The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 07, 1982
Filed:
Nov. 17, 1980
David T Thomas, Santa Barbara, CA (US);
Raytheon Company, Lexington, MA (US);
Abstract
A radio frequency energy antenna system for directing a collimated beam of radio frequency energy in free space over relatively wide scan angles. The antenna system includes a plurality of antenna elements disposed along a curved path for producing a directed, noncollimated beam of radio frequency energy and a radio frequency lens disposed between the antenna elements and free space for collimating the radio frequency energy in the directed, noncollimated beam to produce the collimated beam of radio frequency energy in free space. The arrangement of the antenna elements along a curved path produces an amplitude distribution across the collimated beam wavefront which is substantially uniform. A second radio frequency lens has a plurality of array ports coupled to the plurality of antenna elements and a plurality of feed ports, each one being associated with a corresponding collimated beam of radio frequency energy in free space. With such lens the antenna has a relatively wide operating bandwidth. The disposition of the antenna elements along the curved path enables the second lens to be smaller in size and have a shape wherein the array ports and feed ports face one another to a greater degree than if the antenna elements were disposed along a straight line thereby improving the operating effectiveness of the second lens.