Multi-Band antenna System for Satellite Communications

• US 20110068988A1
• Filed: 09/16/2010
• Published: 03/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KVH Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: KVH Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Monte, Thomas D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,281,561 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/761
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/193 with feed supported subreflector splash plate feeds H01Q19/134
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/18 wherein the primary active element is movable and the reflecting device is fixed
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/45 using two or more feeds in association with a common reflecting, diffracting or refracting device

Abstract

The present invention provides an improved antenna system on moving platform that is in communication with multiple satellites for simultaneous reception of RF energy at multiple frequencies. The antenna is implemented as a multi-beam, multi-band antenna having a main reflector with multiple feed horns and a sub-reflector to reflect Ku and Ka frequency band signals directed by a focal region of the main reflector.

Claims

1. A mobile antenna system in communication with multiple satellites for use with a moving platform, the system comprising:

a primary reflector positioned to receive and reflect at least one Ku band signal and at least one Ka band signal to a focal region located on the primary reflector;

a feed horn assembly coupled to the primary reflector, said feed horn assembly comprising at least two feed horns such that said first feed horn receives the at least one Ku band signal and the second feed horn receives the at least one Ka band signal;

a sub-reflector positioned to face the focal region of the primary reflector to receive and reflect the at least one Ku band signal and the at least one Ka band signal directed by the focal region of the primary reflector; and

a motor driven mechanism positioned around the feed horn assembly to rotate the feed horns substantially about a center axis of the primary reflector.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one low noise block converter assembly affixed to the feed horn assembly for converting frequency of the Ka and Ku band signals to L band frequency.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is capable of being mounted on a moveable platform.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least two feed horns comprise metal horns.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least two feed horns comprise dielectric rod feeds.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein normalized waveguide value of the dielectric rod feed is in the range of 1.4 to 2.0.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein normalized waveguide value of the dielectric rod feed with the Ka band is in the range of 1.51 to 1.66.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein normalized waveguide value of the dielectric rod feed with the Ku band is in the range of 1.6 to 1.91.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least two feed horns comprise a combination of at least one metal horn and at least one dielectric rod feed.

10. A mobile antenna system in communication with multiple satellites for use with a moving platform, the system comprising:

a primary reflector positioned to receive and reflect at least two Ka band signals to a focal region located on the primary reflector;

a feed horn assembly coupled to the primary reflector, said feed horn assembly comprising at least two feed horns to receive the at least two Ka band signals;

a sub-reflector positioned to face the focal region of the primary reflector to receive and reflect the at least two Ka band signals directed by the focal region of the primary reflector; and

a motor driven mechanism positioned around the feed horn assembly to rotate the feed horns substantially about a center axis of the primary reflector.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the system is capable of being mounted on a moveable platform.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein said at least two feed horns comprise metal horns.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein said at least two feed horns comprise dielectric rod feeds.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein said at least two feed horns comprise a combination of at least one metal horn and at least one dielectric rod feed.

15. A mobile antenna system in communication with multiple satellites for use with a moving platform, the system comprising:

a primary reflector positioned to receive and reflect at least two Ku band signals to a focal region located on the primary reflector;

a feed horn assembly coupled to the primary reflector, said feed horn assembly comprising at least two feed horns to receive the at least two Ku band signals;

a sub-reflector positioned to face the focal region of the primary reflector to receive and reflect the at least two Ku band signals directed by the focal region of the primary reflector; and

a motor driven mechanism positioned around the feed horn assembly to rotate the feed horns substantially about a center axis of the primary reflector.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the system is capable of being mounted on a moveable platform.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein said at least two feed horns comprise metal horns.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein said at least two feed horns comprise dielectric rod feeds.

19. The system of claim 15 wherein said at least two feed horns comprise a combination of at least one metal horn and at least one dielectric rod feed.