Multi-elevational antenna systems and methods of use
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
G01S-013/90
H01Q-001/28
H01Q-001/30
H01Q-021/29
H01Q-021/30
출원번호
US-0997267
(2016-01-15)
등록번호
US-10094921
(2018-10-09)
발명자
/ 주소
Duncan, William David
Hyde, Roderick A.
Kare, Jordin T.
Wood, Jr., Lowell L.
출원인 / 주소
Elwha LLC
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
12
초록▼
The present disclosure provides systems and methods associated with an antenna system comprising a tension member configured to be towed by an aerial platform and/or secured to an orbiting satellite. In some embodiments, a first end of the tension member may be secured to the aerial platform and the
The present disclosure provides systems and methods associated with an antenna system comprising a tension member configured to be towed by an aerial platform and/or secured to an orbiting satellite. In some embodiments, a first end of the tension member may be secured to the aerial platform and the second end may extend unsecured from the aerial platform at a different elevation than the first end. A plurality of antenna assemblies, each comprising at least one antenna, may be secured to and spaced along the length of the tension member. Each of the plurality of antennas may be adapted for use with a particular frequency or frequency bandwidth. For example, each of the plurality of antennas may be adapted or tuned for one or more frequencies useful for synthetic aperture radar (SAR). In some embodiments, a receiving system, a communication link, and/or an antenna location system may be utilized.
대표청구항▼
1. A system for generating a three-dimensional mapping, comprising: a transmitter configured to transmit coherent electromagnetic radiation to a target surface;an extension member configured with a first end and a second end defining a length of the extension member, the first end configured to be s
1. A system for generating a three-dimensional mapping, comprising: a transmitter configured to transmit coherent electromagnetic radiation to a target surface;an extension member configured with a first end and a second end defining a length of the extension member, the first end configured to be secured to an aerial platform and the second end configured to extend from the aerial platform at a different elevation than the first end;a plurality of antenna assemblies secured to and spaced along the length of the extension member, each of the plurality of antenna assemblies comprising at least one antenna element for receiving electromagnetic radiation;an antenna location system configured to determine a relative location of each of the plurality of antennas;a receiving system configured to receive coherent information associated with coherent electromagnetic radiation received by the plurality of antenna assemblies from a target surface; anda processor configured to process the received coherent information associated with the received coherent electromagnetic radiation using a synthetic aperture radar technique to generate a three-dimensional mapping of at least a portion of the target surface. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of antennas is tunable. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of antenna assemblies is secured to and spaced along the length of the extension member at uniform intervals. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of antenna assemblies is secured to and spaced along the length of the extension member at nonuniform intervals. 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the synthetic aperture radar technique includes Doplar-beam sharpening. 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the extension member comprises a plurality of strands that are entwined. 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the communication link comprises an optical cable configured to communicatively connect each of the plurality of antennas to the receiving system, and wherein the optical cable is entwined with the plurality of strands such that the optical cable is integrally joined to the extension member. 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the extension member is further configured to be deployed while the aerial platform is in motion. 9. The system of claim 8, wherein at least one of the plurality of antenna assemblies is configured to be selectively secured to the extension member as the extension member is deployed. 10. The system of claim 8, wherein at least one of the plurality of antenna assemblies is configured to transition from a storage position to a deployed position as the extension member is deployed. 11. The system of claim 1, wherein the antenna location system is configured to utilize interferometry of a radio frequency (RF) signal to determine the relative location of each of the plurality of antennas. 12. The system of claim 1, wherein the antenna location system is configured to utilize optical interferometry of an optical signal to determine the relative location of each of the plurality of antennas. 13. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of inertial sensors associated with each of the plurality of antenna assemblies, wherein each of the plurality of inertial sensors is in communication with the antenna location system, and wherein each of the plurality of inertial sensors is configured to provide information associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of antennas to the antenna location system. 14. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of antenna assemblies is configured to be selectively secured along the length of the extension member, such that the at least one of the plurality of antenna assemblies is configured to be selectively detached and re-attached to the extension member. 15. The system of claim 1, wherein a position of at least one of the plurality of antenna assemblies is configured to be dynamically adjusted along the length of the extension member while being towed by the aerial platform. 16. The system of claim 1, wherein the receiving system comprises a plurality of sub-receiving systems, each sub-receiving system configured to receive information associated with the received coherent electromagnetic radiation from one or more of the plurality of antennas, such that information from each of the plurality of antennas is received by at least one sub-receiving system. 17. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the receiving system is configured to be located on the aerial platform. 18. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the receiving system is secured to the extension member. 19. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a second extension member configured with a first end and a second end defining a length of the extension member, the first end configured to be secured to the aerial platform and the second end configured to extend from the aerial platform unsecured to the aerial platform; anda second plurality of antenna assemblies secured to and spaced along the length of the second extension member, each of the second plurality of antennas comprising at least one antenna configured for use with electromagnetic radiation, wherein the antenna location system is configured to determine a relative location of each of the second plurality of antennas, wherein the receiving system is configured to receive information associated with the received coherent electromagnetic radiation from each of the second plurality of antennas, and wherein the communication link is configured to communicatively connect each of the second plurality of antennas to the receiving system, such that information may be transmitted from each of the second plurality of antennas to the receiving system. 20. The system of claim 19, wherein each extension member is spaced from the other extension member in a vertical direction as it is towed by the aerial platform. 21. A method for generating a three-dimensional mapping of a target surface using synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data collected by a single pass of an aerial platform, comprising: securing an extension member from an aerial platform, the extension member configured with a first end and a second end defining a length of the extension member, the first end secured to the aerial platform and the second end extending from the aerial platform at a different elevation than the first end;receiving electromagnetic radiation from the target surface via each of a plurality of antennas associated with antenna assemblies secured to and spaced along the length of the extension member;determining a relative location of each of the plurality of antennas using an antenna location system;connecting each of the plurality of antennas to a receiving system via a communication link;receiving, via the receiving system, information associated with the received coherent electromagnetic radiation from each of the plurality of antennas; andprocessing at least some of the received information associated with the coherent electromagnetic radiation using a synthetic aperture radar technique to generate a three-dimensional mapping of at least a portion of the target surface. 22. The method of claim 21, further comprising shaping the extension member as it is towed by the aerial platform using an extension member shaping system. 23. The method of claim 22, wherein the extension member shaping system comprises a plurality of masses secured at intervals to the extension member. 24. The method of claim 21, further comprising controlling the oscillations along the extension member as it is towed by the aerial platform utilizing a dampening system. 25. The method of claim 24, wherein the dampening system comprises a plurality of masses secured at intervals to the extension member. 26. The method of claim 21, wherein at least one of the plurality of antennas is based on a metamaterial surface antenna technology (MSA-T). 27. The method of claim 21, wherein at least one of the plurality of antennas is configured for use with multiple bands of non-contiguous frequencies. 28. The method of claim 21, wherein at least one of the plurality of antennas is configured for use with frequencies between approximately 3 megahertz and 30 megahertz. 29. The method of claim 21, wherein at least one of the plurality of antennas is configured for use with frequencies between approximately 30 megahertz and 300 megahertz. 30. The method of claim 21, wherein at least one of the plurality of antennas is configured for use with frequencies between approximately 300 megahertz and 3 gigahertz. 31. The method of claim 21, further comprising a fixation device configured to control an orientation of at least one of the plurality of antennas relative to the pull of gravity. 32. The method of claim 31, wherein the fixation device comprises an actively powered fixation device configured to control the orientation of at least one of the plurality of antennas relative to the pull of gravity. 33. The method of claim 31, wherein the fixation device comprises passive fixation device configured to control the orientation of at least one of the plurality of antennas relative to the pull of gravity. 34. The method of claim 21, wherein at least one of the plurality of antenna assemblies is configured with an aero-element configured to control an orientation of at least one of the plurality of antennas relative to an airstream. 35. The method of claim 21, wherein receiving, via the receiving system, information associated with the received coherent electromagnetic radiation from each of the plurality of antennas comprises: sampling the received coherent electromagnetic radiation from each of the plurality of antennas at unique times based on the relative location of each of the plurality of antennas. 36. The method of claim 21, further comprising: causing the aerial platform to pass over the target surface at a plurality of different elevations;transmitting the coherent electromagnetic radiation toward the target surface at each of the plurality of different elevations; andreceiving the coherent electromagnetic radiation reflected by the target surface via each of the plurality of antennas at each of the plurality of different elevations.
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