United S ta tes Pa tent [ 1 9 1

Rudis h et a l .
[ 5 4 ] PHAS ED ARRAY ANTENNA S YS TEM TO
PRODUCE WIDE-OPEN COVERAGE OF A
WIDE ANGULAR S ECTOR WITH HIGH
DIRECTIVE GAIN AND S TRONG
CAPABILITY TO RES OLVE MULTIPLE
S IGNALS
[ 7 5 ] Inv ento r s : Ro na l d M. Rudis h, Co mma ck; S co tt
F. Ha l l , Pl a inv iew , b o th o f NY.
[ 7 3 ] As s ig nee: Ea to n Co r p o r a tio n, Cl ev el a nd, Ohio
[ 2 1 ] Ap p l . ' No . : 7 0 0 , 1 1 5 .
[ 2 2 ] Fil ed: Feb . 1 1 , 1 9 8 5
[ 5 1 ] Int. Cl . 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H0 1 Q 3 / 2 2 ; H0 1 Q 3 / 2 6
[ 5 2 ] U. S . Cl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 4 2 / 3 7 1 ; 3 4 2 / 3 7 3
[ 5 8 ] Fiel d o f S ea r ch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 4 3 / 3 7 1 -3 7 5
[ 5 6] Ref er ences Cited
U. S . PATENT DOCUMENTS
3 , 63 1 , 5 0 3 1 2 / 1 9 7 1 Ta ng et a 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 4 3 / 3 7 1
4 , 2 7 7 , 7 8 7 7 / 1 9 8 1 King . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 4 3 / 3 7 1
Pr ima r y Ex a miner --Theo do r e M. Bl um
As s is ta nt Ex a miner Gr eg o r y C. Is s ing
Atto r ney , Ag ent, o r Fir m-Ol dha m, Ol dha m & Web er
Co .
[ 5 7 ] ABS TRACT
A p ha s ed a r r a y a ntenna s y s tem ca p a b l e o f s ca nning a t
r a tes f a s ter tha n the inf o r ma tio n r a te o f s ig na l s b eing
r eceiv ed to p r ev ent the l o s s o f inf o r ma tio n dur ing the
s ca nning p r o ces s . The p ha s ed a r r a y is co n?g ur ed to a dd '
4 , 65 2 , 8 7 9
Ma r . 2 4 , 1 9 8 7
[ 1 1 ] Pa tent Numb er :
[ 4 5 ] Da te o f Pa tent:
the ca p a b il ity to p r o v ide mul ti-dimens io na l s ep a r a tio n
o f mul tip l e s ig na l s to ena b l e mea s ur ement o f dir ectio n
o f a r r iv a l a nd f r eq uency , a nd to el imina te the s ens itiv ity
l o s s due to s a mp l ing us ua l l y enco unter ed w ith s uch
r a p id-s ca n s y s tems . The a r r a y a ntenna s y s tem is co m
p r is ed o f the mea ns to f o r m mul tip l e, time-s eq uenced
r es p o ns es , ea ch r es p o ns e co r r es p o nding to a dif f er ent
b ea m o f s ens itiv ity . The b ea ms s ca n the f ul l co v er a g e
s ecto r a nd to g ether w ith ea ch o ther f o r m a co ntig uo us
s et o f b ea ms tha t b o th f il l the co v er a g e s ecto r a t a ny o ne
time a nd a l s o s y nchr o no us l y s ca n the f ul l co v er a g e
s ecto r . The b ea ms a r e dif f er entia l l y del a y ed to p er mit
the b ea m r es p o ns es f r o m a ny p a r ticul a r incident s ig na l
to b e a dded in unis o n, g iv ing r is e to a co mp r es s ed p ul s e
w ho s e time o f o ccur r ence is r el a ted to the s ig na l a ng l e
o f incidence. The mea ns f o r b ea m a dditio n s el ectiv el y
f o r ms a co her ent s um a t o nl y o ne o f its mul tip l icity o f
o utp ut p o r ts , the p a r ticul a r p o r t b eing a p er io dic f unc
tio n o f the s ig na l f r eq uency . The a mb ig uities w hich
a r is e in f r eq uency r es o l utio n a nd f r eq uency mea s ur e
ment ca p a b il ity due to this p er io dicity a r e r es o l v ed b y
co a r s e f r eq uency cha nnel iz er s . This a r r a ng ement r e
ta ins the w ide-o p en a ng ul a r r ecep tio n cha r a cter is tics o f
a w ide-b ea m o r o mnidir ectio na l a ntenna , w hil e ex hib it
ing the g a in a nd a ng ul a r r es o l utio n o f a mul ti-b ea m
p ha s ed a r r a y a ntenna , a nd the f r eq uency r es o l utio n o f a
cha nnel iz ed r eceiv er .
4 Cl a ims , 9 Dr a w ing Fig ur es
BUTLER MATRIX
a n
BUTLER MATRIX
U. S . Pa tent Ma r . 2 4 , 1 9 8 7 S heet1 o f 4 4 , 65 2 , 8 7 9
' 0 ' . . .
m \ Y Y
BUTLER MATRIX
I0 4
( I) ( N)
l _ _ _ _ | | | I ( I0 5
CHANNELIZED ' 0 8 CHANNELIZED
RECEIVER - - - - - RECEIVER
( I) ( N)
| | | | \ | o 6 | | | | | | |
Xm--.
4 0 7 ( 4 0 6 ( 4 0 5 ( 4 0 4 4 0 3 ( 4 0 2 ( 4 0 l ( 4 0 8 4 0 9
. l ' I
US . Pa tent Ma r . 2 4 , 1 9 8 7 S heet2 o f 4 4 , 65 2 , 8 7 9
9
2 1 2 2 ' 3 2 0 7
( 2 0 2
2 o 3 \ / 2 o |
"VVV -Ni
/ / / ~ 2 0 6 W2 0 4
( XHQQ - - ~ "5 2 0 5 [ 2 0 9
co me
LOCAL
2 | Q L OS CILLATOR -
, n N ' 2 0 s
BUTLER MATRIX ~ 8 5
l 2 m N
g g g ~ 2 | 9
~ 2 2 o
l 2 m N
BUTLER MATRIX W2 "
| 2 l N
l \ N2 2 |
f f f / 2 | 7
US . Pa tent Ma r . 2 4 , 1 9 8 7 S heet3 o f 4 4 , 65 2 , 8 7 9
US . Pa tent Ma r . 2 4 , 1 9 8 7 S heet4 o f 4 4 , 65 2 , 8 7 9
( 8 0 6 ( 8 0 5 ( 8 0 4 8 0 3 { 8 0 2 ( S o l ( 8 0 8 8 0 9 I( BIO
| ' I \ ' l
Nul l
1
PHAS ED ARRAY ANTENNA S YS TEM TO
PRODUCE WIDE-OPEN COVERAGE OF A WIDE
ANGULAR S ECI OR WITH HIGH DIRECI' IVE
GAIN AND S TRONG CAPABILITY TO RES OLVE
MULTIPLE S IGNALS
TECHNICAL FIELD
This inv entio n r el a tes to el ectr o nica l l y s ca nned r e
ceiv ing a ntenna s y s tems w hich s ca n a t r a tes f a s ter tha n
the inf o r ma tio n r a te o f the s ig na l s b eing p r o ces s ed a nd,
mo r e p a r ticul a r l y , to imp r o v ements in the s ig na l co m
b ining s ub s y s tem o f s uch s y s tems to s imul ta neo us l y
a chiev e hig h v a l ues o f dir ectiv e g a in a nd s ep a r a tio n o f
mul tip l e s ig na l s b a s ed o n f r eq uency , time-o f -a r r iv a l a nd
dir ectio n-o f -a r r iv a l .
In the f utur e, it is ex p ected tha t the incr ea s ed dep l o y
ment o f r a da r s , in g ener a l , a nd o f hig h PRF p ul s e do p
p l er r a da r s , in p a r ticul a r , w il l l ea d to a micr o w a v e s ig
na l env ir o nment w hich is dens e in the time do ma in a s
w el l a s in the f r eq uency a nd s p a tia l do ma ins . The s ig na l
env ir o nment mig ht b e f ur ther co mp l ica ted if ther e is
incr ea s ed us e o f emitter s w hich p s eudo -r a ndo ml y f r e
q uency ho p a nd/ o r p s eudo -r a ndo ml y s ta g g er PRF s .
This w il l ma ke it incr ea s ing l y des ir a b l e to s o r t emis s io ns
b y dir ectio n-o f -a r r iv a l ( DOA) , p r ef er a b l y o n a n indi
v idua l p ul s e b a s is to ma inta in 1 0 0 p er cent p r o b a b il ity o f
inter cep t. It w il l a l s o b e des ir a b l e to b e a b l e to s ep a r a te
indiv idua l p ul s e s ig na l s in a t l ea s t tw o o r thr ee dimen
s io ns , s uch a s DOA, f r eq uency a nd time, s imul ta
neo us l y . This w o ul d ma ke it p o s s ib l e to ma ke una mb ig
uo us mea s ur ements o f the f r eq uencies o f mul tip l e s ig
na l s w hich o v er l a p in time a nd a r e w ithin the s a me
' DOA r es o l utio n cel l . It w o ul d l ikew is e ena b l e mo r e
a ccur a te es tima tes o f DOA f o r mul tip l e s ig na l s w hich
o v er l a p in time a nd a r e w ithin the s a me f r eq uency r es o
l utio n cel l .
Ther e w il l a l s o b e a p p l ica tio ns ( ELINT, f o r ex a mp l e)
in w hich the cr o w ded s ig na l env ir o nment is l es s l ikel y
to b e a p r o b l em tha n the tr end. to w a r d l es s detecta b l e
emis s io ns ( mo r e hig hl y s up p r es s ed s idel o b es , s p r ea d
s p ectr um co ding , etc. ) . Iii thes e a p p l ica tio ns , it w o ul d
b e des ir a b l e to o b ta in incr ea s ed s ens itiv ity v ia a ntenna
dir ectiv ity , b ut w itho ut g iv ing up 1 0 0 p er cent p r o b a b il
ity o f detectio n.
Co ncep tua l l y , ex is ting techno l o g y p r o v ides a p r io r
a r t mea ns b y w hich mul ti-dimens io na l s ig na l s ep a r a tio n
a nd dir ectio na l g a in co ul d b e a cco mp l is hed w hil e ma in
ta ining 1 0 0 p er cent p r o b a b il ity o f inter cep t. A mul tip l e
b ea m a ntenna , s uch a s a l inea r a r r a y a nd Butl er ma tr ix
co mb ina tio n, co ul d b e co nnected to mul tip l e s o p his ti
ca ted r eceiv er s , o ne f o r ea ch o utp ut ( b ea mp o r t) o f the
Butl er ma tr ix . The r eceiv er s w o ul d ha v e to b e o f the
cha nnel iz ed o r o f the co mp r es s iv e ty p e if f r eq uency
r es o l utio n a nd 1 0 0 p er cent p r o b a b il ity o f inter cep t a r e
to b e o b ta ined.
One s uch p r io r a r t s y s tem is il l us tr a ted in FIG. 1
w hich co nta ins a b l o ck dia g r a m o f a n a ntenna a nd r e
ceiv er co mb ina tio n. The co mp o nent el ements s ho w n in
FIG. 1 co mp r is e a l inea r a r r a y o f N a ntenna el ements
1 0 1 , N eq ua l l eng th tr a ns mis s io n l ines 1 0 3 w hich co n
nect the a ntenna el ements 1 0 1 to the N inp uts 1 0 7 o f a n
N b y N Butl er ma tr ix 1 0 2 , N tr a ns mis s io n l ines 1 0 4
w hich co nnect the N o utp uts 1 0 8 o f Butl er ma tr ix 1 0 2
to N cha nnel iz ed r eceiv er s 1 0 5 , ea ch r eceiv er ha v ing K
o utp uts 1 0 6, o ne f o r ea ch f r eq uency cha nnel .
Fo r a mea ning f ul deg r ee o f DOA s ep a r a tio n in s itua
tio ns w her e ther e a r e ma ny time o v er l a p s , a t l ea s t eig ht
4 5
60
65
4 , 65 2 , 8 7 9
2
( a nd p er ha p s a s ma ny a s s ix teen) b ea ms a nd r eceiv er
/ enco der s w o ul d b e r eq uir ed. Ea ch r eceiv er w o ul d
ha v e a t l ea s t K na r r o w -b a nd f r eq uency ?l ter s if ea ch
r eceiv er is cha nnel iz ed into K co ntig uo us f r eq uency
b a nds w ith a l l b a nds s imul ta neo us l y a v a il a b l e f o r s ig na l
r ecep tio n a nd w itho ut us e o f s ub -b a nd s umming ( s o tha t
ma x imum a v a il a b l e s ens itiv ity is a chiev ed) . Thus , a n N
b ea m s y s tem w o ul d r eq uir e Ki r N ?l ter s . Fo r ex a mp l e,
a s y s tem ha v ing 1 6 b ea ms a nd co v er ing 5 0 0 MHz b a nd
w idth w ith 5 0 cha nnel s , ea ch 1 0 MHz w ide, w o ul d
r eq uir e 8 0 0 ?l ter s . Us ua l l y , this l a r g e a mo unt o f s o p his
tica ted ha r dw a r e is imp r a ctica l to imp l ement. Fur ther
mo r e, p r a ctica l co ns ider a tio ns s uch a s ?l ter s iz e ( co ns id
er ing the l a r g e numb er r eq uir ed) l imit the ?l ter Q o b
ta ina b l e in p r a ctice a nd this in tur n l imits the o p er a ting
f r eq uency o f the f il ter s to o nl y a f ew hundr ed times
their b a ndw idth. Tha t in tur n l imits the o v er a l l f r e
q uency b a ndw idth tha t ca n b e s imul ta neo us l y co v er ed
b y a s ing l e s y s tem. Fo r ex a mp l e, to a chiev e ?l ter b a nd
w idths a s na r r o w a s 1 0 MHz ; the o p er a ting f r eq uency
o f the ?l ter s ca nno t b e much g r ea ter tha n s ev er a l hun
dr ed MHz , s o tha t the o v er a l l s imul ta neo us f r eq uency
co v er a g e b a ndw idth a l s o mus t b e l imited to s ev er a l
hundr ed MHz .
It is the p ur p o s e o f the p r es ent inv entio n to o v er co me
thes e p r a ctica l l imita tio ns o f s uch p r io r a r t s o l utio ns b y
p r es enting a ha r dw a r e ef ?cient metho d o f o b ta ining
hig h-g a in mul tidimens io na l s ig na l s ep a r a tio n, w hil e
ma inta ining 1 0 0 p er cent p r o b a b il ity o f inter cep t.
DIS CLOS URE OF INVENTION
It is ther ef o r e a n o b j ect o f the p r es ent inv entio n to
p r o v ide a n a r r a y a ntenna s y s tem ca p a b l e o f s ca nning
thr o ug h its co mp l ete co v er a g e s ecto r w ithin the time
p er io d o f the s ho r tes t p ul s e ex p ected to b e r eceiv ed,
ther eb y ma inta ining the s a me hig h p r o b a b il ity o f inter
cep ting s uch a s ig na l a s ca n b e a chiev ed w ith a s ing l e
w ide-b ea mw idth el ement o f the a r r a y .
It is a no ther o b j ect o f the p r es ent inv entio n to
a chiev e the g a in a v a il a b l e f r o m a n N el ement a r r a y b y
r eco v er ing the s ig na l l o s s w hich o ccur s in the a r r a y s o f
o ther s y s tems due to s a mp l ing the s ig na l dur ing o nl y a
p o r tio n o f its time o f p r es ence.
Ano ther o b j ect o f the inv entio n is to p r o v ide mul tidi
mens io na l r es o l utio n o f mul tip l e incident s ig na l s , s o r t
ing them b y their time-o f -a r r iv a l , dir ectio n-o f -a r r iv a l
a nd f r eq uency .
It is y et a no ther o b j ect o f the p r es ent inv entio n to
p r o v ide the a b il ity to deter mine the f r eq uencies o f mul
tip l e incident s ig na l s a nd the a b il ity to deter mine their
dir ectio n-o f -a r r iv a l co mmens ur a te w ith the na r r o w
b ea mw idth a chiev a b l e w ith a f ul l N el ement a r r a y .
Ano ther o b j ect o f the p r es ent inv entio n is to g a in the
a dv a nta g es o f the a b o v e o b j ects us ing f ew er co mp o
nents tha n a r e r eq uir ed f o r mul tip l e b ea m a ntenna s y s
tems tha t r eq uir e s ep a r a te co mp l ete r eceiv er s f o r ea ch
b ea m.
Ano ther o b j ect o f the p r es ent inv entio n is to ena b l e
w ide f r eq uency b a ndw idth o p er a tio n b y p r o v iding the
a b il ity to s imul ta neo us l y co v er N times the f r eq uency
b a ndw idth tha n ca n b e co v er ed b y p r io r a r t mul tip l e
b ea m a ntenna s y s tems w ith s ep a r a te cha nnel iz ed r eceiv
er s f o r ea ch b ea m, s uch a s the p r io r a r t s y s tem o f FIG.
1 .
In g ener a l , a n a p p a r a tus f o r a dding the ca p a b il ity to
s ep a r a te mul tip l e s ig na l s a nd f o r el imina ting the s a m
p l ing l o s s o f s ig na l ener g y in s y s tems ha v ing a co v er a g e
4 , 65 2 , 8 7 9
3
s ecto r thr o ug h w hich the a ntenna s y s tem s ca ns mul tip l e
b ea ms a t a r a te tha t is f a s ter tha n the inf o r ma tio n r a te
b eing r eceiv ed, co mp r is es : ( a ) a l inea r p ha s ed a r r a y
a ntenna co mp r is ing a r o w f o r med o f a p l ur a l ity o f a n
tenna el ements , o ne o f s a id a ntenna el ements a t o ne end
o f the r o w b eing des ig na ted the ?r s t el ement, w hil e the
r ema ining el ements a r e des ig na ted b y s ucceeding num
b er s in a r ithmetic p r o g r es s io n a cr o s s the r o w o f a ntenna
el ements , a nd the a ntenna el ements b eing co ns ider ed a s
b eing p o s itio ned in the a z imuth p l a ne f o r r ef er ence
p ur p o s es ; ( b ) mea ns f o r f o r ming a p l ur a l ity o f b ea ms o f
s ens itiv ity co up l ed to s a id a ntenna el ements , s a id p l ur a l
ity o f b ea ms o f s ens itiv ity b eing eq ua l in numb er to the
numb er o f a ntenna el ements in s a id r o w , the b ea ms
b eing co ntig uo us a nd co ns ider ed a s l y ing in the a z imuth
p l a ne f o r r ef er ence p ur p o s es , w ith ea ch b ea m b eing
g ener a l l y ev enl y s p a ced f r o m the a dj a cent b ea ms in s in
0 s p a ce, w her e 0 is the a ng l e a w a y f r o m b r o a ds ide in the
a z imutha l p l a ne, the s p a cing b etw een b ea m center di
r ectio ns in s in 0 s p a ce b eing g ener a l l y p r o p o r tio na l to
the r ecip r o ca l o f the numb er o f a ntenna el ements , a nd
the b ea ms , ta ken to g ether to f o r m a l a r g er co mp o s ite
b ea m, s p a n the entir e a z imuth co v er a g e s ecto r ; ( c)
mea ns co up l ed to s a id a ntenna el ements f o r s y nchr o
no us l y s ca nning ea ch o f the b ea ms o v er the entir e co v
er a g e s ecto r , the b ea ms ma inta ining their r el a tiv e p o s i
tio ns a dj a cent o ne a no ther in s in 0 s p a ce dur ing s ca n
ning , the s ca nning b eing ca r r ied o ut p er io dica l l y a t a
r a te tha t is a t l ea s t tw ice a s f a s t a s the hig hes t inf o r ma
tio n r a te b eing r eceiv ed; ( d) mea ns co up l ed to s a id a n
tenna el ements f o r a ccep ting s ig na l s r eceiv ed b y ea ch
b ea m a nd dif f er entia l l y del a y ing s a id s ig na l s to ca us e
their mo dul a tio n env el o p es to r es p o nd in unis o n to a
s ing l e emitting s o ur ce a t a p a r ticul a r a z imuth a ng l e
w ithin the s ecto r co v er a g e o f the a ntenna s y s tem; ( c)
mea ns f o r co her entl y co mb ining s a id s ig na l s a f ter s a id
s ig na l s ha v e b een dif f er entia l l y del a y ed, s a id mea ns f o r
co mb ining b eing a r r a ng ed to ca us e co her ent a dditio n
s el ectiv el y a t dif f er ent o utp ut p o r ts o f s a id co mb iner f o r
dif f er ent s ig na l f r eq uencies ; a nd ( f ) mea ns f o r s ep a r a ting
mul tip l e S ig na l s a t a s ing l e o utp ut p o r t o f s a id co mb iner
w hen s a id s ig na l s ha v e f r eq uencies co r r es p o nding to
g r a ting l o b e r es p o ns e.
BRIEF DES CRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a b l o ck dia g r a m o f a p r io r a r t mul tip l e b ea m
a r r a y a ntenna a nd mul tip l e cha nnel iz ed r eceiv er s w hich
p r o v ides mul tidimens io na l r es o l utio n o f s ig na l s a nd
hig h dir ectio na l g a in;
FIG. 2 is a b l o ck dia g r a m o f a p ha s ed a r r a y a ntenna
a nd r eceiv er f r o nt-end, il l us tr a ting the p r es ent inv en
tio n;
FIG. 3 is a g r a p h o f the env el o p e ma g nitude | Em| o f
a n o utp ut v o l ta g e o f the ?r s t Butl er ma tr ix in the p r es
ent inv entio n, p l o tted a g a ins t the co mp o s ite v a r ia b l e
Xm f o r N=4 ;
FIG. 4 is a g r a p h o f the env el o p e ma g nitude l Eml f o r
a n o utp ut v o l ta g e o f the ?r s t Butl er ma tr ix in the p r es
ent inv entio n, p l o tted a g a ins t the co ns tituent v a r ia b l e ( b
f o r N=4 ;
FIG. S is a g r a p h o f the env el o p e ma g nitude | Em| f o r
ea ch o f the o utp ut v o l ta g es o f the ?r s t Butl er ma tr ix in
the p r es ent inv entio n, p l o tted a g a ins t the co ns tituent
v a r ia b l e m1 t f o r N=4 ;
FIG. 6 is a g r a p h o f the time a nd incidence-a ng l e
dep endent f a cto r o f the env el o p e ma g nitude | E1 | , o f a n
o utp ut v o l ta g e o f the s eco nd Butl er ma tr ix in the p r es
5
4 0
4 5
5 0
60
65
4
ent inv entio n p l o tted a g a ins t the co mp o s ite v a r ia b l e X
f o r N=4 ;
FIG. 7 is a g r a p h o f the inter media te-f r eq uency de
p endent f a cto r o f the env el o p e ma g nitude IEII, f o r a n
o utp ut v o l ta g e o f the s eco nd Butl er ma tr ix in the p r es
ent inv entio n p l o tted a g a ins t the co mp o s ite v a r ia b l e Y!
f o r N=4 ;
FIG. 8 is a g r a p h o f the inter media te-f r eq uency de
p endent f a cto r o f the env el o p e ma g nitude | E1 | f o r ea ch
o f the o utp ut v o l ta g es o f the s eco nd Butl er ma tr ix in the
p r es ent inv entio n p l o tted a g a ins t the co mp o s ite v a r ia b l e
Y1 f o r N=4 ; a nd
FIG. 9 is a thr ee dimens io na l g r a p h o f the do ub l e
mo dul a tio n env el o p e f a cto r ma g nitude | E/ | , o f a n o ut
p ut v o l ta g e o f the s eco nd Butl er ma tr ix in the p r es ent
inv entio n p l o tted a g a ins t b o th no r ma l iz ed f r eq uency
( Y -Ax is ) a nd time-enco ded dir ectio n-o f -a r r iv a l ( X
Ax is ) f o r the ca s e w her e N=4 .
BES T MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE
INVENTION
The p r es ent inv entio n o v er co mes the p r a ctica l l imita
tio ns o f p r io r a r t mul tip l e b ea m a ntenna s y s tems tha t
r eq uir e s ep a r a te r eceiv er s a nd p r o v ides a l l o f the a dv a n
ta g es o f the a f o r ementio ned o b j ectiv es s imul ta neo us l y
w ith a s ing l e co n?g ur a tio n.
The a ntenna / r eceiv er s y s tem o f the p r es ent inv entio n
cr ea tes a s et o f co ntig uo us b ea ms o f s ens itiv ity w hich
a r e s ca nned thr o ug h a des ig na ted co v er a g e s ecto r
w ithin the time p er io d o f the s ho r tes t emitter p ul s e.
S uch r a p id s ca n is o b ta ined b y heter o dy ne techniq ues ; it
r es ul ts in a p r edicta b l y co mp r es s ed p ul s e ( a s in the ca s e
o f a co mp r es s iv e r eceiv er ) w ho s e time o f o ccur r ence is
dir ectl y r el a ted to the emitter a z imuth l o ca tio n.
The p r es ent inv entio n a v o ids s a mp l ing l o s s b y us ing
dif f er ent b ea ms to s a mp l e the incident s ig na l co ntinu
o us l y dur ing its entir e time o f p r es ence. As a r es ul t, the
p r es ent inv entio n ca n y iel d a s ens itiv ity imp r o v ement o f
N times ( w her e N is the numb er o f a r r a y el ements )
r el a tiv e to tha t o f the p r io r imp l ementa tio ns w hich
inv o l v ed the s ca nning o f a s ing l e b ea m. In thes e p r io r
imp l ementa tio ns a n incident p ul s e is s a mp l ed b y the
s y s tem f o r o nl y a f r a ctio n o f its w idth a s the s ing l e b ea m
s w eep s b y its incidence dir ectio n; this l imits s y s tem
s ens itiv ity s ince o nl y a f r a ctio n o f the a v a il a b l e p ul s e
ener g y is del iv er ed to the a ntenna / r eceiv er o utp ut.
The ma nner o f b ea m co mb ina tio n util iz ed in the p r es
ent inv entio n r es ul ts na tur a l l y in a na r r o w b a ndw idth
cha nnel iz a tio n o f s ig na l s in a cco r da nce w ith their f r e
q uency , in ef f ect, do ing the ?neg r a in ?l ter ing r eq uir ed
in a hig h-r es o l utio n cha nnel iz ed r eceiv er w itho ut r e
q uir ing the us e o f na r r o w -b a nd ?l ter s .
To cl ea r l y il l us tr a te v a r io us no v el a s p ects o f the cur
r ent inv entio n, a s p eci?c ex a mp l e is ta ken in w hich a n N
el ement l inea r a r r a y inco r p o r a ting the inv entio n is ex
p o s ed to a s ig na l w a v ef r o nt incident f r o m a dir ectio n 0
w ith r es p ect to the a r r a y no r ma l . This emb o diment o f
the inv entio n a nd the incident w a v ef r o nt a r e s ho w n in
FIG. 2 w hich co nta ins a b l o ck dia g r a m o f a n a ntenna
a nd r eceiv er f r o nt end. The co mp o nent el ements s ho w n
in FIG. 2 co mp r is e a l inea r a r r a y o f N a ntenna el ements
2 0 1 , a n end a ntenna el ement 2 0 2 a nd a nth el ement 2 0 3 ,
N eq ua l -l eng th tr a ns mis s io n l ines 2 0 4 w hich co nnect
el ements 2 0 1 to N heter o dy ne mix er s 2 0 5 , a n nth mix er
2 0 6, N eq ua l l eng th tr a ns mis s io n l ines 2 0 8 w hich co n
nect mix er s 2 0 5 to a co mb l o ca l o s cil l a to r 2 0 9 , N eq ua l
l eng th tr a ns mis s io n l ines 2 1 0 w hich co nnect the mix er s
2 0 5 to ?r s t Butl er ma tr ix 2 1 5 , N eq ua l l eng th tr a ns mis
4 , 65 2 , 8 7 9
5
s io n l ines 2 1 6 w hich co nnect ?r s t Butl er ma tr ix 2 1 5 to a
s et o f N del a y l ines 2 1 9 o f p r o g r es s iv el y dif f er ing
l eng th, N eq ua l l eng th tr a ns mis s io n l ines 2 2 0 w hich
co nnect the del a y l ines 2 1 9 to a s eco nd Butl er ma tr ix
2 1 1 , a nd N eq ua l l eng th tr a ns mis s io n l ines 2 2 1 w hich
co nnect the s eco nd Butl er ma tr ix 2 1 1 w ith N co a r s e
cha nnel iz a tio n ?l ter s 2 1 7 , ea ch cha nnel iz a tio n ?l ter
' ha v ing K o utp ut p o r ts 2 1 4 . Amp l i?er s co ul d b e ins er ted
b ef o r e a nd a f ter the mix er s in a p r a ctica l imp l ementa
tio n, b ut they ha v e b een o mitted f r o m FIG. 2 b eca us e
their p r es ence is no t r eq uir ed f o r the p ur p o s e o f ex p l a in
ing the a p p r o a ch.
A deta il ed des cr ip tio n o f ho w the co mp o nents o f
FIG. 2 f unctio n to o b ta in hig h dir ectiv e g a in w ith a ng u
l a r a nd f r eq uency r es o l utio n f o l l o w s f o r the ca s e w her e
a s ing l e CW s ig na l is incident. ,
. As s ho w n in FIG. 2 , a n o b l iq uel y incident w a v ef r o nt
2 1 2 induces RF s ig na l s , in the a ntenna el ements 2 0 1 , the
s ig na l induced in the nth el ement 2 0 3 b eing ex p r es s ed a s
e, , . Thes e s ig na l s a r e p r o g r es s iv el y del a y ed b y a n
a mo unt ( b s , Wher e ( , b s is the p ha s e dif f er ence b etw een
the s ig na l s r eceiv ed b y a dj a cent el ements . Numer ica l l y ,
w her e AS is the w a v el eng th o f the incident s ig na l , ( I is
the inter el ement s p a cing a nd 0 is the a ng l e b etw een the
dir ectio n o f incidence 2 0 7 a nd the a r r a y no r ma l 2 1 3 .
Ther ef o r e e, , is g iv en b y :
en=C?S [ w s r + ( "F) 4 > s l ( 1 )
w her e ms =the r a dia n f r eq uency o f the incident s ig na l ;
n=( N+ 1 ) / 2 ; a nd N=the to ta l numb er o f el ements .
Thes e s ig na l s a r e a p p l ied to the mix er s 2 0 5 . Al s o
7 a p p l ied to the mix er s a r e a s et o f co her entl y r el a ted
l o ca l o s cil l a to r ( LO) s ig na l s . Thes e a r e g ener a ted b y the
co mb l o ca l o s cil l a to r 2 0 9 . Ea ch LO s ig na l dif f er s in
f r eq uency b y integ er mul tip l es o f a co ns ta nt f r eq uency
o f f s et, w ] . The L0 s ig na l s a r e co her ent in the s ens e tha t
2 5
o nce ev er y cy cl e o f the o f f s et f r eq uency , a l l o f the LO .
s ig na l s r ea ch the p ea k o f their p o s itiv e ha l f cy cl es s imul
ta neo us l y . Numer ica l l y , the nth LO f r eq uency is g iv e
b y : .
w L0 =ELo + ( n?) w 1 ~
w her e 6 L0 is the a v er a g e LO f r eq uency . Beca us e o f the
p r o g r es s iv e f r eq uency dif f er ence, the LO s ig na l s ex hib it
a time-v a r y ing p ha s e a dv a nce, L0 = ( n -?) w 1 t.
The IF s ig na l s p r o duced b y the mix er s a r e p r o g r es
s iv el y p ha s ed in a cco r da nce w ith the dif f er ence o f RF
a nd LO p r o g r es s iv e p ha s ing , a s ma y b e no ted f r o m the
ex p r es s io n f o r the IF s ig na l ,
Thus , the inp uts to the ?r s t Butl er ma tr ix 2 1 5 a r e a s et
o f eq ua l a mp l itude IF s ig na l s ha v ing a p ha s e p r o g r es
s io n tha t is l inea r w ith n a nd w ith time. In a p r a ctica l
s y s tem, a mp l itude ta p er ing ( w eig hting ) mig ht b e a p
p l ied to the s ig na l s p r io r to their entr a nce into the But
l er ma tr ix , f o r r a dia tio n p a tter n s idel o b e co ntr o l . Ho w
4 5
5 5
65
6
ev er , this deta il ha s b een o mitted f r o m FIG. 2 b eca us e it
is no t r eq uir ed in o r der to ex p l a in the a p p r o a ch.
The Butl er ma tr ix div ides the s ig na l a t its nth inp ut in
N eq ua l p a r ts , p ha s e s hif ts ea ch b y a n a mo unt, ( 1 ) 3 a nd
co mb ines ea ch w ith s ig na l s w hich o r ig ina ted f r o m o ther
p o r ts to f o r m the s um, cm, a t its mth o utp ut. The p ha s e
s hif t, ( 1 ) 5 , is dep endent o n b o th In a nd n a nd is g iv en b y :
2 1 1 '
N
$ 8 = ( ' 1 ;) ( m - Z) , ( da y is mo dul o 2 1 1 -)
Thus , the o utp ut v o l ta g e, em, is the s umma tio n:
co s [ 6m - ( n - Fo w l : 4 s ) +
l
w her e V N f a cto r a cco unts f o r the N-w a y p o w er div i
s io n. It ca n b e s ho w n tha t the s umma tio n eq ua tes to the
( n Ex m - 3 )
It ma y b e no ted f r o m thes e ex p r es s io ns tha t ea ch
Butl er ma tr ix o utp ut, cm is the p r o duct o f a n env el o p e
ter m, Em, a nd a ca r r ier ter m. The env el o p e ma g nitude
| Em| is p l o tted f o r N=4 in FIG. 3 a s a f unctio n o f Xm.
The cur v e is a p er io dic f unctio n o f X, , , , ha v ing a ma in
l o b e 3 0 1 , s idel o b es 3 0 2 , 3 0 3 , 3 0 4 a nd 3 0 5 a nd g r a ting
l o b es 3 0 6 a nd 3 0 7 w ithin the r a ng e p l o tted. The env e
l o p e ter m | Em| is a g a in p l o tted in FIG. 4 ; in this ca s e it
is a s a f unctio n o f w hich is o ne o f q b s w hich is o ne o f the
co ns tituents o f X, , . , a nd it is a s s umed tha t a nt, a no ther
, co ns tituent, is hel d a t z er o . S ince S is a f unctio n o f 0 ,
FIG. 4 s ho w s the dir ectio na l dep endence IE", I . Fo ur
cur v es a r e p l o tted us ing dif f er ent l ine co des , o ne f o r
ea ch o f the f o ur Butl er ma tr ix o utp uts . Onl y the ma in
l o b es 4 0 1 , 4 0 2 , 4 0 3 a nd 4 0 4 a nd g r a ting l o b es 4 0 5 , 4 0 6,
4 0 7 , 4 0 8 a nd 4 0 9 a r e s ho w n; the s idel o b es ha v e b een
s up p r es s ed f o r p ur p o s es o f cl a r ity . Ta ken to g ether , the
f o ur cur v es f o r m a co ntinuo us s et w hich p r o v ides o ut
p uts f o r a l l v a l ues o f ( # 5 ( a nd thus a l l v a l ues o f 0 ) . Thes e
o utp uts co r r es p o nd to a s et o f co ntig uo us b ea ms o f
s ens itiv ity w hich to g ether s p a n the entir e co v er a g e
s ecto r .
The env el o p e ter m | Em| is o nce a g a in p l o tted in
FIG. 5 ; in this ca s e it is p l o tted a s a f unctio n o f -w 1 t
( the s eco nd co ns tituent o f X, , , ) a nd , 5 ( the ?r s t co ns titu
ent) is hel d co ns ta nt a t z er o . Ex cep t f o r the r el a b el ing o f
the a b s cis s a ( the ( 1 ) 3 a x is 4 1 0 b eco mes the -m1 t a x is 5 1 0 )
the cur v es o f FIG. 5 a r e identica l w ith tho s e o f FIG. 4 ,
w hich is no t s ur p r is ing s ince a g iv en v a l ue o f X, , , ca n
r es ul t f r o m either a s p eci?c v a l ue o f dir ectio n o r a s p e
ci?c v a l ue o f time. FIG. 5 s ho w s tha t the l o b es o f the
o utp ut env el o p e | Eml a t ea ch Butl er p o r t p ea ks a t s p e
ci?c times w hich a r e s ta g g er ed r el a tiv e to the p ea ks a t
4 , 65 2 , 8 7 9
7
o ther p o r ts . Thes e l o b es a r e, in ef f ect, the r es p o ns es o f
a n N b ea m, N el ement a r r a y a ntenna w ho s e b ea ms a r e
b eing s ca nned p a s t the dir ectio n o f a n emitter in s e
q uence, s mo o thl y w ith time.
Ea ch o f the b ea ms is o nl y o n ta r g et f o r l / N o f the
s ca n p er io d. Thus , ea ch b ea m s a mp l es o nl y l / Nth the
s ig na l ener g y a v a il a b l e a t the r a dia to r s . Ho w ev er , a l l
the b ea ms , ta ken to g ether , s a mp l e a l l the s ig na l ener g y .
To g et a l l the ener g y a t a s ing l e o utp ut r eq uir es tha t the
mul tip l e time-s eq uenced o utp uts o f the Butl er ma tr ix b e
co her entl y s ummed. Tha t in tur n r eq uir es tha t b o th the
ca r r ier s a nd env el o p es o f thes e o utp uts b e b r o ug ht into
p ha s e unis o n.
In the s y s tem s ho w n in FIG. 2 , the del a y l ines 2 1 9 a r e
co n?g ur ed to p r o g r es s iv el y del a y the env el o p es b y the
a mo unt T, , , , w her e:
( 3 )
) + a n a r b itr a r y co ns ta nt
The del a y o p er a tio n ca us es a l l the env el o p es to p ea k a t
the s a me time. Ho w ev er , this del a y o p er a tio n ca us es the
p ha s e o f ea ch ca r r ier to b e dis p l a ced b y s ev er a l cy cl es
f r o m tha t o f the o ther ca r r ier s , the ex a ct a mo unt o f
dis p l a cement b eing a l inea r f unctio n o f ( 3 1 p . Per io di
ca l l y , o v er the 61 p f r eq uency b a nd, the ca r r ier p ha s es
w il l b e a n integ r a l mul tip l e o f 2 7 7 ' r a dia ns a p a r t a nd thus ,
ef f ectiv el y co p ha s a l . Fo r s ig na l s w hich p r o duce thes e
v a l ues o f ( mp , the o utp uts o f the del a y l ines ma y b e
co her entl y s ummed to o b ta in a l l the a v a il a b l e s ig na l
ener g y . Fo r o ther f r eq uencies , the ca r r ier s w il l b e in
v a r io us s ta tes o f p a r tia l o r co mp l ete des tr uctiv e inter
f er ence a nd s o if s ummed w o ul d co mb ine to v a l ues l es s
tha n the p ea k v a l ue. To co her entl y s um the del a y l ine
o utp uts f o r thes e o ther f r eq uencies w o ul d r eq uir e the
a dditio n o f p r o g r es s iv el y incr ea s ing p ha s e o f f s ets to
ea ch o f the s ig na l s p r io r to s umming . J us t s uch a ta s k is
p er f o r med b y the s eco nd Butl er ma tr ix 2 1 1 o f the s y s
tem s ho w n in FIG. 2 . This Butl er ma tr ix is identica l to
the ?r s t o ne 2 1 5 ; indeed, Butl er ma tr ix 2 1 1 div ides the
s ig na l a t its mth inp ut into N eq ua l p a r ts , p ha s e s hif ts
ea ch b y _ a n a mo unt ( w her e
1 =( l n) ( mn) ( 2 1 r / N) , a nd co mb ines ea ch w ith s ig
na l s w hich o r ig ina ted f r o m o ther inp ut p o r ts to f o r m the
s um e1 a t its 1 th o utp ut. Ma thema tica l l y , the o utp ut v o l t
a g e e; is g iv en b y :
E] _
e1 = T C0 5 ( mm)
w her e:
E _ s ing l y ! ) s inQNYl )
_ s inex ) "s ki-F Y1 ) '
X = ( tb s m1 ! )
5 1 F
M ( 1 -5 )
Y1 = ( ii)
The f unctio n e; is the p r o duct o f a ca r r ier ter m a nd a
do ub l y -mo dul a ted env el o p e ter m E1 . The ?r s t f a cto r in
the env el o p e ter m is s imil a r to the o ne w hich mo dul a tes
em a nd w a s the s ub j ect o f dis cus s io n in co nnectio n w ith
FIG. 3 . The ma g nitude o f this ?r s t ( time/ a ng l e-o f
a r r iv a l ) env el o p e is p l o tted f o r the ca s e o f N=4 in FIG.
6 a g a ins t the co mp o s ite v a r ia b l e X w hich is l inea r l y
1 0
2 0
5 5
60
65
8
dep endent o n b o th w it a nd ( 1 ) 3 , a nd is indep endent o f the
Butl er ma tr ix o utp ut p o r t des ig na to r , l . The g r a p h
s ho w s tha t the b ea m-s ca nning a ctio n ma nif es t in the
o utp uts o f the ?r s t Butl er ma tr ix 2 1 5 is a l s o ma nif es t in
the o utp uts o f the s eco nd Butl er ma tr ix 2 1 1 . Al s o s ho w n
is the p er io dic co mp r es s ed p ul s e na tur e o f the o utp ut
s ig na l , the time do ma in r es p o ns e b eing a r ep l ica o f the
dy na mic a ntenna p a tter n. Indeed, the ma j o r p ul s es
s ho w n w ithin the r a ng e o f a b s cis s a p l o tted in FIG. 6 a r e
a ma inl o b e 60 2 a nd tw o g r a ting l o b es 60 1 , 60 3 o f the
a ntenna p a tter n. Al s o s ho w n a r e f o ur mino r l o b es 60 5 ,
60 6, 60 7 a nd 60 8 w hich co ns titute s idel o b es o f the a n
tenna p a tter n. The w idth o f a ma j o r p ul s e mea s ur ed
b etw een p o ints 3 . 9 dB do w n f r o m p ea k r es p o ns e is
2 1 r / N in ter ms o f X w hich tr a ns l a tes to a p er io d o f
2 1 r / Nm1 in ter ms o f time.
The s eco nd env el o p e ha s the s a me f o r m, b ut is a
f unctio n o f f r eq uency r a ther tha n time o r incidence
a ng l e. The ma g nitude o f this s eco nd ( f r eq uency ) env e
l o p e is p l o tted f o r the ca s e o f N=4 in FIG. 7 a g a ins t the
co mp o s ite v a r ia b l e Y] w hich is l inea r l y dep endent o n
a ) 1 1 : . The f r eq uency env el o p e is p l o tted f o r a 4 1 1 r a ng e o f
Y1 center ed a b o ut Y1 =2 1 r k w hen k is a n a r b itr a r il y
cho s en integ er . The g r a p h ex p r es s es the mul tip l e b a nd
p a s s ?l ter a ctio n o f the del a y -a nd-a dd o p er a tio ns p er
f o r med b y the del a y l ines a nd the s eco nd Butl er ma tr ix .
S ho w n w ithin the r a ng e o f a b s cis s a p l o tted in FIG. 7
a r e thr ee ma inl o b es 7 0 1 , 7 0 2 a nd 7 0 3 o f the f r eq uency
env el o p e f unctio n w hich co ns titute p a s s b a nds a nd f o ur
s idel o b es 7 0 4 , 7 0 5 , 7 0 6 a nd 7 0 7 o f the env el o p e f unctio n
w hich ?l l tw o r ej ect b a nds . In a p r a ctica l s y s tem w her e
r ej ectio n b a nd r es p o ns es mus t b e s tr o ng l y s up p r es s ed;
thes e s idel o b es ca n b e s up p r es s ed b y a mp l itude ta p er ing
o f the s ig na l s emer g ing f r o m the ?r s t Butl er ma tr ix ( the
ta p er ing o p er a tio n to co ntr o l f r eq uency s idel o b es is
deco up l ed f r o m the ta p er ing o p er a tio n to co ntr o l time
o r a ng l e-o f -a r r iv a l s idel o b es ) . The ?l ter ing is a ' r es ul t o f
p ha s e ca ncel l a tio ns r a ther tha n the f r eq uency r es p o ns es
o f the co mp o nents ( w hich a r e w icl eb a nd) . The w idth o f
ea ch p a s s b a nd mea s ur ed b etw een nul l s is 4 1 r / N in ter ms
o f Y] w hich tr a ns l a tes to 2 : 0 1 in ter ms o f 61 1 : . The w idth
mea s ur ed b etw een p o ints tha t a r e 3 . 9 dB do w n o n the
f r eq uency env el o p e is 2 7 T/ N in ter ms o f Y] w hich tr a ns
l a tes to a n in ter ms o f 1 3 1 1 : . This b a ndw idth ex p r es s es the
r a ng e tha t the a v er a g e f r eq uency o f the IF s ig na l mig ht
ha v e if it is to b e p a s s ed to a p a r ticul a r p o r t o f s eco nd
Butl er ma tr ix 2 1 1 a nd, a s s uch, s p eci?es the r a ng e o v er
w hich the incident RF s ig na l f r eq uency mig ht v a r y f o r
r ecep tio n a t tha t p o r t. It s ho ul d b e dis ting uis hed f r o m
the ins ta nta neo us b a ndw idth o f the IF s ig na l a t tha t p o r t
w hich is Na n ( in the ca s e o f a n incident s ig na l tha t is
CW o r o f b a ndw idth s ma l l co mp a r ed to Na n) . The
s ep a r a tio n o f the p a s s b a nds is 2 1 r in ter ms o f Y] w hich
tr a ns l a tes to Nm1 in ter ms o f 61 1 : .
An incident s ig na l w ho s e f r eq uency is s uch tha t the
s ig na l do es no t ca us e p ea k r es p o ns e a t a p a r ticul a r p o r t
o f s eco nd Butl er ma tr ix 2 1 1 w il l a l s o b e r eceiv ed a t o ne
o r mo r e a dditio na l p o r ts . Indeed, the N o utp uts o f this
s eco nd Butl er netw o r k ha v e the s ta g g er ed f r eq uency
r es p o ns es r ep r es ented b y the f r eq uency env el o p e ma g
nitudes p l o tted in FIG. 8 f o r the ca s e w her e N=4 . Fo ur
cur v es a r e p l o tted us ing dif f er ent l ine co des , o ne f o r
ea ch o f the f o ur o utp uts . Onl y the ma inl o b es 8 0 1 , 8 0 2 , 3 ,
8 0 4 a nd g r a ting l o b es 8 0 5 , 8 0 6, 8 0 7 , 8 0 8 , 8 0 9 a nd 8 1 0 a r e
s ho w n; the s idel o b es ha v e b een s up p r es s ed f o r p ur p o s es
o f cl a r ity . Adj a cent ma inl o b es a r e s p a ced a p a r t b y a n in
ter ms o f 61 ;, a nd s o cr o s s o v er a t p o ints tha t a r e 3 . 9 dB
4 , 65 2 , 8 7 9
9
do w n f r o m the ma inl o b e p ea ks ( f o r the ca s e s ho w n, Le,
a ca s e in w hich ther e is no a mp l itude ta p er ing ) . Ta ken
to g ether , the f o ur cur v es f o r m a co ntinuum o f r es p o ns es
in f r eq uency s o tha t a l l s ig na l s w il l b e r eceiv ed; y et
s ig na l s a t cl o s el y s p a ced f r eq uencies w il l b e s ep a r a ted
a nd w il l a p p ea r a t dif f er ent o utp uts .
The ma g nitude, | E1 | o f the do ub l e mo dul a ted env e
l o p e o f e1 is p l o tted in a thr ee dimens io na l g r a p h in FIG.
9 f o r the ca s e w her e N=4 . In this ?g ur e | E1 | ( no r ma l
iz ed s ig na l r es p o ns e) is p l o tted a g a ins t the Z a x is v er s us
b o th no r ma l iz ed inter media te f r eq uency ( Y-a x is ) . a nd
time-enco ded dir ectio n-o f -a r r iv a l ( X-a x is ) . The r a ng e o f
the Y-a x is ha s b een tr a ns l a ted b y Y0 s o tha t Y-Y, , =0
co r r es p o nds to the midb a nd v a l ue o f 61 p , a nd this mid
b a nd v a l ue ha s b een cho s en s o tha t it is a n integ er mul ti
p l e o f Nun. Fo ur ma j o r l o b es a r e s ho w n w ithin the
r a ng e o f the p l o t. The l o b e 9 0 1 a t ( 0 , 0 ) dep icts the
cha ng e in r es p o ns e a s s ig na l f r eq uency ( Y v a r ia b l e) is
s hif ted f r o m its midb a nd v a l ue, o r a s time p a s s es ( X
v a r ia b l e) f r o m its s ta r ting v a l ue. S ince this l o b e r ep r e
s ents a no mina l b enchma r k in f r eq uency a nd time it w il l
, b e des ig na ted the ma inl o b e. The p l o t s ho w s tha t a s
s ig na l f r eq uency is s hif ted f r o m its midb a nd v a l ue, the
r es p o ns e w il l f o l l o w the ma inl o b e p a tter n, ev entua l l y
dr o p p ing to z er o . Fur ther s hif t in f r eq uency w il l ca us e
mino r r es p o ns e ( s idel o b es 9 0 2 , 9 0 3 ) . S til l f ur ther s hif ts
in f r eq uency w il l ca us e a no ther ma j o r r es p o ns e in a c
co r da nce w ith the p a tter n o f a g r a ting l o b e 9 0 4 . S imi
l a r l y a s time is s hif ted f r o m its initia l v a l ue ( w ith f r e
q uency ?x ed a t the midb a nd v a l ue) the r es p o ns e w il l
f o l l o w the ma inl o b e p a tter n ev entua l l y dr o p p ing to
z er o . Fur ther s hif t in time w il l ca us e mino r r es p o ns es
( s idel o b es 9 0 5 , 9 0 6) . S til l f ur ther s hif t in time w il l ca us e
a no ther ma j o r r es p o ns e in a cco r da nce w ith the p a tter n
o f a g r a ting l o b e 9 0 7 . The r educed r es p o ns e a l l a r o und
ea ch ma j o r r es p o ns e il l us tr a tes g r a p hica l l y ho w a s ig na l
r es p o ns e is s imul ta neo us l y is o l a ted in tw o dimens io ns .
S uch is o l a tio n is the ?r s t s tep in the p r o ces s o f o b ta ining
j o int r es o l utio n o f s ig na l s in b o th the f r eq uency a nd the
s p a tia l do ma ins . The s eco nd a nd ?na l s tep is the r e
mo v a l o f a mb ig uities r es ul ting f r o m the g r a ting l o b e
r es p o ns es . The g r a ting l o b es in the time dimens io n ( X
a x is ) co r r es p o nd to s ub s eq uent s ca n cy cl es r a ther tha n
a mb ig uities if the a ntenna el ement s p a cing is ma de s uf ?
cientl y cl o s e. The g r a ting l o b es in the f r eq uency dimen
s io n ( Y a x is ) ca n b e el imina ted b y co a r s e f r eq uency
?l ter ing . Pr ecis el y this f unctio n is p r o v ided b y the
co a r s e cha nnel iz a tio n ?l ter s 2 1 7 in FIG. 2 . Thes e ?l ter s
div ide the f r eq uency co v er a g e b a nd into co ntig uo us
p a s s b a nds , ea ch o f w hich is N0 3 1 w ide a nd center ed
a b o ut a s ing l e ma j o r f r eq uency r es p o ns e l o b e o f E1 . .
Thus if tw o s ig na l s w er e incident s imul ta neo us l y f r o m
nea r l y the s a me dir ectio n b ut w er e s ep a r a ted b y mo r e
tha n a n in f r eq uency they w o ul d b e una mb ig uo us l y
r es o l v ed, p ea king a t dif f er ent o utp ut p o r ts 2 1 4 . S imi
l a r l y , if tw o s ig na l s ha v ing nea r l y the s a me f r eq uency
w er e incident s imul ta neo us l y f r o m dir ectio ns s ep a r a ted
b y mo r e tha n ( 2 / N) in s in 0 s p a ce ( ha l f -w a v e a ntenna
el ement s p a cing ) they w o ul d b e una mb ig uo us l y r e
s o l v ed, p ea king a t dif f er ent times a t a s ing l e o utp ut p o r t
2 1 4 . Al s o , b y us ing p ul s e co mp r es s io n to a cco mp l is h
this time mul tip l ex ing , the p r es ent inv entio n p r es er v es
the inher ent s ep a r a tio n o f tw o s ig na l s incident a t tw o
dif f er ent times . Thus , mul tip l e s ig na l s w hich a r r iv e a t
the o utp ut p o r ts 2 1 4 o f the co a r s e cha nnel iz er s a r e un
a mb ig uo us l y r es o l v ed in f r eq uency , dir ectio n a nd time.
The numb er o f indiv idua l ?l ter s r eq uir ed a t ea ch
co a r s e cha nnel iz er is eq ua l to co r / ( Na n) w her e co y -is the
5
2 5
4 0
4 5
5 0
5 5
65
1 0
to ta l f r eq uency co v er a g e b a ndw idth. S ince ther e a r e N
co a r s e cha nnel iz er s , the to ta l numb er o f ?l ter s is co r / m1
w hich is the s a me numb er tha t a r e r eq uir ed in a s ing l e
co nv entio na l cha nnel iz ed r eceiv er p r o v iding s imul ta
neo us co v er a g e o f ( o r a nd a cha nnel b a ndw idth o f ( 0 1 .
Ho w ev er , the cha nnel iz a tio n ?l ter s in the p r es ent in
v entio n ha v e N times the b a ndw idth a nd s o ma y b e
imp l emented a t a n IF f r eq uency w hich is N times a s
hig h a s tha t us ed in the co nv entio na l cha nnel iz ed r e
ceiv er . This w o ul d p er mit the r eceiv er o f the p r es ent
inv entio n to ha v e a s much a s N times the s imul ta neo us
f r eq uency co v er a g e a s is p o s s ib l e w ith the co nv entio na l
cha nnel iz ed r eceiv er .
It is nex t o f inter es t to co mp a r e the s ig na l -to -no is e
r a tio a t the o utp uts 2 1 4 o f the p r es ent inv entio n to tha t
a v a il a b l e f r o m a r ef er ence s y s tem, a s ing l e a ntenna el e
ment a nd mix er s ub j ect to the s a me incident w a v ef r o nt.
It w il l b e a s s umed tha t dis s ip a tio n l o s s es o ccur r ing a f ter
f r o nt-end no is e is intr o duced a r e z er o s ince thes e l o s s es
ha v e the s a me ef f ect o n b o th no is e a nd s ig na l a nd thus
do no t a f f ect the s ig na l -to -no is e r a tio . The p ea k v a l ue o f
s ig na l p o w er a t a n o utp ut 2 1 4 ( ef f ectiv el y , the p ea k
v a l ue o f e1 2 ) is N} times the s ig na l p o w er o utp ut b y a
s ing l e mix er ( ef f ectiv el y el p z ) . The no is e p o w er o utp ut
ca n b e der iv ed b y co ns ider a tio n o f ho w no is e p o w er is
dis tr ib uted thr o ug h the s y s tem o f FIG. 2 . The mix er s
2 0 5 a ct indep endentl y to g ener a te the p r ima r y s o ur ces
o f no is e. Their no is e is a p p l ied to the ?r s t Butl er ma tr ix
2 1 5 w hich b o th div ides the no is e inp ut into N eq ua l
p a r ts dis tr ib uting ea ch p a r t to N o utp uts , a nd a l s o s ums
the div ided no is e f r o m ea ch o f its N inp uts a t ev er y o ne
o f its o utp uts . S ince the no is e p o w er is a dditiv e ( the
no is e co mp o nents a t a ny o ne o utp ut b eing unco r r el a ted)
the no is e p o w er a t a ny o utp ut o f the ?r s t Butl er ma tr ix
is eq ua l in v a l ue to tha t a p p l ied to a ny o f its inp uts b y a
s ing l e mix er . The del a y l ines 2 1 9 des tr o y a ny co r r el a
tio n b etw een the N no is e o utp uts o f the ?r s t Butl er
ma tr ix s o tha t the a ctio n o f the s eco nd Butl er ma tr ix 2 1 1
o n the no is e is a r ep ea t o f the p r o ces s p er f o r med b y the
?r s t ma tr ix . Ther ef o r e, the no is e p o w er a t a ny o utp ut o f
the s eco nd Butl er ma tr ix 2 1 1 is a l s o eq ua l in v a l ue to
tha t o utp ut b y a s ing l e mix er . As a r es ul t, the s ig na l -to
no is e r a tio a t a ny o utp ut o f the s eco nd Butl er ma tr ix is
N2 b etter tha n tha t o f the r ef er ence s y s tem. Fur ther
imp r o v ement in s ig na l to -no is e r a tio is o b ta ined a t the
o utp uts o f the co a r s e cha nnel iz er s s ince the no is e p o w er
is f ur ther div ided b y the numb er o f cha nnel s , co r / ( Na n) ,
w hil e the s ig na l r ema ins es s entia l l y undiv ided. Thus ,
the s ig na l -to -no is e r a tio a t a n o utp ut o f the cha nnel iz er
2 1 4 is a p p r o x ima tel y a f a cto r o f Na ir / m1 b etter tha n tha t
o f the r ef er ence s y s tem. At this p o int, it s ho ul d b e no ted
tha t in s o me a p p l ica tio ns , r eceiv er s a r e no t r eq uir ed to
b e w ide-o p en in f r eq uency . Fo r thes e a p p l ica tio ns , the
o utp ut o f the r ef er ence s y s tem co ul d b e a ug mented b y a
na r r o w -b a nd ?l ter to r educe no is e. The b a ndw idth o f
this ?l ter ca nno t b e na r r o w er tha n the s p ectr um o f the
s ig na l to b e r eceiv ed. S ince a n in the s y s tem o f the
inv entio n mus t a l s o b e a t l ea s t a s w ide a s tha t s p ectr um,
the v a l ue o f a n mig ht b e co ns ider ed f o r the b a ndw idth
o f the o utp ut ?l ter in this a ug mented r ef er ence s y s tem.
Tha t w o ul d imp r o v e the s ig na l -to mo is e r a tio o f the
a ug mented r ef er ence s y s tem b y the f a cto r ( o r / ( o 1 .
Ther ef o r e, f o r thes e na r r o w b a nd a p p l ica tio ns , the s ig
na l -to -no is e r a tio a t the o utp ut 2 1 4 o f the cur r ent inv en
tio n w o ul d b e a f a cto r o f N b etter tha n tha t o f the a ug
mented r ef er ence s y s tem, w hich is in ef f ect, the dir ec
tiv e g a in o f the a r r a y . It s ho ul d b e no ted tha t this g a in
is a chiev ed w hil e p r o v iding s imul ta neo us a ng l e co v er
4 , 65 2 , 8 7 9
1 1
a g e o v er the w ho l e ?el d o f v iew o f a s ing l e a ntenna
el ement.
In s umma r y , the p r ev io us deta il ed des cr ip tio n o f the
p r es ent inv entio n ha s demo ns tr a ted the ma ny a dv a n
ta g es o f the p r es ent inv entio n co mp a r ed to the p r io r a r t.
Al ter na tiv e eq uiv a l ent s y s tems a r e co ns ider ed w ithin
the s co p e o f the inv entio n. Fo r ex a mp l e, a l ter na tiv e
s y s tems der iv ed b y the a dditio n o f a s et o f a mp l i?er s
p r io r to the mix ing p r o ces s o r a f ter the mix ing p r o ces s
o r the a dditio n o f p r es el ecto r ?l ter s o r a ttenua to r s o r
r eceiv e/ tr a ns mit dup l ex er s o r a ny o ther s et o f dev ices
no r ma l l y f o und in the f r o nt end o f a r eceiv er a r e co ns id
er ed w ithin the co ntemp l a tio ns o f the cur r ent inv entio n
b eca us e thes e dev ices do no t a l ter the intent o r the
ma nner o f o p er a tio n o f the inv entio n, a l tho ug h to the
ex tent tha t the tr a ns mis s io n p a r a meter s o f s uch dev ices
f a il to tr a ck ea ch o ther , they ca n deg r a de p er f o r ma nce.
Al l o f the a l ter na tiv e eq uiv a l ent f o r ms o f the inv en
tio n ha v e in co mmo n the f o l l o w ing es s ence o f the in
v entio n; the mea ns to f o r m mul tip l e, time-s eq uenced
o utp uts , ea ch o utp ut co r r es p o nding to a dif f er ent b ea m
o f s ens itiv ity w hich s ca ns the f ul l co v er a g e s ecto r a nd
to g ether w ith the o ther o utp uts f o r ms a co ntig uo us s et
o f s uch b ea ms w hich b o th ?l l the co v er a g e s ecto r a t a ny
o ne time a nd s ca n the f ul l co v er a g e s y nchr o no us l y a s a
f unctio n o f time; the mea ns to dif f er entia l l y del a y the
time-s eq uenced o utp uts co r r es p o nding to a n emitter a t a
?x ed dir ectio n, s o v tha t the mo dul a tio n env el o p es o f
thes e o utp uts o ccur in unis o n; the mea ns to co her entl y
co mb ine the time-a l ig ned o utp uts s el ectiv el y a t dif f er
ent o utp ut p o r ts f o r dif f er ent emitter f r eq uencies ; a nd
the mea ns to s ep a r a te mul tip l e o utp uts a t a s ing l e o utp ut
p o r t f r o m emitter s ha v ing f r eq uencies co r r es p o nding to
g r a ting l o b e r es p o ns es . Al tho ug h a n a z imuth p l a ne is
us ed f o r r ef er ence p ur p o s es , the p r es ent inv entio n is
ca p a b l e o f f unctio ning in the s a me ma nner r eg a r dl es s o f
the p l a ne in w hich the a ntenna el ements l ie.
Whil e in a cco r da nce w ith the p a tent s ta tutes , o nl y the
b es t mo de a nd p r ef er r ed emb o diment o f the p r es ent
inv entio n ha s b een p r es ented in deta il , f o r the tr ue s co p e
a nd b r ea dth o f the inv entio n, r ef er ence s ho ul d b e ha d to
the a p p ended cl a ims .
Wha t is cl a imed is :
1 . Ap p a r a tus f o r a dding the ca p a b il ity to s ep a r a te
mul tip l e s ig na l s a nd f o r el imina ting the s a mp l ing l o s s o f
s ig na l ener g y in ' s y s tems ha v ing a co v er a g e s ecto r
thr o ug h w hich the a ntenna s y s tem s ca ns mul tip l e b ea ms
a t a r a te tha t is f a s ter tha n the inf o r ma tio n r a te b eing
r eceiv ed, co mp r is ing :
( a ) a l inea r p ha s ed a r r a y a ntenna co mp r is ing a r o w
f o r med o f a p l ur a l ity o f a ntenna el ements , o ne o f
s a id a ntenna el ements a t o ne end o f the r o w b eing
des ig na ted the ?r s t el ement, w hil e the r ema ining
el ements a r e des ig na ted b y s ucceeding numb er s in
a r ithmetic p r o g r es s io n a cr o s s the r o w o f a ntenna
el ements , a nd the a ntenna el ements b eing co ns id
er ed a s b eing p o s itio ned in the a z imuth p l a ne f o r
r ef er ence p ur p o s es ;
( b ) mea ns f o r f o r ming a p l ur a l ity o f b ea ms o f s ens itiv
ity co up l ed to s a id a ntenna el ements , s a id p l ur a l ity
o f b ea ms o f s ens itiv ity b eing eq ua l in numb er to the
numb er o f a ntenna el ements in s a id r o w , the b ea ms
b eing co ntig uo us a nd co ns ider ed a s l y ing in the
a z imuth p l a ne f o r r ef er ence p ur p o s es , w ith ea ch
b ea m b eing g ener a l l y ev enl y s p a ced f r o m the a dj a
cent b ea ms in s in 0 s p a ce, w her e 0 is the a ng l e
a w a y f r o m b r o a ds ide in the a z imutha l p l a ne, the
s p a cing b etw een b ea m center dir ectio ns in s in 0
5
2 0
2 5
3 0
3 5
4 5
5 0
65
1 2
s p a ce b eing g ener a l l y p r o p o r tio na l to the r ecip r o
ca l o f the numb er o f a ntenna el ements , a nd the
b ea ms , ta ken to g ether to f o r m a l a r g er co mp o s ite
b ea m, s p a n the entir e a z imuth co v er a g e s ecto r ;
( 0 ) mea ns co up l ed to s a id a ntenna el ements f o r s y n
chr o no us l y s ca nning ea ch o f the b ea ms o v er the
entir e co v er a g e s ecto r , the b ea ms ma inta ining their
r el a tiv e p o s itio ns a dj a cent o ne a no ther in s in 6
s p a ce dur ing s ca nning , the s ca nning b eing ca r r ied
o ut p er io dica l l y a t a r a te tha t is a t l ea s t tw ice a s f a s t
a s the hig hes t inf o r ma tio n r a te b eing r eceiv ed;
( d) mea ns co up l ed to s a id a ntenna el ements f o r a c
cep ting s ig na l s r eceiv ed b y ea ch b ea m a nd dif f er en
tia l l y del a y ing s a id s ig na l s to ca us e their mo dul a
tio n env el o p es to r es p o nd in unis o n to a s ing l e
emitting s o ur ce a t a p a r ticul a r a z imuth a ng l e
w ithin the s ecto r co v er a g e o f the a ntenna s y s tem;
( e) mea ns f o r co her entl y co mb ining s a id s ig na l s a f ter
s a id s ig na l s ha v e b een dif f er entia l l y del a y ed, s a id
mea ns f o r co mb ining b eing a r r a ng ed to ca us e co
her ent a dditio n s el ectiv el y a t dif f er ent o utp ut p o r ts
o f s a id co mb iner f o r dif f er ent s ig na l f r eq uencies ;
a nd
( 0 mea ns f o r s ep a r a ting mul tip l e s ig na l s a t a s ing l e
o utp ut p o r t o f s a id co mb iner w hen s a id s ig na l s
ha v e f r eq uencies co r r es p o nding to g r a ting l o b e
r es p o ns es .
2 . An a p p a r a tus a s in cl a im 1 , f ur ther co mp r is ing :
( a ) a p l ur a l ity o f heter o dy ne mix er s , eq ua l in numb er
to the numb er o f a ntenna el ements , ea ch ha v ing a n
inp ut p o r t, a n o utp ut p o r t a nd a l o ca l o s cil l a to r
p o r t, ea ch inp ut p o r t b eing co up l ed to a s ep a r a te
a ntenna el ement f o r f r eq uency co nv er s io n o f the
s ig na l s r eceiv ed b y s a id a ntenna el ements , a nd ea ch
mix er b eing des ig na ted b y the s a me numb er a s the
a ntenna el ement to w hich it is co up l ed;
( b ) mea ns f o r g ener a ting a p l ur a l ity o f l o ca l o s cil l a to r
s ig na l s eq ua l in numb er to the numb er o f mix er s ,
ea ch l o ca l o s cil l a to r s ig na l b eing s ep a r a tel y co u
p l ed to o ne o f s a id p l ur a l ity o f mix er s b y w a y o f its
l o ca l o s cil l a to r p o r t a nd ea ch o f s a id p l ur a l ity o f
l o ca l o s cil l a to r s ig na l s a s s uming the s a me numer i
ca l des ig na tio n a s the mix er to w hich it is co up l ed,
the f r eq uency o f ea ch l o ca l o s cil l a to r s ig na l b eing
o f f s et f r o m tha t o f the p r eceding o ne in the o r der o f
its a r ithmetic des ig na tio n to o r der the f r eq uencies
o f the l o ca l o s cil l a to r s f r o m the ?r s t to the l a s t in a
l inea r a r ithmetic p r o g r es s io n w ith a co mmo n dif
f er ence eq ua l to the b ea m s ca nning r a te, the mea ns
f o r g ener a ting the l o ca l o s cil l a to r s ig na l s p r o duc
ing co her entl y r el a ted l o ca l o s cil l a to r s ig na l s in
tha t, a t the s a me p o int in ea ch cy cl e o f the co mmo n
dif f er ence f r eq uency , the s inus o ida l v a r ia tio ns o f
the l o ca l o s cil l a to r s ig na l s s imul ta neo us l y r ea ch
their
( 0 ) s a id mea ns f o r f o r ming a p l ur a l ity o f co ntig uo us
b ea ms o f s ens itiv ity ea ch des ig na ted b y s ucceeding
numb er s in a r ithmetic p r o g r es s io n in a cco r da nce
w ith its p o s itio n in the b ea m g r o up , s a id mea ns
co mp r is ing a n inter media te f r eq uency b ea m-f o r m
ing netw o r k ha v ing a p l ur a l ity o f inp ut p o r ts eq ua l
to the numb er o f mix er s , w ith ea ch o f s a id inp ut
p o r ts b eing co up l ed to a s ep a r a te o utp ut p o r t o f
o ne o f s a id mix er s , a nd s a id inter media te f r eq uency
b ea m-f o r ming netw o r k ha v ing a p l ur a l ity o f o utp ut
p o r ts eq ua l to the numb er o f b ea ms , w ith ea ch o f
s a id o utp ut p o r ts b eing des ig na ted b y the s a me
4 , 65 2 , 8 7 9
1 3
numb er des ig na tio n o f the b ea m to w hich it co u
p l es ,
( d) s a id mea ns f o r dif f er entia l l y del a y ing a p l ur a l ity o f
s ig na l s co mp r is ing a p l ur a l ity o f del a y l ines eq ua l in
numb er to the numb er o f b ea ms , ea ch ha v ing a n
inp ut p o r t a nd a n o utp ut p o r t, ea ch inp ut p o r t b eing
co up l ed to a n o utp ut o f the b ea m-f o r ming netw o r k,
ea ch del a y l ine b eing des ig na ted b y the s a me num
b er a s the b ea m-f o r ming netw o r k o utp ut p o r t to
w hich it is co up l ed, the del a y o f ea ch del a y l ine
b eing o f f s et f r o m tha t o f the p r eceding o ne in the
o r der o f its a r ithmetic des ig na tio n to o r der the
del a y s o f the del a y l ines f r o m the ?r s t to the l a s t in
a l inea r a r ithmetic p r o g r es s io n w ith a co mmo n
dif f er ence eq ua l to the r ecip r o ca l o f the p r o duct o f
the numb er o f b ea ms times the b ea m s ca nning r a te;
( e) s a id mea ns f o r co her entl y co mb ining a p l ur a l ity o f
' s ig na l s co mp r is ing a s eco nd inter media te-f r e
q uency b ea m-f o r ming netw o r k ha v ing a p l ur a l ity
o f inp ut p o r ts eq ua l to the numb er o f del a y l ines ,
w ith ea ch o f s a id inp ut p o r ts b eing co up l ed to s ep a
r a te o utp ut p o r t o f o ne o f s a id del a y l ines , a nd s a id
s eco nd inter media te-f r eq uency b ea m-f o r ming net
w o r k ha v ing a p l ur a l ity o f o utp ut p o r ts eq ua l to its
numb er o f inp ut p o r ts ; a nd
( f ) s a id mea ns f o r s ep a r a ting mul tip l e s ig na l s co mp r is
ing a p l ur a l ity o f f r eq uency cha nnel iz er s eq ua l to
the numb er o f o utp ut p o r ts o f s a id s eco nd inter
media te-f r eq uency b ea m-f o r ming netw o r k, ea ch
cha nnel iz er ha v ing a n inp ut p o r t a nd a p l ur a l ity o f
o utp ut p o r ts eq ua l in numb er to the integ er v a l ue o f
the q uo tient o f the q ua ntities , o v er a l l f r eq uency
co v er a g e b a ndw idth div ided b y the b a ndw idth o f
ea ch cha nnel , s a id cha nnel b a ndw idth b eing g ener
a l l y eq ua l to the p r o duct o f the numb er o f a ntenna
el ements times the b ea m s ca nning r a te, w ith ea ch
s a id inp ut p o r t o f ea ch cha nnel iz er b eing co up l ed
to a n o utp ut p o r t o f s a id s eco nd inter media te-f r e
q uency b ea m-f o r ming netw o r k.
3 . A p r o ces s f o r a dding the ca p a b il ity to s ep a r a te
mul tip l e s ig na l s a nd f o r el imina ting the s a mp l ing l o s s o f
s ig na l ener g y in a ntenna s y s tems ha v ing a co v er a g e
s ecto r thr o ug h w hich the a ntenna s y s tem s ca ns mul tip l e
b ea ms a t a r a te tha t is f a s ter tha n the inf o r ma tio n r a te
b eing r eceiv ed, co mp r is ing the s tep s o f :
( a ) p r o v iding a l inea r p ha s ed a r r a y a ntenna co mp r is
ing a r o w f o r med o f a p l ur a l ity o f a ntenna el e
ments , o ne o f s a id a ntenna el ements a t o ne end o f
the r o w b eing des ig na ted the ?r s t el ement, w hil e
the r ema ining el ements a r e des ig na ted b y s ucceed
ing numb er s in a r ithmetic p r o g r es s io n a cr o s s the
r o w o f a ntenna el ements , a nd the a ntenna el ements
b eing co ns ider ed a s b eing p o s itio ned in the a z imuth
p l a ne f o r r ef er ence p ur p o s es ;
( b ) p r o v iding mea ns f o r f o r ming a p l ur a l ity o f b ea ms
o f s ens itiv ity co up l ed to s a id a ntenna el ements , s a id
p l ur a l ity o f b ea ms o f s ens itiv ity b eing eq ua l in num
b er to the numb er o f a ntenna el ements in s a id r o w ,
the b ea ms b eing co ntig uo us a nd co ns ider ed a s
l y ing in the a z imuth p l a ne f o r r ef er ence p ur p o s es ,
w ith ea ch b ea m b eing g ener a l l y ev enl y s p a ced
f r o m the a dj a cent b ea ms in s in 0 s p a ce, w her e 0 is
the a ng l e a w a y f r o m b r o a ds ide in the a z imutha l
p l a ne, the s p a cing b etw een b ea m center dir ectio ns
in s in 0 s p a ce b eing g ener a l l y p r o p o r tio na l to the
r ecip r o ca l o f the numb er o f a ntenna el ements , a nd
the b ea ms , ta ken to g ether to f o r m a l a r g er co mp o s
ite b ea m, s p a n the entir e a z imuth co v er a g e s ecto r ;
2 0
3 0
3 5
5 0
5 5
65
1 4
( 0 ) p r o v iding mea ns co up l ed to s a id a ntenna el ements
f o r s y nchr o no us l y s ca nning ea ch o f the b ea ms o v er
the entir e co v er a g e s ecto r , the b ea ms ma inta ining
their r el a tiv e p o s itio ns a dj a cent o ne a no ther in s in 0
s p a ce dur ing s ca nning , the s ca nning b eing ca r r ied
o ut p er io dica l l y a t a r a te tha t is a t l ea s t tw ice a s f a s t
a s the hig hes t inf o r ma tio n r a te b eing r eceiv ed;
( d) p r o v iding mea ns co up l ed to s a id a ntenna el ements
f o r a ccep ting s ig na l s r eceiv ed b y ea ch b ea m a nd
dif f er entia l l y del a y ing s a id s ig na l s to ca us e their
mo dul a tio n env el o p es to r es p o nd in unis o n to a
s ing l e emitting s o ur ce a t a p a r ticul a r a z imuth a ng l e
w ithin the s ecto r co v er a g e o f the a ntenna s y s tem;
( e) p r o v iding mea ns f o r co her entl y co mb ining s a id
s ig na l s a f ter s a id s ig na l s ha v e b een dif f er entia l l y
del a y ed, s a id mea ns f o r co mb ining b eing a r r a ng ed
to ca us e co her ent a dditio n s el ectiv el y a t dif f er ent
o utp ut p o r ts o f s a id co mb iner f o r dif f er ent s ig na l
f r eq uencies ; a nd
( i) p r o v iding mea ns f o r s ep a r a ting mul tip l e s ig na l s a t
a s ing l e o utp ut p o r t o f s a id co mb iner w hen s a id
s ig na l s ha v e f r eq uencies co r r es p o nding to g r a ting
l o b e r es p o ns es .
4 . A p r o ces s a s cl a imed in cl a im 3 , f ur ther co mp r is ing
the s tep s o f :
( a ) p r o v iding a p l ur a l ity o f heter o dy ne mix er s , eq ua l
in numb er to the numb er o f a ntenna el ements , ea ch
ha v ing a n inp ut p o r t, a n o utp ut p o r t a nd a l o ca l
o s cil l a to r p o r t, ea ch inp ut p o r t b eing co up l ed to a
s ep a r a te a ntenna el ement f o r f r eq uency co nv er s io n
o f the s ig na l s r eceiv ed b y s a id a ntenna el ements ,
a nd ea ch mix er b eing des ig na ted b y the s a me num
b er a s the a ntenna el ement to w hich it is co up l ed;
( b ) p r o v iding mea ns f o r g ener a ting a p l ur a l ity o f l o ca l
o s cil l a to r s ig na l s eq ua l in numb er to the numb er o f
mix er s , ea ch l o ca l o s cil l a to r s ig na l b eing s ep a r a tel y
co up l ed to o ne o f s a id p l ur a l ity o f mix er s b y w a y o f
its l o ca l o s cil l a to r p o r t a nd ea ch o f s a id p l ur a l ity o f
l o ca l o s cil l a to r s ig na l s a s s uming the s a me numer i
ca l des ig na tio n a s the mix er to w hich it is co up l ed,
the f r eq uency o f ea ch l o ca l o s cil l a to r s ig na l b eing
o f f s et f r o m tha t o f the p r eceding o ne in the o r der o f
its a r ithmetic des ig na tio n to o r der the f r eq uencies
o f the l o ca l o s cil l a to r s f r o m the f ir s t to the l a s t in a
l inea r a r ithmetic p r o g r es s io n w ith a co mmo n dif
f er ence eq ua l to the b ea m-s ca nning r a te, the mea ns
f o r g ener a ting the l o ca l o s cil l a to r s ig na l s p r o duc
ing co her entl y r el a ted l o ca l o s cil l a to r s ig na l s in
tha t, a t the s a me p o int in ea ch cy cl e o f the co mmo n
dif f er ence f r eq uency , the s inus o ida l v a r ia tio ns o f
the l o ca l o s cil l a to r s ig na l s s imul ta neo us l y r ea ch
their p ea ks ;
( 0 ) p r o v iding s a id mea ns f o r f o r ming a p l ur a l ity o f
co ntig uo us b ea ms o f s ens itiv ity ea ch des ig na ted b y
s ucceeding numb er s in a r ithmetic p r o g r es s io n in
a cco r da nce w ith its p o s itio n in the b ea m g r o up ,
s a id mea ns co mp r is ing a n inter media te f r eq uency
b ea m-f o r ming netw o r k ha v ing a p l ur a l ity o f inp ut
p o r ts eq ua l to the numb er o f mix er s , w ith ea ch o f
s a id inp ut p o r ts b eing co up l ed to a s ep a r a te o utp ut
p o r t o f o ne o f s a id mix er s , a nd s a id inter media te
f r eq uency b ea m-f o r ming netw o r k ha v ing a p l ur a l
ity o f o utp ut p o r ts eq ua l to the numb er o f b ea ms ,
w ith ea ch o f s a id o utp ut p o r ts b eing des ig na ted b y
the s a me numb er des ig na tio n o f the b ea m to w hich
it co up l es ;
( d) p r o v iding s a id mea ns f o r dif f er entia l l y del a y ing a
p l ur a l ity o f s ig na l s co mp r is ing a p l ur a l ity o f del a y
4 , 65 2 , 8 7 9
1 5
l ines eq ua l in numb er to the numb er o f b ea ms , ea ch
ha v ing a n inp ut p o r t a nd a n o utp ut p o r t, ea ch inp ut
p o r t b eing co up l ed to a n o utp ut o f the b ea m-f o r m
ing netw o r k, ea ch del a y l ine b eing des ig na ted b y
the s a me numb er a s the b ea m-f o r ming netw o r k
o utp ut p o r t to w hich it is co up l ed, the del a y o f
ea ch del a y l ine b eing o f f s et f r o m tha t o f the p r eced
ing o ne in the o r der o f its a r ithmetic des ig na tio n to
o r der the del a y s o f the del a y -l ines f r o m the ?r s t to
the l a s t in a l inea r a r ithmetic p r o g r es s io n w ith a
co mmo n dif f er ence eq ua l to the r ecip r o ca l o f the
p r o duct o f the numb er o f b ea ms times the b ea m
s ca nning r a te; -
( e) p r o v iding s a id mea ns f o r co her entl y co mb ining a
p l ur a l ity o f s ig na l s co mp r is ing a s eco nd inter medi
a te-f r eq uency b ea m-f o r ming netw o r k ha v ing a
p l ur a l ity o f inp ut p o r ts eq ua l to the numb er o f
del a y l ines , w ith ea ch o f s a id inp ut p o r ts b eing
co up l ed to a s ep a r a te o utp ut p o r t o f o ne o f s a id
1 5
2 5
3 5
4 5
5 5
65
1 6
del a y l ines , a nd s a id s eco nd inter media te-f r eq uency
b ea m-f o r ming netw o r k ha v ing a p l ur a l ity o f o utp ut
p o r ts eq ua l to its numb er o f inp ut p o r ts ; a nd
( 1 ' ) p r o v iding s a id mea ns f o r s ep a r a ting mul tip l e s ig
na l s co mp r is ing a p l ur a l ity o f f r eq uency cha nnel iz
er s eq ua l to the numb er o f o utp ut p o r ts o f s a id
s eco nd inter media te-f r eq uency b ea m-f o r ming net
w o r k, ea ch cha nnel iz er ha v ing a n inp ut p o r t a nd a
p l ur a l ity o f o utp ut p o r ts eq ua l in numb er to the
integ er v a l ue o f the q uo tient o f the q ua ntities , o v er
a l l f r eq uency co v er a g e b a ndw idth div ided b y the
b a ndw idth o f ea ch cha nnel , s a id cha nnel b a nd
w idth b eing g ener a l l y eq ua l to the p r o duct o f the
numb er o f a ntenna el ements times the b ea m s ca n
ning r a te, w ith s a id inp ut p o r t o f ea ch cha nnel iz er
b eing co up l ed to a n o utp ut p o r t o f s a id s eco nd
inter media te-f r eq uency b ea m-f o r ming netw o r k.
$ i i I I