Steerable High-Power Microwave Array Beam Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional high-power microwave (HPM) systems face limitations in beam steering and energy delivery due to fixed antenna positioning, which restricts mission planning and effectiveness in targeting moving platforms, as they lack accurate timing control and efficient methods for steering high-energy pulses.
Innovation Solution
The system employs an array of microwave elements with optical and RF time delay mechanisms to generate and steer high-power microwave pulses, allowing for precise phase control and beam steering, enabling the tracking of targets as the vehicle moves, thereby increasing the number of pulses impinging on the target.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the number of microwave modules is increased to improve HPM power, then the power output increases, but the system size increases which is impractical due to platform constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the HPM source into multiple independent microwave modules arranged in an array. Each module generates microwave pulses that are combined through coherent addition to achieve high total power. This segmentation allows the system to reach high power levels without requiring a single large generator, thus avoiding excessive system volume while maintaining platform mobility.
2Use of energy by moving object
If fixed directional antennas are used to provide focused beam, then the energy concentration improves, but the ability to track moving targets deteriorates because the platform must physically reorient
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces fixed physical antenna orientation with dynamic electronic beam steering. By independently controlling the phase and timing of microwave pulses from each module in the array, the beam direction can be electronically steered to track moving targets without requiring physical platform reorientation. This dynamic control maintains energy concentration on target while providing adaptability to track moving objects.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces mechanical antenna rotation or platform maneuvering with electronic phase control of microwave pulses. By adjusting the relative phases of pulses from different modules, the beam direction is controlled electronically rather than mechanically, enabling rapid and precise target tracking without physical movement constraints.
3Device complexity
If conventional pulsed HPM systems are used without accurate timing control, then the system complexity is reduced, but the beam steering precision and pulse timing accuracy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses optical timing signals to pre-synchronize the triggering of microwave pulses in each module before the actual HPM pulse generation. This preliminary optical timing ensures that all modules are synchronized to sub-nanosecond accuracy, enabling precise beam steering and coherent pulse combining without requiring overly complex real-time control systems during pulse generation.
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 enhances the flexibility and effectiveness of HPM systems by allowing continuous energy delivery on targets regardless of the platform's orientation, increasing dwell time and peak power, while reducing system size, weight, and power requirements.
Implementation Method 1
A beam steering unit steers the beam towards the target using optical and RF time delay to control the phase of pulses from an array of microwave elements
Implementation Method 2
A beam steering unit steers the beam towards the target using optical and RF time delay to control the phase of pulses from an array of microwave elements
Implementation Method 3
A microwave radar generates a set of high-power microwave pulses using an array of microwave elements to form a beam
Data Source
AI summary
A steerable high-power microwave beam array includes an optical sub-system comprising a laser and an optical time delay unit and a parallel set of RF time delay units. The optical system and/or the RF delay subsystem are utilized to precisely delay the pulses from the microwave antenna elements to provide steerable beam forming.