The Theory and Physical Constraints of an Electro-Optical Signal Processor for Phased Array Antennas

摘要

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, (4) The progressive envelope delay that is introduced at the antenna array does not result in an aperture-bandwidth 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.