Horn antenna, waveguide or apparatus including low index dielectric material

• US 7,629,937 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2008
• Issued: 12/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Lier, Erik, Katz, Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; HoangAnh T
• Application Number:
  US12/037,013
• Publication Number:
  US 20090213022A1
• Time in Patent Office: 652 Days
• Field of Search: 343/772, 343/785, 343/786
• US Class Current: 343/786
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 3/12 Hollow waveguides H01P3/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/02 Waveguide horns
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/0086 said selective devices having materials with a synthesized negative refractive index, e.g. metamaterials or left-handed materials

Abstract

A horn antenna includes a conducting horn having an inner wall and a first dielectric layer lining substantially the entire inner wall of the conducting horn. The first dielectric layer includes a metamaterial having a dielectric constant of greater than 0 and less than 1. The horn antenna may further include a dielectric core abutting at least a portion of the first dielectric layer. In one aspect, the dielectric core includes a fluid. A waveguide and a power combiner assembly, each including a metamaterial, are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A horn antenna comprising:

a conducting horn having an inner wall; and

a first dielectric layer lining substantially the entire inner wall of the conducting horn,

wherein the first dielectric layer comprises a metamaterial having a dielectric constant of greater than 0 and less than 1.

2. The horn antenna of claim 1, further comprising:

a dielectric core abutting at least a portion of the first dielectric layer, the dielectric core comprising a fluid.

3. The horn antenna of claim 2, wherein the dielectric core comprises a higher dielectric constant than the first dielectric layer.

5. The horn antenna of claim 1, further comprising:

an impedance matched horn throat defined by at least a portion of the first dielectric layer.

6. The horn antenna of claim 1, further comprising:

a second dielectric layer disposed over at least a portion of the first dielectric layer.

7. The horn antenna of claim 6, further comprising:

a dielectric core abutting at least a portion of the second dielectric layer, the dielectric core comprising a fluid.

8. The horn antenna of claim 7, wherein the second dielectric layer comprises a higher dielectric constant than the dielectric core, and the dielectric core comprises a higher dielectric constant than the first dielectric layer.

9. The horn antenna of claim 6, wherein the first and second dielectric layers further comprise an impedance matching layer near an aperture of the conducting horn.

10. The horn antenna of claim 6, further comprising:

an impedance matched horn throat defined by at least a portion of the first and second dielectric layers.

4. The horn antenna of clam 1, wherein the first dielectric layer further comprises an impedance matching layer near an aperture of the conducting horn.

11. A waveguide comprising:

an outer surface defining a waveguide cavity;

an inner surface positioned within the waveguide cavity; and

a first dielectric layer lining substantially the entire inner surface of the waveguide cavity,

wherein the first dielectric layer comprises a metamaterial having a dielectric constant of greater than 0 and less than 1.

12. The waveguide of claim 11, wherein the inner surface of the waveguide comprises a second dielectric layer, the second dielectric layer having a higher dielectric constant than the first dielectric layer.

13. The waveguide of claim 11, further comprising:

a first aperture configured to receive a radio frequency signal; and

a second aperture configured to transmit the radio frequency signal;

wherein the waveguide cavity is disposed between the first and second apertures.

14. The waveguide of claim 13, wherein the portion of the waveguide surrounding the first aperture is tapered so that the waveguide cavity decreases in size as it approaches the first aperture, enabling the first aperture to operate as a power divider.

15. The waveguide of claim 13, wherein the portion of the waveguide surrounding the second aperture is tapered so that the waveguide cavity decreases in size as it approaches the second aperture, enabling the second aperture to operate as a power combiner.

16. The waveguide of claim 11, further comprising:

a plurality of power amplifiers disposed within the waveguide cavity, the plurality of power amplifiers arranged parallel to each other, the plurality of power amplifiers arranged substantially perpendicular to the inner surface of the waveguide cavity, wherein the plurality of power amplifiers are configured to amplify a radio frequency signal.

17. The waveguide of claim 11, wherein the waveguide cavity comprises a fluid.

18. A power combiner assembly comprising:

a plurality of power amplifiers; and

a conducting horn having an inner wall, the conducting horn comprising a dielectric layer lining substantially the entire inner wall of the conducting horn, the dielectric layer including a metamaterial having a dielectric constant of greater than 0 and less than 1;

wherein the plurality of power amplifiers are configured to provide power to the conducting horn and wherein the conducting horn is configured to combine the power from the plurality of power amplifiers into a single power transmission.

19. The power combiner assembly of claim 18, further comprising:

a plurality of micro strip antenna elements,

wherein at least one microstrip antenna element is associated with each of the plurality of power amplifiers, and wherein the plurality of microstrip antenna elements are configured to provide power from the plurality of power amplifiers to the conducting horn.

20. A reflector antenna comprising the power combiner assembly of claim 18, the reflector antenna further comprising:

a reflective dish,

wherein the conducting horn is configured to direct the single power transmission towards the reflective dish.