2) United States Patent Rauch (S4)_ PHASED ARRAY ANTENNA SYSTEM (73) Inventor: Charles T. Raueh, Bamesville,GA (US) (13) Assignee: PDS Electronics, Ine, Akron, OH (US) (7) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term ofthis patent is extended or adjusted under 35 USC, 154(b) by 67 days (21) Appl.Nos 10435,071 22) Filed: May 16,2006 Related US. Application Data (60) Provisional application No, 60/682,740, filed on May 19, 2005 (SI) Int Cl GUIS 316 (2006.01) GIS 328 (2006 01) 342/883; 32/372: 342375 ation Search 342368, 2-373, 375, 383; 2571499, 522, 506 ‘See application file for complete search history (2) (38) fesouent || uwminc [64] ot one inc rj eameur L eee USOOTS23588B1 (io) Patent No: US 7,423,588 BI (4s) Date of Patent: Sep. 9, 2008 60) References Cited US, PATENT DOCUMENTS, 3.102525 A * 61965 Moran tl uy 3275950 A + 91966. S180 5266860 A 11/1993 Usa 315/170, * cited by examiner Primary Esaminer—Dav 1, Phan (74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm Bobak, Taylor & Weber Renner, Kenner, Greve, on ABSTRACT The present antenna system includes a phased ary antenna system comprising a limiting circuit an isolation circuit, and phasing circuit. The limiting ieuitincludesasystemaf ist signal diodes coupled with a zener diode which provides shaep limiting and increased limiting thresholds to received signals, In addition, the isolation circuit prevents a cable coupled to the oviput ofthe antenna unit fom becoming cectrically coupled withthe antenna element itself Futher- ‘more, the phasiageircuitallows the present anteanasystemto provide a aul ina fixed diretion over a wide baadhvidth of signal ceiving frequencies 19 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets 4 XQ PAs weson |Z foment | |iueurs, | | sources || woLaTion | “FOLLOWER WL “cneure "| so feoUS 7,423,588 BI Sheet 1 of 3 Sep. 9, 2008 US. Patent * ™~ Fanserotel icnsers) sama ee sina sinzuio| onisvHd |)US 7,423,588 BI Sheet 2 of 3 Sep. 9, 2008 US. Patent 2 | wantewoo waNiawo> Lise za } ({uoiwonar ey’ HaNienoD i Boz Frese} — o— ow NIT a333 VIA ‘vor oL vet vor / °. NNT Av 130 | | aa c fyorvanai ivUS 7,423,588 BI Sheet 3 of 3 Sep. 9, 2008 US. Patent G2 OldUS 7,423,588 BI 1 PHASED ARRAY ANTENNA SYSTEM, (CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED. APPLICATION ‘This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 601682, 740, fled May 19,2005. TECHNICAL FIELD vo Generally, the present invention relates to a phased array antenna system. Specifically the present invention pertains to ‘phased amay antenna that provides input protection from transient signals. More spevifically, the present invention relates to a phased array antenna system that provides input srotection that has sharp limiting characteristics, and a high ‘imiting threshold. Particularly, the presen invention perins toa phased aray antenna that isolates an element transi soa line or connection line from the antenna element itself ‘More particularly, the present invention is directed toward a phased array antenna having a phasing ereuit configured to ‘maintain a desired phase delay over a wide bandwidth of received signals, BACKGROUND ART Input protection devices commonly found on antennas are configured to prevent unwanted transient signals, such as ‘current spikes rom propagating through the supporting cir- cuir attached to the output of the antenna. These transient signal spikes may because by various phenontena including slate electricity, noise, or may result trom the preseace of large tansmited signal. Hovsover, to attenuate these tran- sents, various liming systems have been utlzed, but suffer from inadequate performance or create uawaated character 5 istics that impede the antennas overall performance. ‘One such imitng system utilizes a pir of parallel, oppo- sitely connected, signal diodes as limiting cireuitto achieve input protection forthe remaining portion of an antenna’s supporting circuitry. Because the diodes conduct some ‘njount of current between their onan off states, the system, provides “soft” limiting. Furthermore, when the diodes con- uct signals that arebolow the threshold values established by the diodes, unwanted distortion of the received signal gener- ally results. Additionally if multiple signals are detected by ‘the antenna, intomodulation distortion, or IMD, may occur due tothe design ofthe limiting network. Furthermore, the Tow voltage threshold ofthe diodes results in the possibilty that lage out-of-band signal may drive the diodes into their limiting region. As a rest, IMD may be induced in the esi in-band signals being received by the anteana, To ‘overcome the low voltage threshold, inerent withthe parallel ode limiting circuit, several diodes are typically arangedin secs in each parallel leg of the Iimiting circuit, thereby increasing the overall threshold voliage of the limiting sy3- s tem, However, while te threshold voltage ofthe system is increased, thereby reducing the amouat of distortion that may be induced int the system, the Tmiting characteristics ofthe system are Further degraded or softened.” As such theres ‘rade-off between hang hgh limiting thresholds sad “hard” Timiting, with the selection of one characteristic resuling in the degradation of the other ‘Another commonly used limiting circuit which provides input protection for active anteanas uilizes series coanocted ‘ener diodes, with heir anodes coupled together, orwith heir 6 cathodes coupled together. Because zener diodes, when reverse biased, have threshold voltage much greater than % 2 conventional diodes, the limiting network overcomes the problenss of low threshold voltage associated withthe previ- ously discussed system. However, this limiting network reduces the performance of the antenna o which the limiting network is coupled de to the zeners high capacitance, and slow switching acon between the forward biased zener ode’ son and off states. Additionally the capacitance of the ‘zener diode increases greatly in @nowlinear manne 38 the applied voltage from the signal increases, resulting in IMD. and other distortion forms being introduced ino the antenna ‘network. Also beeanse othe slow switching action between the on and off states of the forward biased zene diode dis tortion of a received signal can also result afer a transient signal has decayed after being limited by the system. Phasing networks or circuits used in conjunction with a phased amay antenna system are used to establish a direc- tional receiving pattern. Of primary importance are the loca- ‘ion of ull ia the antennas receiving pattera, athe orien {ation ofthe nll in a desired direction. Asa result, the phase amy antenna is insensitive to signals arriving at the antenna inthe direetion ofthe null, while the remaining portion of the antenna’ s receiving pattem continues to be sensitive to tans mitted signals. To achieve the dolay nocessary to create a lrctinal receiving pattem, one oF more delay lines, each typically comprising a specific length of coanial cable of length corresponding toa desired phase delay are used, How= ever, because these delay lines are frequency dependant, the ‘amount of phase delay provided changes asthe signal lne- quency detected by the antenna array is altered As such, ‘when it is desired that the antenna system be responsive 10 signals ofa new frequency the delay provided by the delay fines changes. Thus, the null created in a first direction according 1 the delay provided by the original delay line is altered because the amount of phase delay provided by the delay line has changed due tothe new operating frequency of the antenna system, Therefore, theresa need fora limiting circuit or use with ‘an active antenna that provides sharp limiting action to ‘received signal, while having a high imitng threshold char- ‘acteristic. Additionally, there s a need fra limiting circuit that can he formed from a small mmber of components to provide enced cost and manufactur, Fushenmore, there is ‘anced fara isolation circuit that provides isolation between, the antenna element and any cable, such as an element tans rnissoa line, coupled to the output ofan antenna unit. There is yet a further need for a phasing cireuit for a phased array Antenna sytem thats frequency independent, and that main- tains a mul ina desired direction over a wide bandwidth of received signal, DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Its thus an object of the present invention to provide a phased aray antenna system which provides inpt protection from transient signals tis aother object of the present iavention to provide a phased array antenna system, as above, which provides shaper limiting to transient signals than prior art phased ‘aay antenna systems. tisstill another object ofthe present invention to provide phased array antenna system which provides adesied phase delay over a wide bandwidth of received signal. is still yet another object of the present invention to provide a phased array antenna system that isolates trans rissoa ine fom the dipole elements ofthe antenna system, ‘These and other objectsof the present invention, as wells, the advantages thereof over existing prior at forms, whieh