Abstract:
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, an antenna system that includes a plurality of dielectric members configured to propagate first guided electromagnetic waves. A dielectric antenna array is configured to receive the first guided electromagnetic waves and to transmit a controllable beam in response thereto. Other embodiments are disclosed.
Abstract:
A projectile detection system, and method of detecting a projectile (for example a bullet), for use on a vehicle (100) (for example a helicopter), the projectile detection system comprising: a radar antenna array (4) arranged to transmit and receive microwave signals so as to provide a plurality of detection segments (40, 42, 44, 46) of a volume of airspace (38); one or more processors (3) arranged to: determine which segments (40, 42, 44, 46) microwave signals reflected by a projectile (10) are received from; determine timing information relating to a time order in which the received microwave signals are received; and determine directional information relating to a direction of travel of the projectile (10) using the determined segments (40, 42, 44, 46) and the determined timing information; wherein the microwave signals have a frequency between 1GHz and 30GHz.
Abstract:
A device for receiving/transmitting electromagnetic signals from/to at least two satellites fixedly located at points at the geostationary path comprises an antenna, for example a lens (1) of waveguide nature. The antenna images remote points at a focal surface and in the points where the satellites are imaged receiver horns (23, 23') are placed. The horns are adjustably mounted to a rail (21) of a mounting unit (9) except the central horn (23') that is fixedly placed for receiving along the optical axis of the antenna, at a predetermined distance of the antenna. The rail is mounted to be rotated about the optical axis of the antenna, this giving a simple adjustment of the other horns (23). Using an adjusting assemby the curvature of the rail can be varied to be adapted to receiving at different latitudes.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for reconfigurably transmitting shaped beam satellite signals via reflector array antennas are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a reflector (406) for reflecting signals having a reflector focal plane (104) and a feed array (402) comprising a plurality of feed elements (414) wherein said feed array (402) is defocused from said reflector focal plane (104), yet produces an wavefront (312) substantially similar to a wavefront that would be produced by a feed array located at the reflector focal plane (104). The method of transmitting a signal in accordance with the present invention comprises forming a wavefront (312) with a feed array (402), wherein said feed array (402) is defocused from a reflector focal plane (104), yet produces a wavefront (312) substantially similar to a wavefront that would be produced by a feed array located at the reflector focal plane (104) and reflecting said wavefront (312) to a coverage area (408).
Abstract:
A Cassegrain antenna system (50) includes a flat dielectric plate radome (52) having a thickness of one-half wavelength at a frequency of operation. The plate has an electrically conductive grid (54) disposed on an inside surface thereof to permit perpendicularly polarized energy rays to pass therethrough. A parabolic twist reflector (70) is spaced from the radome, and includes a dielectric substrate (74) having a thickness equivalent to one-quarter wavelength at a frequency of operation and having formed on an interior surface thereof an array (72) of conductive strips oriented by 45 degrees relative to the incident ray polarization. An RF housing (60) including a plurality of RF feed elements (62A-62I) is located at the focal region and the elements spaced by a single beamwidth.
Abstract:
The representative embodiments discussed in the present disclosure relate to techniques in which the transmission and reception of phase array antennas (69) may be measured to more accurately and more efficiently estimate incidence angles of the associated RF signals. More specifically, in some embodiments, RF signals may be transmitted and received by various subsets of antennas (69) in a pair of phased antenna arrays (67), and the resulting signals may adaptively filtered and fed back to perform iterations until incidence angles may be accurately determined.
Abstract:
A mounting device (5) for microwave heads (3, 4) for a satellite antenna. The satellite antenna comprises a parabolic dish (1) and at least one microwave head (3, 4) that is situated at a distance from the parabolic dish (1). The mounting device (5) comprises a microwave head holder (24) for mounting a microwave head (3, 4) and a rail (6). The rail (6) forms part of an attachment device (6, 31) for holding the microwave head holder (24) in a fixed position relative to the parabolic dish (1). The microwave head holder (24) and the rail (6) comprise complementary parts of a ball-and-socket joint (26, 11, 12). The complementary parts are arranged to be interlocked in a selected position. A method for obtaining a correct adjustment of the microwave head and a tool (37) for obtaining a correct adjustment are also described.
Abstract:
The invention concerns a reflector and a satellite antenna system comprising such a reflector. In the satellite antenna system, microwave radiation from one or more feed horns (5) is emitted at the reflector (1), which comprises first and second reflector elements (2, 3). Upon reflection of the radiation from the reflector elements (2, 3), a distinct beam shape for the reflected microwave energy is generated. The reflector elements (2, 3) are disposed at a fixed distance from one another so that radiation that passes the first reflector element (2) strikes the second element. The first reflector element (2) comprises a lattice structure aimed toward the feed horn, which lattice structure consists of plates (8) of electrically conductive material, wherein the distance between the plates and the depth of said plates are adapted for reflection of polarization parallel to the plates. The invention is characterized in that the extent of each respective plate toward the second reflector element is chosen so that the transmission losses in the first reflector element are minimized.
Abstract:
Antennas and multiplexer structures are provided for establishing individual communication links with satellites that are located at geostationary positions in close angular proximity to one another. The antenna includes individual wave-guides where at least one of the wave-guides has a decreased dimension such that the wave-guides may be spaced in close proximity to each other to communicate with the satellites. For example, in one embodiment, the antenna includes at least one wave-guide that is a hollow metallic structure filled with a dielectric material. The dimensions of this wave-guide can be altered by changing the dielectric material used to fill the wave-guide. By using a dielectric material having an appropriate dielectric constant, the dimension of the wave-guide can be configured to allow the wave-guide to be spaced in close proximity to the other wave-guide.
Abstract:
A device for adjusting a beam system is disclosed, which comprises a base, with at least one beam source, and at least three support elements, which serve to fix the base to a carrier, whereby, in order to adjust the separation of the at least one beam source from a focussing means and the direction of the at least one beam source, in relation to the focussing means, the at least three support elements are selectively and independently of each other, variable in length.