Patent ID: 8593334

Claim:
A method for processing electromagnetic waves, the method comprising: transmitting the electromagnetic waves in a selected direction toward a target object from a first array of antenna elements; receiving scattered electromagnetic waves generated from the electromagnetic waves transmitted in the selected direction at a first portion of a second array of antenna elements configured to receive the scattered electromagnetic waves in a first direction with respect to the selected direction and at a second portion of the second array of antenna elements configured to receive the scattered electromagnetic waves in a second direction with respect to the selected direction; subtracting, by a processor, first information in the scattered electromagnetic waves received by the first portion of the second array of antenna elements from second information in the scattered electromagnetic waves received by the second portion of the second array of antenna elements to form difference data; generating the first information from first signals generated by the second array of antenna elements in response to the first portion of the second array of antenna elements being electronically steered to receive the scattered electromagnetic waves in the first direction; generating the second information from second signals generated by the second array of antenna elements in response to the second portion of the second array of antenna elements being electronically steered to receive the scattered electromagnetic waves in the second direction; and identifying an elevation angle between a direction of the target object and the selected direction using the difference data.