MULTIBEAM ACTIVE ANTENNA ARRAY Russian patent published in 2011 - IPC H01Q3/26 

FIELD: physics, radio.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to radio engineering and can be used in multi-functional radar sets for generating a multibeam directional pattern in active phased antenna arrays. According to the invention, the multibeam active antenna array has N antenna elements and a first beamformer. There are also additional M-1 beamformers, N transceiving modules, a beam control unit and M phase changer and attenuator control devices, the first of which has 3N outputs and each of the remaining M-1 phase changer and attenuator control devices having 2N outputs. M-1 outputs of the beam control unit are connected to inputs of M-1 phase changer and attenuator control devices. Each of the transceiving modules is in form of series-connected first phase changer and power amplifier, whose output is connected to the input of a first switch, the input-output of which is connected to the antenna element. The output of the first switch is connected to the input of a low-noise amplifier. The output of the low-noise amplifier is connected to the input of a microwave divider, whose first output is connected to the first input of the first attenuator. The output of the first attenuator is connected to the first input of the second phase changer, the output of which is connected to the input of the second switch. The rest of the M-1 outputs of the microwave divider are connected to the first inputs of each M-1 attenuator, the output of each of which is connected to the corresponding input of the M-1 phase changers, whose second inputs are connected to the first outputs of the M-1 control devices and attenuators. Outputs of each phase changer are connected to inputs of M-1 beamformers. The first input of the first phase changer is connected to the first output of the first phase changer and attenuator control device. The second input of the second phase changer is connected to the second output of the first phase changer and attenuator control device. The output of the second switch is connected to the second input of the first phase changer. The input-output of the second switch is connected to the input-output of the first beamformer. The third output of the first phase changer and attenuator control device is connected to the second input of the first attenuator. Second outputs of each of the M-1 phase changer and attenuator control device are connected to second inputs of the M-1 attenuators.

EFFECT: independent generation of M control beams during reception of the antenna array.

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