Mechanical ESA Panel Reconfiguration for Common Boresight Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multi-panel electronically scanned array (ESA) systems face challenges with complex mechanical scanning, high cost, and reduced performance due to angled designs and heavy alignment hardware, leading to lower gain and increased interference.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for mechanically rotating and electronically combining two or more ESA panels to form a single aggregate ESA, using actuators and controllers to align panels without intermediate stops, shifting complexity from algorithmic processing to mechanical transformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional multi-axis rotation systems are used for ESA panels, then the system can achieve beam scanning capability, but the system becomes heavy and power consuming due to complex alignment hardware
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the ESA into multiple independent panels that can be individually positioned and angled. Each panel is a separate segment that can be controlled independently, allowing the beam to be scanned by electronically steering across segmented panels rather than mechanically rotating the entire array.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical multi-axis rotation systems with a simpler mechanical positioning system that uses fewer moving parts. The complexity is shifted from mechanical rotation to electronic beam steering, substituting mechanical scanning with electronic phase control to achieve the same beam scanning capability with reduced weight.
2Adaptability or versatility
If complex mechanical scanning systems continuously drive the ESA in azimuth or elevation, then the system achieves comprehensive coverage, but power consumption increases and algorithmic processing becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous mechanical scanning, the system uses periodic electronic beam steering across the segmented panels. The beam is electronically swept across the field of view by sequentially activating different panel combinations and adjusting phase delays, achieving comprehensive coverage without continuous mechanical motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces continuous mechanical driving systems with electronic beam steering mechanisms. The complexity of continuous mechanical scanning is substituted with electronic phase control and signal processing, reducing power consumption while maintaining field coverage capability.
3Ease of manufacture
If angled multi panel design is used for ESA, then the system can be implemented with available hardware, but the apparent aperture size reduces as the directed beam moves away from boresight resulting in lower gain and lower range
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the effective aperture by electronically selecting and combining signals from different panel configurations. As the beam direction changes from boresight, the system adapts by reconfiguring which panels are active and how their signals are combined, maintaining consistent effective aperture size and performance across the field of view.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the ESA by electronically adjusting phase delays, amplitude weights, and panel selection based on beam direction. This allows the system to compensate for the apparent aperture reduction in angled designs by dynamically modifying signal processing parameters to maintain consistent gain and range performance.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system and method for ESA quadrant mechanical reconfiguration functions to shift some of the complexity from algorithmic manipulation of received radar data to mechanical transformation of a simple panel structure to achieve desired performance in a desired ESA boresight. The system receives a rotation trigger based on an external event such as altitude and mission and causes two or more simple ESA panels (122, 124) to rotate from a first azimuthal position to a second common azimuthal position without stopping at an intermediate azimuth. Once positioned, each individual rotational ESA panel is combined to function as a single aggregate ESA enabling desired performance in field of view, resolution, and range along a common boresight (152).