Lockheed Martin Corporation

Timothy Patrick Wink

Jason Stewart Wrigley

James F Mulvey

Erik Lier

Thomas R Stephenson

Eric P Osborne

Arun K Bhattacharyya

Matthew David Arendall

Cory W Craddock

Nathan Jastram

Provided herein are various enhancements for radio frequency (RF) horn antenna systems and arrays. An example apparatus includes a horn antenna array formed in a single workpiece of material comprising horn antenna elements with integrated feed networks. Each of the integrated feed networks comprise a waveguide interface flange having a port, and a filter element having a serpentine cavity coupled to the port that is at least partially formed by a base section, where a separation interface is established between the base section and an attachable cap that forms a remainder of the serpentine cavity. Each of the integrated feed networks also comprise a polarizer element having a waveguide cavity that couples between the serpentine cavity of the filter element and an associated horn antenna element that forms a signal aperture.

Horn antennas with integrated feed networks

Provided herein are various enhancements for waveguide structures used in radio frequency feed components. In one example, an apparatus includes a septum polarizer having first feed ports and a common port, a high-pass filter coupled to the common port of the septum polarizer, and a multi-port orthomode transducer (OMT) coupled to the high-pass filter and providing an antenna port. The apparatus also includes hybrid couplers coupled to low-pass filters fed from the multi-port OMT, and magic tee elements cross-coupled to the hybrid couplers and providing second feed ports.

Integrated microwave radio frequency feed network

Enhanced components and assemblies for microwave radio frequency (RF) antenna feed systems are provided. One example includes radiating probes that propagate RF signals to intermediate waveguides that feed polarizers or filters associated with horn antenna elements. The radiating probes can couple to corresponding transmit/receive circuitry using coaxial link elements. The radiating probes comprise tunable components which can be shaped/sized to produce desired output characteristics (e.g., frequency ranges and gain properties). Many radiating probes can be integrated into a cover plate assembly that feeds an array of horn antennas. Interface elements with integrated waveguides can provide RF sealing between radiating probes and provide radiative coupling from radiating probes to corresponding waveguides that feed the array of horn antennas.

Radio frequency transmission assembly

An apparatus includes an aperture layer coupled to a polarizer layer. The aperture layer includes an antenna and a filter. A circuit layer is mechanically and thermally coupled to the aperture layer. The antenna includes a square horn antenna made of a polymer material. The filter includes a waveguide filter having a first and a second piece separately molded. The waveguide filter includes a folded-back waveguide coupled to the horn antenna at one end and to the circuit layer at another end.

Building block for space-based phased array

An antenna array includes multiple array modules. Each array module includes at least on antenna element including a horn antenna coupled to a polarizer, and a two-piece waveguide filter. The two-piece waveguide filter includes a folded-back waveguide coupled to the horn antenna at one end and to a circuit layer at the other end. The horn antenna includes a multi-mode horn antenna. The two-piece waveguide filter includes a first piece and a second piece that are separately molded. A footprint of the two-piece waveguide filter is within a footprint of an aperture of the horn antenna.

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Castle Rock, CO, United States of America

Timothy Patrick Wink