Radar antenna

• US 6,404,399 B1
• Filed: 07/11/2000
• Issued: 06/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Morita, Shigeki
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Hoanganh
• Assistant Examiner(s): DINH, TRINH VO
• Application Number:
  US09/613,738
• Time in Patent Office: 700 Days
• Field of Search: H01/Q.312, 343/761, 343/757, 343/758, 343/781.R, 343/781.P, 343/781.CA, 343/909
• US Class Current: 343/761
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/246 rotating the plane of polarisation of a linear polarised wave guided wave H01P1/165
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/195 wherein a reflecting surface acts also as a polarisation filter or a polarising device
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/20 wherein the primary active element is fixed and the reflecting device is movable

Abstract

A radar antenna with a parabolic reflector having a combined polarization twist reflecting unit and a plane reflector that reflects and transmits radio waves according to their polarized direction and with the plane reflector disposed outside. The plane reflector is integral with the case of the antenna and is disposed at a position that is approximately half of the distance from the parabolic reflector to the focal point of the parabolic reflector. Additionally, a primary radiator is disposed at a center position of the parabolic reflector and at a distance for the plane reflector that is approximately a distance from the plane reflector to the focal point of the plane reflector.

Claims

1. A radar antenna comprising:

a parabolic reflector including a first dielectric, a plurality of first linear conductors and a back conductor, said first dielectric having first and second paraboloid surfaces, said first linear conductors being provided in parallel with one another at intervals on said first paraboloid surface for reflecting a radio wave, said back conductor being provided on said second paraboloid surface for reflecting the radio wave which has passed between said first linear conductors and through said first dielectric;

a plane reflector for passing through the radio wave reflected by said parabolic reflector, including a plate-like second dielectric and a plurality of second linear conductors for reflecting the radio waves toward said parabolic reflector, said second dielectric having an opposing surface which opposes said first paraboloid surface, said second linear conductors being provided in parallel with one another at intervals on said opposing surface;

a primary radiator for radiating the radio wave toward said plane reflector; and

a driving unit for mechanically moving said parabolic reflector to change the reflection angle of the radio wave while said plane reflector and said primary radiator remain in a fixed position relative to said parabolic reflector.

2. The radar antenna as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a case enclosing said parabolic reflector, wherein said plane reflector is integrally formed with said case.

3. The radar antenna as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plane reflector is disposed at a position that is approximately halfway between said parabolic reflector and the focal point of said parabolic reflector, and said primary radiator is disposed at a center position of said parabolic reflector and at a distance from the plane reflector that is approximately the distance from said plane reflector to the focal point of said plane reflector.