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US 5,847,681 AGranted
Communication and tracking antenna systems for satellites
AssigneeHughes Electronics Corporation
InventorsWilliam C. Faherty, Steven O. Lane
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A communication and tracking antenna is formed by embedding a tracking patch array in a shaped dual gridded reflector. The reflector includes first and second reflector grids that have orthogonally arranged grid lines and are respectively fed by feed horns. The patch array is positioned so that the first reflector grid is between the patch array and the first feed horn. The first reflector grid thus serves as a filter to remove unwanted polarization components and enhance the quality of both the tracking radiation and the radiation that is reflected from the second reflector grid. In other embodiments, a tracking array is positioned adjacent a reflector's perimeter.
Claims36
An antenna system, comprising:
- first and second feed horns;
- a dual gridded reflector which includes first and second reflector grids that are arranged in a mutually orthogonal relationship, said dual gridded reflector positioned to reflect microwave energy from said first and second feed horns with said first reflector grid positioned between said second reflector grid and said first and second feed horns, wherein said first feed horn is configured to radiate a first microwave energy with a first polarization that is aligned with said first reflector grid and said second feed horn is configured to radiate a second microwave energy with a second polarization that is aligned with said second reflector grid;
- and
- a patch array which is positioned so that said first reflector grid is between said patch array and said first and second feed horns and which is configured to radiate a third microwave energy with a third polarization that is substantially aligned with said second polarization so that said third microwave energy passes through said first reflector grid.
1 more element
A satellite communication system, comprising:
- a satellite;
- and
- an antenna system carried on said satellite, said antenna system having:
- a) first and second feed horns;
- b) a dual gridded reflector which includes first and second reflector grids that are arranged in a mutually orthogonal relationship, said dual gridded reflector positioned to reflect microwave energy from said first and second feed horns with said first reflector grid positioned between said second reflector grid and said first and second feed horns, wherein said first feed horn is configured to radiate a first microwave energy with a first polarization that is aligned with said first reflector grid and said second feed horn is configured to radiate a second microwave energy with a second polarization that is aligned with said second reflector grid;
- and
- c) a patch array which is positioned so that said first reflector grid is between said patch array and said first and second feed horns and which is configured to radiate a third microwave energy with a third polarization that is substantially aligned with said second polarization so that said third microwave energy passes through said first reflector grid.
4 more elements
An antenna system, comprising:
- a feed horn;
- a gridded reflector which includes a reflector grid and which is positioned to reflect microwave energy from said feed horn wherein said feed horn is configured to radiate microwave energy with a first polarization that is aligned with said reflector grid, said reflector grid forming a plurality of windows;
- and
- a patch array having a plurality of patches which are each aligned with a respective one of said windows, said patch array configured to radiate microwave energy with a second polarization that is substantially aligned with said first polarization.
1 more element
An antenna system, comprising:
- first and second feed horns;
- a dual gridded reflector having a perimeter and having first and second reflector grids that are arranged in a mutually orthogonal relationship and said dual gridded reflector is positioned to reflect microwave energy from said first and second feed horns with said first reflector grid positioned between said second reflector grid and said first and second feed horns, wherein said first feed horn is configured to radiate microwave energy with a polarization that is aligned with said first reflector grid and said second feed horn is configured to radiate microwave energy with a polarization that is aligned with said second reflector grid;
- and
- a patch array positioned adjoining said perimeter, said patch array having a plurality of patches arranged in four patch quadrants and having four transmission line feeds which each couple to a respective one of said patch quadrants.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.