Patent ID: 9742075
Date: 2017-08-22
CPC Classifications: G01S,H01Q

Claim:
1. A system including a hybrid active array comprising of: at least one exciter configured to generate a waveform, at least one transmitter configured to receive said waveform from said exciter and generate a transmit signal based on said waveform, an amplifier configured to amplify said transmit signal, a power supply configured to supply a first power level supply to said amplifier to amplify said transmit signal to a power level of one or more kilowatts to megawatts to generate an amplified transmit signal, and a cooling section configured to supply cooling to at least said amplifier, wherein said at least one transmitter is configured to generate said transmit signal in a first location; at least one waveguide section adapted to respectively receive said amplified transmit signal; a beamforming network section coupled to said at least one waveguides configured to respectively receive said amplified transmit signal and pass said amplified transmit signal into multiple signal channels; an array of hybrid transmit/receive modules (HTRM) each comprising a transmit/receive input/output (TRIO) bus, a transmit output section, and a receive input section, each HTRM's said TRIO bus is respectively coupled to each of said multiple signal channels in said beamforming network section to respectively receive said amplified transmit signal, each said HTRM further comprises of a phase shifter coupled to said TRIO bus, a first switch selectively coupling said phase shifter and said transmit output section, first and second low noise amplifier (LNA) monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs), and a limiter MMIC, wherein said first LNA MMIC, said second LNA MMIC and said Limiter MMIC are connected in series, wherein second LNA MMIC is connected to said first switch, wherein said limiter MMIC is coupled to said receive input section, each said HTRM further comprises of digital controls, level shifters, and power conditions; a plurality of signal circulators or second switch sections each respectively coupled to said HTRMs in said array of HTRMs, each said signal circulators or second switch sections are configured to selectively switch connections to either said transmit output section or said receive input section of each said HTRMs; a plurality of antenna sections, each antenna section is respectively coupled with one said signal circulator or second switch, wherein said plurality of antenna sections are collectively configured to have an antenna aperture configuration, wherein each said plurality of antenna sections are configured to respectively receive a separate said amplified transmit signal passed through said HTRMs and said signal circulator or second switch section, each of said antenna sections are configured to pass a received signal to said circulator or second switch from one of said plurality of antenna sections, wherein each said circulator or second switch is further configured to selectively pass respective said received signals to said receive input section in a receive mode; and one or more controller sections adapted to control said system comprising said hybrid active array, wherein at least one of said one or more controller sections is configured to control said beamforming network section to set an amplitude distribution of the antenna aperture to reduce transmit and receive sidelobes of at least some of said plurality of antenna sections; wherein said one or more controller sections are configured to control each said phase shifter to apply a steering or control phase shift necessary to generate a collective beam output from all of the HTRMs and antenna sections to steer the collective main beam generated by the hybrid active array in a desired direction and with desired main beam output characteristics; wherein said beamforming network section, said hybrid transmit/receive modules, and said antenna sections are positioned on a tower or structure spaced apart from said first location.