Rotatable and scannable reconfigurable shaped reflector with a movable feed system

• US 6,266,024 B1
• Filed: 12/23/1998
• Issued: 07/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fermelia, Louis R., Cascia, Vincent E., Park, Brian M., Ramanujam, Parthasarathy
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, THO GIA
• Application Number:
  US09/222,420
• Time in Patent Office: 944 Days
• Field of Search: 343/757, 343/765, 343/761, 343/779, 343/786, 343/781.CA, 343/781.P, 343/781.R, 343/836, 343/837, 343/878, 343/880, 343/882
• US Class Current: 343/781.0CA
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/288 Satellite antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/192 with dual offset reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/12 using mechanical relative movement between primary active elements and secondary devices of antennas or antenna systems
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/16 for varying relative position of primary active element and a reflecting device
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/18 wherein the primary active element is movable and the reflecting device is fixed
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/20 wherein the primary active element is fixed and the reflecting device is movable

Abstract

An antenna system having a rotatable and scannable reconfigurable shaped reflector with a movable feed system. The antenna system allows beam shapes to be rotated about an optimum axis and defocused while a spacecraft is in orbit in order to change a particular coverage pattern for the spacecraft.

Claims

1. A reconfigurable antenna system for reconfiguring a beam shape, said reconfigurable antenna system comprising:

at least one main reflector having an optimum axis;

at least one subreflector;

a rotating mechanism on said at least one main reflector for rotating a beam about said optimum axis;

a gimbaling mechanism on said at least one main reflector for scanning said beam;

an antenna feed on said at least one subreflector, wherein said antenna feed comprises means for defocusing said feed in order to accommodate beam shape variation;

whereby said beam shape can be rotated about said optimum axis and scanned for beam shape variation.

2. The antenna system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a large C-band antenna, a small C-band antenna, a large Ku-band antenna, and three small Ku-band antennas.

3. The antenna system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said antenna feeds for said Ku-band antennas further comprise means for defocusing said feed in order to accommodate beam shape variation.

4. The reconfigurable antenna system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said antenna feed further comprises a high performance corrugated horn feed.

5. The reconfigurable antenna system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one main reflector and said at least one subreflector further comprise Gregorian configuration.

6. A reconfigurable antenna system for reconfiguring a beam shape, said reconfigurable antenna system comprising:

at least one main reflector having an optimum axis;

at least one subreflector;

a rotating mechanism on said at least one main reflector for rotating a beam about said optimum axis;

a gimbaling mechanism on said at least one main reflector for scanning said beam;

an antenna feed on said at least one main reflector;

whereby said beam shape can be rotated about said optimum axis and scanned for beam shape variation; and

wherein said beam shape is varied by moving said subreflector.

7. A reconfigurable antenna system comprising:

a reflector;

means for rotating said reflector about an optimum axis;

means for gimbaling said reflector;

means for illuminating said reflector; and

means for axially moving said means for illuminating said reflector.