Multibeam antenna for establishing individual communication links with satellites positioned in close angular proximity to each other

A multibeam antenna for establishing individual communication links with at least first and second satellites located at different geostationary positions and in close angular proximity to each other, wherein signals transmitted to the first satellite are transmitted within a first range of frequencies and signals received from the first satellite are received within a second range of frequencies, said antenna comprising:

• a reflector that directs signals transmitted to or from the first and second satellites;
• a first wave-guide positioned with respect to said reflector for establishing a communication link with the first satellite, said first wave-guide comprising:
• a feedhorn section having one end oriented for receiving or transmitting signals,
• a transmit wave-guide section communicatively connecting with said feedhorn section for connecting to a transmitter;
• a receive wave-guide section communicatively connecting with said feedhorn section for connecting to a receiver;
• a first filter operatively associated with said transmit wave-guide section for filtering out frequencies in the second range;
• and
• a second filter operatively associated with said receive wave-guide for filtering out frequencies in the first range;
• and
• a second wave-guide positioned alongside said first wave-guide and being arranged with respect to said reflector so as to establish a communication link with the second satellite, and wherein at least one of said wave-guide has a dielectric constant greater than that air.

A multibeam antenna for establishing individual communication links with at least first and second satellites located at different geostationary positions and in close angular proximity to each other, comprising:

• a reflector that directs signals transmitted to or from the first and second satellites;
• a first wave-guide used for both transmitting and receiving signals positioned with respect to said reflector for establishing a communication link with the first satellite, wherein said first wave-guide comprises:
• a feedhorn section having one end oriented for receiving or transmitting signals;
• a transmit wave-guide section communicatively connecting with said feedhorn section for connecting to a transmitter;
• a receive wave-guide section communicatively connecting with said feedhorn section for connecting to a receiver;
• and
• a multiplexer connecting said transmit wave-guide section and said receive wave-guide section respectively to said feedhorn section;
• and
• a second wave-guide positioned alongside said first wave-guide and being arranged with respect to said reflector so as to establish a communication link with the second satellite, and wherein at least one of said wave-guide has a dielectric constant greater than that of air.

A multibeam antenna for establishing individual communication links with at least first and second satellites located at different geostationary positions that are in the range of up to 5 degrees of arc apart, comprising:

• a reflector that directs signals transmitted to or from the first and second satellites;
• a first wave-guide positioned with respect to said reflector for establishing a communication link with the first satellite and comprising an air-filled hollow wave-guide defined by metallic walls;
• and
• a second wave-guide positioned alongside said first wave-guide and connected to a wall of said first wave-guide, said second wave-guide being arranged with respect to said reflector so as to establish a communication link with the second satellite, and said second wave-guide comprising a hollow tubular metallic conduit filled with a solid dielectric material,
• wherein at least one of said wave-guides is capable of both transmitting and receiving signals and comprises:
• a feedhorn section having one end oriented for receiving or transmitting signals;
• a transmit wave-guide section communicatively connecting with said feedhorn section for connecting to a transmitter;
• and
• a receive wave-guide section communicatively connecting with said feedhorn section for connecting to a receiver.

A multibeam antenna for establishing individual communication links with at least first and second satellites located at different geostationary positions that are in the range of up to 5 degrees of arc apart, wherein signals transmitted to the first satellite are transmitted within a first range of frequencies and signals received from the first satellite are received within a second range of frequencies, said antenna comprising:

• a reflector that directs signals transmitted to or from the first and second satellites;
• a first wave-guide positioned with respect to said reflector for establishing a communication link with the first satellite and comprising an air-filled hollow wave-guide defined by metallic walls, said first wave-guide comprising:
• a feedhorn section having one end oriented for receiving or transmitting signals,
• a transmit wave-guide section communicatively connecting with said feedhorn section for connecting to a transmitter,
• a receive wave-guide section communicatively connecting with said feedhorn section for connecting to a receiver;
• a first filter operatively associated with said transmit wave-guide section for filtering out frequencies in the second range;
• and
• a second filter operatively associated with said receive wave-guide section for filtering out frequencies in the first range;
• and
• a second wave-guide positioned alongside said first wave-guide and connected to a wall of said first wave-guide, said second wave-guide being arranged with respect to said reflector so as to establish a communication link with the second satellite, and said second wave-guide comprising a hollow tubular metallic conduit filled with a solid dielectric material.

A multibeam antenna for establishing individual communication links with at least first and second satellites located at different geostationary positions and in close angular proximity to each other, comprising:

• a reflector that directs signals transmitted to or from the first and second satellites;
• a rectangular wave-guide positioned with respect to said reflector for establishing a communication link with the first satellite using linear polarized signals;
• and
• a circular wave-guide positioned alongside said rectangular wave-guide and being arranged with respect to said reflector so as to establish a communication link with the second satellite using circular polarized signals, and
• wherein at least on of said wave-guides is a hollow metallic conduit filled with a solid dielectric material.

A multiplexer structure for use in a multibeam antenna, comprising:

• a first feedhorn section having a hollow air-filled metallic structure;
• a second feedhorn section having a hollow tubular metallic conduit structure filled with a solid dielectric material, wherein said first and second feedhorn sections have respective axes which are spaced apart from each other by a distance of no more than 2 inches;
• a transmit wave-guide section communicatively connecting with said first feedhorn section for connecting to a transmitter;
• and
• respective receive wave-guide sections communicatively connecting with said first and second feedhorn sections for connecting to respective receivers.

A multibeam antenna for establishing individual communication links with at least first and second signal sources located at different positions in close angular proximity to each other, comprising:

• a reflector that directs signals transmitted to or from the first and second signal sources;
• a first wave-guide positioned with respect to said reflector for establishing a communication link with the first signal source;
• and
• a second wave-guide positioned alongside said first wave-guide and being arranged with respect to said reflector so as to establish a communication link with the second signal source,
• wherein at least one of said wave-guides is capable of both transmitting and receiving signals and comprises:
• a feedhorn section having one end oriented for receiving or transmitting signals;
• a transmit wave-guide section communicatively connecting with said feedhorn section for connecting to a transmitter;
• and
• a receive wave-guide section communicatively connecting with said feedhorn section for connecting to a receiver,
• and at least one of said wave-guide has a dielectric constant greater than that of air.

A mulitibeam antenna for establishing individual communication links with at least first and second signal sources located at different positions in close angular proximity to each other, wherein signals transmitted to the first signal source are transmitted within a first range of frequencies and signals received from the first signal source are received within a second range of frequencies, said antenna comprising:

• a reflector that directs signals transmitted to or from the first and second signal sources;
• a first wave-guide positioned with respect to said reflector for establishing a communication link with the first signal source, said first wave-guide comprising:
• a feedhorn section having one end oriented for receiving or transmitting signals,
• a transmit wave-guide section communicatively connecting with said feedhorn section for connecting to a transmitter;
• a receive wave-guide section communicatively connecting with said feedhorn section for connecting to a receiver;
• a first filter operatively associated with said transmit wave-guide section for filtering out frequencies in the second range;
• and
• a second filter operatively associated with said receive wave-guide for filtering out frequencies in the first range;
• and
• a second wave-guide positioned alongside said first wave-guide and being arranged with respect to said reflector so as to establish a communication link with the second signal source, and wherein at least one of said wave-guides has a dielectric constant greater than that of air.