Multiple scanning beam direct radiating array and method for its use

Abstract

A phased array antenna system producing multiple beams that can be rapidly and reliably scanned between desired angular beam locations without the need for highly complex hardware. The antenna system includes multiple antenna elements (30) coupled to frequency converters (34) that downconvert received signals to an intermediate frequency. Each frequency converter (34) receives a local oscillator (36) signal that passes through a phase shifting circuit (40). The phase shifting circuits are adjusted only in a calibration mode, to remove any phase errors, but are not used to select beam locations. In a receive mode, the downconverted received signals are input to a matrix network (44), such as a Butler Matrix, which transforms the antenna signals on its input lines (42) to an equivalent set of beam location signals on its outputs (46), of which there is one for each possible angular beam location of the antenna system. A switch network (50) then selects from among this set of beam location signals and associates selected beam location signals with selected beam signals. The switch network (50) has its configuration determined by multiple electronically controllable switches (58), and determines the association of each of multiple communication beams with a selected angular beam location. Thus each communication beam can be conveniently directed or redirected to a desired angular beam location without the need to adjust a large number of phase shifting circuits.