Tracking system with orthogonal polarizations and a retro-directive array

Abstract

The disclosed embodiments relate to a retro-directive array that facilitates a tracking operation. This retro-directive array includes a first antenna configured to receive an input signal which is substantially circularly polarized from a tracking device. The first antenna separates the input signal into two signal components (e.g., Eand E) associated with different orthogonal polarizations, wherein the two signal components comprise a quadrature signal wherein E=j·E. The retro-directive array also includes a bi-directional quadrature gain (BQG) module coupled to the first antenna which is configured to boost the quadrature signal. It additionally includes a second antenna which configured to transmit the boosted quadrature signal to the tracking device. The disclosed embodiments also relate to a transceiver switch, which includes: an input configured to receive a signal to be transmitted, and two phase mixers configured to receive the signal to be transmitted and phase inputs I and Q, and to produce a signal comprising two quadrature signal components Sand S, respectively, wherein S=j S. The transmit switch also includes a hybrid coupler, which is configured to combine Sphase shifted by 180° with Sphase shifted by 90° to produce a transmit output which is proportionate to S; and a switching mechanism configured to turn off the transmit output by swapping the phase inputs I and Q to the phase mixers.