Reflector antenna radome attachment band clamp

• US 8,259,028 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2009
• Issued: 09/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Outdoor Wireless Networks LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Andrew LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hills, Chris, Lewry, Matthew, Donaldson, Tracy, Hughes, Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): DUONG, DIEU HIEN
• Application Number:
  US12/636,068
• Publication Number:
  US 20110140983A1
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: 343/872, 343/781.P, 343/781.R, 343/781.CA, 343/775, 343/840, 343/779
• US Class Current: 343/872
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/42 Housings not intimately mechanically associated with radiating elements, e.g. radome
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/14 Reflecting surfaces; Equivalent structures electromagnetic shields H01Q1/526
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/16 curved in two dimensions, e.g. paraboloidal
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/12 wherein the surfaces are concave H01Q19/18 takes precedence

Abstract

A band clamp for coupling a radome to a distal end of a reflector dish for improving the front to back ratio of a reflector antenna, the band clamp provided with an inward projecting proximal lip and an inward projecting distal lip. The distal lip dimensioned with an inner diameter equal to or less than a reflector aperture of the reflector dish. The proximal lip provided with a turnback region dimensioned to engage an outer surface of a signal area of the reflector dish in an interference fit. A width of the band clamp may be dimensioned, for example, between 0.8 and 1.5 wavelengths of an operating frequency.

Claims

1. A band clamp for coupling a radome to a distal end of a reflector dish, comprising:

a band with an inward projecting proximal lip and an inward projecting distal lip;

the distal lip dimensioned with an inner diameter less than or equal to a reflector aperture of the reflector dish;

the proximal lip provided with a turnback region dimensioned to engage an outer surface of a signal area of the reflector dish in an interference fit.

2. The band clamp of claim 1, wherein the band clamp has a width between 0.8 and 1.5 wavelengths of an operating frequency.

3. The band clamp of claim 2, wherein a width clamp is coupled to an outer diameter of the band clamp.

4. The band clamp of claim 2, wherein the width clamp has an angle.

5. The band clamp of claim 4, wherein the angle is 60 degrees.

6. The band clamp of claim 1, wherein a ratio of the inner diameter and the reflector aperture is equal to or between 0.97 and 1.

7. The band clamp of claim 1, wherein the band clamp has a width between 0.8 and 1.5 wavelengths of an operating frequency and the proximal lip includes a fold towards the reflector dish.

8. The band clamp of claim 1, wherein the band clamp has a width between 0.8 and 1.5 wavelengths of an operating frequency;

and a ratio of the inner diameter and the reflector aperture is equal to or between 0.97 and 1.

9. The band clamp of claim 1, wherein the turnback region is an outward bend of the proximal lip, prior to an inward end of the proximal lip.

10. A reflector antenna, comprising:

a reflector dish;

a radome;

a band clamp coupling the radome to a distal end of the reflector dish;

the band clamp provided with an inward projecting proximal lip and an inward projecting distal lip;

the distal lip dimensioned with an inner diameter less than or equal to a reflector aperture of the reflector dish;

the proximal lip provided with a turnback region dimensioned to engage an outer surface of a signal area of the reflector dish in an interference fit.

11. The reflector antenna of claim 10, wherein the band clamp has a width between 0.8 and 1.5 wavelengths of an operating frequency.

12. The reflector antenna of claim 10, wherein a ratio of the inner diameter and the reflector aperture is equal to or between 0.97 and 1.

13. The reflector antenna of claim 10, wherein the band clamp has a width between 0.8 and 1.5 wavelengths of an operating frequency and the proximal lip includes a fold towards the reflector dish.

14. The reflector antenna of claim 10, wherein the band clamp has a width between 0.8 and 1.5 wavelengths of an operating frequency;

and the inner diameter is a ratio of the inner diameter and the reflector aperture equal to or between 0.97 and 1.

15. The reflector antenna of claim 10, wherein the turnback region is an outward bend of the proximal lip, prior to an inward end of the proximal lip.

16. The reflector antenna of claim 10, wherein a width clamp is coupled to an outer diameter of the band clamp.

17. The reflector antenna of claim 16, wherein the width clamp has an angle.

18. The reflector antenna of claim 17, wherein the angle is 60 degrees.

19. A method for reducing a front to back ratio of a reflector antenna with a reflector dish and a radome, comprising the steps of:

forming a band clamp with an inward projecting proximal lip and an inward projecting distal lip;

the distal lip dimensioned with an inner diameter less than or equal to a reflector aperture of the reflector dish;

the proximal lip provided with a turnback region dimensioned to engage an outer surface of a signal area of the reflector dish in an interference fit; and

coupling the radome to the reflector dish with the band clamp.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the band clamp has a width between 0.8 and 1.5 wavelengths of an operating frequency.