Thales

Eric Vourch

Jacques Maurel

Michel Leveque

An array antenna with reflector(s) (AR) comprises i) an array (RS) of at least two feeds (S-S), including a central feed (S), arranged and positioned so as to transmit and/or receive beams (F-F) in chosen directions, ii) beam-forming means responsible for controlling the amplitude and phase of each of the feeds by means of amplitude/phase laws applied to their ports and providing an appropriate amplification level, in order for each feed (S-S) to transmit a chosen radiation pattern (forming a beam and comprising a main lobe) intended to cover a chosen zone (Z-Z), and iii) at least one reflector (RC) provided with a surface (SU) specifically for reflecting the beams delivered by the feeds and/or intended for the latter, and shaped tree-dimensionally so as to reflect the beam delivered by each feed (S-S) by spreading its energy such that it covers the chosen associated zone, that the main lobe of the radiation pattern associated with the central feed (S) defines a primary coverage (CP) fully including each active coverage zone (ZC,ZC) of the antenna (AR), of chosen shape and dimensions, and that the main lobe of the radiation pattern associated with each non-central feed (S-S) at least partially overlaps the primary cover (CP).

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Toulouse, France

Eric Vourch