Demonstration of Optical Control of Steerable Array Antennas

Xenotran corporation proposes to develop a new antenna system employing an optical true-time-delay steering technique that will be suitable for Army radar. The antenna system will be based on the optical commutator, a device that is capable of switching fiber optic delay lines in an ordered sequence, to provide exact timing necessary to steer antenna arrays in two dimensions. The phase shifters and corporate feed structures, commonly found in phased arrays, can be eliminated thereby saving considerable cost and weight During phase I, detailed Army requirements for an antenna system will be determined and a specification established. An optically controlled transmitting and receiving antenna array system will be designed to meet those specifications using as many commercially available electrical and optical components as possible. Computer simulation will be employed to predict the antenna beam performance The goal is to design an easily manufactured and inexpensive system. The final system design will be capable of precise steering and able to form narrow beams at frequencies above 18 GHz. This work will provide the necessary design details to allow a prototype transmitting and receiving system to be constructed and demonstrated during phase II. Witb a very simple means of steering antenna arrays resulting from this development, a highly cost-effective situation will be created. All military and civilian radar and communication systems which employ electronically steerable antenna arrays will become much more affordable. Ultra wideband microwave transmission and reception can take place between moving platforms such as low orbitingsatellites, aircraft, ships and vehicles.