Dielectric lens cone radiator sub-reflector assembly

• US 9,105,981 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2012
• Issued: 08/11/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Syed, Junaid ul Islam, Brandau, Ronald J., Wright, Alastair D., Tasker, Allan, Lawson, Brian J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hoang V
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, HAI V
• Application Number:
  US13/448,995
• Publication Number:
  US 20130271348A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,211 Days
• Field of Search: 343/781.CA, 343/781.P, 343/911.R, 343/781
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/0025 Preventing defects on the moulded article, e.g. weld lines, shrinkage marks preventing defects on the preformed parts or layers B29C45/14836
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/24 constituted by a dielectric or ferromagnetic rod or pipe H01Q13/28 takes precedence
• 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 19/134 Rear-feeds; Splash plate feeds
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/193 with feed supported subreflector splash plate feeds H01Q19/134

Abstract

A dielectric cone radiator sub-reflector assembly for a reflector antenna with a waveguide supported sub-reflector is provided as a unitary dielectric block with a sub-reflector at a distal end. A waveguide transition portion of the dielectric block is dimensioned for insertion coupling into an end of the waveguide. A dielectric radiator portion is provided between the waveguide transition portion and a sub-reflector support portion. An outer diameter of the dielectric radiator portion is provided with a plurality of radially inward grooves extending radially inward to a diameter less than an inner diameter of the end of the waveguide and a lens bore extends from a proximal end of the dielectric block towards the distal end of the dielectric block at least to the sub-reflector support portion. The unitary dielectric block may be manufactured as a single contiguous monolithic portion of dielectric material via injection molding.

Claims

1. A cone radiator sub-reflector assembly for a reflector antenna with a waveguide supported sub-reflector, comprising:

a unitary dielectric block;

a sub-reflector provided at a distal end of the dielectric block;

a waveguide transition portion of the dielectric block dimensioned for insertion coupling into an end of the waveguide;

a sub-reflector support portion of the dielectric block;

a dielectric radiator portion between the waveguide transition portion and the sub-reflector support portion;

an outer diameter of the dielectric radiator portion provided with a plurality of radially inward grooves; and

a lens bore extending from a proximal end of the dielectric block towards the distal end of the dielectric block at least to the sub-reflector support portion;

the radially inward grooves extending radially inward to a diameter less than an inner diameter of the end of the waveguide;

a maximum material thickness of the unitary dielectric block occurs between a sidewall of one of the radially inward grooves and the sub-reflector.

2. The sub-reflector assembly of claim 1, further including an inverted impedance transformer provided in the waveguide transition portion.

3. The sub-reflector assembly of claim 1, wherein the bore and the radially inward grooves are tapered.

4. The sub-reflector assembly of claim 1, wherein the sub-reflector is a metal coating upon the distal end of the dielectric block.

5. The sub-reflector assembly of claim 1, wherein the sub-reflector is a separate metal disc seated upon the distal end of the dielectric block.

6. The sub-reflector assembly of claim 1, wherein the lens bore extends through the dielectric block to the distal end.

7. The sub-reflector assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of radially inward grooves is two.

8. The sub-reflector assembly of claim 1, wherein an outer diameter of the dielectric radiator portion is provided parallel to a longitudinal axis of the waveguide and the sub-reflector support portion is provided angled outward to a periphery of the dielectric block.

9. A method for manufacturing a cone radiator sub-reflector assembly for a reflector antenna with a waveguide supported sub-reflector, according to claim 1, comprising the steps of:

injection molding the dielectric block; and

coupling the sub-reflector to the distal end of the dielectric block.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the coupling of the sub-reflector is via metal disposition upon the distal end of the dielectric block.

11. The method of claim 9, further including an inverted impedance transformer provided in the waveguide transition portion.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein a maximum material thickness of the unitary dielectric block occurs between a sidewall of one of the radially inward grooves and the sub-reflector.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the bore and the radially inward grooves are tapered.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the lens bore extends through the dielectric block to the distal end.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the plurality of radially inward grooves is two.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein an outer diameter of the dielectric radiator portion is provided parallel to a longitudinal axis of the waveguide and the sub-reflector support portion is provided angled outward to a periphery of the dielectric block.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein the coupling of the sub-reflector is via positioning a separate metallic sub-reflector upon the distal end of the dielectric block.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the coupling of the sub-reflector includes a key portion of the sub-reflector inserted into a distal end of the lens bore.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the distal end of the lens bore is tapered towards the distal end of the dielectric block and a proximal end of the lens bore is tapered towards the proximal end of the dielectric block.