Phase-Conjugate Sector Antennas for Repeater Coverage
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional antenna systems for electronic warfare repeaters face limitations in providing omnidirectional coverage, requiring multiple phased arrays, mechanical pointing, and complex beam switching, which increases cost, complexity, and introduces blind spots due to grating lobes.
Innovation Solution
A phase-conjugate configuration of high-gain, dual-polarized sector antennas with overlapping beams and mirror-image antenna element arrangements, eliminating the need for beam scanning and direction finding, and utilizing corrugated horn antennas for enhanced isolation and reduced grating lobes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If conventional phased array antenna systems are used to provide omnidirectional coverage, then coverage area is improved, but system complexity and cost increase due to requiring multiple phased arrays and beam switching
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna system divides the omnidirectional coverage requirement into multiple sector antennas, each covering a specific angular sector. This segmentation allows each antenna to be optimized for its sector while collectively providing full omnidirectional coverage, reducing the need for complex beam switching mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic switching between predetermined sets of antenna elements corresponding to different sectors. By cycling through these pre-configured sectors in a periodic manner, the system achieves omnidirectional coverage without requiring complex real-time beam forming or multiple simultaneous high-gain beams.
2Device complexity
If mechanically pointed antenna systems are used, then system complexity is reduced, but coverage capability is limited to one threat axis at a time
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna system is designed with multiple sector antennas that can be selectively activated based on threat direction. This universal design allows the same physical antenna structure to handle multiple threat axes simultaneously by switching between different sector configurations, eliminating the need for separate antenna systems for different threat scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between predetermined sets of antenna elements to adapt to different threat directions. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the antenna system to respond to multiple threats in different directions without mechanical movement, maintaining simplicity while achieving multi-axis coverage.
3Area of stationary object
If phased array systems with beam switching are used, then directional coverage is improved, but blind spots appear due to grating lobes
Solution Approach 1:
Each sector antenna is designed with specific directional characteristics optimized for its coverage sector. By tailoring the radiation pattern and element configuration of each local sector, the system achieves high directional gain in intended directions while suppressing grating lobes and nulls that would create blind spots in other directions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges multiple sector coverage patterns into a unified omnidirectional coverage. By carefully designing the overlap and transition between adjacent sectors, the system ensures continuous coverage without blind spots, where the combined radiation patterns of multiple sectors provide uniform coverage across all directions.
4Reliability
If multiple phased arrays are used to provide omnidirectional coverage, then coverage completeness is improved, but cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using multiple complete phased arrays, the system segments the antenna elements into groups corresponding to different sectors. Each sector uses a subset of the total elements configured for its specific directional coverage, reducing the total number of elements needed compared to having multiple full phased arrays while maintaining complete omnidirectional coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system periodically switches between different sector configurations using the same physical antenna elements. This time-division approach allows a single set of elements to serve multiple directional roles sequentially, eliminating the need for multiple simultaneous phased arrays and significantly reducing system complexity and cost.
Data Source
AI summary
An antenna system having a transmit assembly with a first set of antenna elements for transmitting signals. Each antenna element in this first set may be disposed from a respective adjacent antenna element by a predetermined azimuthal increment and by a predetermined altitudinal increment. The antenna system further includes a receive assembly having a second set of antenna elements for receiving signals. Each antenna element in this second set may be disposed from a respective adjacent antenna element by a predetermined azimuthal increment and by a predetermined altitudinal increment. The predetermined azimuthal and altitudinal increments of the first set may be substantially similar to the predetermined azimuthal and altitudinal increments, respectively, of the second set.