US 11,923,604 B2
Rotating multi-beam antenna
Andrew David Gamalski, Tucson, AZ (US); and Jaime Robledo, Tucson, AZ (US)
Assigned to RAYTHEON COMPANY, Waltham, MA (US)
Filed by Raytheon Company, Waltham, MA (US)
Filed on Jun. 4, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/339,845.
Prior Publication US 2022/0393340 A1, Dec. 8, 2022
Int. Cl. H01Q 1/28 (2006.01); F41G 7/22 (2006.01); G01S 13/42 (2006.01); G01S 13/50 (2006.01); G01S 13/88 (2006.01)
CPC H01Q 1/281 (2013.01) [F41G 7/2246 (2013.01); F41G 7/2286 (2013.01); G01S 13/426 (2013.01); G01S 13/50 (2013.01); G01S 13/883 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for radar-scanning a field of view, the system comprising:
a signal generator that generates electromagnetic signals;
a plurality of antennas radially distributed about a nose cone of a projectile, each of the plurality of antennas electrically connected to the signal generator so as to receive an electromagnetic signal that causes the antenna to direct an electromagnetic beam along a principal direction characterized by a rotational position θ to which the antenna is rotated by the nose cone of the projectile and an azimuthal beam angle ϕ with respect to a rotational axis of the nose cone of the projectile, the azimuthal beam angles of the plurality of antennas being different from one another, each of the plurality of antennas sensing a reflected portion of the electromagnetic beam reflected from objects within the field of view upon to which the electromagnetic beam has been directed,
wherein as the nose cone of the projectile rotates about the rotational axis the principal directions sweep conical figures about the rotational axis, at least a portion of the conical figures intersecting the field of view; and
an image processor that determines, based on the reflected portions of the electromagnetic beams sensed by the plurality of antennas, directions and/or ranges to and/or velocities of the objects within the field of view.