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Low Cost Electronically Steered Multi-Beam Transmit Array
Navy SBIR FY2012.1
| Sol No.: |
Navy SBIR FY2012.1 |
| Topic No.: |
N121-104 |
| Topic Title: |
Low Cost Electronically Steered Multi-Beam Transmit Array |
| Proposal No.: |
N121-104-1015 |
| Firm: |
Syntonics LLC
9160 Red Branch Road
Columbia, Maryland 21045-2002 |
| Contact: |
Eugene Lee |
| Phone: |
(410) 884-0500 |
| Web Site: |
www.SyntonicsCorp.com |
| Abstract: |
We propose to demonstrate the feasibility of a high gain beamsteering antenna based on the Team's pixel-addressable reconfigurable conformal antenna (PARCA) Software-Defined AntennaT technology. With prior DoD SBIR funding from the Missile Defense Agency, the Navy, and the Air Force, the Team of Syntonics LLC and the ElectroScience Laboratory of The Ohio State University (ESL/OSU) have already made significant progress towards realizing the PARCA concept of Software Defined Antennas. PARCA antennas have been studied at frequencies up to Ka band and we plan to extend this work to develop a feasible PARCA concept with hemispherical coverage suitable for naval ships.
PARCA uses conductive pixels that can be turned "on" or "off" to rapidly to reconfigure beam pointing direction,operating frequency, aperture gain, and beam polarization. This is fast enough to compensate for all but extremely rapid motions. An antenna system with the capability of reconfiguring the frequency, polarization, and radiation pattern allows flexibility in both the mounting profile and steering
techniques.
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| Benefits: |
PARCA is a software defined antenna technology that replaces numerous, narrow band, unique function antennas with a single, reconfigurable, multifunction aperture. PARCA antennas can use variable, software defined gains and beamwidths (search/track mode switching) as the airborne target's position become better resolved. PARCA antenna arrays employ beam steering through feed network time delay allowing PARCA antennas to locate RF sources with a single antenna installation using closed loop steering. PARCA apertures are comprised of an array of small square tiles stacked to provide extreme flexibility in creating conformal apertures of varied shape. PARCA can satisfy a wide variety of functions. Navy ships will benefit by having higher gain, frequency-agile antennas with better beam direction control housed in a single multifunction aperture. |
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