Reflector Antenna

• US 20080204342A1
• Filed: 03/16/2006
• Published: 08/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mostafa M. Kharadly
• Original Assignee: University of British Columbia
• Inventors: Kharadly, Mostafa M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,733,282 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/781R
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/02 Arrangements for de-icing; Arrangements for drying-out ; Arrangements for cooling; Arrangements for preventing corrosion
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/125 Means for positioning
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/132 Horn reflector antennas; Off-set feeding
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/08 for varying two co-ordinates of the orientation
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/20 wherein the primary active element is fixed and the reflecting device is movable

Abstract

A reflector antenna includes a feed configured to always point during operation in a direction that opposes ingress of water into the feed, and a reflector having a truncated spherical reflecting surface, wherein a relative orientation of the reflector and the feed is adjustable. Another reflector antenna includes a feed configured to always point during operation in a direction that opposes ingress of water into the feed, and a reflector spaced apart from the feed by a focal length at least as great as a diameter of the reflector. Another reflector antenna includes a feed and a reflector having a truncated spherical reflecting surface, wherein the reflector is spaced apart from the feed by a focal length at least as great as a diameter of the reflector.

Claims

1. An antenna comprising:

a) a feed configured to always point during operation in a direction that opposes ingress of water into the feed; and

b) a reflector having a truncated spherical reflecting surface;

wherein a relative orientation of said reflector and said feed is adjustable.

2. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the feed is configured to always point substantially vertically downward during operation.

3. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the feed is configured to always point vertically downward.

4. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the feed is fixed in said direction that opposes ingress.

5. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the feed has a shape that repels rain when the feed is pointing in said direction that opposes ingress.

6. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the feed comprises a feedhorn.

7. The antenna of claim 6 wherein the feedhorn has a generally pyramidal shape.

8. The antenna of claim 6 wherein the feedhorn has a generally conical shape.

9. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the reflector is spaced apart from the feed by a focal length at least as great as a diameter of the reflector.

10. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the reflector is spaced apart from the feed by a focal length at least twice as great as a diameter of the reflector.

11. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the reflector is spaced apart from the feed by a focal length at least two-and-a-half times as great as a diameter of the reflector.

12. The antenna of claim 1 wherein said truncated spherical reflecting surface has a radius of curvature at least as great as a diameter of said reflector.

13. The antenna of claim 1 wherein said truncated spherical reflecting surface has a radius of curvature at least three times as great as a diameter of said reflector.

14. The antenna of claim 1 wherein said truncated spherical reflecting surface has a radius of curvature at least five times as great as a diameter of said reflector.

15. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the antenna excludes a radome.

16. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the reflecting surface of the reflector comprises a solid surface.

17. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the reflecting surface of the reflector comprises at least one aperture through the reflecting surface.

18. The antenna of claim 17 wherein the at least one aperture comprises a plurality of drainage apertures.

19. The antenna of claim 17 wherein each of the at least one apertures has a diameter less than one-eighth of a wavelength intended to be reflected by said reflector.

20. The antenna of claim 17 wherein each of the at least one apertures has a diameter less than one-twentieth of a wavelength intended to be reflected by said reflector.

21. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the reflector is rotatable about each of two perpendicular axes.

22. The antenna of claim 21 wherein one of said axes is a vertical axis for azimuthal rotation of said reflector thereabout and wherein the other one of said axes is a horizontal axis for elevational rotation of said reflector thereabout.

23. The antenna of claim 1 further comprising a waveguide in communication with said feed.

24. The antenna of claim 23 further comprising a transducer in communication with said feed via said waveguide.

25. The antenna of claim 24 wherein said transducer comprises a radio detector.

26. The antenna of claim 24 wherein said transducer comprises a radio transmitter.

27. The antenna of claim 24 wherein said transducer comprises a radio transceiver.

28. An antenna comprising:

a) a feed configured to always point during operation in a direction that opposes ingress of water into the feed; and

b) a reflector spaced apart from said feed by a focal length at least as great as a diameter of said reflector.

30. The antenna of claim 28 wherein the reflector is spaced apart from the feed by a focal length at least twice as great as the diameter of the reflector.

31. The antenna of claim 28 wherein the reflector is spaced apart from the feed by a focal length at least two-and-a-half times as great as the diameter of the reflector.

32. The antenna of claim 28 wherein said reflector has a truncated spherical reflecting surface.

33. The antenna of claim 28 wherein a relative orientation of said reflector and said feed is adjustable.

29. An antenna comprising:

a) a feed; and

b) a reflector having a truncated spherical reflecting surface, wherein said reflector is spaced apart from said feed by a focal length at least as great as a diameter of said reflector.

37. The antenna of claim 29 wherein the reflector is spaced apart from the feed by a focal length at least twice as great as the diameter of the reflector.

38. The antenna of claim 29 wherein the reflector is spaced apart from the feed by a focal length at least two-and-a-half times as great as the diameter of the reflector.

39. The antenna of claim 29 wherein a relative orientation of said reflector and said feed is adjustable.

34. A method comprising:

a) configuring a feed of an antenna to always point in a direction that opposes ingress of water into the feed; and

b) reflecting electromagnetic radiation to or from the feed using a reflector having a truncated spherical reflecting surface.

35. A method comprising:

a) configuring a feed of an antenna to always point in a direction that opposes ingress of water into the feed; and

b) reflecting electromagnetic radiation to or from the feed using a reflector spaced apart from the feed by a focal length at least as great as a diameter of the reflector.

36. A method comprising reflecting electromagnetic radiation to or from a feed using a reflector having a truncated spherical reflecting surface spaced apart from the feed by a focal length at least as great as a diameter of the reflector.