Antenna with shaped reflector(s), reconfigurable in orbit

• US 9,774,094 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2015
• Issued: 09/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thales SA
• Original Assignee: Thales SA
• Inventors: Nadarassin, Madivanane, Boudart, Julien, Levert, Laurent
• Primary Examiner(s): Sarwar, Babar
• Application Number:
  US14/874,067
• Publication Number:
  US 20160099504A1
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• Field of Search: 455 9, 455418-420, 455429, 455427, 455431, 4555521, 343779, 343754, 343915, 343912, 343834, 343725, 343765, 343751, 343756, 343761, 343781, 343835, 343840
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/241 used in mobile communications, e.g. GSM H01Q1/247, H01Q1/248 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/288 Satellite antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/50 Structural association of antennas with earthing switches, lead-in devices or lightning protectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/0258 Orthomode horns orthomode transducers H01P1/161
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/00 Combinations of primary active antenna elements and units with secondary devices, e.g. with quasi-optical devices, for giving the antenna a desired directional characteristic combination of horns with slotted waveguide array H01Q13/0233
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/10 using reflecting surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/13 the primary radiating source being a single radiating element, e.g. a dipole, a slot, a waveguide termination H01Q19/15 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/06 Arrays of individually energised antenna units similarly polarised and spaced apart
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/2635 the auxiliary unit being composed of a plurality of antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/06 Airborne or Satellite Networks space-based or airborne stations H04B7/185

Abstract

The antenna is provided with at least one shaped reflector and a primary radiating feed arranged in front of a reflector, which is capable of generating a primary beam with a footprint covering a nominal coverage zone. The antenna is also provided with an adjustment device for the primary beam of the primary radiating feed, whereby said adjustment device incorporates a secondary radiating array comprised of a number of elementary radiating feeds arranged around the primary radiating feed, a beam-forming network connected to the elementary radiating feeds which is capable of synthesizing a secondary beam covering a secondary coverage zone and having a footprint which is superimposed, at least partially, upon the footprint, and a coupling device connected to the primary reception chain of the primary radiating feed and the reception chain derived from the secondary radiating array.

Claims

1. An emitting and receiving antenna for a telecommunications satellite, said antenna comprising:

at least one shaped reflector;

a primary radiating feed having a primary reception chain, said primary radiating feed configured to generate a fixed primary beam with a nominal footprint; and

an adjustment device configured to adjust the primary beam, wherein said adjustment device comprises;

a secondary radiating array comprising a number of elementary radiating feeds accommodated around the primary radiating feed,

a beam-forming network connected to the elementary radiating feeds and configured to synthesize a secondary beam having a minimum energy value in a direction of a jammer and having a footprint which is superimposed, at least partially, upon the nominal footprint, and

a coupling device distinct from the beam-forming network, the coupling device comprising;

a first input connected to the primary reception chain of the primary radiating feed,

a second input connected to a reception chain of the secondary radiating array,

a first filter having an input connected to the primary radiating feed,

a second filter having an input connected on an output of the beam-forming network, and

a dual multiplexer comprising two inputs connected to respective outputs of the first filter and the second filter, wherein the dual multiplexer is configured to multiplex reception frequency bands of the primary radiating feed and the secondary radiating array in order to reconstitute a complete and non-jammed reception frequency band.

2. An antenna according to claim 1, wherein the first filter comprises a selective band-stop filter, and the second filter comprises a selective band-pass filter, the selective band-stop filter and the selective band-pass filter being centered on frequencies corresponding to emission frequencies of a jammer.

3. The antenna according to claim 1, wherein the first filter and the second filter are band-pass filters covering a totality of a reception frequency band of the antenna.

4. The antenna according to claim 1, wherein the coupling device further comprises a switch having an input connected to the primary radiating feed, said switch comprising a first output position connected to the primary reception chain and a second output position connected to an input of the beam-forming network.

5. The antenna according to claim 1, wherein the coupling device further comprises a coupler having an input connected to the primary radiating feed, said coupler comprising a first output connected to the primary reception chain and a second output connected to an input of the beam-forming network.

6. The antenna according to claim 5, wherein the coupler comprises a variable power divider.

7. The antenna according to claim 1, further comprising an electronic scanning control device linked to an on-board computer, said electronic scanning control device being connected to the beam-forming network.