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:
Apr. 03, 2001
Filed:
Feb. 02, 2000
Alan Cherrette, Los Altos, CA (US);
Rajan Parrikar, Mountain View, CA (US);
Terry Smith, La Honda, CA (US);
Space Systems/Loral, Inc., Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
A dual polarized horn antenna that increases the efficiency of a square or rectangular aperture which may be used in situations where a high efficiency aperture is needed in a constrained space. The antenna has a body that is tapered from a first end to a second end, wherein the first end is smaller in cross section than the second end. A flange is formed around the periphery of the body adjacent to the first end. An opening is formed in the first end of the body. A tuning iris is preferably disposed in the opening that provides for impedance matching. An insert is disposed in the central tapered opening,adjacent to the second end that has a central cross-shaped tapered member. The central cross-shaped tapered member extends into the central tapered opening and forms a plurality waveguide passages that form a corresponding plurality of quadrants. A plurality of cross-shaped members are respectively disposed in the quadrants and extend a short distance into the central tapered opening. The antenna may be advantageously used where longer apertures are desired. The antenna has a radiating efficiency on the order of 97 percent.