ANTENNA APPARATUS INCLUDING COMPOUND CURVE ANTENNA STRUCTURE AND FEED ARRAY
First Claim
1. An antenna apparatus, comprising:
- at least a first curved reflector section and a second curved reflector section that define a compound curve antenna structure;
a feed array including a plurality of feed elements comprising at least a first feed element in communication with said first and second curved reflector sections for use in generating an antenna beam that includes at least a transmit beam; and
control system communicating with said feed array for use in controlling generation of said transmit beam, said control system including a memory storage for storing predetermined data related to controlling activation of said plurality of feed elements including at least said first feed element to provide a desired scan angle associated with said transmit beam.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An antenna apparatus that includes a beam control system and a beam collimating system having a compound curve antenna structure is provided. The compound curve antenna structure can be two-dimensional or three-dimensional. In one embodiment, the curve is parabolic and the compound curve antenna structure includes first and second parabolic reflector sections that are spaced from each other. A feed array of the beam control system is disposed therebetween at the base ends of the two parabolic reflector sections. When the compound curve antenna structure is three-dimensional, the two parabolic reflector sections are part of a body of revolution. The control system also includes memory storage that stores predetermined data related to controlling activation of each of a plurality of feed elements of the feed array. The predetermined data is based on information obtained using a reference beam with the compound curve antenna structure. In that regard, reflections and contact of EM radiation of the reference beam are monitored for a number of different scan angles. Based on the identities of the particular feed elements that are involved or receive EM radiation associated with the reference beam, determinations are made regarding the content of the predetermined data to be stored to be subsequently used in controlling activation of desired feed elements in generating a transmit beam or receiving a return beam at a desired angle of a number of scan angles.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. An antenna apparatus, comprising:
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at least a first curved reflector section and a second curved reflector section that define a compound curve antenna structure;
a feed array including a plurality of feed elements comprising at least a first feed element in communication with said first and second curved reflector sections for use in generating an antenna beam that includes at least a transmit beam; and
control system communicating with said feed array for use in controlling generation of said transmit beam, said control system including a memory storage for storing predetermined data related to controlling activation of said plurality of feed elements including at least said first feed element to provide a desired scan angle associated with said transmit beam. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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22. A method involving control of an antenna apparatus, comprising:
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providing first and second curved reflector sections and a feed array, said first and second curved reflector sections together defining a first compound curved antenna structure having a reflector axis in which said first and second parabolic reflectors are symmetrically located thereabout, said first compound curved antenna structure having an aperture end and a base end and with said feed array having a plurality of feed elements; and
controlling activation of at least a first feed element of said plurality of feed elements to generate an antenna beam that is at least one of a transmit beam and a return beam using a control system and predetermined data that is stored in memory storage related to reflections on said first and second curved reflector sections and reflections that strike said feed array directly without first contacting said first compound curved antenna structure. - View Dependent Claims (25, 31)
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Specification