Electronically Scanned Array Redundancy for Element Failure Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Airborne satellite communication systems with electronically scanned arrays (ESAs) face performance degradation due to individual radiating element failures, leading to reduced gain-to-noise-temperature (G/T) and effective-isotropic-radiated-power (EIRP) below acceptable levels, and existing solutions like RF isolation and in-position calibration are either ineffective or burdensome on back-end hardware.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a power supply architecture with parallel and orthogonal control buses, reserve radiating elements, and redundant power transmission paths within the ESA, allowing continued operation and calibration even after element failures, maintaining performance by activating reserve elements and redistributing control signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If individual radiating elements are used in the ESA, then the antenna can be electronically steered and maintain directional control, but the radiating performance decreases proportionately as elements fail over time
Solution Approach 1:
Spare radiating elements are pre-configured and integrated into the ESA system during manufacturing, positioned strategically within the array structure. These spare elements remain in standby mode with all necessary electrical connections and control interfaces pre-established, ready to immediately replace failed elements without requiring system disassembly or complex reconfiguration procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically reconfigures the operational parameters of the ESA by activating different subsets of radiating elements based on system health status. When elements fail, the control system adjusts the amplitude and phase parameters of remaining active elements to maintain beamforming performance, and selectively brings spare elements online to restore full array capability
2Measurement precision
If in-position calibration is performed to meet sidelobe requirements, then the ESA can be re-calibrated after element failures, but it requires high signal-to-noise-ratio and complicated pattern synthesis techniques that burden back-end hardware
Solution Approach 1:
The calibration functionality is extracted from the complex back-end hardware and relocated to the radiating element level through integrated test ports and loop-back circuits. This allows calibration signals to be generated and measured directly at the antenna elements without requiring sophisticated signal processing equipment in the backend, significantly simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining calibration precision
3Reliability
If RF isolation techniques are implemented using circulators or directional couplers, then RF failure mode effects on active components are reduced, but the system complexity and component count increase
Solution Approach 1:
The RF isolation function is merged with the existing radiating element structure by integrating directional couplers and test ports directly into the element assemblies. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate, discrete isolation components and their associated control circuitries, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining protection against RF failure modes
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus is provided comprising a connector (144) structured to receive mains power from a vehicle; a first power converter (152a) electrically coupled to the connector and structured to receive and condition the mains power; a second power converter (152b) electrically coupled to the connector and arranged electrically in parallel with the first power converter and structured to receive and condition the mains power; a conditioned power connector structured to receive conditioned power from the first power converter and the second power converter; a first switch (156a) arranged between the first power converter and the conditioned power connector and structured to selectively allow conditioned power to pass from the first power converter to the conditioned power connector; a second switch (156b) arranged between the second power converter and the conditioned power connector and structured to selectively allow conditioned power to pass from the second power converter to the conditioned power connector; a first isolating switch (182a) positioned upstream of the first power converter; a second isolating switch (182b) positioned upstream of the second power converter; and a controller structured to monitor the first power converter and the second power converter, actuate the first isolating switch and the second isolating switch to selectively isolate the first power converter or the second power converter, and operate one of the first switch or the second switch to provide conditioned power to the conditioned power connector.