Antenna and method

An antenna, in particular a parabolic antenna, comprising:

• a primary reflector, in particular a parabolic dish,
• a feed antenna and/or a secondary reflector for transmitting and/or reflecting an electromagnetic wave towards the primary reflector and/or receiving a said electromagnetic wave reflected from the primary reflector,
• a flexible feed coupled to the feed antenna and/or secondary reflector, wherein the feed antenna and/or secondary reflector is coupleable, via the flexible feed, to a radio-frequency transmission and/or reception device, and
• wherein the feed antenna and/or the secondary reflector is movable relative to the primary reflector based on an actuator unit, coupleable to one or more of the feed antenna, the secondary reflector and the flexible feed, exerting a mechanical force on the feed antenna and/or the secondary reflector and/or the flexible feed for moving the feed antenna and/or the secondary reflector,
• wherein the flexible feed is configured to be bent based on the actuator unit exerting a said mechanical force on the feed antenna and/or the secondary reflector and/or the flexible feed for moving the feed antenna and/or the secondary reflector relative to the primary reflector,
• wherein the antenna further comprises a rigid tube, wherein at least a part of the flexible feed is arranged within the rigid tube, wherein the rigid tube is coupled to a moveable portion of the flexible feed,
• wherein the actuator unit is coupled to the rigid tube, and wherein the actuator unit is configured to exert a rotational force or torque on the rigid tube for bending the flexible feed to move the feed antenna and/or the secondary reflector relative to the primary reflector.

A system comprising:

• an antenna comprising:
• a primary reflector, in particular a parabolic dish,
• a feed antenna and/or a secondary reflector for transmitting and/or reflecting an electromagnetic wave towards the primary reflector and/or receiving a said electromagnetic wave reflected from the primary reflector,
• a feed coupled to the feed antenna and/or secondary reflector, wherein the feed antenna and/or secondary reflector is coupleable, via the feed, to a radio-frequency transmission and/or reception device, and
• an actuator unit coupled to one or more of the feed antenna, the secondary reflector and the feed, wherein the actuator unit is configured to move the feed antenna and/or the secondary reflector, by exerting a mechanical force on the feed antenna and/or the secondary reflector and/or the feed, relative to the primary reflector, and
• an inertial measurement unit coupled to the antenna and configured to measure a physical movement of the antenna,
• wherein the antenna is configured to compensate, based on said measurement of said physical movement by the inertial measurement unit, for said physical movement during beam steering by moving the feed antenna and/or the secondary reflector relative to the primary reflector by exerting, via the actuator unit, a said mechanical force on the feed antenna and/or the secondary reflector and/or the feed,
• wherein the feed comprises a flexible feed which is configured to be bent based on the actuator unit exerting a said mechanical force on the feed antenna and/or the secondary reflector and/or the flexible feed for moving the feed antenna and/or the secondary reflector relative to the primary reflector,
• wherein the antenna further comprises a rigid tube, wherein at least a part of the flexible feed is arranged within the rigid tube, wherein the rigid tube is coupled to a moveable portion of the flexible feed,
• wherein the actuator unit is coupled to the rigid tube, and wherein the actuator unit is configured to exert a rotational force or torque on the rigid tube for bending the flexible feed to move the feed antenna and/or the secondary reflector relative to the primary reflector.

A method for compensating physical movement of an antenna during beam steering, the method comprising:

• providing an antenna comprising:
• a primary reflector, in particular a parabolic dish,
• a feed antenna and/or a secondary reflector for transmitting and/or reflecting an electromagnetic wave towards the primary reflector and/or receiving a said electromagnetic wave reflected from the primary reflector,
• a feed coupled to the feed antenna and/or secondary reflector, wherein the feed antenna and/or secondary reflector is coupleable, via the feed, to a radio-frequency transmission and/or reception device, and
• an actuator unit coupled to one or more of the feed antenna, the secondary reflector and the feed, wherein the actuator unit is configured to move the feed antenna and/or the secondary reflector, by exerting a mechanical force on the feed antenna and/or the secondary reflector and/or the feed, relative to the primary reflector;
• obtaining physical movement data relating to a physical movement of the antenna;
• and moving the feed antenna and/or the secondary reflector relative to the primary reflector, by exerting, via the actuator unit, a said mechanical force on the feed antenna and/or the secondary reflector and/or the feed, to compensate for said physical movement of the antenna,
• wherein the feed comprises a flexible feed which is configured to be bent based on the actuator unit exerting a said mechanical force on the feed antenna and/or the secondary reflector and/or the flexible feed for moving the feed antenna and/or the secondary reflector relative to the primary reflector,
• wherein the antenna further comprises a rigid tube, wherein at least a part of the flexible feed is arranged within the rigid tube, wherein the rigid tube is coupled to a moveable portion of the flexible feed,
• wherein the actuator unit is coupled to the rigid tube, and wherein the actuator unit is configured to exert a rotational force or torque on the rigid tube for bending the flexible feed to move the feed antenna and/or the secondary reflector relative to the primary reflector.