Hemispherical AESA Antenna Architecture with Shared TR Modules
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Solution Overview
Problem
AESA radar systems are prohibitively expensive due to the need for hundreds or thousands of individual TR modules, limiting their widespread adoption.
Innovation Solution
A combined cylindrical/conical antenna architecture with amplitude/phase modules shared among multiple antenna elements, reducing the number of channels required and enabling hemispherical scan coverage without individual channels for each element, using a beamforming network to combine azimuth beams and form elevation beams.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If individual TR modules are used for each antenna element in AESA radar, then the radar can achieve coherent signal transmission and rapid beam steering, but the system cost becomes prohibitively expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple antenna elements under shared TR modules. Specifically, multiple antenna elements are grouped and served by common TR modules through switching networks, allowing the system to maintain AESA capabilities while significantly reducing the number of expensive individual TR modules required.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements multi-functional TR modules that can serve multiple antenna elements through electronic switching. The shared TR modules can dynamically allocate their output to different antenna elements based on beam forming requirements, making each TR module perform multiple functions across different time slots and beam configurations.
2Productivity
If hundreds or thousands of individual TR modules are used in AESA radar, then the radar can process multiple functions in parallel, but the device complexity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functionality of multiple TR modules by implementing shared TR modules that serve multiple antenna elements. This consolidation reduces the total number of TR modules while maintaining the parallel processing capability through time-division multiplexing and electronic beam forming.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic switching and time-division multiplexing to allow shared TR modules to serve different antenna elements at different time slots. This dynamic allocation enables the system to maintain high productivity and parallel processing capability despite having fewer physical TR modules.
3Device complexity
If traditional radar systems use moving parts to physically point the antenna, then the system structure is simpler, but the scanning speed is limited by mechanical movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical antenna movement with electronic beam steering using phase shifters and switching networks. The TR modules can electronically redirect the electromagnetic beam to different directions instantaneously without any physical movement of the antenna structure, achieving rapid scanning speeds while maintaining a fixed, simple antenna structure.
Data Source
AI summary
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.