Compact spacecraft antenna field aperture load coupler
First Claim
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1. An apparatus adapted to reduce a peak radiated flux density of a horn antenna, comprising:
- a surrogate waveguide comprising;
a first section having a first end configured to be disposed within a waveguide portion of the horn antenna;
a second section having a second end configured to extend to or beyond a wide end of the horn antenna, wherein the second section of the surrogate waveguide comprises a flared aperture where the flare ends at or outside the wide end of the horn antenna and expands to a maximum cross-sectional dimension that is smaller than the largest cross-sectional dimension of the wide end of the horn antenna; and
a face plate at and inside the wide end of the horn antenna through which the surrogate waveguide passes.
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Abstract
An apparatus, method, and system are disclosed that can be used to reduce the peak radiated flux density of a horn antenna or for testing the electronics associated with a horn antenna. A horn antenna with narrow and wide ends can have disposed within it a surrogate waveguide. The surrogate waveguide has a wide end smaller than the wide end of the horn antenna, and the wide end of surrogate waveguide extending to or beyond the wide end of the horn antenna. A mounting plate or face plate covers a portion of the wide end of the horn antenna.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus adapted to reduce a peak radiated flux density of a horn antenna, comprising:
a surrogate waveguide comprising; a first section having a first end configured to be disposed within a waveguide portion of the horn antenna; a second section having a second end configured to extend to or beyond a wide end of the horn antenna, wherein the second section of the surrogate waveguide comprises a flared aperture where the flare ends at or outside the wide end of the horn antenna and expands to a maximum cross-sectional dimension that is smaller than the largest cross-sectional dimension of the wide end of the horn antenna; and a face plate at and inside the wide end of the horn antenna through which the surrogate waveguide passes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for testing electronics associated with a horn antenna, comprising:
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the horn antenna having a narrow end and an wide end; a circular surrogate waveguide inserted into the horn with a straight end and an aperture end, wherein; the surrogate waveguide is aluminum with an anodized exterior surface; the straight end is slip-fitted into the narrow end of the horn; the aperture end extends to or beyond the end of the wide end of the horn; the diameter of the surrogate waveguide is constant from the narrow end near an exit of the wide end of the horn; and the aperture of the aperture end of the surrogate waveguide is smaller than the aperture of the horn; a mounting plate of anodized aluminum that; is mounted at the wide end of the horn; supports the surrogate waveguide which runs through the center of the mounting plate; thermally couples with the surrogate waveguide; and contains at least one perforation outside of the surrogate waveguide with diameter large enough to be above a cutoff for a signal generated by the horn; and a radiation absorbing surface on an actively cooled aluminum plate surrounded by a thin aluminum shroud in a field aperture load configuration, where the radiation absorbing surface is positioned facing a primary direction of energy propagation from the front of the horn. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A method for testing electronics associated with a horn antenna having a narrow end and a wide end, a surrogate waveguide with a straight end and an aperture end, the method comprising:
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attaching the surrogate waveguide to the center of a mounting plate, wherein the shape and dimensions of the mounting plate are substantially the same as the shape and dimensions of the wide end of the horn, wherein the mounting plate comprises at least one perforation outside of the surrogate waveguide having a diameter that is above a cutoff for a signal generated by the horn; inserting the surrogate waveguide into the horn until the straight end of the surrogate waveguide slip-fits into the narrow end of the horn; attaching the mounting plate to the wide end of the horn; and conducting one or more tests using a probe or directional coupler to detect or insert transmissions. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification