L-3 Communications Corporation

Paul Johann Gartside

Bryant Ford Anderson

Douglas Melville Harrison

Joseph Mark Baird

Charles Andrew Deneris

Mark Johnathon Yamamoto

Friedrich J Fisher

John A Curtis

Kevin L Teuscher

Evan M Fisher

A passive microwave device combines energy from two microwave communication frequency bands into a common waveguide. Reciprocally, the device separates energy from two microwave frequency bands carried in a common waveguide into separate waveguides for each frequency band. The coupling is accomplished by means of probes that pass between the waveguides. The device can be used for the combination/separation of energy in the X-band and the Ku-band, wherein the Ku-band energy is coupled into/out of a square common waveguide by means of symmetrically positioned coaxial RF coupling probes. The coupling probes extend into both the common waveguide and also into rectangular Ku-band only waveguides. The X-band and Ku band are thus combined and/or separated passively for dual or multi-band antenna feeds in a compact, low cost package. The common waveguide is constructed to include a filter that substantially attenuates any Ku-band energy that would otherwise propagate towards the X-band input/output port. The filter is constructed with symmetrically arrayed ridges or posts that extend into the common waveguide. The combiner/divider device provides extremely broad band passive coupling over the commonly used X and Ku satellite communication frequency bands.

Probe coupled, multi-band combiner/divider

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.

Launcher for plural band feed system

Plural band feed system

Shrouded horn feed assembly

Growing community of inventors

Kaysville, UT, United States of America

Paul Johann Gartside