US 9,520,637 B2 · Agile diverse polarization multi-frequency band antenna feed with rotatable integrated distributed transceivers

Abstract

A compact, agile polarization diversity, multiple frequency band antenna with integrated electronics for terrestrial terminal use in satellite communications systems includes an antenna feed having highly integrated microwave electronics that are mechanically and electromagnetically coupled thereto in a distributed arrangement so that diverse polarization senses having a low axial ratio and electronic switching control of the polarization senses is provided. The arrangement of the integrated distributed transceiver configuration enables the mechanical rotation of the orientation of a first transceiver for skew alignment while a second transceiver remains stationary relative to the antenna feed assembly. The first transceiver can be a high-band transmitter and receiver pair that supports linear polarization senses, and the second transceiver can be a low-band transmitter and receiver pair that supports circular polarization senses. The antenna system presented is highly compact and offers improved polarization performance previously achievable by only larger devices.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An antenna assembly, comprising:

an antenna feed assembly;
and
a first transceiver electromagnetically coupled to receive and transmit ports of a first orthomode transducer, a receiver module and a transmitter module of the first transceiver module being disk-shaped and each having a center hole through which a longitudinal axis passes;
a second transceiver electromagnetically coupled to receive and transmit ports of a second orthomode transducer, the first and second orthomode transducers electromagnetically coupled to the antenna feed assembly to facilitate propagation of electromagnetic energy along the longitudinal axis common to the first orthomode transducer, the second orthomode transducer and the antenna feed assembly;
the antenna assembly being configured and arranged to maintain a fixed relationship between the first orthomode transducer and the antenna feed assembly, and to facilitate a rotation of a spatial orientation of the first orthomode transducer and the antenna feed assembly relative to the second orthomode transducer to adjust a skew alignment.

2 more elements

A method of transitioning propagating microwave energy between a transmission line and free-space using an antenna assembly, the method comprising:

propagating microwave energy using an antenna feed assembly;
coupling the propagating microwave energy to first and second transceivers, the first transceiver being electromagnetically coupled to receive and transmit ports of a first orthomode transducer, a receiver module and a transmitter module of the first transceiver module being disk-shaped and each having a center hole through which a longitudinal axis passes, the second transceiver being electromagnetically coupled to respective receive and transmit ports of a second orthomode transducer, the first and second orthomode transducers being electromagnetically coupled to the antenna feed assembly to facilitate propagation of electromagnetic energy along a longitudinal axis common to the first orthomode transducer, the second orthomode transducer and the antenna feed assembly;
and
rotating a spatial orientation of the second orthomode transducer relative to the first orthomode transducer and the antenna feed assembly, the antenna assembly being configured and arranged to maintain a fixed relationship between the first orthomode transducer and the antenna feed assembly.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Agile diverse polarization multi-frequency band antenna feed with rotatable integrated distributed transceivers

Life of this patent

Agile diverse polarization multi-frequency band antenna feed with rotatable integrated distributed transceivers

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20