Patents Assigned to McDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Corporation
  • Patent number: 9093742
    Abstract: A steerable antenna architecture, or configuration, for optimal steering of transmitting and/or receiving beam over wide scan angles, is capable of steering the beam on a full hemisphere (2? steradians), with no singularity or key-hole within a coverage area and with only one RF rotary joint. The architecture includes a dual-reflector assembly defining an antenna focal point located close to a main reflector surface and a signal feed chain having a signal source located adjacent to the antenna focal point and defining a feed axis substantially pointing towards a sub-reflector intersection point. A first actuator rotates the feed chain and the dual-reflector assembly about a first rotation axis generally perpendicular to the feed axis and not intersecting with the coverage area. A second actuator rotates one of the main reflector and the dual-reflector assembly about a second rotation axis aligned with the feed axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: McDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Corporation
    Inventors: Eric ChoiniƩre, Aiping Liang, Richard Horth, Philippe Loiselle