Longitudinally ridged quad polarizer feed
AssigneeLockheed Martin Corporation
InventorsJason Stewart Wrigley, Nathan Jastram
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Longitudinally ridged quad polarizer feeds include a waveguide spanning a longitudinal axis between a feed port and an antenna port, with first ridge elements that span longitudinally from the feed port on first opposing walls of the waveguide and second ridge elements that span longitudinally from the feed port on second opposing walls of the waveguide. A polarization of a radio frequency signal transiting the waveguide is altered based at least on a difference in longitudinal lengths between the first ridge elements and the second ridge elements. These polarizers can be formed from a single workpiece using an injection molding technique, leading to a reduction in manufacturing complexity, cost, and mass.
Claims19
An apparatus, comprising:
- a waveguide spanning a longitudinal axis between a feed port and an antenna port, wherein the feed port is arranged having a rectangular cross-sectional shape oriented on a diagonal alignment with respect to walls of the waveguide;
- first ridge elements that span longitudinally from the feed port on first opposing walls of the waveguide;
- second ridge elements that span longitudinally from the feed port on second opposing walls of the waveguide;
- wherein a polarization of a radio frequency signal transiting the waveguide is altered based at least on a difference in longitudinal lengths between the first ridge elements and the second ridge elements.
A method, comprising:
- forming a waveguide having a generally square cross-section spanning a longitudinal axis between a feed port and an antenna port, wherein the feed port is arranged having a rectangular cross-sectional shape oriented on a diagonal alignment with respect to walls of the waveguide;
- forming first ridge elements having a first length spanning from the feed port and along the longitudinal axis on first opposing walls of the waveguide;
- forming second ridge elements having a second length spanning from the feed port and along the longitudinal axis on second opposing walls of the waveguide;
- and
- wherein a polarization of a radio frequency signal transiting the waveguide is altered based at least on a difference in lengths between the first ridge elements and the second ridge elements.
A horn antenna assembly, comprising:
- a polarizer comprising:
- a waveguide spanning a longitudinal axis between a feed port and an antenna port, wherein the feed port is arranged having a rectangular cross-sectional shape oriented on a diagonal alignment with respect to walls of the waveguide;
- first ridge elements that span a first length along the longitudinal axis from the feed port on first opposing walls of the waveguide;
- second ridge elements that span a second length along the longitudinal axis from the feed port on second opposing walls of the waveguide, wherein the first length is different than the second length;
- wherein a polarization of a radio frequency signal transiting the waveguide is altered based at least on a difference in lengths between the first ridge elements and the second ridge elements;
- and
- a horn antenna element comprising:
- a horn structure having a radio frequency aperture and a port, wherein the port is coupled to the antenna port of the polarizer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.