Antenna configurations for reduced radar complexity
View Patent ↗A transmit and receiving system including a first array including at least one antenna element disposed to provide a transmit antenna. The system further includes a second array having a second different plurality of antenna elements disposed to provide a receive antenna. The first array is coupled to a switching system, which is operative to selectively form at least one transmit beam. The second array is coupled to a beam combining system, which is operative to selectively form a plurality of receive beams.
1. A transmit and receive system comprising:
a first array including at least one antenna element disposed to provide a transmit antenna;
a second array including a plurality of antenna elements disposed to provide a receive antenna;
a beam switching system coupled to the first array and being operative to form at least one transmit beam; and
a beam combining system coupled to the second array and being operative to form a plurality of receive beams, wherein the first array includes fewer antenna elements than the second array.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the receive array includes forty-eight elements.
3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a signal generator and wherein the beam switching system includes a beamforming circuit having at least one antenna port coupled to the first array and at least one switch port coupled to the signal generator.
4. The system of claim 3 wherein the receive array includes forty-eight elements.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein the transmit array includes three elements in an elevation plane.
6. A transmit and receive system comprising:
a first array including at least one antenna element disposed to provide a transmit antenna, wherein the at least one antenna element is arranged into a transmit array including approximately one element in azimuth and approximately three elements in elevation;
a second array including a plurality of antenna elements disposed to provide a receive antenna;
a beam switching system coupled to the first array and being operative to form at least one transmit beam; and
a beam combining system coupled to the second array and being operative to form a plurality of receive beams.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the transmit array includes three elements.
8. The system of claim 6 further comprising a signal generator and wherein the beam switching system includes a beamforming circuit having at least one antenna port coupled to the first array and at least one switch port coupled to the signal generator.
9. The system of claim 6 wherein the receive array includes forty-eight elements.
10. The system of claim 9 wherein the transmit array includes three elements in an elevation plane.
11. A transmit and receive system comprising:
a first array including at least one antenna element disposed to provide a transmit antenna;
a second array including a plurality of antenna elements disposed to provide a receive antenna, wherein the plurality of antenna elements are arranged into a receive array including approximately eight elements in azimuth and approximately six elements in elevation;
a beam switching system coupled to the first array and being operative to form at least one transmit beam; and
a beam combining system coupled to the second array and being operative to form a plurality of receive beams.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the receive array includes approximately forty-eight elements.
13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the beam switching system includes a beamforming circuit having at least one antenna port coupled to the first array.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the beamforming circuit further includes at least one switch port coupled to a signal generator.