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 method of forming a plurality of two-way beams using a transmit and receive system, the method comprising:
controlling a transmit antenna array of the transmit and receive system to provide a plurality of transmit beams;
simultaneously forming a first plurality of receive beams via a beamformer network;
controlling a switched beam combining circuit of a receive antenna array of the transmit and receive system to form a second plurality of receive beams wherein the controlling comprises combining selected ones of the formed beams via a switch network; and
combining predetermined ones of the plurality of transmit beams and predetermined ones of the second plurality of receive beams to form the plurality of two-way beams.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein controlling the transmit antenna array includes controlling a beam switching system coupled to the transmit antenna array to provide the plurality of transmit beams.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein controlling the switched beam combining circuit of the receive antenna array includes controlling a plurality of single-pole, multi-throw switches to provide the second plurality of receive beams.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein combining includes combining a first transmit beam of the plurality of transmit beams with at least one of the second plurality of receive beams to provide a first one of the plurality of two-way beams.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein combining further includes combining the first transmit beam of the plurality of transmit beams with a second receive beam of the plurality of receive beams to provide a second one of the plurality of two-way beams.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein combining further includes combining a second transmit beam of the plurality of transmit beams with the second receive beam of the plurality of receive beams to provide a third two-way beam of the plurality of two-way beams.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein combining further includes combining the second transmit beam of the plurality of transmit beams with a third receive beam of the plurality of receive beams to provide a fourth two-way beam of the plurality of two-way beams.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein combining further includes combining the second transmit beam of the plurality of transmit beams with a fourth receive beam of the plurality of receive beams to provide a fifth two-way beam of the plurality of two-way beams.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein combining further includes combining a third transmit beam of the plurality of transmit beams with the fourth receive beam of the plurality of receive beams to provide a sixth two-way beam of the plurality of two-way beams.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein combining further includes combining the third transmit beam of the plurality of transmit beams with a fifth receive beam of the plurality of receive beams to provide a seventh two-way beam of the plurality of two-way beams.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein combining further includes combining the third transmit beam of the plurality of transmit beams with a sixth receive beam of the plurality of receive beams to provide an eighth two-way beam of the plurality of two-way beams.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein combining further includes combining a fourth transmit beam of the plurality of transmit beams with the sixth receive beam of the plurality of receive beams to provide a ninth two-way beam of the plurality of two-way beams.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein combining further includes combining the fourth transmit beam of the plurality of transmit beams with a seventh receive beam of the plurality of receive beams to provide a tenth two-way beam of the plurality of two-way beams.
14. The method of claim 4 , wherein combining further includes combining a second transmit beam of the plurality of transmit beams with the first receive beam of the plurality of receive beams to provide a second two-way beam of the plurality of two-way beams.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein combining further includes combining the second transmit beam of the plurality of transmit beams with a second receive beam of the plurality of receive beams to provide a third two-way beam of the plurality of two-way beams.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein combining further includes combining a third transmit beam of the plurality of transmit beams with the second receive beam of the plurality of receive beams to provide a fourth two-way beam of the plurality of two-way beams.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein combining further includes combining the third transmit beam of the plurality of transmit beams with a third receive beam of the plurality of receive beams to provide a fifth two-way beam of the plurality of two-way beams.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein combining further includes combining a fourth transmit beam of the plurality of transmit beams with the third receive beam of the plurality of receive beams to provide a sixth two-way beam of the plurality of two-way beams.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein combining further includes combining the fourth transmit beam of the plurality of transmit beams with a fourth receive beam of the plurality of receive beams to provide a seventh two-way beam of the plurality of two-way beams.