Simultaneous transmission of multiple signals through a common shared aperture

Abstract

In phased array antennas, multiple signals that perform different functions, such as radar, electronic warfare (EW) and telecommunications, can each be simultaneously transmitted only through a different sub-aperture of the array. For maximum power and efficiency, the power amplifiers operate on one signal at a time. This patent provides the technique of forming a common waveform from multiple signals for transmission through a common aperture. To practically implement this technique in wideband operations, processes performing the required waveform-shaping and amplitude-to-phase-modulation are devised that can transmit the high-power diverse waveforms without serious intermodulations and spectral distortion through every element of the array.

1 . An integrated radar antenna system comprising: 
 a radar comprising a plurality of planar arrays of radiating elements;    a structure for receiving signal information associated with said radar;    a structure for transmitting signal information associated with said radar;    a signal generator for transmitting multiple signals through a common shared array aperture.    
   
   
       2 . The system as in  claim 1 , further including transmission of multiple signals through every saturated power amplifier in said arrays without distortions.  
   
   
       3 . The system as in  claim 1 , wherein the transmission of diverse waveform can deny antiradiation missles from targeting the structures for transmitting signal information.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the structure for transmitting signal information combines multiple signals for transmission through a common shared aperture.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system transforms combined radar and EA signals into phase modulated signals, passes said phase modulated signals through high power amplifiers with low distortion and transforms said phase modulated signals into their original form for transmission.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , where in the structure for transmitting signal information includes waveform generators that transmit signals coincidently and independently.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the signals from the waveform generators are combined into a single signal.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein said single signal is approximated by a series expansion of a square root function.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the signals from the waveform generators are combined to form a single power, low-distortion, and amplitude varying signal.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein either a double sideband signal or a single sideband signal can be transmitted out of every element of a common shared aperture.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a double sideband signal is generated from four separate signals which are combined into an upper channel and lower channel to form two signals for transmission through a single aperture.