Agile Diverse Polarization Multi-Frequency Band Antenna Feed With Rotatable Integrated Distributed Transceivers

• US 20140057576A1
• Filed: 08/23/2013
• Published: 02/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KVH Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: KVH Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Monte, Thomas D., Liu, Bosui
• Granted Patent: US 9,520,637 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/73
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/161 sustaining two independent orthogonal modes, e.g. orthomode transducer combining or separating polarisations and frequencies H01P1/2131
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/125 Means for positioning
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/34 Adaptation for use in or on ships, submarines, buoys or torpedoes for subaqueous use H01Q1/04
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/02 Waveguide horns
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/16 curved in two dimensions, e.g. paraboloidal
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/136 cross-polarised
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/193 with feed supported subreflector splash plate feeds H01Q19/134
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/02 using mechanical movement of antenna or antenna system as a whole
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/47 with a coaxial arrangement of the feeds
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/40 Circuits

Abstract

A compact, agile polarization diversity, multiple frequency band antenna with integrated electronics for terrestrial terminal use in satellite communications systems is disclosed. The antenna includes an antenna feed having highly integrated microwave electronics that are mechanically and electromagnetically coupled thereto in a distributed arrangement so that diverse polarization senses having a low axial ratio and electronic switching control of the polarization senses is provided. The arrangement of the integrated distributed transceiver configuration enables the mechanical rotation of the orientation of a first transceiver for skew alignment while a second transceiver remains stationary relative to the antenna feed assembly. The first transceiver can be a high-band transmitter and receiver pair that supports linear polarization senses and the second transceiver can be a low-band transmitter and receiver pair that supports circular polarization senses. The antenna system presented is highly compact and offers improved polarization performance previously achievable by only larger devices.

Claims

1. An antenna assembly, comprising:

an antenna feed assembly; and

first and second transceivers mechanically and electromagnetically coupled to respective receive and transmit ports of the antenna feed assembly, the antenna feed assembly being arranged to rotate mechanically an orientation of the first transceiver relative to the second transceiver.

2. The antenna assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second transceivers operate over first and second radio frequency (RF) bands, respectively.

3. The antenna assembly of claim 2, wherein the first RF band includes a range of substantially Ku-band frequencies and wherein the second RF band includes a range of substantially C-band frequencies.

4. The antenna assembly of claim 2, further comprising a dielectric rod configured to facilitate propagation of electromagnetic energy having a frequency within the first RF band within the antenna feed assembly.

5. The antenna assembly of claim 1, further comprising a main reflector arranged in a stationary orientation relative to the second transceiver.

6. The antenna assembly of claim 5, further comprising a subreflector, configured to reflect electromagnetic energy propagating between the antenna feed assembly and the main reflector, the subreflector creating an RF shadow region, in which the second transceiver is at least partially located between the subreflector and the main reflector.

7. The antenna assembly of claim 6, wherein the second transceiver is arranged such that a lateral cross-section of the second transceiver is entirely located within the RF shadow region.

8. The antenna assembly of claim 1, wherein the first transceiver is arranged to rotate to enable linear polarization alignment with a paired antenna distal from the antenna assembly.

9. The antenna assembly of claim 1, further comprising transmit and receive planar coupling interfaces wherein the second transceiver is mounted to the antenna feed assembly such that coupling between the transmit and receive ports of the second transceiver and corresponding transmit and receive ports of the antenna feed assembly occurs at the transmit and receive planar coupling interfaces, respectively.

10. The antenna assembly of claim 9, further comprising a sub-reflector, configured to reflect electromagnetic energy propagating between the antenna feed assembly and the main reflector, the subreflector creating an RF shadow region between the subreflector and the main reflector, the transmit and receive planar coupling interfaces being located within the RF shadow region and having lateral dimensions that do not protrude from the RF shadow region.

11. A method of transitioning propagating microwave energy between a transmission line and free-space using an antenna assembly, the method comprising:

propagating microwave energy using an antenna feed assembly;

coupling the propagating microwave energy to first and second transceivers, mechanically and electromagnetically coupled to respective receive and transmit ports of the antenna feed assembly; and

rotating mechanically an orientation of the first transceiver relative to the second transceiver.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the propagating microwave energy is over first and second radio-frequency (RF) bands, the first and second RF bands being the operational bands or within the operational bands of interest of the first and second transceivers, respectively.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the propagating microwave energy of the first RF band includes of a range of substantially Ku-band frequencies and wherein the propagating microwave energy of the second RF band includes a range of substantially C-band frequencies.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising facilitating the propagating microwave energy of the first RF band within the antenna feed assembly through use of a dielectric rod.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising maintaining a stationary orientation of a main reflector relative to the second transceiver.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

reflecting electromagnetic energy propagating between the antenna feed assembly and the main reflector using a subreflector, the subreflector creating an RF shadow region; and

transmitting or receiving using the second transceiver, the second transceiver being at least partially located within the RF shadow region.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the transmitting or receiving is performed by a transmitter and receiver, respectively, composing the second transceiver, the second transceiver having a lateral cross-section located entirely within the RF shadow region.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein rotating mechanically an orientation of the first transceiver relative to the second transceiver further includes rotating the first transceiver with respect to a linear polarization alignment with a paired antenna distal from the antenna assembly.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein coupling the propagating microwave energy to the second transceiver is performed at the transmit and receive ports of the second transceiver and corresponding respective transmit and receive ports of the antenna feed assembly at transmit and receive planar coupling interfaces.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

reflecting electromagnetic energy, propagating between the antenna feed assembly and the main reflector by using a subreflector, the subreflector creating an RF shadow region; and

transmitting and receiving using the second transceiver, the transmit and receive planar coupling interfaces being located in the RF shadow region and having maximum lateral dimensions no greater than corresponding lateral dimensions of the RF shadow region.

21. An antenna feed assembly, comprising:

means for propagating microwave energy to feed an antenna assembly;

means for coupling the propagating microwave energy to first and second transceivers having means for mechanically and electromagnetically coupling to respective receive and transmit ports of the antenna feed assembly; and

means for mechanically rotating an orientation of the first transceiver relative to the second transceiver.

22-49. -49. (canceled)