Bistatic Radar Azimuth Coverage via Segmented Arrays
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Monostatic active planar phased array radars on military ships suffer from high costs and scanning losses in the horizontal plane due to non-uniform performance, particularly in frontal directions, and lack the ability to form multiple independent beams with digital beamforming.
Innovation Solution
A bistatic radar system with a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna, both comprising arrays of active modules, where the receiving antenna has a full digital beamforming block to process multiple independent beams, reducing scanning losses and enabling control over beam amplitude and side lobes, with separate support structures and radomes for each antenna.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If four active planar phased array antennas are installed on a ship mast to achieve broad azimuth visibility, then the radar can monitor surfaces, airspace, and provide guidance, but scanning losses occur in frontal directions and performance is non-uniform across the azimuth plane
Solution Approach 1:
The radar system is divided into separate transmitting and receiving antenna arrays positioned at different locations. Each antenna can be independently optimized for its specific function, allowing the transmitting array to cover certain azimuth sectors while the receiving array covers others, thereby achieving uniform 360-degree performance without scanning losses.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a monostatic configuration (single location) to a bistatic configuration (separated transmitting and receiving locations). This spatial separation in another dimension allows each antenna to be optimally positioned for its function, eliminating the scanning losses that occur in frontal directions with monostatic arrays.
2Ease of operation
If monostatic active planar phased array radars are used with sequential TX/RX module switching, then the system can transmit and receive signals, but the cost becomes particularly expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The radar system is segmented into separate transmitting and receiving subsystems with dedicated antenna arrays. This allows each subsystem to use simpler, less expensive hardware optimized for its specific function, eliminating the need for expensive dual-mode switching mechanisms required in monostatic systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system combines separate transmitting and receiving radar systems into a unified bistatic radar installation. By merging two specialized systems rather than using one versatile monostatic system, the overall cost is reduced while maintaining full transmit-receive functionality.
3Ease of operation
If analog phase shifters are used in the reception chain for beam pointing, then the radar can direct reception beams, but multiple independent beams cannot be formed and amplitude control on the truncated cone surface is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces analog phase shifters with digital beamforming technology. This substitution enables multiple independent beams to be formed simultaneously through digital signal processing, provides precise amplitude control across the antenna surface, and eliminates the limitations of analog phase shifting while maintaining beam pointing capability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The bistatic radar system provides uniform performance across the azimuth plane, reduces costs by eliminating the need for multiple expensive monostatic systems, and enables simultaneous independent beam formation and control, enhancing detection and tracking capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
a bistatic radar comprising an active phased array transmitting antenna adapted to irradiate a radio frequency signal and a receiving antenna
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A bistatic radar (1) is described comprising: -an active phased array transmitter antenna (20) adapted to irradiate a radio frequency output signal (40) and comprising a cylindrical or conical or truncated cone array of columns (21) of active transmission modules (22); - a receiving antenna (30) comprising a truncated cone array of columns (31) of reception modules (32) directed along the generatrix of a truncated cone, each reception module (32) comprising in cascade an antenna element (33), an analog amplifier (34) an analog to digital converter (36) adapted to produce digital samples in output; and - and a full digital beam forming block (3) adapted to receive in input and numerically process said digital samples.