U.S. patent number RE43,498 [Application Number 11/797,368] was granted by the patent office on 2012-07-03 for adaptive reflector antenna and method of implementing the same.
This patent grant is currently assigned to The Aerospace Corporation. Invention is credited to Ivan Bekey.
United States Patent |
RE43,498 |
Bekey |
July 3, 2012 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Adaptive reflector antenna and method of implementing the same
Abstract
An adaptive reflector antenna includes an adaptive reflector and
a mechanism for simultaneously effecting feed rotation and shape
change for the adaptive reflector so as to maintain antenna
performance with large scan angles while simultaneously reducing
weight, complexity, and cost.
Inventors: |
Bekey; Ivan (Annandale,
VA) |
Assignee: |
The Aerospace Corporation (El
Segundo, CA)
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Family
ID: |
32990204 |
Appl.
No.: |
11/797,368 |
Filed: |
May 2, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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Reissue of: |
10404871 |
Mar 31, 2003 |
6888515 |
May 3, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
343/912; 343/915;
343/840; 343/795 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01Q
15/147 (20130101); H01Q 15/148 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H01Q
15/14 (20060101); H01Q 15/20 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;343/912,915,795,810,700MS,840,754,757,775,781P |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Other References
J Main et al., "Noncontact Shape Control of Membrane Mirrors,"
University of Kentucky, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Mar.
19, 1999. cited by other .
C. Clayton, "Large Space Optics," LEOS newsletter, vol. 13, No. 4,
Aug. 1999. cited by other .
EurekAlert!, "New deployable thin-film, ultralight mirror may be
future of space telescopes and surveillance satellites," May 16,
2000. cited by other.
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Primary Examiner: Nguyen; Hoang V
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Connolly Bove Lodge & Hutz
LLP
Government Interests
STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT INTEREST
The invention was made with Government support under contract
F04701-00-C-0009 by the Department of the Air Force. The Government
has certain rights in the invention.
Claims
I claim:
1. An adaptive reflector antenna, comprising: an adaptive
reflector; and means for simultaneously effecting feed rotation and
shape change for the adaptive reflector.
2. The adaptive reflector antenna of claim 1, wherein the means for
simultaneously effecting feed rotation and shape change includes an
illuminating beam scanner configured to adjust a shape of the
adaptive reflector in response to an optical figure sensor.
3. The adaptive reflector antenna of claim 2, wherein the
illuminating beam scanner includes a line feed array.
4. The adaptive reflector antenna of claim 2, wherein the
illuminating beam scanner includes a slotted waveguide.
5. The adaptive reflector antenna of claim 2, wherein the
illuminating beam scanner includes a rotatable line feed.
6. The adaptive reflector antenna of claim 2, wherein the
illuminating beam scanner includes a fixed line feed with a
rotatable auxiliary reflector.
7. The adaptive reflector antenna of claim 6, wherein the auxiliary
reflector rotates mechanically.
8. The adaptive reflector antenna of claim 6, wherein the auxiliary
reflector rotates piezoelectrically.
9. The adaptive reflector antenna of claim 2, wherein the means for
simultaneously effecting feed rotation and shape change is
configured such that illuminated reflector shape is adjusted as
offset angle and tilt are applied so as to appear as on-axis
reflector to the feed.
10. The adaptive reflector antenna of claim 2, wherein the means
for simultaneously effecting feed rotation and shape change is
configured such that antenna gain and sidelobe levels remain
constant as scan angle is changed.
11. A method for implementing an adaptive reflector antenna,
comprising the step of: operatively coupling line feed rotation and
reflector shaping for an adaptive off-axis reflector of a parabolic
cylinder antenna such that each reflector shaping creates an
identical on-axis parabolic shape for the portion of the reflector
then illuminated by the line feed rotation.
12. The method for implementing an adaptive reflector antenna of
claim 11, wherein the step of operatively coupling line feed
rotation and reflector shaping includes co-locating optical figure
sensors and electron beam generators of the adaptive reflector
antenna.
13. An adaptive reflector antenna, comprising: a membrane including
a bimorph substrate; a reflector structure formed over the bimorph
substrate; an optical figure sensor; and a beam scanning mechanism
configured to simultaneously effect rotation of a feed and
adaptively actuate in real time a shape of the membrane in response
to an output of the optical figure sensor such that the reflector
structure being illuminated by the feed always appears to the feed
as an on-axis reflector of original shape as scan angle is
changed.
14. The adaptive reflector antenna of claim 13, wherein the
membrane is configurable as a parabolic cylinder antenna.
15. The adaptive reflector antenna of claim 13, wherein the
reflector structure includes a conductive grid on the bimorph
substrate.
16. The adaptive reflector antenna of claim 13, wherein the
reflector includes a plurality of dipoles centrally positioned
along portions of the bimorph substrate.
17. The adaptive reflector antenna of claim 16, wherein the dipoles
are formed from aluminum.
18. The adaptive reflector antenna of claim 16, wherein the dipoles
have a cross-section which, at X-band, reduces leakage.
19. The adaptive reflector antenna of claim 16, wherein the dipoles
have a cross-section which, at L-band, reduces leakage.
20. The adaptive reflector antenna of claim 13, wherein: the
bimorph substrate is formed as a grid of strips which are uniform
in width; and the beam scanning mechanism is configured to generate
an electron beam with a minimum spot size that is a function of the
width of the strips.
.Iadd.21. An adaptive reflector antenna, comprising: a membrane
including a bimorph substrate; a reflector structure formed over
the bimorph substrate; an optical figure sensor; and a beam
scanning mechanism configured to rotate a feed, illuminate the
reflector structure and adaptively shape the membrane in response
to an output of the optical figure sensor such that the reflector
structure appears to the feed as an on-axis reflector of original
shape as scan angle is changed..Iaddend.
.Iadd.22. The adaptive reflector antenna of claim 21, wherein the
membrane is configurable as a parabolic cylinder
antenna..Iaddend.
.Iadd.23. The adaptive reflector antenna of claim 21, wherein the
reflector structure includes a conductive grid on the bimorph
substrate..Iaddend.
.Iadd.24. The adaptive reflector antenna of claim 21, wherein the
reflector includes a plurality of dipoles centrally positioned
along portions of the bimorph substrate..Iaddend.
.Iadd.25. The adaptive reflector antenna of claim 24, wherein the
dipoles are formed from aluminum..Iaddend.
.Iadd.26. The adaptive reflector antenna of claim 24, wherein the
dipoles have a cross-section which, at X-band, reduces
leakage..Iaddend.
.Iadd.27. The adaptive reflector antenna of claim 24, wherein the
dipoles have a cross-section which, at L-band, reduces
leakage..Iaddend.
.Iadd.28. The adaptive reflector antenna of claim 21, wherein: the
bimorph substrate is formed as a grid of strips which are
uniform..Iaddend.
.Iadd.29. A method for constructing an adaptive reflector antenna,
comprising: forming an adaptive reflector structure over a membrane
with a bimorph substrate; locating an optical figure sensor on one
side of the reflector structure; locating an electron beam feed and
back potential generator on another side of the reflector structure
that is opposite the optical figure sensor; illuminating and
scanning both the reflector structure and optical sensor with the
electron beam feed; providing an output from the optical figure
sensor to the electron beam feed and back potential generator; and
adaptively shaping the membrane in response to the output of the
optical figure sensor, wherein the electron beam feed and the
optical sensor provide closed loop control that sets and maintains
a curvature and original shape of the reflector structure in the
presence of disturbances, and wherein the adaptive reflector
structure illuminated by the electron beam feed appears as an
on-axis reflector of the original shape as a scan angle is
changed..Iaddend.
.Iadd.30. The method of claim 29, wherein the membrane is
configurable as a parabolic cylinder antenna..Iaddend.
.Iadd.31. The method of claim 29, wherein the reflector structure
includes a conductive grid on the bimorph substrate..Iaddend.
.Iadd.32. The method of claim 29, wherein the reflector includes a
plurality of dipoles centrally positioned along portions of the
bimorph substrate..Iaddend.
.Iadd.33. The method of claim 32, wherein the dipoles are formed
from aluminum..Iaddend.
.Iadd.34. The method of claim 32, wherein the dipoles have a
cross-section which, at X-band, reduces leakage..Iaddend.
.Iadd.35. The method of claim 32, wherein the dipoles have a
cross-section which, at L-band, reduces leakage..Iaddend.
.Iadd.36. The method of claim 29, wherein the bimorph substrate is
formed as a grid of strips which are uniform..Iaddend.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Space-based radar and communications system designs arc generally
limited by power-aperture product for transmissions and by the
antenna aperture for receptions. In both types of systems the
beamwidth becomes narrower as the aperture becomes larger, forcing
the beam to be scanned if larger coverage is desired, as it often
is. Reflector type antennas are notoriously limited in the scan
angle that they can attain, to about 10 to at most 20 beamwidths
before beam distortion and growth in sidelobes becomes so large as
to render performance unacceptable. Phased array antennas do not
suffer the same limitations, but are in general much more complex,
heavy, and expensive than the same aperture reflector antennas due
to the number of components and the strict positional requirements
of the elements for their functioning. This is especially true for
space based radar systems that detect, identify and track targets
near the Earth's surface, that require large antenna apertures
together with fine sidelobe control while attaining large beam scan
angles which are needed in order to achieve adequate
signal-to-noise ratio and clutter rejection to perform moving
target detection.
Thus, it would be desirable to be able to provide very large space
antennas that are free of the limited scan angle of reflector or
array-fed reflector antennas, yet are much lighter and less complex
than pure electronically steerable antennas. By way of example, it
would be desirable to be able to implement antennas with aperture
in the tens to hundreds of meters while simultaneously having
aerial densities of less than 1 kg/square meter and yet be able to
scan their beams dozens if not hundreds of beamwidths. In addition
it would be very desirable to simplify the feeds of such antennas
and their associated data processing units to both reduce weight,
cost, and complexity and increase reliability. The resulting
reduction in power, processing, complexity and weight requirements
would, in turn, provide for a significantly lighter and less
expensive spacecraft and for a smaller launcher, without
compromising space system performance. This application describes
novel means to implement such antennas, regardless of their
application.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Detailed description of embodiments of the invention will be made
with reference to the accompanying drawings:
FIGS. 1A 1C illustrate the principle of piezoelectric bimorph
actuation;
FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate bimorph actuation by electrodes and by
electron beam and back potential, respectively;
FIGS. 3A 3D illustrate the correction of bimorph membrane errors
employing a scanned electron beam;
FIG. 4A illustrates a system incorporating adaptive membrane
shaping and correction;
FIG. 4B is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the piezoelectric
bimorph film adaptive membrane of FIG. 4A;
FIG. 5A illustrates an adaptive reflective antenna;
FIG. 5B is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the membrane of FIG.
5A;
FIG. 5C is a front view of the reflector structure of FIG. 5B;
FIG. 6 illustrates operational principles of a conventional
off-axis array-fed parabolic cylinder reflector antenna;
FIG. 7 illustrates operational principles of a parabolic cylinder
antenna with adaptive off-axis reflector according to the present
invention;
FIG. 8 illustrates reflector reshaping for a large scan angle
adaptive off-axis reflector parabolic cylinder antenna with simple
line feed according to the present invention;
FIG. 9 shows comparative scanning performance for a conventional
off-axis array-fed parabolic cylinder reflector antenna and a
parabolic cylinder antenna with adaptive off-axis reflector
according to the present invention;
FIGS. 10A and 10B show front and side views of an embodiment of an
antenna layout according to the present invention;
FIG. 11 shows a front view of first alternative embodiment of an
antenna layout according to the present invention;
FIG. 12 shows a front view of a second alternative embodiment of an
antenna layout according to the present invention;
FIG. 13A illustrates a mechanically rotating line feed approach to
scanning the antenna beam according to the present invention;
FIG. 13B illustrates a fixed line feed with auxiliary rotating
reflector approach to scanning the antenna beam according to the
present invention;
FIG. 14 illustrates shaping of a 10 m.times.100 m X-band reflector
according to the present invention;
FIGS. 15A and 15B illustrate an example of a ground moving target
indication (GMTI) X-band adaptive reflector construction according
to the present invention;
FIG. 16 is a plot of 10 m.times.100 m adaptive GMTI reflector
weight (without feed array) versus scan capability;
FIG. 17 illustrates shaping of a 50 m.times.300 m L-band reflector
according to the present invention;
FIGS. 18A and 18B illustrate an example of an airborne moving
target indication (AMTI) L-band adaptive reflector construction
according to the present invention; and
FIG. 19 is a plot of 50 m.times.300 m adaptive AMTI reflector
weight (without feed array) versus scan capability.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The following is a detailed description of the best presently known
mode of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be
taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of
illustrating the general principles of the invention.
The present invention pertains to an adaptive reflector antenna
including an adaptive reflector and a mechanism for simultaneously
effecting feed rotation and shape change for the adaptive
reflector. According to the present invention, various
implementations of adaptive reflectors allow the shape of very
large antennas to be adaptively controlled. Adaptive reflector
antennas according to the present invention have the advantages of
very wide scan angle, very light weight, essentially unlimited
size, and a very simple and light feed, which can greatly simplify
associated electronics hardware and information processing systems.
For space based radar applications, the net result is a great
savings in total system weight and costs and a simultaneous
increase in system performance. There are many commercial as well
as government applications that could benefit from this technology
including, but not limited to, space based radar, communications,
ELINT, navigation, data collection, ground sensing, and other
antennas. It could also be as useful in airborne as well as ground
based radar, communications, sensing, and other applications so
long as it were enclosed in a radome to eliminate wind effects.
Referring to FIGS. 1A 1C, the principle of piezoelectric bimorph
actuation is explained below. In FIG. 1A, a bimorph membrane 100 is
shown in an inactive state. The bimorph membrane includes
oppositely polarized piezoelectric films 102 and 104 which are
bonded together. In FIG. 1B, the bimorph membrane 100 is shown with
electrodes 106 and 108 positioned adjacent films 102 and 104,
respectively. With an electric potential applied across the
electrodes 106 and 108 as shown, the film 102 contracts in plane
and the film 104 expands in plane resulting in the membrane shape
shown in FIG. 1C (and in FIG. 2A). The resultant curvature is
dependent on deposited charge, film thickness, and electrode area
where charge is deposited. In FIG. 2B, an alternative membrane
actuating approach is illustrated wherein the bimorph membrane 100
is actuated by an electron beam incident upon the film 102 and a
back potential applied to a back electrode 110 covering the entire
membrane surface adjacent the film 104. As illustrated, curvature
is produced only in the area defined by the electron beam.
FIGS. 3A 3D illustrate the correction of bimorph membrane errors
employing a scanned electron beam. For an initial shape (FIG. 3A)
of a piezoelectric bimorph membrane, a scanned electron beam
incident upon the membrane deposits a charge distribution (FIG.
3B). The curvature distribution (FIG. 3C) induced in the bimorph
membrane adjusts the initial shape to provide an idealized
resultant membrane shape (FIG. 3D).
FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate a system 400 incorporating adaptive
membrane shaping and correction. The system 400 includes a
piezoelectric bimorph film adaptive membrane 402, an electron beam
and back potential generator 404, and an optical figure sensor 406
configured as shown. The piezoelectric bimorph film adaptive
membrane 402 is formed, for example, with polyvinylindene fluoride
(PVDF) in a bimorph configuration, and has a plated back surface
electrode. The electron beam and back potential generator 404 makes
membrane corrections by scanning the electron beam; the correction
charge comes mostly from the back electrode potential, localized by
the electron beam. The optical figure sensor 406 provides its
output to the electron beam and back potential generator 404 via a
command link 408, so that a closed loop control system is
implemented that sets and maintains the reflector curvature and
shape in the presence of disturbances, conforming at all times to
the desired reference figure imposed on the system. All elements of
the system 400 may be connected by structure or precisely
stationkept with respect to each other in space.
Referring to FIGS. 5A 5C, an adaptive reflective antenna 500
includes a membrane 502 including a bimorph substrate, a reflector
structure 504 formed over the bimorph substrate, an optical figure
sensor 506, and a beam scanning mechanism 508 configured to
adaptively actuate (in real time) a shape of the membrane 502 in
response to an output of the optical figure sensor 506. The
reflector shape can thus be set by setting a reference shape for
the figure sensor, e.g., by software and/or command. In some
desired embodiments of the present invention, the membrane 502 is
configurable as a parabolic cylinder antenna. It should be
appreciated, however, that other antenna geometries could also
benefit from the principles of the present invention. The membrane
502 has a plated back surface electrode on the side of the
piezoelectric bimorph substrate film layers opposite from where the
reflector structure 504 is positioned. In this embodiment of the
present invention, the reflector structure 504 is a conductive grid
formed with about a half-wavelength grid spacing (FIGS. 5B and 5C).
The grid reflector saves a large amount of weight without affecting
radio frequency (RF) reflector performance. The beam scanning
mechanism 508 includes (or remotely accesses) processing
functionality and controls scanning of the electron beam to change
or correct the shape of the membrane 502. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No.
6,188,160 to Main et al. which is incorporated herein by
reference.
A method for implementing an adaptive reflector antenna according
to the present invention includes the step of operatively coupling
line feed rotation and reflector shaping for an adaptive off-axis
reflector of a parabolic cylinder antenna such that each reflector
shaping creates an identical off-axis parabolic shape for the
portion of the reflector then illuminated by the line feed
rotation. In various embodiments of the present invention, the step
of operatively coupling line feed rotation and reflector shaping
includes co-locating optical figure sensors and electron beam
generators of the adaptive reflector antenna (as shown in FIG. 5A).
In various embodiments of the present invention, a mechanism for
simultaneously effecting feed rotation and shape change is realized
via an illuminating beam scanner which adjusts a shape of the
adaptive reflector in response to an optical figure sensor. The
mechanism for simultaneously effecting feed rotation and shape
change is configured such that illuminated reflector shape is
controlled as offset angle and tilt are applied so that the feed
always sees an on-axis reflector of the original shape as scan
angle is changed, such that antenna gain, pattern, and sidelobe
levels remain constant as the scan angle is increased from zero. As
discussed below, the parabolic cylinder antenna with adaptive
off-axis reflector of the present invention provides significant
benefits when compared to a conventional off-axis array-fed
parabolic cylinder reflector antenna.
FIG. 6 illustrates operational principles of a conventional
off-axis array-fed parabolic cylinder reflector antenna. In
operation, the beam is scanned by shifting the phase center of a
large two-dimensional (2D) feed array. Antenna gain and sidelobe
levels are degraded with scans >10 beamwidths: 10 m reflector at
X band .+-.1.7 degrees; 50 m reflector at L band .+-.3.4
degrees.
FIG. 7 illustrates operational principles of a parabolic cylinder
antenna with adaptive off-axis reflector according to the present
invention. The feed can be a simple and lightweight linear array
(such as a slotted waveguide) which is parallel to the reflector
axis and rotated about its long axis. Elimination of the 2D feed
saves large quantities of weight, electronics, and complexity, as
well as makes possible much less information processing due to the
better beam quality which produces less clutter and better target
detection and tracking performance. In operation, illuminated
reflector shape is maintained as offset angle and tilt are applied.
Antenna gain and sidelobe levels remain constant regardless of scan
angle (scans of .+-.40 degrees are practical).
FIG. 8 illustrates reflector reshaping for a large scan angle
adaptive off-axis reflector parabolic cylinder antenna with simple
line feed according to the present invention. Reflector shaping and
line feed rotation are coupled such that beam pattern and gain are
unchanged with scan angle. As discussed above, the feed array can
be simple line array and rotate mechanically to scan. In this
example, each reflector reshaping creates a correct off-axis
parabolic shape with the origin shifted 11 degrees from the
previous shape, and each reshaping can be done in 1 3 seconds. In
order to scan the angle at which the wave exits the antenna, the
feed array is rotated to the desired angle and the shape of the
reflector is changed so that the portion of the reflector that the
feed now illuminates assumes an identical shape and distance from
the feed to those it had before the scan. As a result, the beam
pattern is not degraded at all and is identical to that before the
scan, except that it now exits at an angle from the antenna.
FIG. 9 shows comparative scanning performance (50 m antenna at L
band) for a conventional off-axis array-fed parabolic cylinder
reflector antenna and a parabolic cylinder antenna with adaptive
off-axis reflector according to the present invention. With the
conventional antenna, there is a limit of approximately 10 to 20
antenna beamwidths before unacceptable beam degradation sets in.
With the antenna of the present invention, scan angles of at least
120 antenna beamwidths are possible with no degradation in beam
pattern.
In an embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIGS. 10A
and 10B, an antenna 1000 includes a reflector membrane 1002, a line
array 1004, co-located optical figure sensors and electron beam
generators 1006, and a side beam 1008 configured as shown. As
illustrated, the reflector membrane 1002 is clamped at the bottom
edge only, thus the reflector membrane 1002 is free along most
dimensions. Optionally, adaptive side tensioning beams can be
provided. The shape of the reflector membrane 1002 is controlled,
as discussed above, via electron beam and back electrode
potential.
In another embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG.
11, an antenna 1000' is identical to the antenna 1000 (FIGS. 10A
and 10B) except that it additionally includes a plurality of beams
1020 positioning the bottom edge of the reflector membrane 1002 as
shown.
In still another embodiment of the present invention illustrated in
FIG. 12, an antenna 1000'' is identical to the antenna 1000' (FIG.
11) except that it additionally includes a structurally efficient
bottom clamping beam 1030 positioned at the bottom edge of the
reflector membrane 1002 as shown. The (full length) clamping beam
1030 can be deployable or inflatable.
According to the present invention, various approaches to scanning
the antenna beam can be employed. For example, FIG. 13A illustrates
an antenna 1300 that employs a mechanically rotating line feed
approach. The antenna 1300 includes a reflector membrane 1302, a
mechanically rotating line feed 1304, co-located optical figure
sensors and electron beam generators 1306, and a side beam 1308
configured as shown. FIG. 13B illustrates an antenna 1350 that
employs a fixed line feed with auxiliary rotating reflector
approach. The antenna 1350 includes a reflector membrane 1352, a
fixed line feed 1354, co-located optical figure sensors and
electron beam generators 1356, a side beam 1358, and a rotatable
auxiliary reflector 1360 configured as shown. By way of example,
the auxiliary reflector 1360 can be configured to rotate
mechanically or piezoelectrically. Thus, the illuminating beam
scanner configured to adjust a shape of an adaptive reflector in
response to an optical figure sensor can be realized in various
forms. It should be appreciated that still other approaches to
scanning the antenna beam can be employed.
FIGS. 15A and 15B illustrate an example of a ground moving target
indication (GMTI) X-band adaptive reflector construction according
to the present invention. An adaptive reflector 1500 suitable for
GMTI X-band includes a membrane 1502, with a bimorph substrate
1504, and a reflector structure 1506 formed over the bimorph
substrate 1504. In this example, the substrate 1504 is 55% of the
total membrane area, and is formed in a grid configuration as shown
from 0.5 cm wide PVDF strips with a matte surface finish for
reflecting the figure sensor laser. For an antenna employing the
adaptive reflector 1500, the beam scanning mechanism is configured
to generate an electron beam with a minimum spot size that is a
function of the width of the strips. In this example, the minimum
spot size of the electron beam is about 0.5 cm. The reflector
structure 1506 is formed as a plurality of dipoles centrally
positioned along portions of the bimorph substrate 1504 as shown.
In this example, the dipoles are deposited aluminum and have a
cross-section (14.mu..times.17.mu.) which, at X-band, reduces
leakage to <-60 dB.
The above-described GMTI adaptive reflector is suitable for a 10
m.times.100 m array-fed (simple one-dimensional line array)
parabolic cylinder reflector that is attached to the feed with
minimal structure only at its bottom edge. Multiple phase centers
may be retained in the line array if beneficial. For an antenna
employing such an adaptive reflector, less clutter processing is
required: Space-Time Adaptive Processing (STAP) is reduced or
eliminated. This adaptive reflector also results in smaller Minimum
Detectable Velocity of targets and in improved tactical target
tracking. An antenna employing such an adaptive reflector is
lighter and less costly: fewer Low Noise Amplifiers (LNAs), no
beamforming hardware or electronics. Consequently, spacecraft
design is simplified and significant weight and cost savings are
likely.
Operating at X-band stresses surface requirements, and a great
amount of surface accuracy is needed to avoid loss of gain. An
imperfect surface scatters some signal away from the focus and
produces a loss known as the Ruze loss after John Ruze, who first
derived the expression L=exp(-(.pi.d/.lamda.).sup.2) where L is the
loss factor, d is the root-mean-square (rms) deviation from a
parabola, and .lamda. is the wavelength. Rms surface roughness of
0.75 mm is needed to limit gain reduction to <1 db. This is an
accuracy of 0.00075 m in 100 m, or 1 part in 133,000. This is
extremely difficult for passive structures: requires active
systems. As discussed below, X-band operation is an exemplary
application for the adaptive reflector technology of the present
invention.
FIG. 14 illustrates shaping of a 10 m.times.100 m X-band reflector
according to the present invention. At Step 1, low frequency, high
amplitude errors are removed (e.g., power=0.01 watts, time is <3
seconds) from the initial surface figure. At Step 2, mid frequency,
mid amplitude errors are removed (e.g., power=1.02 watts, time is
<3 seconds). At Step 3, high frequency, low amplitude errors are
removed (e.g., power=4 watts, time is <3 seconds) resulting in a
final surface figure which is accurate to 0.5 mm rms. Maximum power
required is 4 watts. Total time required is 9 seconds. Subsequent
reshapings require less than 3 seconds.
FIG. 16 is a plot of 10 m.times.100 m adaptive GMTI reflector
weight (without feed array) versus scan capability. For a 25 micron
(1 mil) adaptive sandwich grid of 55% reflector substrate area, the
weight is 0.028 kg/m.sup.2. For a deposited uniform aluminum mesh,
17 .mu. thick, 14.mu. wide, .lamda./2 grid spacing, the weight is
0.00009 kg/m.sup.2. This yields a total reflector weight of 0.02809
kg/m.sup.2. Accordingly, the weight for a 10 m.times.100 m (1,000
m.sup.2) reflector is 28 kg. Assuming that five electron beam
generators and optical figure sensors weigh .about.10 kg and that
two tensioned side support beams weigh <5 kg, the reflector
weight, including structure, for 10 m.times.100 m (1,000 m.sup.2)
is .about.43 kg. If thinner substrates are employed, this weight
may be further reduced.
By way of comparison, an advanced 10 m.times.100 m inflatable
X-band reflector with .+-.3.4 degree scan (20 beamwidths)
capability weighs 700 kg. Adding a feed array weight (2D array) of
275 kg and STAP weight and power of 25 kg+1 kW (equivalent to 35 kg
total) results in a total antenna and processor weight of 1,010 kg.
In contrast, for the 10 m.times.100 m adaptive GMTI reflector with
.+-.40+ degree scan of the present invention, which has a reflector
weight, including structure, of 43 kg, adding a feed array weight
(line array) of 95 kg and a STAP weight of 0 kg results in a total
antenna and processor weight of 138 kg. Thus, for GMTI,
implementation of the present invention: saves 872 kg, and allows
for a much simpler, lighter array and processing; potentially
reduces clutter and allows for a lower target Minimum Detectable
Velocity; and allows for much greater scanning, possibly reducing
S/C number, altitude.
FIGS. 18A and 18B illustrate an example of an airborne moving
target indication (AMTI) L-band adaptive reflector construction
according to the present invention. An adaptive reflector 1800
suitable for AMTI L-band includes a membrane 1802, with a bimorph
substrate 1804, and a reflector structure 1806 formed over the
bimorph substrate 1804. In this example, the substrate 1804 is 13%
of the total membrane area, and is formed in a grid configuration
as shown from 0.5 cm wide PVDF strips with a matte surface finish
for reflecting the figure sensor laser. For an antenna employing
the adaptive reflector 1800, the beam scanning mechanism is
configured to generate an electron beam with a minimum spot size
that is a function of the width of the strips. In this example, the
minimum spot size of the electron beam is about 0.5 cm. The
reflector structure 1806 is formed as a plurality of dipoles
centrally positioned along portions of the bimorph substrate 1804
as shown. In this example, the dipoles are deposited aluminum and
have a cross-section (14.mu..times.170.mu.) which, at L-band,
reduces leakage to <-60 dB.
The above-described AMTI adaptive reflector is suitable for a 50
m.times.300 m array-fed (simple one-dimensional line array)
parabolic cylinder reflector that is attached to the feed with
minimal structure to eliminate stationkeeping. The larger aperture
allows for the elimination of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)
receivers without power increase. This adaptive reflector also
results in a smaller minimum detectable target cross-section. For
an antenna employing such an adaptive reflector, less clutter
processing is required: Space-Time Adaptive Processing (STAP) is
reduced or eliminated.
Operating at L-band does not stress surface requirements. Rms
surface roughness of 0.75 mm is needed to limit gain reduction to
<1 db. This is an accuracy of 0.0075 m in 300 m, or 1 part in
40,000. This is very difficult for passive structures: requires
active systems. As discussed below, L-band operation is also an
exemplary application for the adaptive reflector technology of the
present invention.
FIG. 17 illustrates shaping of a 50 m.times.300 m L-band reflector
according to the present invention. At Step 1, low frequency, high
amplitude errors are removed (e.g., power=0.15 watts, time is <3
seconds) from the initial surface figure. At Step 2, mid frequency,
mid amplitude errors are removed (e.g., power=15 watts, time is
<3 seconds). At Step 3, high frequency, low amplitude errors are
removed (e.g., power=20 watts, time is <3 seconds) resulting in
a final surface figure which is accurate to 7.5 mm rms. Maximum
power required is 20 watts. Total time required is 9 seconds.
Subsequent reshapings require less than 3 seconds.
FIG. 19 is a plot of 50 m.times.300 m adaptive AMTI reflector
weight (without feed array) versus scan capability. For a 25 micron
(1 mil) adaptive sandwich grid of 13% reflector substrate area, the
weight is 0.0065 kg/m.sup.2. For a deposited uniform aluminum mesh,
170.mu. thick, 14.mu. wide, .lamda./2 grid spacing, the weight is
0.00009 kg/m.sup.2. This yields a total reflector weight of 0.00659
k/m.sup.2. Accordingly, the weight for a 50 m.times.300 m (15,000
m.sup.2) reflector is 98 kg. Assuming that five electron beam
generators and optical figure sensors weigh .about.25 kg and that
two tensioned side support beams weigh <25 kg, the reflector
weight, including structure, for 50 m.times.300 m (15,000 m.sup.2)
is .about.148 kg. If thinner substrates are employed, this weight
may be further reduced.
By way of comparison, an advanced 50 m.times.300 m inflatable
L-band reflector with .+-.6.8 degree scan (20 beamwidths)
capability weighs 10,500 kg. Adding a feed array weight (2D array)
of 2,770 kg and STAP weight and power of 25 kg+1 kW (equivalent to
35 kg total) results in a total antenna and processor weight of
13,305 kg. In contrast, for the 50 m.times.300 m adaptive AMTI
reflector with .+-.40+ degree scan of the present invention, which
has a reflector weight, including structure, of 148 kg, adding a
feed array weight (line array) of 275 kg and a STAP weight of 0 kg
results in a total antenna and processor weight of 423 kg. Thus,
for AMTI, implementation of the present invention: saves 12,882 kg,
and allows for a much simpler, lighter array and processing;
potentially eliminates UAVs and reduces minimum detectable target
size; and allows for much greater scanning, possibly reducing S/C
number, altitude.
Additionally, it should be understood that the principles of the
present invention are applicable to both optical and RF apertures.
Moreover, the membrane reflector can be actuated by a beam
mechanism other than electron beams, or even by wire-actuated or
other remote means-actuated areas on the membrane.
Although the present invention has been described in terms of the
embodiment(s) above, numerous modifications and/or additions to the
above-described embodiment(s) would be readily apparent to one
skilled in the art. It is intended that the scope of the present
invention extends to all such modifications and/or additions.
* * * * *