Communications: radio wave antennas – Antennas – With spaced or external radio wave refractor
Patent
1995-05-03
1997-05-06
Hajec, Donald T.
Communications: radio wave antennas
Antennas
With spaced or external radio wave refractor
343771, 333 21A, H01Q 1906
Patent
active
056275536
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to folded lens transmit/receive antennae, systems for receiving and/or transmitting a signal, methods for receiving and/or transmitting electromagnetic energy, a scanning folded lens antenna, systems for scanning reception and/or transmission of electromagnetic radiation and methods of scanning receiving and/or transmitting electromagnetic energy are disclosed.
BACKGROUND ART
With the expansion of satellite communications and the development of various markets in that field, it has been a requirement recently for mobile satellite communication systems to be developed. Those systems currently in use comprise relatively expensive componentry and are typically beyond reach of the average consumer. Antenna requirements for mobile satellite communication systems are quite demanding and it has not been possible to produce an antenna capable of mobile satellite operation at a cost effective price. In the development of AUSSAT-B satellite system for Australia, it is anticipated that a mobile satellite communications antenna would retail at approximately AU$2000. Other requirements are that a suitable antenna should be of a size suitable for being readily fitted upon a vehicle roof. Also, due to low height being a requirement which implies the use of a planar radiator, an antenna used in the AUSSAT system is required to provide 12 dB of gain and must operate over the elevation range 30.degree. to 70.degree. with a full 360.COPYRGT. azimuth coverage. Planar phased array technology can be used, and some development has proceeded in this direction, however, the high cost of phase shifting elements makes a required low cost design difficult.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide folded lens transmit/receive antennae.
Other objects are to provide systems for receiving and/or transmitting a signal, methods for receiving and/or transmitting electromagnetic energy, a scanning folded lens antenna, systems for scanning reception and/or transmission of electromagnetic radiation and methods of scanning receiving and/or transmitting electromagnetic energy are disclosed.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with a broad embodiment of the present invention there is disclosed a folded lens transmit/receive antenna comprising: waveguides to communicate a signal therebetween so as to transform a substantially curved signal comprising a wave having a substantially curved wave front from the first waveguide to a substantially planar signal comprising a wave having a substantially planar wave front in the second waveguide; the means for coupling being operatively associated with the second parallel plate waveguide; and coupling a signal between the first waveguide and the coupling device.
The first and second waveguides of the first embodiment are generally smooth closed curve waveguides. The plan geometry of the waveguides of the folded lens antenna of the first embodiment may be a curve in the class of smooth closed curves of which a circle (in which case the waveguide is a cylindrical waveguide) and ellipse are included. The first and second waveguides of the first embodiment may be the same type of waveguide (e.g both may be elliptical waveguides) or the first waveguide may be a different type of waveguide to the second waveguide (e.g. the first waveguide may be cylindrical and the second waveguide may be elliptical). Generally, the first and second waveguides are the same type of waveguide.
In accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention there is disclosed a folded lens transmit/receive antenna comprising: waveguides to communicate a signal therebetween so as to transform a cylindrical signal comprising a wave having a cylindrical wave front from the first waveguide to a planar signal comprising a wave having a planar wave front in the second waveguide; the means for coupling being operatively associated with the second cylindrical parallel plate waveguide; and coupling a signal between the first waveguide and the co
REFERENCES:
patent: 3827055 (1974-07-01), Bogner et al.
patent: 4819003 (1989-04-01), Goto et al.
patent: 4994817 (1991-02-01), Munson et al.
patent: 5049895 (1991-09-01), Ito et al.
G.T. Poulton and A.P. Whichello, I.R.E. Conf. International, Digest of Papers, 306-308, Sydney 5-9 Sep. 1983.
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
Hajec Donald T.
Ho Tan
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