RF receiving antenna system

• US 6,483,477 B1
• Filed: 02/02/2000
• Issued: 11/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Harris Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Harris Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Plonka, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): Clinger, James
• Application Number:
  US09/496,923
• Time in Patent Office: 1,021 Days
• Field of Search: 343/853, 343/820, 325/304, 375/102, 342/373, 342/154
• US Class Current: 343/853
• 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 21/26 Turnstile or like antennas comprising arrangements of three or more elongated elements disposed radially and symmetrically in a horizontal plane about a common centre
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/2682 Time delay steered arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/10 Polarisation diversity; Directional diversity

Abstract

An antenna system is provided for receiving horizontal and vertical components of a transmitted RF signal and for minimizing the magnitude of one of the components prior to application to an RF utilization means, such as a TV receiver. The system includes a vertical antenna for primarily receiving the vertical components of the RF signal. A horizontal antenna serves to primarily receive the horizontal components of the RF signal. An adjustable time delay serves to adjust the time delay between the vertical and horizontal components. A combiner combines the components to obtain therefrom a combined RF signal for application to the RF utilization means.

Claims

1. An antenna system for receiving horizontal and vertical components of a transmitted RF signal and for minimizing the magnitude of one of said components prior to application to an RF utilization means and comprising:

vertical antenna means for primarily receiving said vertical components of said RF signal;

horizontal antenna means for primarily receiving said horizontal components of said RF signal;

time delay adjustment means for decreasing any time delay between said vertical and horizontal components; and

a combiner for combining said components to obtain therefrom a combined RF signal for application to said RF utilization means.

2. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said combiner includes means for combining said components in such a manner to cause phase shifting of said vertical component toward said horizontal component.

3. A system as set forth in claim 2 wherein said combining means is a 90 degree hybrid combiner.

4. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said time delay means is adjustable.

5. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said combining means is a hybrid circuit.

6. A system as set forth in claim 5 wherein said combining means is a 90°

hybrid circuit.

7. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said time delay adjustment means includes a vertical time delay adjuster coupled to said vertical antenna means and a horizontal time delay adjuster coupled to said horizontal antenna means.

8. An antenna system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said time delay adjustment means includes a vertical fine time delay adjuster coupled to said vertical antenna means and horizontal fine time delay adjuster coupled to said horizontal antenna means and wherein each said adjuster is incrementally adjusted such that each fine delay increment is a given increment of time.

9. An antenna system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said time delay adjustment means also includes a vertical course time delay adjuster coupled to said vertical antenna means and a horizontal course time delay adjuster coupled to said horizontal antenna means and wherein each said course delay adjuster is incrementally adjusted such that each course delay increment is substantially greater than each said fine delay increment.

10. A system as set forth in claim 9 wherein said vertical fine time delay adjuster and said vertical course time delay adjuster are connected together in series between said vertical antenna means and said combiner.

11. A system as set forth in claim 10 wherein said horizontal fine time delay adjuster and said horizontal course time delay adjuster are connected together in series between said horizontal antenna means and said combiner.

12. An antenna system for receiving horizontal and vertical components of a transmitted RF signal and for minimizing the magnitude of one of said components prior to application to an RF utilization means and comprising:

vertical antenna means for primarily receiving said vertical components of said RF signal;

horizontal antenna means for primarily receiving said horizontal components of said RF signal;

time delay adjustment means for decreasing an time delay between said vertical and horizontal components;

a combiner for combining said components to obtain therefrom a combined RF signal for application to said RF utilization means; and

vertical signal splitter means coupled to said vertical antenna means for splitting any received RF signal into N correction paths and horizontal splitter means coupled to said horizontal antenna means for splitting any received RF signal into N correction paths wherein N represents the number of signal reflections being corrected.

13. A system as set forth in claim 12 wherein said time delay adjustment means includes a vertical time delay adjuster located in each of said N paths provided by said vertical splitter and a horizontal time delay adjuster located in each of said N paths provided by said horizontal splitter.

14. An antenna system for receiving horizontal and vertical components of a transmitted RF signal and for minimizing the magnitude of one of said components prior to application to an RF utilization means and comprising:

a vertical antenna element that primarily receives said vertical components of said RF signal;

a horizontal antenna element that primarily receives said horizontal components of said RF signal;

a time delay adjuster that decreases any time delay between said vertical and horizontal components; and

a combiner that combines said components to obtain therefrom a combined RF signal for application to said RF utilization means.

15. A system as set forth in claim 14 wherein said combiner combines said components in such a manner to cause phase shifting of said vertical component toward said horizontal component.

16. A system as set forth in claim 15 wherein said combiner is a 90 degree hybrid combiner.

17. A system as set forth in claim 14 wherein said time delay adjuster is adjustable.

18. A system as set forth in claim 14 wherein said combiner is a hybrid circuit.

19. A system as set forth in claim 18 wherein said combiner is a 90°

hybrid circuit.

20. A system as set forth in claim 14 wherein said time delay adjuster includes a vertical time delay adjuster coupled to said vertical antenna element and a horizontal time delay adjuster coupled to said horizontal antenna element.

21. An antenna system as set forth in claim 14 wherein said time delay adjuster includes a vertical fine time delay adjuster coupled to said vertical antenna element and a horizontal fine time delay adjuster coupled to said horizontal antenna element and wherein each said adjuster is incrementally adjusted such that each fine delay increment is a given increment of time.

22. An antenna system as set forth in claim 21 wherein said time delay adjuster also includes a vertical course time delay adjuster coupled to said vertical antenna element and a horizontal course time delay adjuster coupled to said horizontal antenna element and wherein each said course delay adjuster is incrementally adjusted such that each course delay increment is substantially greater than each said fine delay increment.

23. A system as set forth in claim 22 wherein said vertical fine time delay adjuster and aid vertical course time delay adjuster are connected together in series between said vertical antenna element and said combiner.

24. A system as set forth in claim 23 wherein said horizontal fine time delay adjuster and said horizontal course time delay adjuster are connected together in series between said horizontal antenna element and said combiner.

25. An antenna system as set forth in claim 14 including a vertical splitter coupled to said vertical antenna element for splitting any received RF signal into N correction paths and a horizontal signal splitter coupled to said horizontal antenna element for splitting any received RF signal into N correction paths wherein N represents the number of signal reflections being corrected.

26. A system as set forth in claim 25 wherein said time delay adjuster includes a vertical time delay adjuster located in each of said N paths provided by said vertical splitter and a horizontal time delay adjuster located in each of said N paths provided by said horizontal splitter.