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Abstract

A phased array antenna has a spatially periodic array of tapered pitch helical antenna elements disposed on a first side of a panel, and RF interface circuitry on a second side the panel. For a `pseudo`-monopulse tracking mode of operation, single bit, digitally controlled phase shift elements of the RF circuitry impart sequentially different amounts of phase shift to the energy derived from the spatial sections of the antenna elements. This causes a sequential electrical tilting of the beam pattern of the array in a plurality of respectively different directions relative to boresight. For each sequential tilt of the beam pattern, signals representative of the energy received by each of plural quadrants of the array are summed and stored. The information in the summed and stored signals is processed in accordance with a monopulse-based beam tracking algorithm, and a positioning system control unit controllably adjusts the physical orientation of the panel in azimuth and elevation in accordance with processed information.

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First Claim