TUNED PERTURBATION CONE FEED FOR REFLECTOR ANTENNA

• US 20050062663A1
• Filed: 09/18/2003
• Published: 03/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Andrew Corporation (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hills, Chris
• Granted Patent: US 6,919,855 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/781.P
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/0216 Dual-depth corrugated horns
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/193 with feed supported subreflector splash plate feeds H01Q19/134

Abstract

A sub-reflector for a dish reflector antenna with a waveguide supported sub-reflector. The sub-reflector formed from a dielectric block, concentric about a longitudinal axis. The dielectric block having a first diameter waveguide junction portion adapted for coupling to an end of the waveguide and a sub-reflector surface coated with an RF reflective material having a periphery with a second diameter larger than the first diameter. A leading cone surface extends from the waveguide junction portion to the second diameter at an angle. The sub-reflector surface and the leading cone surface having a plurality of non-periodic perturbations concentric about the longitudinal axis.

Claims

1. A sub-reflector assembly for a reflector antenna with a waveguide supported sub-reflector, comprising:

a dielectric block;

the dielectric block having a first diameter waveguide junction portion adapted for coupling to an end of the waveguide;

a sub-reflector surface coated with an RF reflective material having a periphery at a second diameter larger than the first diameter; and

a leading cone surface extending from the waveguide junction portion to the second diameter at an angle;

the sub-reflector surface and the leading cone surface having a plurality of non-periodic perturbations concentric about a longitudinal axis of the dielectric block.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the perturbations include ridges and or grooves of varied width and height.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the waveguide junction portion coupling is via insertion into an end of the waveguide.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the waveguide junction portion has at least one groove and at least one step

5. The assembly of claim 1, further including at least one radial corrugation in the periphery.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the angle is a first angle between the waveguide junction portion and a first location along the leading cone surface and a second angle from the first location to the periphery.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the perturbations are adapted to create a desired phase correction to a radiation pattern of the sub-reflector.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the perturbations are adapted to create a desired amplitude correction to a radiation pattern of the sub-reflector.

9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the perturbations are adapted to create a desired radiation pattern that is different between a vertical and a horizontal polarized portion of the radiation pattern.

10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the perturbations are adapted to enable a desired radiation pattern over a range of frequencies, when the sub-reflector is mated with a single deep dish reflector configuration.

11. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the range of frequencies is a desired frequency band within 10 to 60 Gigahertz.

12. A method for forming a sub-reflector for a deep dish reflector antenna, comprising the steps of:

injection molding a dielectric block;

machining the dielectric block; and

coating a sub-reflector surface of the dielectric block with an RF reflective material;

the dielectric block having a plurality of non-periodic perturbations, the perturbations selected to create a desired RF pattern distribution.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the perturbations have varied heights, depths and widths.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the plurality of nonperiodic perturbations are located on the sub-reflector surface and a leading cone surface extending between the sub-reflector surface and a waveguide junction portion.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the plurality of non periodic perturbations are calculated using a full wave solution.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the calculation is performed using an RF wave modeling software program.

17. A sub-reflector assembly for a reflector antenna, comprising:

a block of dielectric material with a waveguide junction portion adapted for insertion into a waveguide mounted proximate the vertex of the deep dish reflector;

the dielectric block extending from the waveguide junction portion, over a leading cone surface, to a periphery of a sub-reflector surface;

the sub-reflector surface coated with an RF reflective material;

the leading cone surface and the sub-reflector surface having a plurality of concentric, non-periodic perturbations.

18. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the perturbations are a plurality of grooves and ridges having a range of different heights, widths and or depths.

19. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the perturbations form a radiation pattern adapted for a profiled deep dish reflector.

20. The assembly of claim 19, wherein the radiation pattern is different for a vertical and a horizontal polarized component of the radiation pattern.

21. The assembly of claim 19, wherein the radiation pattern is adapted for operation over a desired range of frequencies.

22. The assembly of claim 21, wherein the desired range of frequencies is a frequency band within 10 to 60 Gigahertz.