Communication system with broadband antenna

• US 8,760,354 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2010
• Issued: 06/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Astronics Aerosat, Co. (Astronics Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Astronics Aerosat, Co. (Astronics Corporation)
• Inventors: Clymer, Richard, Barrett, Michael, Blanda, Frank, Krivicich, Robert, Anderson, Richard B., Flannery, Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hoang V
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOLECEK, PATRICK R
• Application Number:
  US12/876,552
• Publication Number:
  US 20110215976A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,386 Days
• Field of Search: 343/705, 343/753, 343/882, 343/910, 343/911.R, 343/911.L
• US Class Current: 343/705
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/161 sustaining two independent orthogonal modes, e.g. orthomode transducer combining or separating polarisations and frequencies H01P1/2131
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/28 Adaptation for use in or on aircraft, missiles, satellites, or balloons
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/32 Adaptation for use in or on road or rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/02 Waveguide horns
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/0258 Orthomode horns orthomode transducers H01P1/161
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/02 Refracting or diffracting devices, e.g. lens, prism
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/08 formed of solid dielectric material
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/242 Polarisation converters
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/08 for modifying the radiation pattern of a radiating horn in which it is located corrugated horns H01Q13/0208; producing a circular polarisation H01Q13/0241
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/0037 linear waveguide fed arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/08 the units being spaced along or adjacent to a rectilinear path waveguide fed H01Q21/0037
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/08 for varying two co-ordinates of the orientation

Abstract

A communication system including an antenna array with feed network coupled to communication electronics. In one example, a communication subsystem comprises a plurality of antennas each adapted to receive an information signal and a plurality of orthomode transducers coupled to corresponding ones of the plurality of antennas, each OMT is adapted to provide at a first component signal having a first polarization and a second component signal having a second polarization. The communication subsystem also comprises a feed network that receives the first component signal and the second component signal from each orthomode transducer and provides a first summed component signal at a first feed port and a second summed component signal at a second feed port, and a phase correction device coupled to the first and second feed ports and adapted to phase match the first summed component signal with the second summed component signal.

Claims

1. A communications system comprising:

an antenna array including;

a plurality of antennas configured to receive an information signal from a source, each antenna including a dielectric lens coupled to a respective antenna that focuses the information signal to a feed point of the respective antenna, each dielectric lens having a plano-convex exterior shape that comprises a single step Fresnel feature having a substantially trapezoidal shape, wherein a first boundary of the single step Fresnel feature is formed adjacent and substantially parallel to a planar surface of the dielectric lens and a convex surface of the dielectric lens extends outwardly from an aperture of the respective antenna; and

a waveguide feed network coupled to each antenna of the plurality of antennas and constructed and arranged receive the information signal from the plurality of antennas and to guide the signal to a first feed port and a second feed port, the waveguide feed network comprising a plurality of orthomode transducers, each orthomode transducer coupled to a respective one of the plurality of antennas and configured to split the information signal into a first component signal having a first polarization and a second component signal having a second polarization, the second polarization being orthogonal to the first polarization; and

a polarization converter unit coupled to the first feed port and a second feed port and configured to compensate for polarization skew between the antenna array and the source;

wherein the feed network is coupled to the plurality of antennas via the plurality of orthomode transducers;

wherein the feed network is constructed and arranged to receive the first component signal and the second component signal from each orthomode transducer and to provide a first summed component signal at the first feed port and a second summed component signal at the second feed port; and

wherein the polarization converter unit is coupled to the first and second feed ports and is further configured to receive the first summed component signal and the second summed component signal and to compensate for phase imbalance between the first and second summed component signals and to provide output signals.

2. The communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of antennas includes a plurality of horn antennas.

3. The communications system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the plurality of horn antennas comprises a first horn antenna and a second horn antenna, substantially identical to the first horn antenna.

4. The communications system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each orthomode transducer has a first port and a second port, each orthomode transducer configured to receive the information signal from the corresponding antenna and to provide at the first port the first component signal and to provide at the second port the second component signal.

5. The communications system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the feed network comprises substantially symmetrical paths so that a path of the first component signal from each orthomode transducer to the first feed port and a path of the second component signal from each orthomode transducer to the second feed port are substantially symmetrical.

6. The communications system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a gimbal assembly coupled to the antenna array and configured to move the antenna array in azimuth and elevation.

7. The communications system as claimed in claim 6, wherein gimbal assembly further includes an elevation drive configured to move the antenna array in elevation and an azimuth drive configured to move the antenna array in azimuth.

8. The communications system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the gimbal assembly includes a mounting bracket configured to mount the antenna array and the gimbal assembly to a host vehicle.

9. The communications system as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a down converter unit configured to receive the output signals;

wherein the gimbal assembly comprises a processor coupled to the down converter unit and configured to receive a first signal from the down converter unit and to provide a control signal to the antenna array based on the first signal to control the antenna array to track the source.

10. The communications system as claimed in claim 9, wherein down converter unit is configured to down convert the output signals in frequency to provide an intermediate frequency signal, and comprises a control interface, a directional coupler and an RF detector;

wherein the directional coupler samples intermediate frequency signal to provide a sampled signal;

wherein the RF detector is configured to detect an amplitude of the sampled signal and to provide a second signal representative of the amplitude of the sampled signal to the control interface; and

wherein the control interface is coupled to the processor of the gimbal assembly and is configured to provide the first to the processor, the first signal including amplitude information representative of the amplitude of the sampled signal.

11. The communications system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the processor is configured to use the amplitude information to control the antenna array to track the source based at least in part on signal strength of the information signal.

12. The communications system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the polarization converter unit is co-located with the antenna array.

23. The communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a convex surface of the each dielectric lens extends outwardly from an aperture of the respective antenna.

13. A communications system comprising:

an antenna array including;

a plurality of antennas configured to receive an information signal from a source; and

a waveguide feed network coupled to each antenna of the plurality of antennas and constructed and arranged receive the information signal from the plurality of antennas and to guide the signal to a first feed port and a second feed port, the waveguide feed network comprising a plurality of orthomode transducers, each orthomode transducer coupled to a respective one of the plurality of antennas and configured to split the information signal into a first component signal having a first polarization and a second component signal having a second polarization, the second polarization being orthogonal to the first polarization; and

a polarization converter unit coupled to the first feed port and a second feed port and configured to compensate for polarization skew between the antenna array and the source;

wherein the feed network is coupled to the plurality of antennas via the plurality of orthomode transducers;

wherein the feed network is constructed and arranged to receive the first component signal and the second component signal from each orthomode transducer and to provide a first summed component signal at the first feed port and a second summed component signal at the second feed port; and

wherein the polarization converter unit is coupled to the first and second feed ports and is further configured to receive the first summed component signal and the second summed component signal and to compensate for phase imbalance between the first and second summed component signals and to provide output signals.

15. The communications system antenna as claimed in claim 13, wherein the plurality of antennas are horn antennas.

16. The communications system antenna as claimed in claim 13, wherein the polarization converter unit includes a plurality of attenuators configured to be electronically controllable with a control signal to provide a first value of attenuation in the path of the first summed component signal and a second value of attenuation in the path of the second summed component signal.

17. The communications system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the feed network comprises substantially symmetrical paths so that a path of the first component signal from each orthomode transducer to the first feed port and a path of the second component signal from each orthomode transducer to the second feed port are substantially symmetrical.

25. The communications system as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a gimbal assembly coupled to the antenna array and adapted to move the antenna array in azimuth and elevation.

26. The communications system as claimed in claim 25, wherein the gimbal assembly further includes an elevation drive configured to move the antenna array in elevation and an azimuth drive configured to move the antenna array in azimuth.

27. The communications system as claimed in claim 25, further comprising a down converter unit configured to receive the output signals;

wherein the gimbal assembly comprises a processor coupled to the down converter unit and configured to receive a first signal from the down converter unit and to provide a control signal to the antenna array based on the first signal to control the antenna array to track the source.

28. The communications system as claimed in claim 27, wherein down converter unit is configured to down convert the output signals in frequency to provide an intermediate frequency signal, and comprises a control interface, a directional coupler and an RF detector;

wherein the directional coupler samples intermediate frequency signal to provide a sampled signal;

wherein the RF detector is configured to detect an amplitude of the sampled signal and to provide a second signal representative of the amplitude of the sampled signal to the control interface; and

wherein the control interface is coupled to the processor of the gimbal assembly and is configured to provide the first to the processor, the first signal including amplitude information representative of the amplitude of the sampled signal.

29. The communications system as claimed in claim 28, wherein the processor is configured to use the amplitude information to control the antenna array to track the source based at least in part on signal strength of the information signal.

30. The communications system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the polarization converter unit is co-located with the antenna array.

31. The communications system as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a phase correction device coupled to the first feed port and the second feed port of the waveguide feed network and adapted to receive the first summed component signal and the second summed component signal from the waveguide feed network;

wherein the phase correction device is adapted to phase match the first summed component signal with the second summed component signal.

32. The communication system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the plurality of orthomode transducers are integrally formed with the feed network and with the plurality of antennas.

33. The communication system as claimed in claim 15, wherein a height of the horn antenna is less than approximately 12 inches.

34. The communication system as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a radome at least partially enclosing the plurality of antennas and the feed network.

35. The communication system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the polarization converter unit includes a plurality of attenuators configured to provide a first value of attenuation in a path of the first component signal and a second value of attenuation in a path of the second component signal, the first and second values of attenuation selected to compensate for the polarization skew between the antenna array and the source of the information signal.

14. An antenna assembly comprising:

a first antenna configured to receive a signal from a source;

a second antenna, substantially identical to the first antenna, and configured to receive the signal;

a first dielectric lens coupled to the first antenna and a second dielectric lens coupled to the second antenna, each of the first dielectric lens and the second dielectric lens configured to focus the signal to a feed point of the respective antenna, each of the first dielectric lens and the second dielectric lens having a plano-convex exterior shape comprising a single step Fresnel feature having a substantially trapezoidal shape, wherein a first boundary of the single step Fresnel feature is formed adjacent and substantially parallel to a planar surface of the respective dielectric lens;

a waveguide feed network coupled to the first and second antennas and including a first feed port and a second feed port, the waveguide feed network comprising a plurality of orthomode transducers, each orthomode transducer coupled to a respective one of the plurality of antennas and configured to split the information signal into a first component signal having a first polarization and a second component signal having a second polarization, the second polarization being orthogonal to the first polarization, the waveguide feed network configured to receive the first polarization signal and the second component signal from each orthomode transducer and being constructed to provide a first summed component signal having a first polarization at the first feed port and a second summed component signal having a second, orthogonal, polarization at the second feed port; and

a polarization converter unit coupled to the first feed port and the second feed port that is configured to compensate for any polarization skew between the antennas and the source, and to compensate for any phase imbalance between the first summed component signal and the second summed component signal.

24. The antenna assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein a convex surface of the each dielectric lens extends outwardly from an aperture of the respective antenna.

18. An aircraft-mounted antenna assembly comprising:

at least one horn antenna adapted to receive an information signal,

at least one orthomode transducer coupled to a feed point of the at least one horn antenna, the orthomode transducer having a first port and a second port and being constructed to receive the information signal from the at least one horn antenna and to split the information signal to provide, at the first port, a first component signal having a first polarization and, at the second port, the second component signal having a second polarization orthogonal to the first polarization; and

at least one dielectric lens coupled to the at least one horn antenna that focuses the information signal to the feed point of the at least one horn antenna;

wherein the at least one dielectric lens has a plano-convex exterior shape and comprises a single step Fresnel feature having a substantially trapezoidal shape, and wherein a first boundary of the single step Fresnel feature is formed adjacent and substantially parallel to a planar surface of the at least one dielectric lens; and

wherein a convex surface of the at least one dielectric lens extends outwardly from an aperture of the at least one horn antenna;

further comprising a polarization converter unit coupled to the at least one orthomode transducer and configured to receive the first and second component signals, the polarization converter unit being constructed to compensate for any phase imbalance between the first and second component signals to phase match the first component signal to the second component signal;

wherein the polarization converter unit is further constructed to compensate for polarization skew between the antenna and a source of the information signal and to reconstruct the information signal, with any polarization, from the first and second component signals;

wherein the polarization converter unit includes a plurality of attenuators and is configured to provide an first value of attenuation in a path of the first component signal and a second value of attenuation in a path of the second component signal, the first and second values of attenuation selected to compensate for the polarization skew between the antenna and the source of the information signal.

19. The aircraft-mounted antenna assembly as claimed in claim 18, wherein a diameter of the dielectric lens is less than approximately 12 inches.

20. The aircraft-mounted antenna assembly as claimed in claim 18, further comprising a gimbal assembly coupled to the at least one horn antenna and adapted to move the at least one horn antenna in azimuth and elevation within a circle of rotation.

21. The aircraft-mounted antenna assembly as claimed in claim 20, wherein the at least one of the horn antenna includes a ring for mounting the horn antenna to the gimbal assembly;

and

wherein the ring is formed on an outer surface of the horn antenna proximate to an aperture of the horn antenna.

22. The aircraft-mounted antenna assembly as claimed in claim 18, wherein the dielectric lens is a self-centering lens constructed and arranged to fit at least partially inside an aperture of the horn antenna.