Multimode dielectric-loaded double-flare antenna
First Claim
1. A multimode antenna for receiving and transmitting electromagnetic radiation, comprising:
- (a) a housing having an interior which includes a first region having an outer aperture which conically tapers inward at a first flare angle to a cylindrical region and from an inner edge of which cylindrical region a second region conically tapers inward at a second flare angle less than said first flare angle to an inner aperture, wherein each of said regions is coaxial with the others and a longitudinal axis and wherein a ratio of the diameter of said outer aperture to the distance along said longitudinal axis between said outer and inner apertures is greater than or equal to one-half;
(b) a conductor overlying the interior of said housing;
(c) first dielectric means at least partially mounted within the housing for focusing said radiation to said longitudinal axis;
(d) second dielectric means mounted within the housing and contacting the conductor for reconstituting said radiation within said housing; and
(e) wherein the first and second dielectric means are arranged relative to each other such that the antenna is capable of far-field communications, independent of a reflective collector.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A small aperture horn antenna comprising an outer conical shell and interiorly of which are formed at least first and second conically flared, dielectric-coated stages of differing flare angles which are coupled to one another via an intermediate cylindrical stage. The dielectric coating is applied to form a uniformly smooth horn interior surface. Mountable to the antenna input aperture are various reflective and homogeneous dielectric refractive focusing lenses and to the output is a low noise waveguide converter. A remotely controlled, axial mount assembly enclosed in a gas-filled, roof mountable radome is also disclosed. Alternatively, the same antenna geometry may be used to transmit a directive electromagnetic wave.
68 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A multimode antenna for receiving and transmitting electromagnetic radiation, comprising:
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(a) a housing having an interior which includes a first region having an outer aperture which conically tapers inward at a first flare angle to a cylindrical region and from an inner edge of which cylindrical region a second region conically tapers inward at a second flare angle less than said first flare angle to an inner aperture, wherein each of said regions is coaxial with the others and a longitudinal axis and wherein a ratio of the diameter of said outer aperture to the distance along said longitudinal axis between said outer and inner apertures is greater than or equal to one-half; (b) a conductor overlying the interior of said housing; (c) first dielectric means at least partially mounted within the housing for focusing said radiation to said longitudinal axis; (d) second dielectric means mounted within the housing and contacting the conductor for reconstituting said radiation within said housing; and (e) wherein the first and second dielectric means are arranged relative to each other such that the antenna is capable of far-field communications, independent of a reflective collector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A multimode antenna for receiving and transmitting electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength λ
- of X meters, comprising;
(a) a housing including a first stage which conically tapers inward at a first flare angle from an outer aperture having a diameter greater than or equal to approximately 6 X and a second stage which conically tapers inward at a second flare angle, wherein each of said first and second stages is coaxially aligned relative to a longitudinal axis and a cylindrical stage mounted therebetween, and wherein the first flare angle is greater than the second flare angle; (b) a conductor overlying the interior of said housing; (c) first dielectric means at least partially mounted within the housing for focusing said radiation to said longitudinal axis; (d) second dielectric means contacting the conductor in a region of at least one of said stages for reconstituting said radiation within said housing; and (e) wherein the first and second dielectric means are arranged relative to each other such that the antenna is capable of far-field communications, independent of a reflective collector. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
- of X meters, comprising;
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18. A multimode antenna for receiving and transmitting electromagnetic radiation, having a wavelength λ
- of X meters, comprising;
(a) a housing having an interior which includes a first region which conically tapers inward from an outer aperture having a diameter greater than or equal to 6 X at a first half flare angle in the range of 24 to 34 degrees to a forward end of a cylindrical region and from an aft end of which cylindrical region a second region conically tapers at a second half flare angle in the range of 20 to 30 degrees to an inner aperture and wherein each of said regions is coaxial with the others of said regions and a longitudinal axis and wherein a ratio of the diameter of said outer aperture to the distance along said longitudinal axis between said outer and inner apertures is greater than or equal to one-half; (b) a conductor overlying the interior of said housing; (c) first dielectric means at least partially mounted within the housing for focusing said radiation to said longitudinal axis; (d) second dielectric means contacting the conductor in at least one of said regions for reconstituting said radiation within said housing relative to said longitudinal axis; and (e) wherein the first and second dielectric means are arranged relative to each other such that the antenna is capable of far-field communications, independent of a reflective collector. - View Dependent Claims (19)
- of X meters, comprising;
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20. A multimode antenna for receiving and transmitting electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength λ
- of X meters, comprising;
(a) a housing having an interior which includes a first region having an outer aperture exhibiting a diameter that is greater than or equal to 6 X and which conically tapers inward at a first flare angle to a cylindrical region and from an inner edge of which cylindrical region a second region conically tapers at a second flare angle less than said first flare angle to an inner aperture and wherein each of said regions is coaxial with the others relative a longitudinal center axis; (b) a conductor overlying the interior of said housing; (c) dielectric means including a first portion at least partially mounted within the housing for focusing said radiation to said longitudinal axis and a second portion mounted to contact the conductor in at least one of said regions for reconstituting said radiation within said housing and d) wherein the first and second dielectric portions are arranged relative to each other such that the antenna is capable of far-field communications, independent of a reflective collector. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
- of X meters, comprising;
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30. A multimode antenna for receiving and transmitting electromagnetic radiation, comprising:
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(a) a housing, the interior of which includes a first region having an outer aperture which conically tapers inward at a first flare angle to a cylindrical region and from an aft edge of which cylindrical region a second region conically tapers at a second flare angle less than said first flare angle to an inner aperture and wherein each of said regions is coaxial with the others relative a longitudinal center axis and wherein a ratio of a diameter of said outer aperture to the distance along said center axis between said inner and outer apertures is greater than or equal to one-half; (b) a conductor overlying the interior of said housing; (c) dielectric means including a first portion at least partially mounted within the housing for focusing said radiation to said longitudinal axis and a second portion for reconstituting said radiation within said housing; (d) means for sealing the interior of the housing from a surrounding environment; and (e) wherein the first and second portions of the dielectric means are arranged relative to each other such that the antenna is capable of far-field communications, independent of a reflective collector. - View Dependent Claims (31)
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32. An antenna for receiving and transmitting electromagnetic radiation comprising:
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(a) a housing comprised of a plurality of sections and means for telescopically mounting each of the sections to one another relative to a longitudinal axis, such that when assembled, a housing interior provides a first region having an outer aperture which tapers inward from said outer aperture at a first flare angle to a forward end of a cylindrical region and from an aft end of which cylindrical region a second region conically tapers at a second flare angle less than said first flare angle to an inner aperture and wherein each of said regions is coaxial with the others relative to said longitudinal axis; (b) a continuous flexible conductor coupled to said inner and outer apertures to conformally overlay the interior of said housing when assembled; and (c) dielectric means mounted within said housing for reconstituting said radiation within said housing.
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33. A multimode antenna for receiving and transmitting electromagnetic radiation, having a wavelength λ
- of X meters, comprising;
(a) a housing having an interior including a first region which conically tapers inward at a first flare angle from an outer aperture having a diameter that is greater than or equal to 6 X to a forward end of a cylindrical region and from an aft end of which cylindrical region, a second region conically tapers at a second flare angle less than said first flare angle to an inner aperture, wherein each of said regions is coaxial with the others of said regions and a longitudinal axis and wherein a ratio of the diameter of said outer aperture to the distance along said longitudinal axis between said outer and inner apertures is greater than or equal to one-half; (b) a conductor overlying the interior of said housing; (c) first dielectric means mounted to partially extend from the interior of said housing for focusing said radiation to said longitudinal axis; (d) second dielectric means for reconstituting said radiation within said housing; and (e) wherein the first and second dielectric means are arranged relative to each other such that the antenna is capable of far-field communications, independent of a reflective collector.
- of X meters, comprising;
Specification