Broadband single pol TX, dual pol RX, circular polarization waveguide network
AssigneeLockheed Martin Corporation
InventorJason Stewart Wrigley
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Abstract
A polarization waveguide network includes a reactive transmit (TX) power splitter and multiple receive (RX)-reject waveguide filters to reject RX frequencies. The polarization waveguide network further includes a quadrature junction coupler that can couple the RX-reject waveguide filters to an antenna port. The polarization waveguide network is configured to be fabricated in three pieces with two zero-current split planes, and a first piece of the three pieces is used for coupling to the antenna port.
Claims20
A polarization waveguide network comprising:
- a reactive transmit (TX) power splitter;
- a plurality of receive (RX)-reject waveguide filters configured to reject RX frequencies;
- a pair of branch-line couplers configured to couple the plurality of RX-reject waveguide filters to the reactive TX power splitter;
- a quadrature junction coupler configured to couple the plurality of RX-reject waveguide filters to an antenna port,
- wherein:
- the polarization waveguide network is configured to be fabricated in three pieces with two zero-current split planes, and
- a first piece of the three pieces is configured to be coupled to the antenna port.
An antenna array system comprising:
- an antenna array including a plurality of antenna elements;
- a polarization array including a plurality of polarization waveguide networks, each coupled to an antenna element of the antenna array and comprising:
- a reactive transmit (TX) power splitter;
- a plurality of receive (RX)-reject waveguide filters configured to reject RX frequencies;
- a pair of branch-line couplers configured to couple the plurality of RX-reject waveguide filters to the reactive TX power splitter;
- a pair of TX recombination-path waveguides configured to couple the pair of branch-line couplers to the reactive TX power splitter;
- and
- a quadrature junction coupler configured to couple the plurality of RX-reject waveguide filters to an antenna port of the antenna element of the antenna array,
- wherein each waveguide network of the polarization array is configured to be fabricated in three pieces with two zero-current split planes, and a first piece of the three pieces is configured to be coupled to the antenna port.
A method of manufacturing a polarization waveguide network, the method comprising:
- fabricating a first piece comprising air cavities including a reactive transmit (TX) power splitter, a plurality of receive (RX)-reject waveguide filters, a pair of branch-line couplers configured to couple the plurality of RX-reject waveguide filters to the reactive TX power splitter and a quadrature junction coupler for coupling the plurality of RX-reject waveguide filters to an antenna port;
- fabricating a second piece comprising air cavities including a circular waveguide comprising a first portion for coupling to the antenna port and a second portion for coupling to an RX port;
- and
- fabricating a third piece comprising air cavities including an RX network supporting RHCP and LHCP modes and including a TX-reject waveguide filter, an RX branch-line coupler, a circular waveguide and two RX ports.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.