Steerable offset reflector antenna
AssigneeTRW Inc.
InventorOliver W. Saunders
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An antenna system that includes one or more antenna feed horns (30), where each feed horn (30) includes a plurality of micro-mechanical devices (38) positioned around the aperture (32) of the feed horn (30). The micro-mechanical devices (38) are linear motion devices that can be activated to extend a conductive surface (40) beyond the end of the feed horn (30). By selectively actuating groups of the micro-mechanical devices (38) to extend the conductive surfaces (40), the end of the feed horn (30) can be changed to provide different asymmetrical configurations, causing the beam direction to change accordingly. The micro-mechanical devices (38) can be any suitable mechanical device, such as MEMS devices or carbon nanotube artificial muscles.
Claims20
An antenna feed horn, said feed horn directing a radiation beam in a predetermined direction, said feed horn comprising:
- an output end through which the beam exits the feed horn, said output end defining an edge;
- a plurality of micro-mechanical systems positioned proximate the edge of the horn, each micro-mechanical system including a micro-mechanical device and a movable member;
- and
- a control system, connected to the micro-mechanical devices and causing the devices to independently and selectively move in a linear direction, wherein each device causes the movable member to extend beyond the edge of the horn so as to make the output end of the horn asymmetrical and redirect the beam.
An antenna feed horn, said feed horn directing a radiation beam in a predetermined direction, said feed horn comprising:
- an output end through which the beam exits the feed horn, said output end defining an edge;
- and
- means for selectively configuring the output end into different asymmetrical shapes so as to direct the beam in different directions, said means for configuring including at least one movable member having a conductive surface facing an inside of the horn, said means for configuring causing the at least one movable member to move and change the shape of the output end of the horn.
A method of directing a radiation beam from an end of a feed horn, said method comprising the steps of:
- positioning a plurality of micro-mechanical systems around the end of the horn, each micro-mechanical system including a micro-mechanical device and a movable member connected thereto;
- and
- causing one or more of the movable members to extend beyond the end of the horn so as to configure the end of the horn to be asymmetrical and direct the radiation beam in a predetermined direction.
An antenna feed horn, said feed horn directing a radiation beam in a predetermined direction, said feed horn comprising:
- an output end through which the beam exits the feed horn, said output end defining an edge;
- and
- means for selectively configuring the output end into different asymmetrical shapes so as to direct the beam in different directions, wherein the means for configuring includes transverse linear motion micro-electro-mechanical devices that shape the output end of the feed horn.
An antenna feed horn, said feed horn directing a radiation beam in a predetermined direction, said feed horn comprising:
- an output end through which the beam exits the feed horn, said output end defining an edge;
- and
- means for selectively configuring the output end into different asymmetrical shapes so as to direct the beam in different directions, wherein the means for configuring includes nanotube artificial muscles that shape the output end of the feed horn.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.