Antenna and method of manufacture thereof
AssigneeLeonardo UK Ltd
InventorBrian Scannell
Life of this patent
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Abstract
There is described a dielectric polariser for a bicone antenna. The polariser can include radiating vanes that are spaced circumferentially around an aperture of the bicone antenna. The vanes are orientated at 45° to the polarised waves propagated from the antenna in order to circularly polarise the linearly polarised waves. The polariser can be configured for manufacture using a 3D printing process. Surfaces of a central hub of the polariser can be metallised to provide the radiating surfaces of the antenna. This removes the need to use separate antenna elements. Alternative arrangements of 3D printed dielectric polariser are disclosed for use with antenna horns.
Claims17
A polarizer for a bicone antenna, the polarizer configured to extend circumferentially around the bicone antenna;
- and
- vanes arranged to extend radially away from the bicone antenna, the vanes being oriented obliquely to a linearly polarized electrical field when propagated from the bicone antenna so as to convert the electromagnetic waves to or towards circular polarization;
- wherein the polarizer comprises a hub about which the vanes are supported, the hub arranged to support a first and second cones of the bicone antenna, and physically and electrically isolate a first and second radiating surfaces of the bicone antenna;
- and wherein the polarizer is a single integral piece that defines, at least in part, the vanes and the hub.
An antenna comprising:
- a polarizer;
- and
- the polarizer being formed of a single integral piece of 3D printable plastics material, the plastics material having one or more metallized surfaces that provide one or more radiating elements of the antenna.
A method of manufacture of an antenna having a polarizer, the method comprising:
- forming a polarizer from plastics material via a 3D printing process;
- and
- directly metallizing the plastics material of the polarizer to provide one or more radiating elements of the antenna.
A bicone antenna comprising:
- two radiating surfaces;
- and
- four feedlines, each of the four feedlines being electrically connected to the two radiating surfaces.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.