Method for dish reflector illumination via sub-reflector assembly with dielectric radiator portion

• US 9,948,010 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2016
• Issued: 04/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Outdoor Wireless Networks LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Brandau, Ronald J
• Primary Examiner(s): LINDGREN BALTZELL, ANDREA J
• Application Number:
  US14/992,062
• Publication Number:
  US 20160126638A1
• Time in Patent Office: 827 Days
• Field of Search: 343781 CA
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/06 Waveguide mouths horns H01Q13/02
• 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 method for illuminating a dish reflector of a reflector antenna, including providing a waveguide coupled to a vertex of a dish reflector at a proximal end, a sub-reflector supported by a dielectric block coupled to a distal end of the waveguide, the dielectric block provided with a dielectric radiator portion proximate the distal end of the waveguide. An RF signal passing through the waveguide and the dielectric block to reflect from the sub-reflector through the dielectric block and at least partially through the dielectric radiator portion to the dish reflector illuminates the dish reflector with a maximum signal intensity and/or signal intensity angular range that is spaced outward from the vertex area of the dish reflector.

Claims

1. A method for illuminating a dish reflector of a reflector antenna, comprising:

providing a dish reflector with a focal point;

providing a waveguide coupled to a vertex of the dish reflector at a proximal end;

providing a sub-reflector supported by a dielectric block coupled to a distal end of the waveguide;

the dielectric block provided with a dielectric radiator portion proximate the distal end of the waveguide;

passing an RF signal through the waveguide and the dielectric block to reflect from the sub-reflector through the dielectric block and at least partially through the dielectric radiator portion to the dish reflector;

the RF signal illuminating the dish reflector with a maximum signal intensity occurring at an angle of at least 64 degrees between a longitudinal axis of the waveguide and a line between a focal point of the dish reflector and the dish reflector.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the dish reflector has a ratio of reflector focal length to reflector diameter that is less than or equal to 0.25.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the ratio of reflector focal length to reflector diameter is less than or equal to 0.168.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the dielectric radiator portion has a diameter that is greater than ⅗

of a diameter of the sub-reflector.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a diameter of the sub-reflector is 2.5 wavelengths or more of a desired operating frequency.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein an outer diameter of the dielectric radiator portion is provided with a plurality of radial inward grooves, the radial inward grooves perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the dielectric block.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the dielectric radiator portion is generally cylindrical.

8. A method for illuminating a dish reflector of a reflector antenna, comprising:

providing a dish reflector;

providing a waveguide coupled to a vertex of the dish reflector at a proximal end;

providing a sub-reflector supported by a dielectric block coupled to a distal end of the waveguide;

the dielectric block provided with a dielectric radiator portion proximate the distal end of the waveguide;

passing an RF signal through the waveguide and the dielectric block to reflect from the sub-reflector through the dielectric block and at least partially through the dielectric radiator portion to the dish reflector;

the RF signal illuminating the dish reflector with a signal intensity within 3 dB of a maximum signal intensity only within an angular range between 38 and 93 degrees between a longitudinal axis of the waveguide and a line between a focal point of the dish reflector and the dish reflector.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the dish reflector has a ratio of reflector focal length to reflector diameter that is less than or equal to 0.25.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the ratio of reflector focal length to reflector diameter is less than or equal to 0.168.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the dielectric radiator portion has a diameter that is greater than ⅗

of a diameter of the sub-reflector.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein a diameter of the sub-reflector is 2.5 wavelengths or more of a desired operating frequency.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein an outer diameter of the dielectric radiator portion is provided with a plurality of radial inward grooves, the radial inward grooves perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the dielectric block.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the dielectric radiator portion is generally cylindrical.

15. A method for illuminating a dish reflector of a reflector antenna, comprising:

providing a dish reflector;

providing a waveguide coupled to a vertex of the dish reflector at a proximal end;

providing a sub-reflector supported by a dielectric block coupled to a distal end of the waveguide;

the dielectric block provided with a dielectric radiator portion proximate the distal end of the waveguide;

passing an RF signal through the waveguide and the dielectric block to reflect from the sub-reflector through the dielectric block and at least partially through the dielectric radiator portion to the dish reflector;

the RF signal illuminating the dish reflector with a signal intensity within 3 dB of a maximum signal intensity only at an angle of greater than 38 degrees between a longitudinal axis of the waveguide and a line between a focal point of the dish reflector and the dish reflector.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the dish reflector has a ratio of reflector focal length to reflector diameter that is less than or equal to 0.25.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the ratio of reflector focal length to reflector diameter is less than or equal to 0.168.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the dielectric radiator portion has a diameter that is greater than ⅗

of a diameter of the sub-reflector.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein an outer diameter of the dielectric radiator portion is provided with a plurality of radial inward grooves, the radial inward grooves perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the dielectric block.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the dielectric radiator portion is generally cylindrical.