| Patent application number | Description | Published |
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| 20100328157 | RADAR ARCHITECTURE - The present invention is directed to a radar system that includes an antenna array having a plurality of antenna elements and a plurality of transmit antenna phase centers. A transmitter portion is coupled to the antenna array. The transmitter portion is configured to transmit a plurality of transmit beams characterized by a transmit beam pattern. The transmit beam pattern has a predetermined transmit beamwidth that is a function of the number of orthogonal transmit waveforms. The predetermined transmit beamwidth substantially fills a predetermined angular volume. Each of the plurality of transmit beams includes a corresponding one of the plurality of orthogonal transmit waveforms. Each of the plurality of transmit beams is transmitted by a corresponding one of the plurality of transmit antenna phase centers. The number of orthogonal transmit waveforms is less than the plurality of antenna elements. A receiver portion is also coupled to the antenna array. The receiver portion is configured to extract a plurality of orthogonal receive signal components from a received signal provided by the antenna array. The plurality of orthogonal receive signal components corresponds to the plurality of orthogonal transmit waveforms. A plurality of extracted orthogonal receive signal components are digitally beam formed to implement a virtual antenna array and generate a receive signal having a receive beamwidth. The virtual antenna array includes a plurality of virtual antenna elements greater than the plurality of antenna elements. The receive beamwidth is a function of the plurality of virtual antenna elements. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20110205120 | Monopulse Beamformer for Electronically Switched Antennas - A method and system for monopulse beamforming for electronically switched antennas is presented. Inputs of selected antenna elements from a phased array antenna are summed into subsets of elements which are then combined into sum and delta beams. 2:1 switches in a shoelace arrangement allow the combination of signals from half of the selected aperture first at common phase and then at pi phase difference to from the sum and delta beams. The method allows for reduced weight, controls, and processing when compared to prior art. | 08-25-2011 |
| 20110215962 | INTERLEAVED BEAM COHERENT RADAR APPARATUS AND PROCESSING METHOD - A method for interleaved pulsed-Doppler processing. Radar energy management and associated processing techniques take advantage of spatial degrees of freedom available on modern, short range, wide angle, volume search ESA radar systems. The method creates an advantage in Doppler resolution when compared to currently utilized Doppler processing techniques. An Electronically Scanned Array (ESA) radar system includes one or more processors that may be programmed to read and execute instructional commands including transmit a plurality of synchronized, coherent pulsed transmit beams having substantially repeatable gain and phase pattern characteristics; electronically steer the plurality of transmit beams in a respective, sequential plurality of spatially diverse directions in a temporally-interleaved manner; sequentially collect a respective plurality of receive beams in a respective plurality of time vs. range buffers; determine a range-Doppler output at a selected, common receive position in each of the plurality of buffers. | 09-08-2011 |
| 20120133549 | Active Electronically Scanned Array Antenna for Hemispherical Scan Coverage - An antenna architecture for hemispherically-scanning active electronically scanned arrays (AESA). The antenna architecture utilizes variable diameter disks of antenna elements configured in a conical implementation. The antenna elements are oriented such that the element boresight is normal to the surface of the conical structure. Beamforming takes place on each disk first, and them separately in combining the signals from each disk, thereby reducing complexity. The antenna optionally utilizes disks of antenna elements of the same diameter to form a cylindrical antenna, which when combined with a conical configuration create enhanced sectors while maintaining a hemispherical coverage capability. Further, use of two conical configurations can produce a fully spherical coverage capability. | 05-31-2012 |
| 20130335269 | ACTIVE ELECTRONICALLY SCANNED ARRAY ANTENNA FOR HEMISPHERICAL SCAN COVERAGE - An antenna architecture for hemispherically-scanning active electronically scanned arrays (AESA). The antenna architecture utilizes variable diameter disks of antenna elements configured in a conical implementation. The antenna elements are oriented such that the element boresight is normal to the surface of the conical structure. Beamforming takes place on each disk first, and them separately in combining the signals from each disk, thereby reducing complexity. The antenna optionally utilizes disks of antenna elements of the same diameter to form a cylindrical antenna, which when combined with a conical configuration create enhanced sectors while maintaining a hemispherical coverage capability. Further, use of two conical configurations can produce a fully spherical coverage capability. | 12-19-2013 |
