Multiple-beam sampler for continuously scanned array antennas

A multiple-beam sampler is described for continuously scanned array antennas using frequency modulation or time modulation for the scanning process. It is shown that for the special case of a linear array antenna with a number of receiving elements equal to an integer power of two, the multiple-beam sampler can be implemented using a minimum number of phase shifters and adders. The scheme makes use of the similarity of the expressions defining the discretized version of the beam sampling signal and the discrete Fourier transform. Extension of the multiple-beam sampler to planar array antennas is also considered.