Active reflectarray antenna for communication satellite frequency re-use
First Claim
1. An antenna system, comprising:
- a first plurality of first transducer antenna element means, each of said first transducer antenna element means including an active portion and also including a connection port at which signals are generated in response to reception of electromagnetic radiation of a first polarization by said active portion of said first transducer antenna element means, and which first transducer antenna element means radiates electromagnetic energy of said first polarization from said active portion in response to signals applied to said connection port;
a second plurality, of second transducer antenna element means, each of said second transducer antenna element means including an active portion and also including a connection port at which signals are generated in response to reception by said active portion of electromagnetic radiation of a second polarization, orthogonal to said first polarization, and which second transducer antenna element means radiates electromagnetic energy of said second polarization in response to signals applied to said connection port;
arraying means coupled to said first and second antenna element means for arraying said active portions of said first and second antenna element means in at least an array direction to define an array surface, with each of said transducer antenna element means oriented for transducing radiation of its polarization;
first feed antenna means mounted at a first location offset from said array surface, for transducing electromagnetic radiation of said first polarization flowing in (a) a converging manner from said array surface toward said first feed antenna means, and (b) flowing in a diverging manner from said first feed antenna means toward said array surface;
second feed antenna means mounted at a second location offset from said array surface, different from said first location, for transducing electromagnetic radiation of said second polarization flowing in (a) a converging manner from said array surface toward said second feed antenna means, and (b) flowing in a diverging manner from said second feed antenna means toward said array surface;
a plurality, equal to said first plurality, of first processing means, each of said first processing means being coupled to said connection port of an associated one of said first transducer antenna element means, for receiving signals from said associated one of said first transducer antenna element means in response to said electromagnetic radiation flowing in said diverging manner from said first feed antenna means to produce first received signals, and for at least amplifying said first received signals, and for phase controlling said first received signals in accordance with the location within said first antenna array of said associated one of said first transducer antenna element means for generating first processed signals, and for applying said first processed signals to said connection port of said associated on of said first transducer antenna element means, for causing said first antenna array to generate an amplified, collimated beam of electromagnetic radiation in response to said diverging beam of electromagnetic radiation flowing from said first feed antenna means to said array surface, and for causing said first array to generate an amplified beam of electromagnetic energy converging toward said first feed antenna means in response to receipt of a collimated beam of electromagnetic energy of said first polarization;
a plurality, equal to said second plurality, of second processing means, each of said second processing means being coupled to said connection port of an associated one of said second transducer antenna element means, for receiving signals from said associated one of said second transducer antenna element means in response to said electromagnetic radiation flowing in said diverging manner from said second feed antenna means to produce second received signals, and for at least amplifying said second received signals, and for phase controlling said second received signals in accordance with the location within said second antenna array of said associated one of said second transducer antenna element means for generating second processed signals, and for applying said second processed signals to said connection port of said associated one of said second transducer antenna element means, with phase selected for causing said second antenna array to generate an amplified, collimated beam of electromagnetic radiation in response to said diverging beam of electromagnetic radiation flowing from said second feed antenna means to said array surface, and for causing said second array to generate an amplified beam of electromagnetic energy converging toward said second feed antenna means in response to receipt of a collimated beam of electromagnetic energy of said second polarization.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An antenna suited for a communications satellite includes two separately located, mutually orthogonally polarized feed antennas such as vertically and horizontally polarized linear horns. The horns feed an active reflector antenna array. The array includes a plurality of mutually orthogonally polarized antenna elements such as crossed dipoles or square patch antenna with cross feeds for two independent orthogonal polarizations. The feeds of the antenna elements are coupled to amplifier modules. Each module includes a circulator for each polarization, coupled to a processor including a low noise amplifier, controlled phase shifter, variable gain amplifier and power amplifier. The output of the power amplifier feeds the antenna element through the circulator. The large number of radiating elements allows high power using power amplifier with relatively modest capabilities. The phase shifters of each module independently control the reradiation phase of the vertical and horizontal signals, so that a collimated beam can be independently focused to the two feed points, one for each polarization.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An antenna system, comprising:
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a first plurality of first transducer antenna element means, each of said first transducer antenna element means including an active portion and also including a connection port at which signals are generated in response to reception of electromagnetic radiation of a first polarization by said active portion of said first transducer antenna element means, and which first transducer antenna element means radiates electromagnetic energy of said first polarization from said active portion in response to signals applied to said connection port; a second plurality, of second transducer antenna element means, each of said second transducer antenna element means including an active portion and also including a connection port at which signals are generated in response to reception by said active portion of electromagnetic radiation of a second polarization, orthogonal to said first polarization, and which second transducer antenna element means radiates electromagnetic energy of said second polarization in response to signals applied to said connection port; arraying means coupled to said first and second antenna element means for arraying said active portions of said first and second antenna element means in at least an array direction to define an array surface, with each of said transducer antenna element means oriented for transducing radiation of its polarization; first feed antenna means mounted at a first location offset from said array surface, for transducing electromagnetic radiation of said first polarization flowing in (a) a converging manner from said array surface toward said first feed antenna means, and (b) flowing in a diverging manner from said first feed antenna means toward said array surface; second feed antenna means mounted at a second location offset from said array surface, different from said first location, for transducing electromagnetic radiation of said second polarization flowing in (a) a converging manner from said array surface toward said second feed antenna means, and (b) flowing in a diverging manner from said second feed antenna means toward said array surface; a plurality, equal to said first plurality, of first processing means, each of said first processing means being coupled to said connection port of an associated one of said first transducer antenna element means, for receiving signals from said associated one of said first transducer antenna element means in response to said electromagnetic radiation flowing in said diverging manner from said first feed antenna means to produce first received signals, and for at least amplifying said first received signals, and for phase controlling said first received signals in accordance with the location within said first antenna array of said associated one of said first transducer antenna element means for generating first processed signals, and for applying said first processed signals to said connection port of said associated on of said first transducer antenna element means, for causing said first antenna array to generate an amplified, collimated beam of electromagnetic radiation in response to said diverging beam of electromagnetic radiation flowing from said first feed antenna means to said array surface, and for causing said first array to generate an amplified beam of electromagnetic energy converging toward said first feed antenna means in response to receipt of a collimated beam of electromagnetic energy of said first polarization; a plurality, equal to said second plurality, of second processing means, each of said second processing means being coupled to said connection port of an associated one of said second transducer antenna element means, for receiving signals from said associated one of said second transducer antenna element means in response to said electromagnetic radiation flowing in said diverging manner from said second feed antenna means to produce second received signals, and for at least amplifying said second received signals, and for phase controlling said second received signals in accordance with the location within said second antenna array of said associated one of said second transducer antenna element means for generating second processed signals, and for applying said second processed signals to said connection port of said associated one of said second transducer antenna element means, with phase selected for causing said second antenna array to generate an amplified, collimated beam of electromagnetic radiation in response to said diverging beam of electromagnetic radiation flowing from said second feed antenna means to said array surface, and for causing said second array to generate an amplified beam of electromagnetic energy converging toward said second feed antenna means in response to receipt of a collimated beam of electromagnetic energy of said second polarization. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An antenna system comprising:
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a plurality of antenna element means, each of said antenna element means including active portions, and also including first and second connection ports at which received signals are generated in response to reception of electromagnetic radiation of first and second polarizations, respectively, by said active portions of said antenna element means, and which active portions of said antenna element means radiate electromagnetic energy of said first and second polarizations, respectively, in response to signals applied to said first and second connection ports, respectively; arraying means for arraying said antenna element means to form an antenna array with an array surface, said antenna element means being oriented in said array so as to cause said first and second polarizations of each of said antenna element means to be mutually parallel, for transponding radiation flowing in a direction other than parallel to said array surface; feed antenna means located at a position offset from said array surface for transducing electromagnetic radiation of said first and second polarizations flowing (a) in a converging manner from said array surface toward said feed antenna means, and (b) in a diverging manner from said feed antenna means toward said array surface; and processing means associated with each of said antenna element means, and coacting with others of said processing means, for receiving first and second received signals from the associated one of said antenna element means in response to said first and second polarizations, respectively, of said electromagnetic radiation flowing in a diverging manner from said feed antenna means, and for at least amplifying each of said received signals separately to produce amplified signals, and for coupling said amplified signals back to said associated antenna element means, with relative phase selected for causing said antenna element means of said array to generate first and second amplified, collimated beams of electromagnetic radiation, and for causing said antenna elements of said array to generate first and second amplified beams of electromagnetic energy converging toward said feed antenna means in response to receipt of first and second collimated beams of electromagnetic energy of said first and second polarizations, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification