Multiple beam antenna system for simultaneously receiving multiple satellite signals

• US 6,198,449 B1
• Filed: 10/15/1998
• Issued: 03/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dovedale Investments Ltd.
• Original Assignee: E*Star, Inc.
• Inventors: Weakley, Thomas C., Townley, Scott A., Muhlhauser, Nicholas L.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, HOANGANH T
• Application Number:
  US09/172,669
• Time in Patent Office: 873 Days
• Field of Search: H01/Q 1.906, 343/753, 343/895, 343/853, 343/789, 343/754, 343/844, 343/850, 342/361, 342/362, 342/375, 342/371, 342/372
• US Class Current: 343/753
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 11/08 Helical antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 11/083 Tapered helical aerials, e.g. conical spiral aerials
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/0258 Orthomode horns orthomode transducers H01P1/161
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/175 arrayed along the focal line of a cylindrical focusing surface
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/0037 linear waveguide fed arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/061 Two dimensional planar arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/24 Combinations of antenna units polarised in different directions for transmitting or receiving circularly and elliptically polarised waves or waves linearly polarised in any direction circularly polarised patch antennas H01Q9/0428; circularly polarised horns H01Q13/0241; cross-polarised horns H01Q13/0258; polarisation converters H01Q15/242; cross-polarised rear feeds H01Q19/136; crossed polarisation dual antenna H01Q25/001
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/245 provided with means for varying the polarisation polarising devices H01Q15/24; tracking by comparing linear polarisation compounds G01S3/146; reducing depolarisation effects H04B7/00; polarisation diversity H04B7/10
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/00 Antennas or antenna systems providing at least two radiating patterns arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern H01Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/008 lens fed multibeam arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/2658 Phased-array fed focussing structure
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/40 with phasing matrix
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/45 using two or more feeds in association with a common reflecting, diffracting or refracting device

Abstract

A multiple beam array antenna system including a first group of right-handed circularly polarized subarrays and a second group of left-handed circularly polarized subarrays. Combined signals from the right-handed subarrays are output via low noise amplifiers to a first electromagnetic lens while the outputs of the left-handed circularly polarized subarrays are sent via low noise amplifiers to a second steering electromagnetic lens. A satellite selection matrix output block allows a user to tap into signals from right-handed circularly polarized satellites, left-handed circularly polarized satellites, and linearly polarized satellites. A plurality of satellites (e.g. right-handed satellite “A” and linearly polarized satellite “B”) may be accessed simultaneously thus allowing the user to utilize both signals at the same time.

Claims

1. A multi-beam antenna system for receiving signals of different polarity, the system comprising:

a receiving device for receiving both linearly polarized signals and circularly polarized signals at substantially the same frequency;

a first electromagnetic lens for receiving signals from the receiving device;

a second electromagnetic lens for receiving signals from the receiving device; and

means for manipulating said first and second electromagnetic lenses so as to enable the system to receive and process circularly polarized signals and linearly polarized signals such that the circularly and linearly polarized signals are processed after going through said lenses.

2. A multi-beam antenna system for receiving signals that are orthogonal to one another, the system comprising:

a receiving device for receiving first and second signals that are orthogonal to one another, at substantially the same frequency;

a first electromagnetic lens for receiving signals from said receiving device and a second electromagnetic lens for receiving signals from said receiving device, such that said first lens receives a first type of signals from said receiving device and said second lens receives a second different type of signals from said receiving device, wherein the first and second types of signals are orthogonal to one another;

means for manipulating said first and second electromagnetic lenses and signals therefrom so as to enable the system to process at least one of;

(i) right-handed circularly polarized signal;

(ii) left-handed circularly polarized signals; and

(iii) linearly polarized signals, so that at least linearly polarized signals are processed following said orthogonal signals being output from said lenses.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said means for manipulating manipulates said first and second electromagnetic lenses so as to enable the system to receive each of right-handed circularly polarized signals, left-handed circularly polarized signals, and linearly polarized signals.

4. The system of claim 2, further including means for receiving said signals that are orthogonal to one another at substantially the same time.