US-20260126519-A1 - ANTENNA POSITION DETERMINATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS AND ASSOCIATED ANTENNA ARRAY

Abstract

Techniques are provided for antenna position determination systems and methods and associated antenna array. In one example, a method includes determining a first set of antenna positions associated with an antenna array. The method further includes determining at least one characteristic associated with the first set of antenna positions. The method further includes determining a score associated with the first set of antenna positions based on the at least one characteristic. The method further includes adjusting, based at least on the score, the first set of antenna positions to obtain a second set of antenna positions associated with the antenna array. Related systems are also provided.

Inventors

• Patrick Lamontagne
• Michel Pelletier

Assignees

• TELEDYNE FLIR DEFENSE, INC.

Dates

Publication Date

20260507

Application Date

20251027

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A method comprising: determining a first set of antenna positions associated with an antenna array; determining at least one characteristic associated with the first set of antenna positions; determining a score associated with the first set of antenna positions based on the at least one characteristic; and adjusting, based at least on the score, the first set of antenna positions to obtain a second set of antenna positions associated with the antenna array.
2. 2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining at least one metric associated with the first set of antenna positions based on the at least one characteristic, wherein each metric is associated with one characteristic of the at least one characteristic, and wherein the score is determined based on the at least one metric.
3. 3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one characteristic comprises a level of ground sidelobes, a level of sidelobes in a field of view of the antenna array, an azimuth accuracy, an elevation accuracy, an ability to mitigate or reduce an impact of interference and/or multi-path effects with the ground, a beamwidth associated with the antenna array in an azimuth plane, and/or a beamformed response.
4. 4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one characteristic comprises a plurality of characteristics, wherein the at least one metric comprises a plurality of metrics, wherein each metric is associated with a respective weight, and wherein the score is determined based on a weighted combination of the plurality of metrics.
5. 5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining, based on the score and a threshold score, whether to adjust the first set of antenna positions, wherein the adjusting is performed in response to a determination to adjust the first set of antenna positions.
6. 6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: determining at least one characteristic associated with the second set of antenna positions; determining a score associated with the second set of antenna positions based on the at least one characteristic associated with the second set of antenna positions; and determining whether to adjust the second set of antenna positions based on the score associated with the second set of antenna positions.
7. 7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second set of antenna positions provides an antenna position of each of a plurality of antenna elements of the antenna array such that the plurality of antenna elements are arranged in a staggered arrangement according to the second set of antenna positions, and wherein the plurality of antenna elements comprises a single line of antenna elements separated along a first direction and with each antenna element at a respective distance along a second direction from a first reference axis parallel to the first direction, and wherein the first direction is perpendicular from the second direction.
8. 8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the single line of antenna elements are arranged in a symmetric or substantially symmetric arrangement relative to a second reference axis parallel to the second direction.
9. 9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one characteristic comprises a mean level of ground sidelobes level, wherein the method further comprises determining a ground sidelobe metric based on the mean level of ground sidelobes, and wherein the score is determined based on the ground sidelobe metric.
10. 10 . A ranging system having an antenna array with a plurality of antenna elements positioned according to the method of claim 1 .
11. 11 . A ranging system comprising: an antenna array configured to transmit ranging signals and/or receive ranging signals, wherein the antenna array comprises a single line of antenna elements arranged in a staggered arrangement in which the antenna elements are separated along a first direction and each antenna element is at a respective distance along a second direction from a first reference axis parallel to the first direction, and wherein the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction.
12. 12 . The ranging system of claim 11 , wherein the ranging system comprises a radar system.
13. 13 . The ranging system of claim 11 , wherein the single line of antenna elements are arranged in a symmetric arrangement relative to a second reference axis parallel to the second direction.
14. 14 . The ranging system of claim 11 , wherein the single line of antenna elements are arranged in an asymmetric arrangement relative to a second reference axis parallel to the second direction.
15. 15 . The ranging system of claim 11 , wherein a center of the single line of antenna elements divides the single line of antenna elements into two subsets of antenna elements having the same number of antenna elements and is at an intersection of the first reference axis and a second reference axis parallel to the second direction, and wherein the antenna elements of the single line fluctuate about the first reference axis such that a first subset of adjacent antenna elements of the single line that are farther from the center have an average distance along the second direction from the first reference axis larger than an average distance along the second direction from the first reference axis for a second subset of adjacent antenna elements of the single line that are closer to the center.
16. 16 . The ranging system of claim 11 , wherein a center of the single line of antenna elements divides the single line of antenna elements into two subsets of antenna elements having the same number of antenna elements and is at an intersection of the first reference axis and a second reference axis parallel to the second direction, and wherein the antenna elements of the single line fluctuate about the first reference axis such that a first subset of adjacent antenna elements of the single line that are farther from the center have an average distance along the second direction from the first reference axis smaller than an average distance along the second direction from the first reference axis for a second subset of adjacent antenna elements of the single line that are closer to the center.
17. 17 . The ranging system of claim 11 , wherein: a subset of adjacent antenna elements of the single line comprises a first antenna element, a second antenna element adjacent to the first antenna element, and a third antenna element adjacent to the second antenna element; the first antenna element is closer to the center than the second antenna element; and a distance between the first antenna element and the second antenna element along the second direction is less than a distance between the second antenna element and the third antenna element along the second direction.
18. 18 . The ranging system of claim 11 , wherein: a subset of adjacent antenna elements of the single line comprises a first antenna element and a second antenna element adjacent to the first antenna element; the first antenna element is closer to the center than the second antenna element and is at a first negative distance from the first reference axis; and the second antenna element is at a positive distance from the first reference axis.
19. 19 . The ranging system of claim 18 , wherein the subset further comprises a third antenna element adjacent to the second antenna element, wherein the third antenna element is at a second negative distance from the first reference axis.
20. 20 . The ranging system of claim 18 , wherein the first negative distance is approximately between −3 operating wavelengths to −5 operating wavelengths from the first reference axis, and wherein the positive distance is approximately between +3 operating wavelengths to +5 operating wavelengths from the first reference axis.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of International Patent Application No. PCT/US2024/026332 filed Apr. 25, 2024 and entitled “ANTENNA POSITION DETERMINATION METHOD, ASSOCIATED ANTENNA ARRAY AND RANGING SYSTEM,” which claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/499,447 filed May 1, 2023, and entitled “ANTENNA POSITION DETERMINATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS AND ASSOCIATED ANTENNA ARRAY,” all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD One or more embodiments relate generally to ranging systems and more particularly, for example, to antenna position determination systems and methods and associated antenna array. BACKGROUND Ranging systems, such as radio detection and ranging (radar), sound navigation and ranging (sonar), light detection and ranging (lidar), and/or other remote sensing systems, are often used to assist in navigation and/or detect targets (e.g., objects, geographic features, or other types of targets), such as targets in proximity to watercraft, aircraft, vehicles, or fixed locations, by producing data and/or imagery of an environment. For example, radar systems may transmit (e.g., broadcast) radar signals and receive return signals. Such return signals may be based on reflections of the transmitted radar signals by targets. SUMMARY In one or more embodiments, a method includes determining a first set of antenna positions associated with an antenna array. The method further includes determining at least one characteristic associated with the first set of antenna positions. The method further includes determining a score associated with the first set of antenna positions based on the at least one characteristic. The method further includes adjusting, based at least on the score, the first set of antenna positions to obtain a second set of antenna positions associated with the antenna array. In one or more embodiments, a ranging system includes an antenna array configured to transmit ranging signals and/or receive ranging signals. The antenna array includes a single line of antenna elements arranged in a staggered arrangement in which the antenna elements are separated along a first direction and each antenna element is at a respective distance along a second direction from a first reference axis parallel to the first direction. The first direction is perpendicular to the second direction. The scope of the present disclosure is defined by the claims, which are incorporated into this section by reference. A more complete understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure will be afforded to those skilled in the art, as well as a realization of additional advantages thereof, by a consideration of the following detailed description of one or more embodiments. Reference will be made to the appended sheets of drawings that will first be described briefly. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1A illustrates a block diagram of an example system that includes a radar system in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 1B illustrates an example environment in which the radar system of FIG. 1A may be operated in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 illustrates a graph depicting an example relationship between a mean ground sidelobes level and a ground sidelobe metric in accordance with one or more embodiments. FIG. 3 illustrates a flow diagram of an example process for positioning antenna elements of an antenna array in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. FIGS. 4 and 5 each illustrates an example antenna array with thirty-two antenna elements in a substantially symmetrical staggered arrangement in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 illustrates an example antenna array with thirty-two antenna elements in an asymmetrical staggered arrangement in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. FIGS. 7 and 8 each illustrates an example antenna array with sixteen antenna elements in a substantially symmetrical staggered arrangement in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 9 illustrates an example antenna array with sixteen antenna elements in an asymmetrical staggered arrangement in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 10 illustrates an example antenna array with eight antenna elements in an asymmetrical staggered arrangement in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 11 illustrates an example antenna array with eight antenna elements in a substantially symmetrical staggered arrangement in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 12 illustrates a block diagram of a ranging system in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 13 illustrates a diagram of an aerial survey system in accordan