Rugged multimode antenna
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An antenna comprising:
- (a) an electrically conductive housing structure generally symmetrical about a cylindrical axis, said housing structure including;
(i) a cup-like base member, said base member having a generally square-shaped cross-sectional configuration in a plane perpendicular to said cylindrical axis, said base member having an outwardly flanged rim portion; and
(ii) a chimney member, a first end of said chimney member being outwardly flanged to abut said flanged rim portion of said base member, said flanged first end of said chimney member being attached to said flanged rim portion of said base member so that said base member and said chimney member together form a resonant cavity, a second end of said chimney member defining a squarish aperture with curved corners, said chimney member tapering inwardly with respect to said cylindrical axis from said first end attached to said base member to said second end defining said aperture, each side of said aperture being shorter than one-half a specified longest free-space wavelength for said antenna;
(b) a plurality of probes mounted in said cavity, said probes functioning to couple electromagnetic energy through said aperture at free-space wavelengths longer than twice said side of said aperture;
(c) means for energizing selected ones of said probes to enable said electromagnetic energy coupled through said aperture to have a selected polarization;
(d) a plurality of mode suppressors mounted in said cavity, said mode suppressors functioning to prevent spurious modes of said electromagnetic energy from developing in said antenna;
(e) an isolation post mounted in said cavity along said cylindrical axis, said isolation post functioning to control cross-polarization of said electromagnetic energy coupled through said aperture; and
(f) dielectric material within said cavity substantially surrounding said probes, said mode suppressors and said isolation post;
said dielectric material enabling said electromagnetic energy to be coupled through said aperture at wavelengths longer than twice said side of said aperture over a continuous frequency bandwidth greater than one ocatve.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A compact antenna for an extra-atmospheric vehicle is sufficiently rugged to withstand the rigors of atmospheric re-entry, and is capable of transmitting and receiving radio-frequency signals with selectable polarizations over a broad frequency bandwidth.
20 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An antenna comprising:
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(a) an electrically conductive housing structure generally symmetrical about a cylindrical axis, said housing structure including; (i) a cup-like base member, said base member having a generally square-shaped cross-sectional configuration in a plane perpendicular to said cylindrical axis, said base member having an outwardly flanged rim portion; and (ii) a chimney member, a first end of said chimney member being outwardly flanged to abut said flanged rim portion of said base member, said flanged first end of said chimney member being attached to said flanged rim portion of said base member so that said base member and said chimney member together form a resonant cavity, a second end of said chimney member defining a squarish aperture with curved corners, said chimney member tapering inwardly with respect to said cylindrical axis from said first end attached to said base member to said second end defining said aperture, each side of said aperture being shorter than one-half a specified longest free-space wavelength for said antenna; (b) a plurality of probes mounted in said cavity, said probes functioning to couple electromagnetic energy through said aperture at free-space wavelengths longer than twice said side of said aperture; (c) means for energizing selected ones of said probes to enable said electromagnetic energy coupled through said aperture to have a selected polarization; (d) a plurality of mode suppressors mounted in said cavity, said mode suppressors functioning to prevent spurious modes of said electromagnetic energy from developing in said antenna; (e) an isolation post mounted in said cavity along said cylindrical axis, said isolation post functioning to control cross-polarization of said electromagnetic energy coupled through said aperture; and (f) dielectric material within said cavity substantially surrounding said probes, said mode suppressors and said isolation post;
said dielectric material enabling said electromagnetic energy to be coupled through said aperture at wavelengths longer than twice said side of said aperture over a continuous frequency bandwidth greater than one ocatve. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An antenna comprising:
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(a) an electrically conductive housing structure generally symmetrical about a cylindrical axis, said housing structure forming a resonant cavity, an open end of said housing structure defining a squarish aperture with curved corners, a side of said aperture being shorter than one-half a specified longest free-space wavelength for said antenna; (b) four probes mounted on said housing structure so as to extend into said resonant cavity toward said cylindrical axis, said probes being symmetrically disposed with respect to each other around said axis in a plane substantially perpendicular to said axis, said probes functioning to couple electromagnetic energy through said aperture at free-space wavelengths longer than twice said side of said aperture; (c) means for energizing selected ones of said probes to enable said electromagnetic energy coupled through said aperture to have a selected polarization; (d) a plurality of mode suppressors mounted in said cavity, said mode suppressors functioning to prevent spurious modes of said electromagnetic energy from developing in said antenna; (e) an isolation post mounted in said cavity along said cylindrical axis, said isolation post functioning to control cross-polarization of said electromagnetic energy coupled through said aperture; and (f) dielectric material within said cavity substantially surrounding said probes, said mode suppressors and said isolation post;
said dielectric material enabling said electromagnetic energy to be coupled through said aperture at wavelengths longer than twice said side of said aperture over a continuous frequency bandwidth greater than one octave. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification