Integrated single-piece antenna feed and circular polarizer
AssigneeOptisys, Inc.
InventorsMichael C. Hollenbeck, Robert Smith, Clinton Cathey, Janos Opra
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Abstract
Embodiments of the invention include an integrated single-piece antenna feed and a turnstile circular polarizer suitable for use in a satellite communications system. One embodiment of the integrated single-piece antenna includes a circular waveguide input, a turnstile, a coaxial feed horn, subreflector and subreflector support. One embodiment of the turnstile features four branches of wrapped-single-ridged waveguide. Another embodiment is a turnstile circular polarizer.
Claims20
An integrated single-piece antenna feed having an axis with proximal and distal ends for propagating an electromagnetic wave, comprising:
- a circular waveguide input having a circular opening at the proximal end and extending coaxially toward the distal end;
- a circular waveguide to wrapped-single-ridged waveguide transition coupled to the circular waveguide input extending further along the axis toward the distal end and flaring radially outward relative to the axis into four waveguide branches;
- a wrapped-single-ridged waveguide to coaxial waveguide transition coupled to the circular waveguide to wrapped-single-ridged waveguide transition wherein each of the four branches transitions into a single coaxial waveguide;
- a coaxial feed horn coupled to the single coaxial waveguide of the wrapped-single-ridged to coaxial waveguide transition, the single coaxial waveguide disposed between a cylindrical subreflector support and an outer feed horn conductor, the cylindrical subreflector support extending coaxially from the feed horn still further toward the distal end;
- and
- a subreflector located at the distal end and supported by the cylindrical subreflector support.
An antenna comprising:
- a ring-focus main reflector having an apex;
- an integrated single-piece antenna feed having an axis with proximal and distal ends for propagating an electromagnetic wave, comprising:
- a circular waveguide input having a circular opening at the proximal end and extending coaxially toward the distal end, wherein the circular waveguide input is mounted to the apex of the ring-focus main reflector;
- a circular waveguide to wrapped-single-ridged waveguide transition coupled to the circular waveguide input extending further along the axis toward the distal end and flaring radially outward relative to the axis into four waveguide branches;
- a wrapped-single-ridged waveguide to coaxial waveguide transition coupled to the circular waveguide to wrapped-single-ridged waveguide transition wherein each of the four branches transitions into a single coaxial waveguide;
- a coaxial feed horn coupled to the single coaxial waveguide of the wrapped-single-ridged to coaxial waveguide transition, the single coaxial waveguide disposed between a cylindrical subreflector support and an outer feed horn conductor, the cylindrical subreflector support extending coaxially from the feed horn still further toward the distal end;
- and
- a subreflector located at the distal end and supported by the cylindrical subreflector support;
- and
- wherein the ring-focus main reflector comprises a focal length for generating a ring focus within open space between the outer feed horn conductor and the subreflector.
A turnstile circular polarizer, comprising:
- four branches of wrapped-single ridged waveguides, each of the branches oriented equidistant from an axis and at 90° intervals around the axis;
- wherein two of the four branches of the polarizer are positive phase-shift waveguide branches, each having a +45° phase-shift and disposed opposite one another relative to the axis;
- and
- wherein two remaining of the four branches of the polarizer are negative phase-shift waveguide branches, each have a −45° phase-shift.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.