Space Systems/loral, LLC

Juan Duarte

Terry M Smith

George Hardie

A waveguide slot array antenna system, for use with a communications system 30 disposed on a satellite. The waveguide slot array antenna system comprises a feed waveguide having an input port and multiple output ports, a waveguide slot array having a plurality of slots formed therein that is coupled to the feed waveguide, and a waveguide lens disposed adjacent to the waveguide slot array. The phase of each contributing radiating waveguide is controlled to achieve radiation pattern shaping. Inner dimensions of the rectangular waveguides are designed to provide a phase velocity inside each waveguide that results in the appropriate radiated phase at the output of the waveguides. The phase radiated by each rectangular waveguide is determined by design, and the radiation pattern that results from the combined contributions of the array can be shaped to produce a complex radiation contour. This significantly increases the efficiency with which signals are directed to intended regions without coverage directed to unintended regions.

Waveguide slot array capable of radiating shaped beams

A communication system and antenna system for use on a satellite. The communication system includes a transmitter and/or a receiver that are respectively coupled to the antenna system. The antenna system includes a plurality of stepped slot waveguides that each have a plurality of slots disposed in a broadwall thereof that form an array of slots. Adjacent slots of each waveguide are offset from a centerline of the respective waveguide and are spaced at half guide wavelength intervals, and selected slots are thus located at a different axial positions relative to other slots in the array. A feed waveguide having in input/output port is provided that couples RF energy between the plurality of stepped slot waveguides and the communication system. The stepped waveguide slot array antenna system provides phase control of the beam pattern produced thereby.

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McCall, ID, United States of America

Juan Duarte