Ronald Duane Stephens

US Patent:

58618457, Jan 19, 1999

Filed:

May 19, 1998

Appl. No.:

/081672

Inventors:

Jar J. Lee - Irvine CA
Ronald R. Stephens - Westlake Village CA
Harry T. Wang - Thousand Oaks CA

Assignee:

Hughes Electronics Corporation - El Segundo CA

International Classification:

H01Q 322

US Classification:

342375

Abstract:

Wideband phased array antennas are provided that eliminate the need for phase shifters in the region of the array face. In addition, they generate less beam squint than conventional antennas. In one embodiment, they include an electronic signal generator, reference and scanning manifolds and an array of n radiative modules. The signal generator generates a variable-frequency scanning signal s. sub. s and a reference signal s. sub. r wherein the frequency of the reference signal s. sub. r is substantially a selected one of the sum and the difference of the frequencies of the scanning signal s. sub. s and an operating signal s. sub. o. The reference manifold receives and divides the reference signal s. sub. r into n reference signal samples which are progressively time delayed by a selectable one of m reference differential time delays. DELTA. t. sub. r. The scanning manifold receives and divides the scanning signal s. sub.