Reflector antenna and method of producing a sub-reflector

• US 6,456,253 B1
• Filed: 11/01/2000
• Issued: 09/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RR Elektronische Gerate GmbH & Company KG
• Original Assignee: RR Elektronische Gerate GmbH & Company KG
• Inventors: Scott, Brian, Rümmeli, Bernd
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Tan
• Application Number:
  US09/704,224
• Time in Patent Office: 692 Days
• Field of Search: 343/781.P, 343/781.R, 343/781.CA, 343/754, 343/755, 343/761, 343/758, 343/837, 343/839, 343/840, 296/00
• US Class Current: 343/839
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/005 Damping of vibrations; Means for reducing wind-induced forces
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/19 comprising one main concave reflecting surface associated with an auxiliary reflecting surface
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/20 wherein the primary active element is fixed and the reflecting device is movable

Abstract

A reflector antenna is disclosed with a main reflector and a rotatable sub-reflector that significantly reduces vibrations in the sub-reflector. The sub-reflector includes a reflecting surface located in front of the main reflector between the main reflector and a radiation source as well as a cylindrical shaft that extends in a direction parallel to a main axis of the main reflector. The sub-reflector is made of two connected parts, wherein one part includes the reflecting surface, and the other part is made of a non-reflecting material and formfittingly engages with the reflecting surface. The sub-reflector is rotatably supported on the cylindrical shaft and has a rotation speed of between approximately 1500 to 3500 rpm.

Claims

1. Reflector antenna adapted to receive electromagnetic radiation beams from a radiation source and including a main reflector and a rotatable sub-reflector, the sub-reflector comprising

a reflecting surface located in front of the main reflector between the main reflector and the radiation source, and

a cylindrical shaft extending in a direction parallel to a main axis of the main reflector and rotatably supporting the sub-reflector,

wherein the sub-reflector is in the form of a rotationally symmetric body that is made of a non-reflecting solid material that does not reflect the electromagnetic radiation beams, and further comprises a reflecting surface embedded in the non-reflecting solid material, and

wherein the non-reflecting solid material has the form of a cylinder and is made of two parts connected with one another, wherein an end of one part opposite the other part includes the reflecting surface, and an end of the other part formfittingly engages with the reflecting surface.

2. Reflector antenna according to claim 1, wherein the sub-reflector is supported on the cylindrical shaft so as to be free from vibrations.

3. Reflector antenna according to claim 1, wherein the sub-reflector is in the form of a rotationally symmetric body that is free from an imbalance.

4. Reflector antenna according to claim 1, wherein the reflecting surface has a hyperbolic cross-section which projects into a complementary recess of the other part.

5. Reflector antenna according to claim 1, wherein the reflecting surface is formed by applying a reflective coating to the non-reflecting solid material.

6. The reflector antenna according to claim 5, wherein the reflecting surface is a color coating.

7. Reflector antenna according to claim 5, wherein the reflecting surface is an aluminum layer.

8. The reflector antenna according to claim 7, wherein the aluminum layer is evaporated on the non-reflecting solid material.

9. Reflector antenna according to claim 5, wherein the reflecting surface has a specific density substantially identical to a specific density of the non-reflecting solid material.

10. Reflector antenna according to claim 5, wherein the reflecting surface has a specific density substantially identical to a specific density of the non-reflecting solid material.

11. Reflector antenna adapted to receive electromagnetic radiation beams from a radiation source and including a main reflector and a rotatable sub-reflector, the sub-reflector comprising

a reflecting surface located in front of the main reflector between the main reflector and the radiation source, and

a cylindrical shaft extending in a direction parallel to a main axis of the main reflector and rotatably supporting the sub-reflector,

wherein the sub-reflector is in the form of a rotationally symmetric body that is made of a non-reflecting solid material that does not reflect the electromagnetic radiation beams, and further comprises a reflecting surface embedded in the non-reflecting solid material.

12. Reflector antenna according to claim 11, wherein the sub-reflector is supported on the cylindrical shaft so as to be free from vibrations.

13. Reflector antenna according to claims 11, wherein the sub-reflector is in the form of a rotationally symmetric body that is free from an imbalance.

14. Reflector antenna according to claim 11, wherein the reflecting surface has a hyperbolic cross-section.

15. Reflector antenna according to claim 14, wherein the reflecting surface is a color surface.

16. Reflector antenna according to claim 14, wherein the reflecting surface is an aluminum surface.

17. A method for fabricating a sub-reflector for a reflector antenna, comprising:

providing two substantially cylindrical parts of a non-reflecting solid material, with a first cylindrical part bounded by a circular surface and by a hyperbolic surface that is coated with a reflecting coating, and with a second cylindrical part bounded by a parabolic surface;

fitting the parabolic surface into the hyperbolic surface; and

fixedly connecting the parabolic surface which the hyperbolic surface.