Rotary microwave antenna system
First Claim
1. A rotary microwave antenna system for transmitting and receiving microwave signals, comprising:
- a stator for attachment to a platform, including a rotating joint coaxial microwave coupler for electrically coupling a microwave signal between a microwave transmission line and a microwave antenna element of a microwave antenna, the microwave antenna also having antenna electronics mounted thereto, the microwave antenna element being rotatable about an axis relative to the stator,a rotor for attachment to the microwave antenna, including a slip ring circuit for coupling power and low frequency electrical signals to the antenna electronics, the slip ring including an annular disk positioned around the stator and having a plurality of concentric electrical conducting channels electrically connected to the antenna electronics, the rotor being rotatably coupled to the stator so that the rotor rotates relative to the stator and concentric with the axis of rotation of the microwave antenna element, anda plurality of electrical conducting brushes mounted stationary relative to the platform and adjacent to the concentric electrical conducting channels of the slip ring, each brush in movable electrical contact with the concentric electrical conducting channel adjacent thereto, wherein the electrical conducting brushes are electrically connected to power and low frequency electrical signal sources for supplying said power and said low frequency electrical signals to the antenna electronics through the electrical conducting brushes and their adjacent concentric electrical conducting channel.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A rotary microwave antenna system suitable for satellite or cellular microwave radio telecommunications features an integrated, low-profile, rotary microwave joint, slip ring and antenna assembly. The rotary antenna system includes a stator (i.e., stationary portion), for attachment to a mobile platform (e.g., an automobile or other vehicle), having a rotary joint coaxial microwave coupler for electrically coupling a microwave transmission line from a microwave telecommunications radio system to a microwave antenna element of an microwave antenna rotatable about an axis relative to the mobile platform. The rotary antenna system also includes a rotor (i.e., rotary portion) for attachment to the microwave antenna. The rotor includes a slip ring circuit (or brushes) for coupling power and low frequency electrical signals to the microwave antenna through contacting brushes (or slip ring) attached to the stator, rotates relative to the stator, and is concentric with the axis of rotation of the microwave antenna. The stator includes a disk having a peripheral edge around its circumference, and the rotor includes an annular ring having an inner edge around a central opening and a peripheral edge around its circumference. The inner edge of the rotor is adjacent to, concentric with, and rotatably coupled to the peripheral edge of the central disk by means of an assembly of ball bearings placed between the two adjacent edges.
40 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A rotary microwave antenna system for transmitting and receiving microwave signals, comprising:
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a stator for attachment to a platform, including a rotating joint coaxial microwave coupler for electrically coupling a microwave signal between a microwave transmission line and a microwave antenna element of a microwave antenna, the microwave antenna also having antenna electronics mounted thereto, the microwave antenna element being rotatable about an axis relative to the stator, a rotor for attachment to the microwave antenna, including a slip ring circuit for coupling power and low frequency electrical signals to the antenna electronics, the slip ring including an annular disk positioned around the stator and having a plurality of concentric electrical conducting channels electrically connected to the antenna electronics, the rotor being rotatably coupled to the stator so that the rotor rotates relative to the stator and concentric with the axis of rotation of the microwave antenna element, and a plurality of electrical conducting brushes mounted stationary relative to the platform and adjacent to the concentric electrical conducting channels of the slip ring, each brush in movable electrical contact with the concentric electrical conducting channel adjacent thereto, wherein the electrical conducting brushes are electrically connected to power and low frequency electrical signal sources for supplying said power and said low frequency electrical signals to the antenna electronics through the electrical conducting brushes and their adjacent concentric electrical conducting channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A rotary microwave antenna system for transmitting and receiving microwave signals, comprising:
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a stator for attachment to a platform, including a rotary joint coaxial microwave coupler for electrically coupling a microwave signal between a microwave transmission line and a microwave antenna element of a microwave antenna, the microwave antenna also having antenna electronics mounted thereto, the microwave antenna element being rotatable about an axis relative to the stator, and a slip ring circuit for coupling power and low frequency electrical signals to the antenna electronics, the slip ring having an annular disk positioned concentric with the microwave antenna element axis of rotation and having a plurality of concentric electrical conducting channels mounted upon a first surface of the annular disk, the concentric electrical conducting channels being electrically connected to power and low frequency electrical signal sources for supplying said power and said low frequency electrical signals to the antenna electronics, and a rotor for attachment to the microwave antenna, including a plurality of electrical conducting brushes electrically connected to the antenna electronics and mounted stationary relative to the rotor and adjacent to the concentric electrical conducting channels of the slip ring, each brush in movable electrical contact with the concentric electrical conducting channel adjacent thereto, the rotor being rotatably coupled to the stator so that the rotor rotates relative to the stator and concentric with the axis of rotation of the microwave antenna, wherein said power and said low frequency electrical signals are coupled to the antenna electronics through the concentric electrical conducting channels and their adjacent electrical conducting brush. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification