L-3 Communications Corporation

Unisys Corporation

Bryant Ford Anderson

Joseph Mark Baird

Paul Johann Gartside

Douglas Melville Harrison

Mark Johnathon Yamamoto

Harry M Weinstein

Charles Andrew Deneris

Douglas H Ulmer

Friedrich J Fisher

Kevin L Teuscher

A feed system for an antenna has a set of inner and outer coaxial waveguides which apply, respectively, both higher and lower frequency radiations to a common radiating aperture provided by a horn and shroud which envelops radiating apertures of the individual feed waveguides. Each of the feed waveguides carries signals having a bandwidth of an octave. Lower frequency radiation to be transmitted by the outer coaxial feed waveguide is applied thereto by a set of four waveguides of a launcher which launches a wave with a desired propagation mode into the outer feed waveguide. Each of the launch waveguides is initially a rectangular double-ridged waveguide for increase bandwidth. The ridging is reduced to a condition of no ridging in the outer feed waveguide by a transition to a single inner ridge which terminates in a tapered star-shaped combination ridge within the outer feed waveguide. Impedance matching rings are slidable within the space between the inner and outer surfaces of the coaxial waveguide for development of a desired standing wave ratio for accurate generation of a desired beam pattern. A dielectric rod is disposed in a forward end of the tube of the inner feed waveguide and protrudes therefrom into the horn for shaping a beam of the higher frequency radiation. A single common phase center is provided for all bands with radiation simultaneously at plural bands.

Dielectrically loaded wide band feed

Launcher for plural band feed system

Plural band feed system

Shrouded horn feed assembly

A single integrated antenna feed transmits and receives electromagnetic waves in the C, X, and Ku frequency bands. This antenna feed includes an inner metal tube which lies along a central axis, and an outer metal tube which surrounds and is coaxial with the inner metal tube. Through the inner tube, a passageway is provided which is sized to carry electromagnetic waves in the X-band and Ku-band, but reject electromagnetic waves in the C-band. Between the inner tube and the outer tube, another passageway is provided which is sized to carry electromagnetic waves in the C-band. An I/O port for the X and Ku-bands is provided by a first end of the inner tube, and an I/O port for the C-band is provided by a corresponding first end of the outer tube. This first end of the outer tube lies proximate to but not past the first end of the inner tube. A solid dielectric is inserted into and fills the first end of the inner tube; and, a hollow metal cone is attached to the first end of the outer tube.

Multi-band antenna feed with switchably shared I/O port

A dual frequency waveguide switch passes electromagnetic waves in the X-band along one route, and passes electromagnetic waves in the Ku-band along a different route. This switch includes a housing which has first, second, and third openings for the electromagnetic waves to pass through; and a movable member, mounted in the housing, having first and second passageways. The first passageway is shaped to pass electromagnetic waves in both the X-band and the Ku-band, and the second passageway is shaped to pass electromagnetic waves in the Ku-band but reject electromagnetic waves in the X-band. A forcing mechanism forces the moveable member to a position 'A' in the housing where the first passageway interconnects the first opening to the second opening, and to a position 'B' where the second passageway interconnects the first opening to the third opening.

Dual frequency waveguide switch

Growing community of inventors

Sandy, UT, United States of America

Bryant Ford Anderson