Communication system with broadband antenna
First Claim
1. An antenna array comprising:
- a plurality of horn antenna elements arranged in at least one row of horn antenna elements extending from a first end of the antenna array to a second end of the antenna array, each horn antenna element of the plurality of horn antenna elements configured to receive an information signal and to provide the information signal at a feed point of the horn antenna element;
a corresponding plurality of orthomode transducers, each respective orthomode transducer coupled to a respective horn antenna element and configured to split the information signal into a first component signal provided at a first port of the orthomode transducer and a second component signal provided at a second port of the orthomode transducer, the first and second component signals being orthogonally polarized;
a waveguide feed network coupling the plurality of orthomode transducers to a common array feed point, the waveguide feed network including a first path coupling the first port of each orthomode transducer of the plurality of orthomode transducers to the common array feed point and configured to guide and sum the first component signals from the plurality of orthomode transducers to provide a first summed component signal at the common array feed point, and a second path coupling the second port of each orthomode transducer of the plurality of orthomode transducers to the common array feed point and configured to guide and sum the second component signals from the plurality of orthomode transducers to provide a second summed component signal at the common array feed point, the first and second paths being physically interleaved with one another;
wherein a center-to-center horn spacing between adjacent ones of the plurality of antenna elements in the at least one row is approximately equal to one wavelength at substantially a highest transmit frequency of the antenna array; and
wherein each row of the at least one row of horn antenna elements comprises at least 32 horn antenna elements.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communications system including an antenna array and electronics assembly that may be mounted on and in a vehicle. The communication system may generally comprise an external subassembly that is mounted on an exterior surface of the vehicle, and an internal subassembly that is located within the vehicle, the external and internal subassemblies being communicatively coupled to one another. The external subassembly may comprise the antenna array as well as mounting equipment and steering actuators to move the antenna array in azimuth, elevation and polarization (for example, to track a satellite or other signal source). The internal subassembly may comprise most of the electronics associated with the communication system.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An antenna array comprising:
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a plurality of horn antenna elements arranged in at least one row of horn antenna elements extending from a first end of the antenna array to a second end of the antenna array, each horn antenna element of the plurality of horn antenna elements configured to receive an information signal and to provide the information signal at a feed point of the horn antenna element; a corresponding plurality of orthomode transducers, each respective orthomode transducer coupled to a respective horn antenna element and configured to split the information signal into a first component signal provided at a first port of the orthomode transducer and a second component signal provided at a second port of the orthomode transducer, the first and second component signals being orthogonally polarized; a waveguide feed network coupling the plurality of orthomode transducers to a common array feed point, the waveguide feed network including a first path coupling the first port of each orthomode transducer of the plurality of orthomode transducers to the common array feed point and configured to guide and sum the first component signals from the plurality of orthomode transducers to provide a first summed component signal at the common array feed point, and a second path coupling the second port of each orthomode transducer of the plurality of orthomode transducers to the common array feed point and configured to guide and sum the second component signals from the plurality of orthomode transducers to provide a second summed component signal at the common array feed point, the first and second paths being physically interleaved with one another; wherein a center-to-center horn spacing between adjacent ones of the plurality of antenna elements in the at least one row is approximately equal to one wavelength at substantially a highest transmit frequency of the antenna array; and wherein each row of the at least one row of horn antenna elements comprises at least 32 horn antenna elements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification