AESA Antenna State Switching via Pre-calculated Memory Lookup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing active electronically scanned array (AESA) antennas face limitations in rapidly switching between antenna states due to the time required for real-time calculations and parameter loading, which is unacceptable for modern applications that need quick state changes across the full range of supported states.
Innovation Solution
A system using pre-calculated digital control words stored in non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM) allows for rapid switching between antenna states by eliminating the need for real-time calculations, with encrypted memory words for security and a packing function to map antenna states to memory addresses, enabling switching times less than 1 microsecond.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If real-time calculations are performed to determine antenna state parameters, then the antenna can dynamically adapt to any beam state, but the switching speed between antenna states is limited by calculation time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-calculates and stores digital control words for all possible antenna states in a lookup table during system initialization or manufacturing. When a state change is required, the system simply retrieves the pre-computed control word from memory based on the desired antenna state, eliminating real-time calculation delays and enabling rapid switching while maintaining full adaptability across all supported beam states.
2Speed
If a small memory storing limited digital control words is used, then rapid switching between programmed states is achieved, but the system cannot support arbitrary antenna states requiring memory reprogramming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent expands the memory capacity to store digital control words for the complete set of all possible antenna states during manufacturing or initialization. This allows the system to rapidly switch between any arbitrary antenna state by direct memory lookup without requiring reprogramming, thereby achieving both fast switching speeds and full adaptability across the entire antenna state space.
3Productivity
If memory is programmed with all digital control words before operation, then switching delays are eliminated, but the memory requires significant programming time and data loading
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs the time-consuming memory programming operation during manufacturing or system initialization, populating the lookup table with all digital control words for every possible antenna state. Once programmed, the memory retains this data for operation, eliminating any programming delays during actual antenna operation and enabling instantaneous switching between states.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the memory into multiple banks or segments, each storing control words for a subset of antenna states. This segmentation allows parallel programming of different memory regions and enables the system to access different state ranges independently, reducing overall programming time and improving switching efficiency.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system for controlling an active electronically scanned array (AESA) antenna, which enables the AESA antenna to switch rapidly between different antenna states, includes memories (38) connected to a common address bus (40). Each memory (38) is also connected to a digitally controlled RF signal transmission block (32) within the AESA antenna, and stores digital control words for the digitally controlled RF signal transmission block (32). When a new address is provided on the address bus (40), each memory (38) outputs a new digital control word to its respective digitally controlled RF signal transmission block (32), causing a change in the state of the AESA antenna.