Self-supporting unitary feed assembly

• US 7,907,097 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2007
• Issued: 03/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Andrew LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hills, Chris, Syed, Junaid
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, THO GIA
• Application Number:
  US11/779,064
• Publication Number:
  US 20090021442A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,337 Days
• Field of Search: 343/781.P, 343/781.CA, 343/785
• US Class Current: 343/781.00P
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/24 with receiving set
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/526 Electromagnetic shields
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/09 wherein the primary active element is coated with or embedded in a dielectric or magnetic material protective material H01Q1/40, varying the electric or magnetic characteristics of refracting or diffracting devices H01Q3/44
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/193 with feed supported subreflector splash plate feeds H01Q19/134

Abstract

A feed assembly for a reflector antenna having a unitary portion of dielectric material, a proximal end of the unitary portion configured for connection with the reflector antenna. The unitary portion having a waveguide portion extending between the proximal end and a sub reflector support having a sub reflector surface at a distal end. The waveguide portion and the sub reflector surface covered with an RF reflective material. The unitary portion may be cost effectively formed via, for example injection molding and or machining. Alternatively, the feed assembly may be formed as a horn feed, without a sub reflector.

Claims

1. A feed assembly for a reflector antenna, comprising:

a single portion of dielectric material, a proximal end of the single portion configured for connection with the reflector antenna,

the single portion having a waveguide portion extending between the proximal end and a sub reflector support having a sub reflector surface at a distal end;

the waveguide portion and the sub reflector surface covered with an RF reflective material.

2. The feed assembly of claim 1, further including an impedance transformer at the proximal end.

3. The feed assembly of claim 1, wherein the RF reflective material is a metallic coating.

4. The feed assembly of claim 3, wherein the metallic coating is one of aluminum, copper, silver and gold.

5. The feed assembly of claim 1, wherein the dielectric material is non-porous.

6. The feed assembly of claim 1, further including a plurality of corrugations in an outer surface of the sub reflector support.

7. The feed assembly of claim 1, further including a plurality of corrugations in the sub reflector surface.

8. The feed assembly of claim 1, further including a transition element integrated with the proximal end.

9. A method for manufacturing a feed assembly for a reflector antenna, comprising the steps of:

forming a single portion of dielectric material, the single portion having a waveguide portion extending between a proximal end and a sub reflector support having a sub reflector surface at a distal end; and

covering waveguide portion and the sub reflector surface with an RF reflective material.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the covering is via metalizing.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the covering is via application of metal tape.

12. The method of claim 9, further including the step of forming an impedance transformer in the proximal end.

13. The method of claim 9, further including the step of forming a plurality of corrugations in an outer surface of the sub reflector support.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the forming of the plurality of corrugations is via machining the single portion.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the forming is via injection molding.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the forming is via machining a dielectric block.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein the dielectric material is polystyrene cross linked with divinylbenzene.

18. The method of claim 9, wherein the dielectric material has a dielectric constant less than 3.