Antenna beam control elements, systems, architectures, and methods for radar, communications, and other applications

摘要

The present invention provides, among other things, antenna beam control devices, systems, architectures, and methods for radar and other applications, such as wireless communications, etc., to improve transmit and/or receive performance of the devices and systems employing such antennas by deploying beam control elements (20) to increase antenna gain at an angle less than a first angle relative to the antenna gain at angle greater than a first angle. Beam control elements are deployed in combination with the one or more antennas (12) in various systems of the present invention, such that the impact of reflected radiation from wind mill, communication, or other towers supporting the system or other nearby structures, as well as radiation from nearby wireless communication networks is decreased to an acceptable level. The beam control elements can include absorbing and reflective material and can be placed in the antenna near field to minimize costs.

主权项

1. An apparatus comprising:
at least one antenna, the antenna being a phased array where the antenna is configured to steer the radiation both azimuthally and by elevation; and, a beam control element positioned along a perimeter of the at least one antenna at a first azimuth angle offset from an azimuth reference axis perpendicular to a plane of a surface of the antenna that emits radiation such that the beam control element is positioned outside a main lobe of the antenna and between at least a portion of a side lobe of the antenna and the main lobe, the beam control element comprising:
a reflective material; andan absorptive material positioned between the antenna and the reflective material configured to attenuate signals emitted or received by the antenna at a second azimuth angle that is greater than the first azimuth angle relative to at least one signal emitted or received by the antenna at a third azimuth angle less than the first angle.