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:
Mar. 26, 2002
Filed:
Jul. 28, 1998
Richard L. O'Shea, Holliston, MA (US);
Raytheon Company, Lexington, MA (US);
Abstract
An array antenna is constructed of radiators disposed upon a flexible substrate wherein a plurality of receiving circuits connect with respective ones of the radiators for conversion of RF (radio frequency) signals, received by the radiators, are converted into IF (intermediate frequency) signals. The signals outputted by the receiving circuits may be applied to a beam former for generating a receive beam from the array. The receiving circuits have an elongated flexible form to permit bending of the array to have a desired configuration. All power for operating the receiving circuits and all signal paths to and from the receiving circuits are accomplished via optical fibers. Photocells are provided within the receiving circuits for conversion of optical power to operating electric power. Photodetectors within the receiving circuits provide for conversion of optical reference signal to electrical reference signals. An optical modulator within each of the receiving circuits provides for conversion of an outputted electric signal to an output optical signal for transmission via an output optical fiber. In each of the receiving circuits, a mixer provided for conversion between RF and IF is operative without a bias voltage.