Space-Fed Annular Antenna with Commutation Switch Matrix
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional phased arrays with corporate feed networks become complex, lossy, and costly for high power large circular arrays, limiting their efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a space-fed, electronically scanned antenna with a commutation switch matrix that distributes transmit power and received signals to subarrays, reducing RF losses and system costs by using high power amplifiers coupled through a switch matrix to illuminate specific sectors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a corporate feed network is used to distribute transmit power to radiating elements in a large circular array, then the system can achieve phased array functionality, but the network becomes complex, lossy, and costly to build
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna array is divided into multiple contiguous subarrays arranged in an annular region, with each subarray independently illuminated by its own feed horn system. This segmentation allows power distribution to be localized rather than requiring a complex corporate feed network spanning the entire large circular array, thereby reducing RF losses and network complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
A feed horn system acts as an intermediary to illuminate the inner set of radiating elements in each subarray. This intermediary approach replaces the need for extensive corporate feed networks by using localized horn antennas to distribute power to subarrays, reducing overall system complexity and RF losses.
2Adaptability or versatility
If high power RF amplifiers are coupled through a commutation switch matrix to illuminate specific sectors, then beam steering flexibility is improved, but the switch matrix complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The commutation switch matrix enables dynamic reconfiguration of RF amplifier connections to subarrays, allowing the system to electronically steer beams to different sectors without mechanical movement. This dynamic switching provides beam steering flexibility while the matrix structure manages the complexity of controlling multiple high power amplifiers.
Solution Approach 2:
The commutation switch matrix operates by periodically switching connections between RF amplifiers and subarrays to illuminate different sectors. This periodic switching action enables sector scanning and beam steering while managing the complexity through systematic, time-division multiplexed control of the switch matrix.
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
This approach enables efficient 360-degree airborne surveillance radar coverage with reduced RF losses and system costs, allowing for flexible beam steering and monopulse operations, while maintaining signal quality and reducing noise figures.
Implementation Method 1
a feed horn system for illuminating the inner set of radiating elements
Implementation Method 2
A plurality of high power RF amplifiers are coupled through a commutation switch matrix to selected ones of the subarray feed horn systems to illuminate a desired sector with RF energy
Data Source
AI summary
An electronically scanned antenna may include a plurality of space-fed, contiguous subarrays arranged in an annular region, each subarray including an inner set of radiating elements facing inwardly, an outer-facing set of radiating elements, and a feed system for illuminating the inner set of radiating elements. A plurality of RF amplifiers are coupled through a commutation switch matrix to selected ones of the subarray feed horn systems to illuminate a desired sector with RF energy.