US 8,134,515 B2 · Feedhorn assembly and method of fabrication thereof

Abstract

An array of feedhorns feeds detected radiation through waveguides to diode-based mixers to produce modulated intermediate frequency (“IF”) signals. The mixers and waveguides are accommodated on a substrate surface and multiple substrates can be layered up to support a two-dimensional array of waveguide openings in a face of a waveguide/mixer block. A feedhorn block is brought into register with this face so that each waveguide opening connects with a feedhorn. An end portion of each feedhorn is drilled into the opening of a respective waveguide. The main feedhorn block and the waveguide/mixer block are then assembled into registration. This method of construction avoids transverse interfaces in the walls of the feedhorns or waveguides just at the point where the transition is made from one to another.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A waveguide/feedhorn assembly for use in an electromagnetic radiation detector, the assembly comprising:

a waveguide block comprising a block of material having an opening in a face thereof and having at least part of a waveguide therein and at least an end portion of a feedhorn therein, said end portion of a feedhorn being provided by a machine-formed portion extending into the wavequide block at said opening, the end portion of the feedhorn and the at least part of a waveguide having an integral connecting junction therebetween for delivery of radiation, wherein said at least part of a waveguide has a waveguiding surface whose cross section is at least substantially quadrilateral,
said end portion of a feedhorn having an internal cross section, transverse to the feed direction of the feedhorn, which is at least substantially rounded, and
the junction being recessed from said face of the block of material and provided by a continuous surface in the waveguiding direction of the waveguide.

A method of making a waveguide/feedhorn assembly for use in an electromagnetic radiation detector, which method comprises:

i) making a waveguide block providing at least one waveguide having an opening in a face thereof, said at least one waveguide having a waveguiding surface whose cross-section is at least substantially quadrilateral;
ii) making a feedhorn block comprising a block of material having at least one feedhorn aperture therethrough;
iii) assembling the feedhorn block with the waveguide block such that the feedhorn aperture is in registration with the waveguide block opening;
and
iv) making an end portion of a feedhorn in the waveguide block by drilling into the waveguide block at the opening,
whereby said end portion of a feedhorn has an internal cross-section, transverse to the feed direction of the feedhorn, which is at least substantially rounded, and whereby said end portion of a feedhorn and the at least part of a waveguide have a junction therebetween for delivery of radiation, said junction being recessed from said face of the block of material and provided by a continuous surface in the waveguiding direction of the waveguide.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Feedhorn assembly and method of fabrication thereof

Life of this patent

Feedhorn assembly and method of fabrication thereof

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15