Array feed for axially symmetric and offset reflectors
First Claim
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1. A feed for a reflector antenna comprising a reflector, the feed comprising:
- a substrate;
a plurality of radiating elements each comprising at least a radiator, the radiating elements forming a first radiator disposed on the substrate for performing one of radiating a first signal toward the reflector and receiving a first signal from the reflector, and a group of radiating elements disposed on the substrate along a substantially closed curved path, each radiator within the group for performing one of radiating second signals toward the reflector and receiving second signals from the reflector;
wherein the radiating elements are disposed on the substrate in a pattern other than regularly spaced rectangular array and other than a regularly spaced circular array,wherein the pattern precludes formation of a regularly spaced array through placement of one or more further radiating elements and the first signal and the second signals are for substantially combining to produce a signal.
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Abstract
In the past, parabolic offset reflector antennas were fed a signal through a corrugated horn in order to optimize field distribution and polarization at the reflector. It has been found that cost savings and other advantages are realized by using an array of radiating patches. The geometrical placement of the radiating patches and the power distribution to each patch is arranged such that radiated energy from the patches sums at the reflector surface to produce the predetermined field distribution and polarization.
11 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A feed for a reflector antenna comprising a reflector, the feed comprising:
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a substrate; a plurality of radiating elements each comprising at least a radiator, the radiating elements forming a first radiator disposed on the substrate for performing one of radiating a first signal toward the reflector and receiving a first signal from the reflector, and a group of radiating elements disposed on the substrate along a substantially closed curved path, each radiator within the group for performing one of radiating second signals toward the reflector and receiving second signals from the reflector; wherein the radiating elements are disposed on the substrate in a pattern other than regularly spaced rectangular array and other than a regularly spaced circular array, wherein the pattern precludes formation of a regularly spaced array through placement of one or more further radiating elements and the first signal and the second signals are for substantially combining to produce a signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A reflector antenna comprising
a reflector; a feed having a phase centre disposed substantially at a focal point of the reflector and directed thereto, the feed comprising; an irregularly spaced array of radiating elements each comprising a radiator arranged along at least a path about at least a central radiator proximate the phase centre, each radiator within a path for performing one of receiving a signal from the reflector and radiating a signal toward the reflector; wherein the signals are for combining to form a feed signal. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of designing a feed for a reflector antenna comprising the steps of:
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providing desired field distribution and polarisation; dividing the desired field into a plurality of component fields; and
,for each component field, determining radiator locations for a group of radiators and a signal strength for radiating from each radiator in the group of radiators to substantially produce the associated component field at the reflector wherein a combination of component fields at the reflector results substantially in the desired field distribution and polarisation. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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Specification