a superimposed end-fire mode radiating element. The combined normal mode radiating element and and-fire mode radiating element attenuators or variable gain amplifiers for amplitude adjustment, phase shifting, and time delay circuitry and algorithms to drive the normal mode radiating element and end-fire mode radiating element simultaneously to produce radiation patterns that constructively interfere. Alternatively, the radiating elements are fed by a radio frequency (RF) feed and switching integrated circuitry timed to drive the normal mode radiating element and end-fire mode radiating element to effectively produce hemispherical radiation patterns as a function or time/scan angle.

Wide-scan planar array radiating element

An antenna includes multiple pillbox antenna structures arranged in a circle to cover the horizon. Each pillbox antenna structures includes a reflector configured to widen the resulting beam so that neighboring pillbox antenna structures produce beams that interact to more fully cover the horizon. A feed layer may include transmit/receive modules that are configured to apply amplitude and phase modulations to input signals for each pillbox antenna structure. Amplitude and phase modulations enable constructive and destructive interference between neighboring pillbox antenna structures to enhance the resulting beam or create nulls to exclude interfering signals. Sets of pillbox antenna structures may be stacked and angularly offset to correct crossover sectors. Alternatively, or in addition, sets of pillbox antenna structures may be adapted to operate in different, distinct frequency bands.

Dual mode omni / directional sectored array

A system and method for a multi-panel multi-function active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar operation receives radar commands from individual aircraft systems and segments a plurality of AESA panels fixed (at variable azimuth/elevation about the aircraft) into a plurality of subarrays to carry out each individual function commanded by the individual aircraft system. Dependent on aircraft status and phase of flight, the and individual AESA are designated for use and the subarrays are sized based on desired radar function at the specific phase of flight and specific threat associated with the phase. The system dynamically shifts the designated AESA, subarray size, beam characteristics, power settings, and function to enable multiple simultaneous function of the suite of AESA panels.

Multi-panel multi-function AESA system

A system and method for a multi-beam multi-function active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar operation receives radar commands from individual aircraft systems and segments a single AESA fixed panel into a plurality of subarrays to carry out each individual function commanded by the individual aircraft system. Dependent on aircraft status and phase of flight, the subarrays are sized based on desired radar function at the specific phase of flight and specific threat associated with the phase. The system dynamically shifts the subarray size, beam characteristics, power settings, and function to enable multiple function of a cost effective single AESA panel.

Multi-beam multi-function AESA system

A system and method for applying an adaptive adjustment or taper to an electronically scanned array (ESA) weather radar based on feedback from the weather radar. To minimize ground clutter and enable the ESA to display hazardous weather phenomena, the system adaptively adjusts amplitude and phase of ESA elements to adjust the far field pattern shape and sidelobes to maintain a desirable signal to clutter ratio. The system identifies ground clutter as a strong ground return over several azimuths depending on the radar beamwidth. Once the system IDs the ground clutter, it adaptively adjusts on receive for for the upcoming azimuths. The system selectively suppresses sidelobe echoes while maintaining the signal to noise (SNR) for weather targets. The system adaptively adjusts in real time as well as adjusting using precomputed historically accurate tapers stored in memory.

Agile antenna taper based on weather radar feedback

A log periodic antenna system with conformal radiating elements includes a feed layer with phase shifters and filters associated with each radiating element. The filters may be low-pass or band-pass filters. The log periodic conformal radiating elements produce superior gain and bandwidth, and reduce directionality of the antenna at least along a radial axis of the antenna. Sets of conformal radiating elements are disposed on opposing sides of the antenna, or periodically around the surface of the antenna, to further reduce directionality.

Low-band UWB conformal antenna

A direction-finding antenna includes at least a first set of radiating elements configured to radiate at least a first wavelength (&#x3bb;) and a second set of radiating elements configured to radiate at a second wavelength (&#x3bb;) that is shorter than the first wavelength (&#x3bb;). The first set of radiating elements defines a first circle having a first radius. The second set of radiating elements defines a second circle having a second radius that is smaller than the first radius of the first circle. The direction-finding antenna further includes a transmission line-based multiplexer configured to selectively couple the first set of radiating elements or the second set of radiating elements to a radio frequency (RF) feed line, or a plurality of switches configured to selectively couple selected radiating elements of the first set of radiating elements or the second set of radiating elements to the RF feed line.

Interferometric direction-finding antenna array with multiplexed/switched radiating elements

An ultra-wideband (UWB) beam forming system is disclosed. In one or more embodiments, the UWB beam forming system includes a plurality of radiating elements forming a circular, cylindrical, conical, spherical, or multi-faceted array and a beamformer coupled to the radiating elements. The beamformer includes one or more transformable reconfigurable integrated units (TRIUNs) configured to independently control individual radiating elements or groups of radiating elements of the plurality of radiating elements.

Ultra-wideband circular beamformer

An antenna system and method includes or uses a set of M antenna structures and a cross bar beam former. The analog (or digital) cross bar beam former includes a set of M N to 1 (M(N&#xd7;1)) interfaces, each of the M N to 1 interfaces having a first line coupled to a respective one of the set of the M antenna structures. The cross bar beam former also includes a set of N 1 to M (N(1&#xd7;M)) interfaces, each of the N 1 to M interfaces having a set of M second lines, each of the M second lines being coupled to a respective one of the M N to 1 interfaces. Each of the N 1 to M interfaces includes a third line for a respective one of N independent beams.

Multibeam cross bar electronically scanned array

A quadrature fed four-port radiating element is fed by an active quadrature combiner feed network. The active quadrature four-port combiner is ultra-wide band and includes RF signal amplification. The resulting feeder exhibits a size reduction over existing passive balanced/unbalanced technology on the order of five thousand to one. Such antennas may be incorporated into radio frequency integrated circuit transmit/receive modules. Such antennas may also be integrated with front end low noise amplifiers. Such feeder network enables practical implementation of two-port feeders compatible with AESA array lattice restrictions.

Differential quadrature radiating elements and feeds

An antenna and manufacturing process for antennas produce radiating elements of desired size for certain frequency bands by bump mounting radiating elements to the printed circuit board substrate. Driving circuitry is stacked to save space. Also, the radiating elements are made using a different dielectric constant material as compared to the substrate. Tiling radiating elements or sub-arrays or radiating elements with bump mounting allows for spatial separation that eliminates surface waves. Bump mounted radiating elements also allow for multiple sizes of radiating elements in which smaller size provides lower directivity to cover broader beam scan performance.

Bump mounted radiating element architecture

Systems and methods of controlling signal polarization for an antenna system are provided herein. The antenna system includes an ultra wide band or greater array of dual linear polarization elements. The antenna system also includes polarization synthesis networks. Each of the polarization synthesis networks is coupled to the first differential interface of the first element of a respective dual linear polarization element of the dual linear polarization elements and the second differential interface of the second element of the respective the dual linear polarization element of the dual orthogonal linear polarization elements. Each of the polarization synthesis networks has a flat response for phase shift and amplitude over the ultra wide bandwidth.

Element level polarization synthesis network for electronically scanned arrays

Systems and apparatuses include a radio frequency feed configured to connect to a feedline, and a plurality of radiating elements coupled with the radio frequency feed. Each radiating element is arranged at an oblique angle relative to an antenna axis and configured to radiate at a wavelength (&#x3bb;). The plurality of radiating elements define a phase center distance between about 0.15&#x3bb; and about 0.2&#x3bb;.

Growing community of inventors

Marion, IA, United States of America

Jiwon L Moran