Diagonal dual-polarized broadband horn antenna

• US 6,489,931 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2000
• Issued: 12/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ETS-Lindgren LP (ESCO Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: EMC Test Systems LP (ESCO Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Liu, Kefeng
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, THO GIA
• Application Number:
  US09/746,964
• Publication Number:
  US 20020080081A1
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• Field of Search: H01/Q 1.300, H01/Q 1.302, 343/703, 343/772, 343/783, 343/786
• US Class Current: 343/786
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/0275 Ridged horns slot-line radiating ends H01Q13/085

Abstract

A diagonal dual-polarized broadband horn antenna. The unique use of diagonal line ridges placed in the corners of the aperture of the diagonal dual-polarized broadband horn antenna. The sides of the diagonal dual-polarized broadband horn antenna are made of any number of materials including dielectric material or metallic material. The operating frequency range of one embodiment of the present invention is approximately 100 MHz to 18 GHz in one embodiment. The present invention is scaleable to allow operation at even higher and lower frequencies. This ability of the present invention to adapt to a number of frequency ranges allows application for a wide variety of electromagnetic testing applications. The use of the diagonal line ridges allows for a broadband horn antenna that is significantly more manageable that conventional broadband horn antennas, while offering operation at common frequency ranges. Moreover, the unique use of the diagonal line ridges provides for operation at the lower ends of the frequency spectrum without requiring the radical increase in size that conventional broadband horn antenna approaches require. The present invention allows for use of any number of tuning bars to focus the frequencies emitted from a diagonal dual-polarized broadband horn antenna into a common direction. The use of the present invention is operable to perform electromagnetic testing of any number of devices including wireless communication devices, wireless appliances, satellite communication devices, and other devices.

Claims

1. A diagonal dual-polarized broadband horn antenna, comprising:

a square cavity having a plurality of corners;

a diagonal line ridge located at one of the plurality of corners; and

a plurality of electrical connectors, mounted on the diagonal dual-polarized broadband horn antenna, that receive a signal that is used to energize the diagonal line ridge to generate electromagnetic illumination.

2. The diagonal dual-polarized broadband horn antenna of claim 1, further comprising a tuning bar, mounted on the square cavity, that is operable to improve matching conditions of a plurality of frequencies emanating from the diagonal dual-polarized broadband horn antenna in a common direction.

3. The diagonal dual-polarized broadband horn antenna of claim 1, wherein the square cavity comprises at least one of a dielectric material and a metallic material.

4. The diagonal dual-polarized broadband horn antenna of claim 1, wherein at least one electrical connector of the plurality of electrical connectors comprises a radio frequency connector.

5. The diagonal dual-polarized broadband horn antenna of claim 1, further comprising an integrated, shielded mounting flange located at an end of the diagonal dual-polarized broadband horn antenna.

6. The diagonal dual-polarized broadband horn antenna of claim 1, wherein the diagonal line ridge comprises a smooth shape.

7. The diagonal dual-polarized broadband horn antenna of claim 1, wherein the diagonal dual-polarized broadband horn antenna is operable for installation on a shield line of a shielded anechoic test chamber.

8. A diagonal dual-polarized broadband horn antenna, comprising:

an aperture;

the aperture comprises a corner;

a diagonal line ridge that is positioned at the corner; and

at least two input feeds, on a mounting flange, that are operable to permit simultaneous measurements for dual polarizations emanating from the diagonal dual-polarized broadband horn antenna.

9. The diagonal dual-polarized broadband horn antenna of claim 8, wherein the aperture further comprises three additional corners;

and

three additional diagonal line ridges, each of the three additional diagonal line ridges is positioned at one of the three additional corners.

10. The diagonal dual-polarized broadband horn antenna of claim 8, wherein the diagonal line ridge comprises a tapered ridge shape.

11. The diagonal dual-polarized broadband horn antenna of claim 8, further comprising:

a cavity; and

a tuning bar, mounted on the cavity, that is operable to improve matching conditions for a plurality of frequencies emanating from the diagonal dual-polarized broadband horn antenna in a common direction.

12. The diagonal dual-polarized broadband horn antenna of claim 8, further comprising:

a cavity; and

the cavity comprises at least one of a dielectric material and a metallic material.

13. The diagonal dual-polarized broadband horn antenna of claim 8, wherein the diagonal dual-polarized broadband horn antenna is operable for installation on a shield line of a shielded anechoic test chamber.

14. A diagonal dual-polarized broadband horn antenna, comprising:

a square cavity;

a mounting flange coupled to the square cavity; and

two input feeds, on the mounting flange, that are operable to permit simultaneous measurements for dual polarizations emanating from the diagonal dual-polarized broadband horn antenna, wherein the square cavity comprises a plurality of corners; and

a plurality of diagonal line ridges, each of the plurality of diagonal line ridges is positioned at one of the plurality of corners.

15. The diagonal dual-polarized broadband horn antenna of claim 14, wherein the diagonal dual-polarized broadband horn antenna is operable to generate electromagnetic illumination having a frequency range with a low end extended to approximately 100 MHz.

16. The diagonal dual-polarized broadband horn antenna of claim 14, wherein the square cavity comprises a dielectric material.

17. The diagonal dual-polarized broadband horn antenna of claim 14, further comprising a tuning bar, mounted on the square cavity, that is operable to improve a matching condition for a plurality of frequencies emanating from the diagonal dual-polarized broadband horn antenna in a common direction.

18. The diagonal dual-polarized broadband horn antenna of claim 14, wherein the diagonal dual-polarized broadband horn antenna is operable for installation on a shield line of a shielded anechoic test chamber.