Reflector antenna having low-dielectric support tube for sub-reflectors and feeds
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsGlen J. Desargant, Albert L. Bien, Orville L. Reid
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An antenna exhibiting improved transmission and reception capabilities. The antenna does not make use of a solid support tube or solid support rods used by previous antennas to support a sub-reflector or other device above a main reflector of the antenna. Instead, the antenna employs the use of a low dielectric constant, perforated, support tube to support the sub-reflector, patch antenna, or other form of antenna element above the main reflector. The perforated support tube permits radio frequency signals to pass through the tube, thus decreasing signal degradation experienced due to reflection of the signal off the solid support tube or off the solid support rods.
Claims45
An antenna having improved radio frequency (RF) transmission and reception capabilities, comprising:
- a main reflector;
- an antenna element;
- a support tube disposed at said axial center of said main reflector for supporting said antenna element in facing relationship to said main reflector, said support tube having a plurality of apertures therein;
- and
- said apertures in said support tube serving to effectively reduce a dielectric constant of said support tube to thereby improve a signal strength of RF signals received by or transmitted from said antenna.
A method for producing an antenna having improved transmission and reception characteristics comprising:
- providing a main reflector;
- disposing an antenna element in front of said main reflector and coaxially aligned with an axial center of said main reflector so as to face said main reflector;
- and
- mounting said antenna element on a support tube having a plurality of openings formed therein so that radio frequency signals may pass more freely through the support tube without being reflected therefrom.
A method for producing an antenna having improved transmission and reception characteristics comprising:
- providing a main reflector;
- disposing a waveguide at an axial center of said main reflector;
- disposing a sub-reflector in front of said main reflector and coaxially aligned with an axial center of said main reflector so as to face said main reflector;
- and
- mounting said sub-reflector on a support tube having a plurality of openings, wherein the apertures are spaced generally uniformly around the support tube, so that radio frequency signals may pass more freely through the support tube without being reflected therefrom.
An antenna having improved transmission and reception capabilities, comprising:
- a main reflector;
- a second antenna component;
- and
- a support element operable to mount said second antenna component to said main reflector such that said second antenna component is in facing relationship to said main reflector, said support element having at least one aperture;
- wherein said aperture reduces a dielectric constant of said support element to enhance antenna performance.
A method of producing an antenna having improved transmission and reception capabilities comprising:
- mounting a first antenna component to a main reflector using a support element having an opening therein such that said first antenna component is supported in facing relationship to said main reflector and spaced apart from said main reflector;
- wherein said opening reduces a dielectric constant of said support element to thereby improve the antenna's performance.
An antenna having improved transmission and reception capabilities comprising:
- a main reflector;
- a sub reflector aligned with an axial center of said main reflector;
- a support element operable to secure said sub reflector to said main reflector, said support element having at least one opening formed therein;
- and
- a waveguide positioned at said axial center of said main reflector;
- wherein said opening reduces a dielectric constant of said support element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.