Miniature horn antenna array for circular polarization
First Claim
1. An antenna element for circularly-polarized high-frequency signals, said antenna element comprising, in succession:
- a. a relatively thick first layer of insulating material having an opening therethrough defined by conductive side walls which are slanted to form a horn of square cross-section;
b. a relatively thin second layer of insulating material disposed adjacent to one side of the first layer where the horn has its narrowest cross-section, said second layer supporting a conductor oriented relative to the horn to couple signals having a first linear polarization;
c. a relatively thick third layer of insulating material disposed adjacent to the second layer, said third layer having an opening therethrough defined by conductive sidewalls which are stepped to form a first waveguide having two different cross-sectional areas, one end of said first waveguide facing and having the same square cross-section as the horn'"'"'s narrowest end, and an opposite end of said waveguide having a smaller, rectangular cross-section;
d. a relatively thin fourth layer of insulating material disposed adjacent to the third layer, said fourth layer supporting a conductor oriented relative to the rectangular end of the first waveguide to couple signals having a second linear polarization which is perpendicular to that of said first linear polarization; and
e. a relatively thick fifth layer of insulating material disposed adjacent to the fourth layer, said fifth layer having an opening therein defined by conductive sidewalls forming a second waveguide, said opening having a depth smaller than the thickness of the fifth layer, one end of said second waveguide facing and having the same rectangular cross-section as the smaller end of the first waveguide, and an opposite end of said second waveguide being short-circuited.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An antenna for circularly polarized high-frequency signals comprising a succession of layers. An insulating layer 10 includes openings defined by metal plated walls forming miniature horns, each having a square cross-section. A dielectric layer 19 adjacent layer 10 supports a first supply network 20 for signals whose direction of polarization is of a first type of linear polarization. An insulating layer 30 adjacent layer 19 includes openings defined by metal plated walls forming miniature waveguides each having the same square cross-section as a respective horn, at the side facing the first network 20, and having a rectangular cross-section at the other side. A dielectric layer 39 adjacent layer 30 supports a second supply network 40 for signals whose direction of polarization is perpendicular to the polarization of the signals of the first network. An insulating layer 50 adjacent layer 39 includes openings defined by metal plated walls forming miniature waveguides each having the same rectangular cross-section as a respective waveguide in layer 30, at the side facing the second network, and which has a depth smaller than the thickness of the layer 50.
75 Citations
2 Claims
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1. An antenna element for circularly-polarized high-frequency signals, said antenna element comprising, in succession:
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a. a relatively thick first layer of insulating material having an opening therethrough defined by conductive side walls which are slanted to form a horn of square cross-section; b. a relatively thin second layer of insulating material disposed adjacent to one side of the first layer where the horn has its narrowest cross-section, said second layer supporting a conductor oriented relative to the horn to couple signals having a first linear polarization; c. a relatively thick third layer of insulating material disposed adjacent to the second layer, said third layer having an opening therethrough defined by conductive sidewalls which are stepped to form a first waveguide having two different cross-sectional areas, one end of said first waveguide facing and having the same square cross-section as the horn'"'"'s narrowest end, and an opposite end of said waveguide having a smaller, rectangular cross-section; d. a relatively thin fourth layer of insulating material disposed adjacent to the third layer, said fourth layer supporting a conductor oriented relative to the rectangular end of the first waveguide to couple signals having a second linear polarization which is perpendicular to that of said first linear polarization; and e. a relatively thick fifth layer of insulating material disposed adjacent to the fourth layer, said fifth layer having an opening therein defined by conductive sidewalls forming a second waveguide, said opening having a depth smaller than the thickness of the fifth layer, one end of said second waveguide facing and having the same rectangular cross-section as the smaller end of the first waveguide, and an opposite end of said second waveguide being short-circuited.
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2. An antenna for circularly-polarized high-frequency signals, said antenna comprising, in succession:
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a. a relatively thick first layer of insulating material having a plurality of openings therethrough each defined by conductive side walls which are slanted to form a respective horn of square cross-section; b. a relatively thin second layer of insulating material disposed adjacent to one side of the first layer where the horns have their narrowest cross-sections, said second layer supporting a network of conductors each oriented relative to a respective one of the horns to couple signals having a first linear polarization; c. a relatively thick third layer of insulating material disposed adjacent to the second layer, said third layer having a plurality of openings therethrough each defined by conductive sidewalls which are stepped to form a respective waveguide having two different cross-sectional areas, one end of each waveguide facing and having the same square cross-section as a respective horn'"'"'s narrowest end, and an opposite end of each waveguide having a smaller, rectangular cross-section; d. a relatively thin fourth layer of insulating material disposed adjacent to the third layer, said fourth layer supporting a network of conductors each oriented relative to the rectangular end of a respective one of the waveguides to couple signals having a second linear polarization which is perpendicular to that of the first linear polarization; and e. a relatively thick fifth layer of insulating material disposed adjacent to the fourth layer, said fifth layer having a plurality of openings therein each defined by conductive sidewalls forming a rectangular waveguide, each opening having a depth smaller than the thickness of the fifth layer, one end of each rectangular waveguide facing and having the same cross-section as the smaller end of a respective waveguide in the third layer, and an opposite end of each rectangular waveguide being short-circuited.
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Specification