Patent ID: 7511665

Claim:
An apparatus for electronically forming an antenna beam pattern, comprising: a plurality of waveform generators each producing as an output an independent radio frequency (RF) signal; wherein each of said plurality of waveform generators being independently controllable in frequency and phase; a transmit/receive module having a plurality of inputs and outputs and having a channel disposed between each of said plurality of corresponding inputs and outputs; wherein each of said plurality of inputs being connected correspondingly to the output of each of said plurality of waveform generators, and wherein said transmit/receive module further comprises means for: modulating the amplitude and phase characteristics of at least one of said plurality of RF signals; modulating any of said characteristics independently of any of said other characteristics; and modulating any of said characteristics of any of said plurality of RF signals independently of any of other said plurality of RF signals; a waveform control subsystem having means for applying signals to: said plurality of waveform generators so as to control frequency and phase of said output RF signal; and to said transmit/receive module so as to control said means for modulating said amplitude and phase characteristics; and at least one RF radiating/receiving element being connected to at least one of said transmit/receive module outputs.