Rotational parabolic antenna with various feed configurations

• US 8,373,589 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2010
• Issued: 02/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Radiometrics Corporation
• Original Assignee: DeTect, Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: McLaughlin, Scott Andrew, Sloan, Megan Maureen, Lau, Elias Moises
• Primary Examiner(s): Keith, Jack W
• Assistant Examiner(s): BYTHROW, PETER M
• Application Number:
  US12/787,643
• Publication Number:
  US 20110291878A1
• Time in Patent Office: 993 Days
• Field of Search: 342/26.R, 342/26.A, 342/26.B, 342/26.C, 342/26.D, 342/52, 343/720, 343753-755, 343/757, 343/761, 343763-766, 343/834, 343/840
• US Class Current: 342/26.R
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/95 for meteorological use
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/951 ground based
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/132 Horn reflector antennas; Off-set feeding
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/134 Rear-feeds; Splash plate feeds
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/02 using mechanical movement of antenna or antenna system as a whole
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/08 for varying two co-ordinates of the orientation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

A rotational antenna includes a stationary feed which is disposed in a substantially vertical orientation. A parabolic dish is rotationally mounted about the stationary feed in a state of being tipped with respect to the stationary, substantially vertically oriented feed. The rotational parabolic antenna may alternatively be provided with a rotating radio frequency (RF) and acoustic feed. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A rotational antenna, comprising:

a stationary feed which is disposed in a substantially vertical orientation; and

a parabolic dish rotationally mounted about the stationary feed in a state of being tipped with respect to the stationary, substantially vertically oriented feed such that the parabolic dish points upward rather than horizontal, the stationary feed extending through an opening in the parabolic dish,

wherein the stationary feed remains fixed at all times during operation of the antenna, and

wherein the stationary feed comprises a stationary feed column, a radio frequency (RF) feed, and a separate acoustic feed which includes at least one pipe for carrying sound, with the at least one pipe extending up through the stationary feed column.

2. The rotational antenna of claim 1, comprising a positioner which rotatably positions the parabolic dish around the stationary feed.

3. The rotational antenna of claim 2, wherein the positioner comprises:

a stationary antenna mount;

a turntable rotatably mounted to the stationary antenna mount; and

a rotator motor which rotates the turntable,

wherein the rotational parabolic dish is fixedly mounted to the turntable for rotation therewith.

4. The rotational antenna of claim 1, wherein the parabolic dish is tipped about 10 to 20 degrees with respect to a position wherein the parabolic dish is centered with respect to the stationary feed.

5. The rotational antenna of claim 2, wherein a circle is traced out by beam positions of the antenna, and data is collected at one of four, eight, sixteen, or more points on the circle defined by the antenna as the positioner rotates the antenna to point to new positions.

6. The rotational antenna of claim 2, wherein the positioner rotates the antenna at least one of continuously or every preset period of time.

7. The rotational antenna of claim 1, wherein the parabolic dish is rotatably mounted with respect to the stationary feed column by way of a feed column bearing retainer and stabilizer which maintains the stationary feed column supported within the rotatable parabolic dish.

16. The rotational antenna of claim 1, wherein the acoustic feed comprises a plurality of pipes with horns for broadcasting acoustic energy onto the parabolic dish.

17. The rotational antenna of claim 16, wherein the plurality of pipes with horns comprises at least part of a Radio Acoustic Sounding System (RASS).

18. The rotational antenna of claim 1, wherein the RF feed comprises an end portion disposed at an upper end of the stationary feed column, and a coaxial cable extending up through the stationary feed column to the end portion.

19. The rotational antenna of claim 18, wherein the acoustic feed comprises a plurality of pipes with horns for broadcasting acoustic energy onto the parabolic dish, and wherein the horns are located proximate to the end portion of the RF feed.

8. A velocity-azimuth display (VAD) radar wind profiler system for making automatic measurements of wind profiles in the atmosphere, comprising:

a radar controller for controlling the acquisition of wind profiles; and

an antenna subsystem communicatively connected to the radar controller and comprising a rotational antenna, the rotational antenna comprising;

a stationary feed which is disposed in a substantially vertical orientation; and

a parabolic dish rotationally mounted about the stationary feed in a state of being tipped with respect to the stationary, substantially vertically oriented feed such that the parabolic dish points upward rather than horizontal, the stationary feed extending through an opening in the parabolic dish,

wherein the stationary feed remains fixed at all times during operation of the antenna, and

wherein the stationary feed comprises a stationary feed column, a radio frequency (RF) feed, and a separate acoustic feed which includes at least one pipe for carrying sound, with the at least one pipe extending up through the stationary feed column.

9. The VAD radar wind profiler system of claim 8, comprising a positioner which rotatably positions the parabolic dish around the stationary feed.

10. The VAD radar wind profiler system of claim 8, wherein the radar controller comprises a radar acquisition card which acts as a digital intermediate frequency receiver;

a receiver; and

an up/down converter, wherein the receiver interfaces between the radar acquisition card and the up/down converter.

11. The VAD radar wind profiler system of claim 8, wherein the parabolic dish is tipped about 10 to 20 degrees with respect to a position wherein the parabolic dish is centered with respect to the stationary feed.

12. The VAD radar wind profiler system of claim 8, wherein the acoustic feed comprises a plurality of pipes with horns for broadcasting acoustic energy onto the parabolic dish.

13. The VAD radar wind profiler system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of pipes with horns comprises at least part of a Radio Acoustic Sounding System (RASS).

14. The VAD radar wind profiler system of claim 9, wherein a circle is traced out by beam positions of the antenna, and data is collected at one of four, eight, sixteen, or more points on the circle defined by the antenna as the positioner rotates the antenna to point to new positions.

15. The VAD radar wind profiler system of claim 9, wherein the positioner rotates the antenna at least one of continuously or every preset period of time.

20. The VAD radar wind profiler system of claim 8, wherein the RF feed comprises an end portion disposed at an upper end of the stationary feed column, and a coaxial cable extending up through the stationary feed column to the end portion.

21. The VAD radar wind profiler system of claim 20, wherein the acoustic feed comprises a plurality of pipes with horns for broadcasting acoustic energy onto the parabolic dish, and wherein the horns are located proximate to the end portion of the RF feed.

22. A rotational antenna, comprising:

a stationary feed which is disposed in a substantially vertical orientation; and

a parabolic dish rotationally mounted about the stationary feed in a state of being tipped with respect to the stationary, substantially vertically oriented feed such that the parabolic dish points upward rather than horizontal, the stationary feed extending through an opening in the parabolic dish,

wherein the stationary feed remains fixed at all times during operation of the antenna, and

wherein the stationary feed comprises a stationary feed column, and an acoustic feed which includes at least one pipe for carrying sound, with the at least one pipe extending up through the stationary feed column.

23. The rotational antenna of claim 22, wherein the stationary feed further comprises an RF feed having an end portion disposed at an upper end of the stationary feed column, and a coaxial cable extending up through the stationary feed column to the end portion, and wherein the acoustic feed comprises a plurality of pipes with horns for broadcasting acoustic energy onto the parabolic dish, and wherein the horns are located proximate to the end portion of the RF feed.