THE THEORY AND PHYSICAL CONSTRAINTS OF AN ELECTRO-OPTICAL SIGNAL PROCESSOR FOR PHASED ARRAY ANTENNAS

Abstract

Techniques are described for processing the signals obtained from the elements of a phased array antenna by means of electro-optical devices. These techniques employ one electro-optical device which simultaneously forms, as a continuum, all the beam patterns that a receiving planar array antenna is capable of forming. An analysis of an electro-optical processor for phased arrays is presented which shows that: (1) the target location angles are obtained unambiguously for each and every target that can be resolved; (2) target angle resolution is identical to the resolution inherent in the antenna array; (3) multiple targets produce multiple outputs with all angles properly associated; and (4) the progressive envelope delay that is introduced at the antenna array does not result in an aperturebandwidth constraint. Physical constraints on system bandwidth and the number of array elements that can be processed are considered. Typically, it should be possible to process electro- optically 10,000 array elements with a system bandwidth of 10 Mcs.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 1963
Accession Number
AD0446299

Entities

People

  • L. Lambert
  • M. Arm

Organizations

  • Columbia University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Air Platforms
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Analyzers
  • Antenna Arrays
  • Antennas
  • Beam Forming
  • Circuits
  • Delay Lines
  • Engineering
  • Modulation
  • Modulators
  • Multiplexing
  • Optical Modulators
  • Radar
  • Spectrum Analyzers
  • Transmitters
  • Two Dimensional
  • Waveforms

Fields of Study

  • Engineering
  • Physics

Readers

  • Phased Array Antenna Design.
  • Sensor Fusion and Tracking Systems.