Space Systems/loral, LLC

Ford Aerospace & Communications Corporation

Evert C Nygren

Edgar W Matthews, Jr

Ching C Han

Jack E Kelly

Paul D Frank

Edward Hirshfield

Sina Barkeshli

Peter W Lord

Vito J Jakstys

George S Cohen

Levent Ersoy

Ernesto A Balderrama

An antenna element and beamforming network (10) preferably comprises a plurality of radiators (12), a plurality of band pass filters (14) and a plurality of test couplers (16). Each radiator (12) is coupled to a dedicated MMIC (18). The output of MMICs (18) are coupled to a power stripline combiner (20) to provide a single output. Each of MMICs (18) is independently controllable to shape the antenna beams as desired for producing nulls in pattern coverage. The output of stripline combiner (20) may also be coupled through an output test coupler (46) to a jammer detector and correlator (24). In one embodiment, radiators (12) are horns that include filters (14). The output of each horn is coupled to the input of its dedicated MMIC (18). In another embodiment, radiators (12) are a patch array coupled together by a stripline combiner. The output of the stripline combiner is coupled by band pass filter (14) to the input of the respective MMICs (18). The present invention integrates these components into a single package with reduced size and weight.

Multiple beam antenna and beamforming network

An antenna has one feed for an S-band electromagnetic signal, and a second feed constructed as an array of radiators to service two C-band signal channels. A subreflector having a microwave frequency selective surface (FSS) is placed in front of a main reflector. The C-band feed is constructed of an array of square aperture horns joined by separate transmit and receive barline beam-forming networks, and a meanderline polarizer to produce circularly polarized radiation patterns. Tapered ridges extend longitudinally along inner wall surfaces of each of the horns to provide increased bandwidth to the C-band feed. The frequency selective surface is constructed, typically, of a generally planar substrate of material transparent to electromagnetic radiation, and numerous metallic, generally annular, radiating elements, or resonators, arranged on the substrate in an array of repeating nested sets of the radiating elements. The lower frequency S-band feed is located behind and to the side of the subreflector for transmission of radiation via a folded optical path to the main reflector. The C-band feed is located in front of and to the side of the subreflector for transmission of radiation along a straight path through the FSS to the main reflector. The locating of the two feeds to the side of the subreflector permits the subreflector to be stowed by folding down upon the C-band feed, and the main reflector to be stowed by folding down upon both the S-band feed and the stowed subreflector.

Multiple band folding antenna

This device provides for a substantially orthogonal transition or connection point between a strip transmission line configuration (one conductor, or two conductors sandwiched around a dielectric support, positioned in air between two ground planes such as might be used in a microwave antenna feed network) and a coaxial line section. The particular construction of the 'side-launch transition' suppresses spurious parallel plate modes, and, in the case of two conductors surrounding a dielectric, trapped modes which occur between the two conductors. A U-shaped upper 'dam' and corresponding lower 'dam,' electrically interconnected at several points, surround the termination of the stripline conductor(s) and provide suppression of parallel plate moding at the transition. In the case of two conductors surrounding a dielectric, electrical interconnection at the terminal point of the stripline conductors suppresses the trapped modes before they can be launched. The system has been found to provide extremely low voltage standing wave ratios over a wide range of microwave frequencies.

Orthogonal launcher for dielectrically supported air stripline

This device provides for a substantially orthogonal transition or connection point between a strip transmission line configuration (one conductor, or two conductors sandwiched around a dielectric support, positioned in air between two ground planes such as might be used in a microwave antenna feed network) and a coaxial line section. The particular construction of the 'side-launch transition' suppresses spurious parallel plate modes, and, in the case of two conductors surrounding a dielectric, trapped modes which occur between the two conductors. A U-shaped upper 'dam' and corresponding lower 'dam,' electrically interconnected at several points, surround the termination of the stripline conductor(s) and provide suppression of parallel plate molding at the transition. In the case of two conductors surrounding a dielectric, electrical interconnection at the terminal point of the stripline conductors suppresses the trapped modes before they can be launched. The system has been found to provide extremely low voltage standing wave ratios over a wide range of microwave frequencies.

Side-launch transition for air stripline conductors

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Los Altos, CA, United States of America

Evert C Nygren