Lockheed Martin Corporation

Gerard Joseph Matyas

Sudhakar K Rao

William Joseph Taft

Michael Cuchanski

Chih-Chien Hsu

Anthony Wykeham Jacomb-Hood

Allen Katz

Douglas Vernon McKinnon

George Silverman

Minh Tang

Wilhelmus H Theunissen

Alan L Stern

Wing Joseph SooHoo

Ronald M Hirschfield

Douglas V Mckinnon

An apparatus for satellite communication may include a reflector configured to redirect electromagnetic energy. Each of multiple feeds may be positioned at a predetermined location with respect to the reflector. A feed-switching mechanism may be configured to selectively activate for use at least one of the multiple feeds. A steering mechanism may be configured to steer the reflector such that a focal point of the reflector approximately coincides with a position of an activated feed of the multiple feeds. The reflector may be mechanically independent of the plurality of feeds and the feed-switching mechanism.

Low cost, high-performance, switched multi-feed steerable antenna system

A dual-band feed horn having a connection surface configured for connection to a waveguide and a first surface coupled to the connection surface. The first surface has a cylindrical surface with a length and a first diameter chosen to propagate TE11 modes for both a low frequency band and a high frequency band. The horn has a bandwidth ratio of the high-frequency band to the low frequency band in the range of 1.6-4.0. The horn also has a substantially conical surface coupled to the first surface at a first slope discontinuity. The conical surface includes multiple surfaces each having a respective slope and coupled to adjacent surfaces by a respective plurality of slope discontinuities each having a respective diameter. The slopes and diameters are chosen to generate primarily TM1,m modes (m=1, 2, 3, etc.) in the high-frequency band and primarily higher order TE1,n modes (n=2, 3, etc.) in the low-frequency band such that the low frequency band and the high frequency band have approximately equal beam widths.

Dual-band feed horn with common beam widths

A dual-band antenna system configured to transmit and/or receive microwave beams over two or more frequency bands with substantially similar beam widths and substantially similar sidelobe levels is disclosed. The antenna system includes at least one reflector and at least one feed horn, the horn configured to provide a first efficiency over a first frequency band and lower efficiencies over one or more second frequency bands. The horn includes a substantially conical wall having an internal surface with a variable slope. The internal surface includes one or more slope discontinuities, wherein the slope discontinuities are configured to generate primarily TEmodes within the first frequency band and within the second frequency bands and generate TMmodes substantially only within the second frequency bands.

Dual-band antenna using high/low efficiency feed horn for optimal radiation patterns

A antenna system for generating and distributing power among a plurality of non-focused beams is provided The system comprises a reflector having a focal plane and a non-parabolic curvature configured to form the defocused beams. The curvature is configured to create a symmetrical quadratic phase-front in an aperture plane of the reflector. The system further comprises a plurality of feed antennas disposed in the focal plane of the reflector and configured to illuminate the reflector. Each feed antenna is configured to contribute power toward each of the defocused beams. The system further comprises a plurality of fixed-amplitude amplifiers, at least one of which corresponds to each feed antenna.

Space segment payload architecture for mobile satellite services (MSS) systems

An antenna system comprises a first reflector and a second reflector including one or more radiating elements disposed on a side of the second reflector facing the first reflector. The one or more radiating elements are configured to illuminate the first reflector. The antenna system further comprises a dual reflector feed configured to illuminate the second reflector. The antenna system may further include a beamforming network configured to feed the radiating elements, and to provide amplitude weighting and/or phase control to the antenna system.

Hybrid reflector with radiating subreflector

A novel single-aperture antenna system for producing multiple closely spaced or overlapping beams. The antenna system has multiple feeds for radiating energy, and a hyperboloidal or ellipsoidal main reflector responsive to the radiated energy for forming multiple beams. The main reflector is configured to form one beam for each of the multiple feeds in the antenna system.

Single-aperture antenna system for producing multiple beams

Methods and apparatus provide vibration-free steered-beam antennas using a module to accommodate segregated de and rf signals. A phase-shifter element is disposed within an interior of the module. A radiating element is provided, and an rf interface is adapted to couple energy between the phase-shifter element and the radiating element. The rf interface is disposed entirely within the interior of the module and is adapted to provide an rf interface with the module substantially only through the radiating element. A dc interface is adapted to couple energy between the phase-shifter element and an electrical connection element disposed exterior to the module.

Growing community of inventors

Bala Cynwyd, PA, United States of America

Gerard Joseph Matyas