Beam steering apparatus for a traveling wave antenna and associated method
First Claim
1. Beam steering apparatus for steering a beam of electromagnetic energy in a first antenna waveguide having upper and lower conductive plates, said beam steering apparatus comprising:
- a second waveguide disposed adjacent said first antenna waveguide, an energy source for producing an electromagnetic energy beam, and a beam steering assembly supported by said second waveguide to transmit said electromagnetic energy beam to the first waveguide as a collimated beam and with an adjustable angle to steer said collimated beam in said first waveguide.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Steering of an electromagnetic beam of energy in the upper plate of a plate waveguide of a traveling wave antenna concurrently with the formation of a flat phase front and collimation of the electromagnetic beam is achieved by providing a second waveguide beneath the lower plate of the first waveguide and providing a 180% bend parabolic main reflector to reflect the energy beam to the upper plate of the upper waveguide. A feed horn is located in the lower waveguide and illuminates a pivotal subreflector which reflects the energy to the parabolic main reflector. By rotating the subreflector about its pivot point, the beam which is radiated to the upper waveguide is angularly shifted or steered.
13 Citations
28 Claims
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1. Beam steering apparatus for steering a beam of electromagnetic energy in a first antenna waveguide having upper and lower conductive plates, said beam steering apparatus comprising:
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a second waveguide disposed adjacent said first antenna waveguide, an energy source for producing an electromagnetic energy beam, and a beam steering assembly supported by said second waveguide to transmit said electromagnetic energy beam to the first waveguide as a collimated beam and with an adjustable angle to steer said collimated beam in said first waveguide. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. Beam steering apparatus for a waveguide of a traveling wave antenna having upper and lower conductive plates and a source of input electromagnetic energy for producing a traveling wave in said waveguide, said apparatus comprising:
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a plate guide located beneath the lower plate of the waveguide, said source of input electromagnetic energy being arranged at said plate guide, and an assembly for steering the energy from said source to said waveguide. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of steering a beam of electromagnetic energy in a waveguide of an antenna, said method comprising:
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directing a beam of electromagnetic energy onto a subreflector, reflecting said beam from said subreflector to a main reflector which, in turn, reflects said beam to the waveguide of the antenna, forming said main reflector to collimate said beam and provide a planar phase front of the electromagnetic energy beam in the waveguide, and moving said subreflector to steer the angle of the collimated beam produced by the main reflector in the waveguide. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification