Title :
Photonic wideband array antennas
Author :
Lee, J.J. ; Loo, Robert Y. ; Livingston, Stan ; Jones, Vincent I. ; Lewis, Jack B. ; Yen, Huan-Wun ; Tangonan, Gregory L. ; Wechsberg, M.
Author_Institution :
Hughes Aircraft Co., Los Angeles, CA, USA
fDate :
9/1/1995 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
Presents an introduction to the optical control of array antennas by using fiber optic links for remote control and a photonic time shift network for wide instantaneous bandwidth. An overview of the development of a wideband conformal array designed for airborne surveillance radars is given. The paper covers the system design and the performance of an L-band (850-1400 MHz) M-element array controlled by photonics. Packaging techniques of the photonic components and the array aperture are discussed. The wideband performance of the system is highlighted. A nano-second impulse response has been measured to demonstrate a 50% instantaneous bandwidth (550 MHz, 30 cm range resolution) for target ID and imaging. A built-in signal injection technique based on time-domain impulse measurement was used to calibrate the wideband components in the time-shift beamforming network
Keywords :
airborne radar; antenna phased arrays; conformal antennas; optical fibre networks; packaging; phased array radar; radar imaging; radar target recognition; search radar; telecontrol; transient response; 550 MHz; L-band M-element array; UHF; airborne surveillance radars; array aperture; calibration; fiber optic links; nano-second impulse response; optical control; packaging techniques; photonic components; photonic time shift network; photonic wideband array antennas; remote control; signal injection technique; system design; target identification; target imaging; time-domain impulse measurement; time-shift beamforming network; wide instantaneous bandwidth; wideband conformal array; wideband performance; Airborne radar; Antenna arrays; Bandwidth; Broadband antennas; Optical arrays; Optical control; Optical fibers; Radar antennas; Surveillance; Wideband;
Journal_Title :
Antennas and Propagation, IEEE Transactions on
