Conical Radar Antenna Arrays for Uniform Azimuthal Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radar systems, particularly those with planar active phased array antennas, are costly and have non-uniform performance in the azimuthal plane due to scanning losses in front of the corners of truncated pyramid-shaped installations, limiting their ability to form multiple independent beams and control beam amplitude, resulting in high side lobes.
Innovation Solution
A radar system with a transmitting antenna and receiving antenna comprising linear arrays of elements arranged on a truncated cone or cylindrical surface, utilizing full digital beamforming to synthesize independent beams with uniform amplitude, reducing complexity and cost by using a signal generator to feed the antennas with different frequencies and employing a radar echo signal processor for digital processing and beam synthesis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If planar active phased array antennas are used to achieve wide visibility in azimuthal plane, then the radar coverage is improved, but the system cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna is divided into axially spaced horizontal truncated conical sections, with each section operating at a respective frequency. This segmentation allows the system to achieve wide azimuthal coverage through multiple frequency channels while reducing the complexity of individual antenna sections compared to a single large planar array.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from planar 2D array geometry to a 3D conical/cylindrical structure. The transmitting and receiving antennas are arranged in axial separation along the cone axis, creating a volumetric radar aperture that provides uniform 360-degree azimuthal coverage without requiring mechanical rotation or complex planar phased arrays.
2Area of stationary object
If four planar active phased array antennas are installed on truncated pyramid faces, then azimuthal coverage is improved, but uniform performance across the azimuthal plane deteriorates due to scanning losses in front of corners
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs conical and cylindrical geometries instead of planar surfaces. The curved conical surface with apex angle of 60 degrees and cylindrical structure provide continuous rotational symmetry, ensuring uniform radar performance in all azimuthal directions without the corner-related scanning losses inherent in planar truncated pyramid configurations.
3Device complexity
If TX/RX modules are sequentially converted between transmitting and receiving modes, then device simplicity is improved, but system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines transmitting and receiving functions into integrated TX/RX modules that operate simultaneously at different frequencies. By assigning different frequency channels to transmitting and receiving operations, the system eliminates the need for sequential mode conversion, reducing both hardware complexity and manufacturing cost while maintaining full-duplex 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 system achieves uniform performance across the azimuthal plane with reduced complexity and cost, enabling the formation of multiple independent beams and minimizing side lobes, thus improving detection and monitoring capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
the linear arrays of transmitting antenna elements emit a first and a second electromagnetic radiations, respectively
Implementation Method 2
the linear arrays of receiving antenna elements receive radar echo signals
Implementation Method 3
The radar system utilizes full digital beamforming to synthesize independent beams with uniform amplitude
Data Source
AI summary
A radar system having a transmitting antenna including a plurality of linear arrays of transmitting antenna elements arranged on a generatrix of a truncated cone or on a cylindrical surface; a signal generator block operatively connected to the transmitting antenna and adapted to feed the transmitting antenna; a receiving antenna having a plurality of groups of linear arrays of receiving antenna elements arranged on the generatrix of the truncated cone or on the cylindrical surface, in which each group of linear arrays of receiving antenna elements is circumferentially interposed between a first and a second linear array of transmitting antenna elements; a signal processor operatively connected to the receiving antenna, where the signal generator block is adapted and configured to feed the transmitting antenna so that the first and the second linear arrays of transmitting antenna elements emit a first and a second electromagnetic radiation, respectively, at a first and a second frequencies different from each other.