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US 6,473,051 B2Granted
Elliptic to circular polarization converter and test apparatus incorporating the same for accommodating large axial ratio
AssigneeRaytheon Company
InventorsMike Mehen, Gary Salvail, Mark Kusbel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A hood is provided for verifying the performance of the missile. The hood includes one or more sense antennas having the same polarization as the antennas within the missile to be tested. The hood further includes one or more elliptic-to-circular polarization converters designed to reduce the axial ratio of the signal received from the missile. The elliptic-to-circular polarization converters convert the signal from the missile to a substantially pure circular polarized signal which is then sensed by the sense antennas.
Claims23
An elliptic-to-circular polarization converter for converting an elliptically polarized signal traveling along a propagation path into a circularly polarized signal, comprising:
- a grating including electrically conductive members arranged to separate a linear component associated with the elliptically polarized signal from a circular component associated with the elliptically polarized signal, and to allow the circular component to travel through the grating along the propagation path while blocking travel of the linear component along the propagation path,
- wherein the electrically conductive members extend radially from a common central point and are spaced relative to one another in 45° increments.
An elliptic-to-circular polarization converter for converting an elliptically polarized signal traveling along a propagation path into a circularly polarized signal, comprising:
- a grating including electrically conductive members arranged to separate a linear component associated with the elliptically polarized signal from a circular component associated with the elliptically polarized signal, and to allow the circular component to travel through the grating along the propagation path while blocking travel of the linear component along the propagation path;
- and
- an enhancement grating adjacent the grating and including a plurality of linear electrically conductive members arranged in parallel,
- wherein the enhancement grating comprises a low dielectric substrate having the linear electrically conductive members formed thereon,
- the linear electrically conductive members comprise metal traces formed on the low dielectric substrate, and
- the linear electrically conductive members are formed on one surface of the low dielectric substrate and the electrically conductive members are formed on an opposite surface of the low dielectric substrate.
3 more elements
A test apparatus for evaluating a signal source with potentially a large axial ratio, comprising:
- an elliptic-to-circular polarization converter for converting an elliptically polarized signal traveling along a propagation path, from the signal source, into a circularly polarized signal, the elliptic-to-circular polarization converter comprising a grating including electrically conductive members arranged to separate a linear component associated with the elliptically polarized signal from a circular component associated with the elliptically polarized signal, and to allow the circular component to travel through the grating along the propagation path while blocking travel of the linear component along the propagation path;
- and
- a sense antenna for receiving at least part of the circular component allowed to travel through the grating along the propagation path,
- wherein the electrically conductive members extend radially from a common central point and are spaced relative to one another in 45° increments.
1 more element
A test apparatus for evaluating a signal source with potentially a large axial ratio, comprising:
- an elliptic-to-circular polarization converter for converting an elliptically polarized signal traveling along a propagation path, from the signal source, into a circularly polarized signal, the elliptic-to-circular polarization converter comprising a grating including electrically conductive members arranged to separate a linear component associated with the elliptically polarized signal from a circular component associated with the elliptically polarized signal, and to allow the circular component to travel through the grating along the propagation path while blocking travel of the linear component along the propagation path;
- a sense antenna for receiving at least part of the circular component allowed to travel through the grating along the propagation path;
- and
- an enhancement grating adjacent the grating and including a plurality of linear electrically conductive members arranged in parallel,
- wherein the enhancement grating comprises a low dielectric substrate having the linear electrically conductive members formed thereon,
- the linear electrically conductive members comprise metal traces formed on the low dielectric substrate, and
- the linear electrically conductive members are formed on one surface of the low dielectric substrate and the electrically conductive members are formed on an opposite surface of the low dielectric substrate.
4 more elements
A missile hood for evaluating a signal source within a missile, comprising:
- an elliptic-to-circular polarization converter for converting an elliptically polarized signal traveling along a propagation path, from the signal source, into a circularly polarized signal, the elliptic-to-circular polarization converter comprising a grating including electrically conductive members arranged to separate a linear component associated with the elliptically polarized signal from a circular component associated with the elliptically polarized signal, and to allow the circular component to travel through the grating along the propagation path while blocking travel of the linear component along the propagation path;
- a sense antenna for receiving at least part of the circular component allowed to travel through the grating along the propagation path;
- and
- an annular housing assembly fittable over a body of the missile for holding the grating and the sense antenna in fixed series relation along the propagation path relative to the signal source,
- wherein the electrically conductive members extend radially from a common central point and are spaced relative to one another in 45° increments.
2 more elements
A missile hood for evaluating a signal source within a missile, comprising:
- an elliptic-to-circular polarization converter for converting an elliptically polarized signal traveling along a propagation path, from the signal source, into a circularly polarized signal, the elliptic-to-circular polarization converter comprising a grating including electrically conductive members arranged to separate a linear component associated with the elliptically polarized signal from a circular component associated with the elliptically polarized signal, and to allow the circular component to travel through the grating, along the propagation path while blocking travel of the linear component along the propagation path;
- a sense antenna for receiving at least part of the circular component allowed to travel through the grating along the propagation path;
- an annular housing assembly fittable over a body of the missile for holding the grating and the sense antenna in fixed series relation along the propagation path relative to the signal source;
- and
- an enhancement grating adjacent the grating and including a plurality of linear electrically conductive members arranged in parallel,
- wherein the enhancement grating comprises a low dielectric substrate having the linear electrically conductive members formed thereon,
- the linear electrically conductive members comprise metal traces formed on the low dielectric substrate, and
- the linear electrically conductive members are formed on one surface of the low dielectric substrate and the electrically conductive members are formed on an opposite surface of the low dielectric substrate.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.