Dually polarized monopulse feed using an orthogonal polarization coupler in a multimode waveguide

• US 5,329,285 A
• Filed: 07/18/1991
• Issued: 07/12/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: McCandless, Jay H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hellner, Mark
• Application Number:
  US07/732,399
• Time in Patent Office: 1,090 Days
• Field of Search: 342/153, 342/188, 333/21 R, 333/115
• US Class Current: 342/153
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/4409 HF sub-systems particularly adapted therefor, e.g. circuits for signal combination multi-lobing aerials or aerial systems H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/024 using polarisation effects in waveguides H01P1/165; for aerials H01Q, e.g. H01Q15/22, H01Q15/24, H01Q19/195
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/161 sustaining two independent orthogonal modes, e.g. orthomode transducer combining or separating polarisations and frequencies H01P1/2131

Abstract

A dually polarized monopulse feed system for processing radar signal information from a target so the target may be identified and tracked includes a symmetrical multimode input waveguide, a coupler for separating polarized modes of signal waves to identify and track the target, waveguides for rejecting and terminating selected polarized modes of signal waves, and a backshort for reflecting selected polarized modes of signal waves.

Claims

1. A dually polarized monopulse feed system for processing radar signal information from a target so the target may be identified and tracked, the system comprising:

a symmetrical multimode input waveguide;

a coupler to process vertical modes of signal wave polarizations;

a monopulse comparator to process horizontal modes of signal wave polarizations;

means for rejecting and terminating selected modes of signal wave polarizations; and

a back short for reflecting selected modes of signal wave polarizations.

2. The dually polarized monopulse feed system of claim 1, wherein the coupler comprises:

opposing rectangular apertures extending orthogonally from a rectangular waveguide, the opposing rectangular apertures separating vertically polarized modes of signal waves from horizontally polarized modes of signal waves;

a magic tee for combining the vertically polarized modes of signal waves separated by the opposing rectangular apertures; and

a backshort for reflecting selected vertically polarized modes of signal waves.

3. The dually polarized monopulse feed system of claim 2, wherein the opposing rectangular apertures include a backshort for reflecting selected vertically polarized modes of signal waves and transmitting horizontally polarized modes of signal waves.

4. The dually polarized monopulse feed system of claim 2, wherein the backshort comprises multiple waveguides of the monopulse-comparator.

5. The dually polarized monopulse feed system of claim 4, wherein the backshort includes stepdowns in the monopulse comparator for independent tuning of the vertical modes of signal wave polarizations.

6. The dually polarized monopulse feed system of claim 4, wherein the backshort comprises a vertical wire grid.

7. The dually polarized monopulse feed system of claim 1, wherein the symmetrical multimode input waveguide comprises an antenna for capturing radar signals .

8. The dually polarized monopulse feed system of claim 7, wherein the antenna comprises a horn.

9. The dually polarized monopulse feed system of claim 2, wherein the opposing rectangular apertures are sized to reflect selected vertically polarized modes of signal waves.

10. The dually polarized monopulse feed system of claim 1, wherein the radar signal information is at millimeter wave radar frequencies.

11. The dually polarized monopulse feed system of claim 1, wherein the system has a three cubic inch volume.

12. The dually polarized monopulse feed system of claim 1, wherein the backshort is positionable to tune out reactance values of selected polarized modes of signal waves.