The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 13, 1987
Filed:
Jan. 15, 1986
Stephen V Zezuto, Lancaster, CA (US);
Paul H Mountcastle, Glen Burnie, MD (US);
Abstract
The operational status of individual phase control modules within a phased array antenna can be determined using a radio frequency oscillator, a directional coupler, a spiral antenna, an attenuator, a harmonic frequency converter, a network analyzer, and a phase magnitude display. The radio frequency oscillator generates a test radio frequency signal which is conducted into the sum port of the array by the directional coupler. The phase control modules normally phase shift radio frequency signals they receive from the sum port by amounts indicated in a command signal from the radar control system. When using this test system, the radar control system should be directed to send a test command signal which direct the phase control modules to repeatedly phase shift received radio frequency signals between a first and second phase state. The spiral antenna, when placed in proximity of each individual phase control module, receives and conducts phase shifted radio frequency signals to the harmonic analyzer. The harmonic analyzer samples and conducts the phase shifted radio frequency signals and original radio frequency signals into the network analyzer for comparison. When the first phase state is 180.degree., the display, which receives the output of the network analyzer clearly indicates if the phase control module is phase shifting the radio frequency signal in response to the test command signal.