CONTROLLED ILLUMINATION DIELECTRIC CONE RADIATOR FOR REFLECTOR ANTENNA

• US 20130057444A1
• Filed: 09/01/2011
• Published: 03/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Andrew LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Brandau, Ronald J., Hills, Christopher D.
• Application Number:
  US13/224,066
• Publication Number:
  US 20130057444A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/781.CA
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/134 Rear-feeds; Splash plate feeds
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/19 comprising one main concave reflecting surface associated with an auxiliary reflecting surface
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/191 wherein the primary active element uses one or more deflecting surfaces, e.g. beam waveguide feeds
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/193 with feed supported subreflector splash plate feeds H01Q19/134

Abstract

A dielectric cone radiator sub-reflector assembly for a reflector antenna with a waveguide supported sub-reflector is provided as a unitary dielectric block with a sub-reflector at a distal end. A waveguide transition portion of the dielectric block is dimensioned for coupling to an end of the waveguide. A dielectric radiator portion is provided between the waveguide transition portion and a sub-reflector support portion. An outer diameter of the dielectric radiator portion is provided with a plurality of radial inward grooves and a minimum diameter of the dielectric radiator portion is greater than ⅗ of a sub-reflector diameter of the sub-reflector support surface.

Claims

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

a unitary dielectric block;

a sub-reflector provided at a distal end of the dielectric block;

a waveguide transition portion of the dielectric block dimensioned for coupling to an end of the waveguide;

a sub-reflector support portion of the dielectric block; and

a dielectric radiator portion between the waveguide transition portion and the sub-reflector support portion;

an outer diameter of the dielectric radiator portion provided with a plurality of radial inward grooves;

a minimum diameter of the dielectric radiator portion greater than ⅗

of a sub-reflector diameter of the sub-reflector support surface.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the sub-reflector is a metal coating upon the distal end of the dielectric block.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the sub-reflector is a separate metal portion seated upon the distal end of the dielectric block.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the sub-reflector diameter is 2.5 wavelengths or more of a desired operating frequency.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the waveguide transition portion is dimensioned for insertion into the end of the waveguide until the end of the waveguide abuts a shoulder of the waveguide transition portion.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the sub-reflector support portion extends from a distal groove of the dielectric radiator portion as an angled distal sidewall of the distal groove.

7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the angled distal sidewall is generally parallel to a longitudinally adjacent portion of the distal end.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the distal end is provided with a proximal conical surface which transitions to a distal conical surface;

the distal conical surface provided with a lower angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the assembly than the proximal conical surface.

9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the sub-reflector support portion extends from a distal groove of the dielectric radiator portion as an angled distal sidewall of the distal groove;

the angled distal sidewall generally parallel to the distal conical surface.

10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein a periphery of the distal end is normal to a longitudinal axis of the assembly.

11. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of grooves is two grooves.

12. The assembly of claim 1, wherein a bottom width of the plurality of grooves decreases towards the distal end.

13. The assembly of claim 1, wherein a longitudinal distance between the end of the waveguide and the distal end at the sub-reflector periphery is at least 0.75 wavelengths of a desired operating frequency.

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

forming a dielectric block; and

coupling a sub-reflector to a distal end of the dielectric block;

a waveguide transition portion of the dielectric block dimensioned for coupling to an end of the waveguide;

a sub-reflector support portion of the dielectric block; and

a dielectric radiator portion between the waveguide transition portion and the sub-reflector support portion;

an outer diameter of the dielectric radiator portion provided with a plurality of radial inward grooves;

a minimum diameter of the dielectric radiator portion greater than ⅗

of a sub-reflector diameter of the sub-reflector support surface.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the sub-reflector diameter is 2.5 wavelengths or more of a desired operating frequency.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the sub-reflector is coupled to the distal end of the dielectric block by coating the distal end with an RF reflective material.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the sub-reflector is coupled to the distal end of the dielectric block by seating a metallic disc against the distal end.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the forming of the dielectric block includes injection molding the dielectric block.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the forming of the dielectric block includes machining the dielectric block.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein a longitudinal distance between the end of the waveguide and the distal end at the sub-reflector periphery is at least 0.75 wavelengths of a desired operating frequency.