Patent ID: 6693589
Filing Date: 2004-02-17
Classification: H01Q

Abstract:
A method for maintaining beam pointing for an electronically scanned antenna (ESA) employing a chirped pulse waveform wherein its frequency is varied over a wide frequency bandwidth within a pulse, comprising:for radiating elements comprising the ESA, each radiating element having an associated phase shifter having only a discrete set of available phase shift values, setting the respective phase shifters to values for steering the ESA beam to a desired pointing direction for a first frequency in the frequency bandwidth during the pulse; changing the operating frequency of the ESA in the frequency bandwidth during the pulse; applying a set of phase corrections to the respective phase shifters to compensate for the change in frequency to maintain the ESA beam pointing direction during the pulse; for at least some subsequent changes in the operating frequency within the pulse, applying a corresponding set of phase corrections to compensate for the frequency changes to maintain the ESA beam pointing direction during the pulse.