SIMPLIFIED MULTI-BEAM CYLINDRICAL ARRAY ANTENNA WITH FOCUSED AZIMUTH PATTERNS OVER A WIDE RANGE OF ELEVATION ANGLES

摘要

A simplified multi-beam cylindrical array antenna system in which the feed and scanning system is simplified. Radiator elements grouped into columns are fed by a beam-forming matrix which has a number of input ports, each corresponding to a discrete elevation beam angle. The ports of the beam-forming matrix are grouped together in zones, each zone being fed by a combining network having a single common or input terminal. In this way, a smaller number of azimuth scanning feed matrices corresponding to the number of combining networks is required. Thus, a fan-shaped beam (in elevation) is formed and may be scanned in azimuth. The focusing quality of the said fan beam is better than obtainable with the prior art "separable" technique and approaches that of the "independent" technique, while requiring comparatively little additional equipment than necessary in the simpler, so-called "separable" technique.