Horn Lens Antenna

• US 20160006129A1
• Filed: 07/07/2014
• Published: 01/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Haziza, Dedi David
• Granted Patent: US 9,722,316 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/02 Waveguide horns
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/0283 Apparatus or processes specially provided for manufacturing horns
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/08 formed of solid dielectric material
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/10 comprising three-dimensional array of impedance discontinuities, e.g. holes in conductive surfaces or conductive discs forming artificial dielectric
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/08 for modifying the radiation pattern of a radiating horn in which it is located corrugated horns H01Q13/0208; producing a circular polarisation H01Q13/0241
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/09 wherein the primary active element is coated with or embedded in a dielectric or magnetic material protective material H01Q1/40, varying the electric or magnetic characteristics of refracting or diffracting devices H01Q3/44

Abstract

An antenna includes a receiver, a horn, a lens, and an anti-reflection layer. The horn has a first end disposed on the receiver and a second end defining an aperture positioned opposite the receiver. The lens is disposed within the aperture of the horn and has a first surface facing inward toward the receiver and a second surface opposite the first surface and facing outward away from the horn. The anti-reflection layer includes a dielectric material and is disposed on the first surface of the lens. Moreover, the anti-reflection layer defines holes arranged in a 50/50 material to void ratio and that have a thickness of a quarter wavelength of a signal received by the antenna.

Claims

1. An antenna comprising:

a receiver;

a horn having a first end disposed on the receiver and a second end defining an aperture positioned opposite the receiver; and

a lens disposed within the aperture of the horn, the lens having a first surface facing inward toward the receiver and a second surface opposite the first surface and facing outward away from the horn;

an anti-reflection layer comprising a dielectric material and disposed on the first surface of the lens, the anti-reflection layer defining holes arranged in a 50/50 material to void ratio and having a thickness of a quarter wavelength of a signal received by the antenna.

2. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the horn defines a frustoconical shape, a pyramidal shape, an h-plane sectoral shape, or an E-shape sectoral shape.

3. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the anti-reflection layer is integral with the lens.

4. The antenna of claim 3, wherein the lens and the anti-reflection layer comprise a cross linked polysterene microwave plastic or a Polytetrafluoroethylene.

5. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the holes have a diameter of less than or equal to a tenth of the wavelength of the signal received by the antenna.

6. The antenna of claim 1, wherein a dielectric constant ε

_T of the anti-reflection layer is defined as;

ε

_T=√

{square root over (ε

_r(Air)*ε

_{r(Dialectric Material)})}{square root over (ε

_r(Air)*ε

_{r(Dialectric Material)})}

wherein ε

_r(Air) is a dielectric constant of air and ε

_{r(Dialectric Material)} is a dielectric constant of the dielectric material of the anti-reflection layer.

7. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the holes of the anti-reflection layer have one or more of a circular cross-sectional shape, a square cross-sectional shape, a diamond cross-sectional shape, an oval cross-sectional shape, or a rectangular cross-sectional shape.

8. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the holes are arranged in a two-dimensional array.

9. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the horn defines a frustoconical shape having a flare angle of about 45 degrees.

14. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the holes have a diameter of less than or equal to a tenth of the wavelength of the signal received by the antenna.

10. A method of making a horn antenna, the method comprising:

forming a lens having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface;

forming an anti-reflection layer comprising a dielectric material, defining holes arranged in a 50/50 material to void ratio, and having a thickness of a quarter wavelength of a signal received by the antenna;

disposing the anti-reflection layer on the first surface of the lens; and

positioning the lens within an aperture defined by a horn, the horn having first and second ends, the first end receiving a receiver and the second end defining the aperture, the lens positioned so that the first surface of the lens faces the receiver.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the horn defines a frustoconical shape, a pyramidal shape, an h-plane sectoral shape, or an E-shape sectoral shape.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the anti-reflection layer is integral with the lens.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the lens and the anti-reflection layer comprise a cross linked polysterene microwave plastic or a Polytetrafluoroethylene.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein a dielectric constant ε

_T of the anti-reflection layer is defined as;

ε

_r=√

{square root over (ε

_r(Air)*ε

_{r(Dialectric Material)})}{square root over (ε

_r(Air)*ε

_{r(Dialectric Material)})}

wherein ε

_r(Air) is a dielectric constant of air and ε

_{r(Dialectric Material)} is a dielectric constant of the dielectric material of the anti-reflection layer.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the holes of the anti-reflection layer have one or more of a circular cross-seciional shape, a square cross-sectional shape, a diamond cross-sectional shape, an oval cross-sectional shape, or a rectangular cross-sectional shape.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the holes are arranged in a two dimensional array.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the hom defines a frustoconical shape having a flare angle of about 45 degrees.