HPEM-Effector Antenna

Abstract

HPEM effector antenna (1), having the following features: The HPEM effector antenna (1) comprises a metamaterial-based reflector array (2) arranged on the outside at a distance from an inner phased-array feed array (3), The metamaterial-based reflector array (2) has switchable reflector array elements (21) with the switching states transmitting or reflecting in order to achieve a high emission intensity for a given direction, The phased-array feed array (3) has switchable feed array elements (31) with the switching states transmitting or non-transmitting in order to selectively irradiate reflector array elements in order to achieve a high radiation intensity for a given direction.

Description

[0001] The background of the invention is the cost-effective, lightweight equipping of an HPRF or HPEM effector with a high-gain antenna that can be directed across as much of the surrounding space as possible, in order to achieve maximum effective range against other enemy drones or sUAS (swarms). The arrangement described in the invention can also be used as an antenna, particularly in the fields of radar and communication, and thus has a wide range of future applications.

[0002] To achieve high gains and thus long ranges in radar, communications, and directed energy (HPEM and HPRF) applications, reflector or horn antennas are predominantly used. Both technologies are well understood. Following simulation-based design, the horn structures (horns) or reflectors (dishes) are typically manufactured cost-effectively using purely mechanical processes. A wide variety of feed options are available, particularly for reflector antennas. The most common are parabolic antennas and (parabolic) Cassegrain antennas. For aerospace applications, where weight is critical and the antenna's capability is only achieved at the point of use (e.g., low Earth orbit), these antennas must be very lightweight and foldable or deployable, while simultaneously withstanding terrestrial and cosmic wind loads. Wire or mesh antennas fulfill these requirements. In these antennas, the reflector consists of a wire mesh.The arrangement and spacing of the meshes are chosen according to the wavelengths or frequency and polarization used.

[0003] Horn antennas, designed for high gain, typically have a very large depth and require a lot of space. Reducing the depth is possible through tapering, corrugations, or the use of metallic or dielectric lenses, but this reduces the overall gain and results in high design and production costs. With reflector antennas, the mirror diameter and depth, in conjunction with the distance to the feed point, can be designed to meet specific requirements.

[0004] If one wants to transmit or receive radiation in many different directions, a pan-tilt platform is required to align the antennas accordingly. Even if the antenna structures are not solid but rather mesh-based, this platform requires significant power and weight to mechanically swivel the antenna within the desired timeframe. Not only weight and size, but also the inertia of the supported antennas plays a role in the design. For example, if very light antennas (e.g., mesh antennas) are rotated too quickly due to requirements, the challenges for the pan-tilt platform and the mesh antenna design increase. Connecting pan-tilt platforms to control systems, power supplies, and RF power is often problematic and difficult (e.g., via special contacts with limited capacitance).This often reduces the maximum rotation and tilt angle of these platforms, or because all signals cannot be fed via these sliding contacts, and conventional fiber optic / power / RF cables are still required. Alternatively, the RF source can and is integrated into the antenna, which further increases the weight of both the payload and the pan-tilt platform. To achieve optimal coverage with reflector antennas, the feed point must rotate with the reflector, even if it is an active electronic phased array (see PAFR antenna), which in principle allows for limited electronic focusing. Alternatively, multiple stationary (rotating) feed points can be used, or the feed point(s) can be moved mechanically; however, this solution tends to be narrowband and is associated with strong, unwanted sidelobes.In summary, the existing solutions do not allow for a fully comprehensive, lightweight and cost-effective purely electronic directivity of the radiation with high gain throughout the entire room.

[0005] The task is to create an HPEM effector antenna for the comprehensive, lightweight and cost-effective purely electronic directivity and radiation of high-power electromagnetic waves or with high controllable gain, and thus directivity into the entire space (transmit case) or reception and focusing of the electromagnetic radiation from the entire space (receive case).

[0006] This problem is solved according to the invention by the features of claim 1.

[0007] The advantages of the invention are: -No pan-tilt platform is necessary, as there are no mechanically rotating parts, therefore less maintenance-intensive, more cost-effective, lightweight, therefore no restriction of radiation by pan-tilt platform, coverage of a larger area is possible in relation to a sphere or hemisphere. -Spherical mesh of the reflector made from metamaterial technology in lightweight construction, suitable for diverse aerospace and defense applications. Aberration of the spherical geometry with respect to parabolic ideal geometry can be achieved by selecting a suitable number of elements of the reflector array and clean focusing by appropriately controlling the feeding phased array elements as well as the reflecting and transmitting elements of the reflector array in the beam path. Beam shaping and direction or adaptation of gain / directivity are possible to a limited extent despite a stationary feed and reflector array.

[0008] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in dependent claims 2 and 3.

[0009] An embodiment of the invention is described below using the following examples: Fig. Figure 1 describes in more detail, showing a highly simplified schematic diagram of an HPEM effector antenna.

[0010] The Fig. Figure 1 shows an HPEM effector antenna 1. The HPEM effector antenna 1 comprises a metamaterial-based reflector array 2, which is arranged externally at a distance from an internal phased-array feed array 3. The metamaterial-based reflector array 2 has switchable reflector array elements 21 with transmitting or reflecting states to achieve a high radiation intensity in a given direction. The phased-array feed array 3 has switchable feed array elements 31 with transmitting or non-transmitting states to selectively irradiate reflector array elements to achieve a high radiation intensity in a given direction.

[0011] The inner feed array 2 is spherically shaped. The outer reflector array 2 is also spherically shaped.

[0012] The following details are available: A fully electronic, non-rotating, spherical, phased-array-fed, metamaterial-based reflector array is provided. The metamaterial-based electronic non-rotating reflector array (reflector) is arranged spherically around a feed point, where the feed itself is an electronic non-rotating array of spherical arrangement.

[0013] The radiation or beam path through the active elements of the feed occurs via the reflective elements of the reflector array and through the transmittive elements of the reflector array, respectively, in the case of reception.

[0014] The decision as to which elements of the reflector array and feed array are active (transmitting) or reflective can be made by an electronic control and switching unit. This allows a specific, controllable spatial direction to be achieved.

[0015] The reflector array or its elements consist of a metamaterial surface which, depending on the selected frequency range and the polarization of the transmitted or received radiation, can exhibit both transmitting and reflective properties as configured by the electronic control and switching unit.

[0016] By controlling the reflecting and transmitting elements of the reflector array and the transmitting elements of the feed array differently using an electronic control and switching unit, focusing and phase compensation of any spherical aberration with respect to the ideal parabolic geometry can be achieved. Distortion of the radiation pattern caused by the feed and its delivery can also be compensated. Within limits of defocusing the stationary reflector and feed arrays, the beamwidth and gain of the overall array can also be controlled. The electronic control and switching unit receives its alignment commands from a higher-level control computer.

[0017] The higher-level control computer has a C2 (Command and Control System) with connected sensors including navigation and positioning capabilities for detection, tracking, and targeting.

[0018] In Fig. 1 are still marked: 26 reflective area 27 transmitting area 4 Control unit 42 Line to the reflector array 43 Line to the food array 5 resultant beam

Claims

[1] HPEM effector antenna (1), having the following features: The HPEM effector antenna (1) comprises a metamaterial-based reflector array (2) arranged on the outside at a distance from an inner phased-array feed array (3), The metamaterial-based reflector array (2) has switchable reflector array elements (21) with the switching states transmitting or reflecting in order to achieve a high emission intensity for a given direction, The phased-array feed array (3) has switchable feed array elements (31) with the switching states transmitting or non-transmitting in order to selectively irradiate reflector array elements in order to achieve a high radiation intensity for a given direction. [2] HPEM effector antenna according to claim 1, wherein the internally arranged feed array (2) is spherically shaped. [3] HPEM effector antenna according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the externally arranged reflector array (2) is spherically shaped.

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