Abstract: Microwave antenna systems include a parabolic reflector antenna having a feed bore and a feed assembly. The feed assembly includes a coaxial waveguide structure that extends through the feed bore, a sub-reflector, and a first dielectric block that is positioned between the coaxial waveguide structure and the sub-reflector. The coaxial waveguide structure includes a central waveguide and an outer waveguide that circumferentially surrounds the central waveguide. One of the central waveguide and the outer waveguide extends further from the feed bore towards the sub-reflector than the other of the central waveguide and the outer waveguide.

Abstract: Parabolic reflector antennas advantageously support low side lobe radiation patterns for ETSI class 4 performance, by utilizing: (i) metal choke plates adjacent a distal end of a dielectric cone within a sub-reflector assembly, (ii) “lossy” material feed boom waveguide sleeves and/or (iii) extended length cylindrical shields lined with radiation absorbing materials. Relatively shallow and large diameter parabolic reflectors having an F/D ratio of greater than about 0.25 may be provided with one or more of the identified (i)-(iii) enhancements.

Abstract: Microwave antenna systems include a parabolic reflector antenna having a feed bore and a feed assembly. The feed assembly includes a coaxial waveguide structure that extends through the feed bore, a sub-reflector, and a first dielectric block that is positioned between the coaxial waveguide structure and the sub-reflector. The coaxial waveguide structure includes a central waveguide and an outer waveguide that circumferentially surrounds the central waveguide. One of the central waveguide and the outer waveguide extends further from the feed bore towards the sub-reflector than the other of the central waveguide and the outer waveguide.

Abstract: Microwave antenna systems include a parabolic reflector antenna having a feed bore and a feed assembly. The feed assembly includes a coaxial waveguide structure that extends through the feed bore, a sub-reflector, and a first dielectric block that is positioned between the coaxial waveguide structure and the sub-reflector. The coaxial waveguide structure includes a central waveguide and an outer waveguide that circumferentially surrounds the central waveguide. One of the central waveguide and the outer waveguide extends further from the feed bore towards the sub-reflector than the other of the central waveguide and the outer waveguide.

Abstract: A panel array antenna comprises an input layer including a waveguide network coupling an input feed on a first side thereof to a plurality of primary coupling cavities on a second side thereof, and an output layer on the second side of the input layer. The output layer includes an array of horn radiators, respective horn radiator inlet ports in communication with the horn radiators, and respective slot-shaped output ports in communication with the respective horn radiator inlet ports to couple the horn radiators to the primary coupling cavities. The horn radiators, the respective horn radiator inlet ports, and the respective slot-shaped output ports are integrated in a monolithic layer, which is configured to provide respective output signals from the horn radiators having a polarization orientation that is rotated by a desired polarization rotation angle relative to respective input signals received at the respective slot-shaped output ports coupled thereto.

Abstract: Parabolic reflector antennas advantageously support low side lobe radiation patterns for ETSI class 4 performance, by utilizing: (i) metal choke plates adjacent a distal end of a dielectric cone within a sub-reflector assembly, (ii) “lossy” material feed boom waveguide sleeves and/or (iii) extended length cylindrical shields lined with radiation absorbing materials. Relatively shallow and large diameter parabolic reflectors having an F/D?ratio of greater than about 0.25 may be provided with one or more of the identified (i)-(iii) enhancements.

Abstract: Microwave antenna systems include a parabolic reflector antenna having a feed bore and a feed assembly. The feed assembly includes a coaxial waveguide structure that extends through the feed bore, a sub-reflector, and a first dielectric block that is positioned between the coaxial waveguide structure and the sub-reflector. The coaxial waveguide structure includes a central waveguide and an outer waveguide that circumferentially surrounds the central waveguide. One of the central waveguide and the outer waveguide extends further from the feed bore towards the sub-reflector than the other of the central waveguide and the outer waveguide.

Abstract: Parabolic reflector antennas advantageously utilize feed boom mounted dielectric lens structures to support enhanced radiation pattern control. A parabolic reflector antenna includes a dish reflector, a feed boom waveguide having a proximal end coupled to the dish reflector, a sub-reflector assembly and a dielectric lens. The sub-reflector assembly may include a dielectric block coupled to a distal end of the feed boom waveguide and a sub-reflector adjacent a distal end of the dielectric block. The dielectric lens may be provided on the feed boom waveguide at a location intermediate the proximal and distal ends of the feed boom waveguide.

Abstract: Parabolic reflector antennas advantageously support low side lobe radiation patterns for ETSI class 4 performance, by utilizing: (i) metal choke plates adjacent a distal end of a dielectric cone within a sub-reflector assembly, (ii) “lossy” material feed boom waveguide sleeves and/or (iii) extended length cylindrical shields lined with radiation absorbing materials. Relatively shallow and large diameter parabolic reflectors having an F/D ratio of greater than about 0.25 may be provided with one or more of the identified (i)-(iii) enhancements.

Abstract: Parabolic reflector antennas advantageously utilize feed boom mounted dielectric lens structures to support enhanced radiation pattern control. A parabolic reflector antenna includes a dish reflector, a feed boom waveguide having a proximal end coupled to the dish reflector, a sub-reflector assembly and a dielectric lens. The sub-reflector assembly may include a dielectric block coupled to a distal end of the feed boom waveguide and a sub-reflector adjacent a distal end of the dielectric block. The dielectric lens may be provided on the feed boom waveguide at a location intermediate the proximal and distal ends of the feed boom waveguide.

Abstract: Parabolic reflector antennas advantageously support low side lobe radiation patterns for ETSI class 4 performance, by utilizing: (i) metal choke plates adjacent a distal end of a dielectric cone within a sub-reflector assembly, (ii) “lossy” material feed boom waveguide sleeves and/or (iii) extended length cylindrical shields lined with radiation absorbing materials. Relatively shallow and large diameter parabolic reflectors having an F/D ratio of greater than about 0.25 may be provided with one or more of the identified (i)-(iii) enhancements.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a sub-reflector assembly for a reflector antenna has (i) a waveguide transition at a waveguide end of the sub-reflector assembly and configured to fit within a waveguide, (ii) a dielectric radiator connected to the waveguide transition and extending both laterally and back towards the waveguide end of the sub-reflector assembly, and (iii) a sub-reflector connected to the dielectric radiator. By configuring the dielectric radiator to extend both laterally and back towards the dielectric end of the assembly, radiated energy from the waveguide is directed such that the sub-reflector assembly can be used with shallow reflector dishes (e.g., F/D ratio greater than 0.25) and still achieve sufficiently high directivity.

Abstract: A panel array antenna comprises an input layer including a waveguide network coupling an input feed on a first side thereof to a plurality of primary coupling cavities on a second side thereof, and an output layer on the second side of the input layer. The output layer includes an array of horn radiators, respective horn radiator inlet ports in communication with the horn radiators, and respective slot-shaped output ports in communication with the respective horn radiator inlet ports to couple the horn radiators to the primary coupling cavities. The horn radiators, the respective horn radiator inlet ports, and the respective slot-shaped output ports are integrated in a monolithic layer, which is configured to provide respective output signals from the horn radiators having a polarization orientation that is rotated by a desired polarization rotation angle relative to respective input signals received at the respective slot-shaped output ports coupled thereto.

Abstract: A panel array antenna comprises an input layer including a waveguide network coupling an input feed on a first side thereof to a plurality of primary coupling cavities on a second side thereof, and an output layer on the second side of the input layer. The output layer includes an array of horn radiators, respective horn radiator inlet ports in communication with the horn radiators, and respective slot-shaped output ports in communication with the respective horn radiator inlet ports to couple the horn radiators to the primary coupling cavities. The horn radiators, the respective horn radiator inlet ports, and the respective slot-shaped output ports are integrated in a monolithic layer, which is configured to provide respective output signals from the horn radiators having a polarization orientation that is rotated by a desired polarization rotation angle relative to respective input signals received at the respective slot-shaped output ports coupled thereto.

Abstract: A unitary dielectric block is provided having a waveguide transition portion located at a first end of the unitary dielectric block, a sub-reflector support portion located at a second end of the unitary dielectric block, and a radiator portion between the waveguide transition portion and the sub-reflector support portion. The unitary dielectric block may have a longitudinal axis. The sub-reflector support portion may have a proximal surface and a distal surface. The distal surface may be located further from the longitudinal axis of the unitary dielectric block than the proximal surface. The distal surface may be angled at a first angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the unitary dielectric block, and the proximal surface may be angled at a second angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the unitary dielectric block. The second angle may be greater than the first angle.

Abstract: A method for illuminating a dish reflector of a reflector antenna, including providing a waveguide coupled to a vertex of a dish reflector at a proximal end, a sub-reflector supported by a dielectric block coupled to a distal end of the waveguide, the dielectric block provided with a dielectric radiator portion proximate the distal end of the waveguide. An RF signal passing through the waveguide and the dielectric block to reflect from the sub-reflector through the dielectric block and at least partially through the dielectric radiator portion to the dish reflector illuminates the dish reflector with a maximum signal intensity and/or signal intensity angular range that is spaced outward from the vertex area of the dish reflector.

Abstract: A method for illuminating a dish reflector of a reflector antenna, including providing a waveguide coupled to a vertex of a dish reflector at a proximal end, a sub-reflector supported by a dielectric block coupled to a distal end of the waveguide, the dielectric block provided with a dielectric radiator portion proximate the distal end of the waveguide. An RF signal passing through the waveguide and the dielectric block to reflect from the sub-reflector through the dielectric block and at least partially through the dielectric radiator portion to the dish reflector illuminates the dish reflector with a maximum signal intensity and/or signal intensity angular range that is spaced outward from the vertex area of the dish reflector.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a sub-reflector assembly for a reflector antenna has (i) a waveguide transition at a waveguide end of the sub-reflector assembly and configured to fit within a waveguide, (ii) a dielectric radiator connected to the waveguide transition and extending both laterally and back towards the waveguide end of the sub-reflector assembly, and (iii) a sub-reflector connected to the dielectric radiator. By configuring the dielectric radiator to extend both laterally and back towards the dielectric end of the assembly, radiated energy from the waveguide is directed such that the sub-reflector assembly can be used with shallow reflector dishes (e.g., F/D ratio greater than 0.25) and still achieve sufficiently high directivity.

Abstract: A method for illuminating a dish reflector of a reflector antenna, including providing a waveguide coupled to a vertex of a dish reflector at a proximal end, a sub-reflector supported by a dielectric block coupled to a distal end of the waveguide, the dielectric block provided with a dielectric radiator portion proximate the distal end of the waveguide. An RF signal passing through the waveguide and the dielectric block to reflect from the sub-reflector through the dielectric block and at least partially through the dielectric radiator portion to the dish reflector illuminates the dish reflector with a maximum signal intensity and/or signal intensity angular range that is spaced outward from the vertex area of the dish reflector.

Abstract: A dielectric cone radiator sub-reflector assembly for a reflector antenna with a waveguide supported sub-reflector is provided as a unitary dielectric block with a sub-reflector at a distal end. A waveguide transition portion of the dielectric block is dimensioned for coupling to an end of the waveguide. A dielectric radiator portion is provided between the waveguide transition portion and a sub-reflector support portion. An outer diameter of the dielectric radiator portion is provided with a plurality of radial inward grooves and a minimum diameter of the dielectric radiator portion is greater than ? of a sub-reflector diameter of the sub-reflector support surface.