Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving signals using electronic beam forming

Abstract

The present invention is directed to providing an antenna system for transmitting and receiving signals in a manner which eliminates the extensive hardware, high cost and complexity of the transmitter, receiver or transceiver used in conventional systems. Exemplary embodiments are directed to an antenna system which uses electronic beam forming to mathematically synthesize the signals desired for object detection and tracking. Rather than using passive waveguide material having multiple antenna system ports that must be individually processed in separate transceiver channels, exemplary embodiments of the present invention are directed to an antenna system wherein the antenna ports are coupled to a beam forming network of the antenna system. The beam forming network includes a single port that can be coupled to a single transceiver channel. The beam forming network is configured to mathematically synthesize each of the desired signals needed by the transceiver to calculate desired information, such as the azimuth and elevation of an object to be detected and/or tracked (for example, the summed output signal and a difference output signal). The beam forming network can be configured to sequentially produce each of the desired signals. Alternately, the beam forming network can provide desired signals from the transceiver channel to the multiple antenna ports during a transmit operation. Exemplary embodiments are applicable to any systems which involve the use of an antenna systems, including, but not limited to, communication systems and radar applications. Exemplary embodiments can provide any of the functionality typically associated with beam forming antennae including, but not limited to communications such as satellite to ground communications, beam shaping, and beam pointing.