With Horn Patents (Class 343/786)
  • Publication number: 20110032167
    Abstract: Ultra-wideband (UWB) antennas for use with UWB transmitters and UWB receivers, that are useful, e.g., for UWB communications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Inventors: Gregory F. Dallum, Carlos E. Romero, Mark L. Vigars, Garth C. Pratt, Peter C. Haugen
  • Patent number: 7872609
    Abstract: A low-cost, compact circular waveguide array antenna which improves an antenna reflection loss characteristic and enables an improvement in radiation characteristics, particularly radiation gain. The circular waveguide array antenna includes feeding portions which feed electromagnetic waves to one ends of circular waveguides and radiation apertures which radiate the electromagnetic waves at the opposite ends. Each circular waveguide includes a conical horn, with a diameter of a feeding side aperture at the feeding portion end being a, a diameter of the radiation aperture being d, which is larger than the diameter a of the feeding side aperture, and an opening angle being 2?. If a wavelength of a central frequency of an employed frequency band is ?, then a value of ?, which is half of the opening angle 2?, is set between 0.8×Arcsin(0.1349114/(d/?)) and 1.2×Arcsin(0.1349114/(d/?)).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignees: Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd., National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Incorporated Administrative Agency
    Inventors: Hok Huor Ou, Seiji Nishi, Hiroyo Ogawa, Kiyoshi Hamaguchi, Yozo Shoji
  • Patent number: 7872610
    Abstract: A metalized plastic antenna includes a plastic antenna body with metallization on the inside. In this arrangement metallization is used for conducting electromagnetic waves. Furthermore, metallization may be implemented as a protective coating so that chemical resistance of the plastic antenna may be ensured even in the case of corrosive environmental conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: VEGA Grieshaber KG
    Inventors: Juergen Motzer, Josef Fehrenbach, Klaus Kienzle, Christian Sum
  • Patent number: 7868840
    Abstract: An antenna system includes a reflector having a modified-paraboloid shape; and a multi-beam, multi-band feed array located at a focal point of the reflector so that the antenna system forms a multiple congruent beams that are contiguous. The system has a single reflector with non-frequency selective surface. The reflector is sized to produce a required beam size at K-band frequencies and is oversized at EHF-band frequencies. The synthesized reflector surface is moderately shaped and disproportionately broadens EHF-band and Ka-band beams compared to K-band beams. The synthesized reflector surface forms multiple beams each having a 0.5-degree diameter at K-band, Ka-band, and EHF band. The multi-beam, multi-band feed array includes a number of high-efficiency, multi-mode circular horns that operate in focused mode at K-band and defocused mode at Ka-band and EHF-band by employing “frequency-dependent” design for the horns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Sudhakar K. Rao, David Bressler
  • Publication number: 20100321247
    Abstract: An antenna assembly includes a substrate, a conductive radiating element disposed above the substrate and preferably arranged parallel to the substrate and connected to the substrate with an interconnecting element, an antenna conductor extended from the conductive radiating element and extended or disposed between one side of the substrate and the conductive radiating element, and a conductive member extended downwardly from the conductive radiating element and arranged between the substrate and the conductive radiating element and having a feed spaced from the substrate for allowing the bandwidth of the antenna assembly to be suitably increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Inventor: Huei Chi Wu
  • Patent number: 7852278
    Abstract: A point-to-point radio communications device, with an integrated antenna-IC module, includes highly-directional antenna elements and silicon CMOS-based ICs in plastic packaging material. The high-gain horn-type antenna includes two sections made of molded plastic and covered in a metallic coating. When combined, the two sections form an aperture and an opening on a face. The face of the antenna element can be mounted directly to an integrated circuit with an antenna coupling element, such that the aperture forms a horn-IC module. The module can be completely enclosed in a plastic-packaging environment using low-cost approach. The antenna-IC module can be manufactured as an integral part of a case for a point-to-point wireless electronic device such as a mobile video phone or a set-top box with tens of gigabits of video downloading capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Debabani Choudhury
  • Patent number: 7852277
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a circularly polarized horn antenna may include a circular polarizer having a step shape. In some embodiments, a circularly polarized horn antenna may include a choke that is offset in position with respect to the antenna aperture. Such antennas may have a relatively constant beamwidth with respect to frequency, compact size, and/or low weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Tommyhing-K H. Lam
  • Patent number: 7852270
    Abstract: A wireless communication device including an antenna-integrated module which realizes a high-end antenna having an improved antenna efficiency includes a mounting board having a through hole whose cross-sectional shape is rectangular; and an antenna-integrated module mounted on the mounting board so as to cover over the through hole, a patch antenna, which radiates radiation wave, being provided on a surface of the antenna-integrated module, which surface is exposed in the through hole, an annular grounding sheet being provided between the antenna-integrated module and the mounting board so as to surround the patch antenna, and the through hole having a longer side whose length satisfies ?/2?a??, where ? is a wavelength of the radiation wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Yamada, Keisuke Satoh, Hiroki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7836577
    Abstract: A method for making a feed structure for an antenna may include providing a polarizer body having a polarizer sidewall extending longitudinally between spaced apart ends. A portion of the polarizer sidewall is deformed to provide at least one polarizing structure that extends radially inwardly along an interior of the polarizer sidewall relative to adjacent portions of the polarizer sidewall. The method thus can be utilized to produce an antenna structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Szu-Cherng Kuo, Andrew Lee Roberts, James David Ingram, Imants Eglitis, Henry Chang
  • Patent number: 7839349
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a reflector antenna may include one or more of the following features: (a) a reflector having a tunable reflective surface, (b) a reflector feed having tunable substrate materials, and (c) a sub-reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventor: James B. West
  • Patent number: 7817097
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a microwave horn antenna in which a thermoplastic sacrificial layer is mounted to a thermoplastic horn layer. A heated horn embossing plate having at least one horn shaped embossing element is then moved into the horn layer so that the horn element penetrates through the horn layer and extends partially into the sacrificial layer thus forming a horn opening in the horn layer complementary in shape to the horn element. The horn layer and sacrificial layer are then separated from each other and the horn opening and at least a portion of the back surface of the horn layer is covered with a metal coating. A thermoplastic wave guide layer formed by embossing wave guide channels into the layer is covered with metal and attached to the back side of the horn layer to form the antenna. Alternatively, a portion of the horn and the remaining portion of a microwave channel are formed in both a first and second thermoplastic section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Alexandros Margomenos
  • Patent number: 7812767
    Abstract: A small antenna device having an increased gain is provided. The antenna device includes a multilayer dielectric substrate composed of a combination of a plurality of dielectric layers, wherein a feeding antenna is provided in a lower layer of the multilayer substrate, a reflective metal plate is provided above the feeding antenna, and circular or rectangular metal loops are arranged so as to be of increasing diameter from lower layers toward upper layers in the plurality of dielectric layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiro Seki, Kenjiro Nishikawa, Naoki Honma, Kouichi Tsunekawa
  • Publication number: 20100238086
    Abstract: A double-ridged horn antenna having a higher-order mode suppressor includes a pair of upper and lower ridges arranged opposite to each other, each of the upper and lower ridges having an inner surface to guide electromagnetic waves and an outer surface arranged opposite to the inner surface; upper and lower flares fixedly attached to respective outer surfaces of the upper and lower ridges; left and right flares coupled to the upper and lower flares to form a rectangular cone structure; and metal conductors symmetrically positioned between the upper and lower ridges and the left and right flares.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Jung-Ick Moon, Soon-Soo Oh, Joung-Myoun Kim, Soon-Ik Jeon, Chang-Joo Kim
  • Publication number: 20100231475
    Abstract: A low-cost, compact circular waveguide array antenna which improves an antenna reflection loss characteristic and enables an improvement in radiation characteristics, particularly radiation gain. The circular waveguide array antenna includes feeding portions which feed electromagnetic waves to one ends of circular waveguides and radiation apertures which radiate the electromagnetic waves at the opposite ends. Each circular waveguide includes a conical horn, with a diameter of a feeding side aperture at the feeding portion end being a, a diameter of the radiation aperture being d, which is larger than the diameter a of the feeding side aperture, and an opening angle being 2?. If a wavelength of a central frequency of an employed frequency band is ?, then a value of ?, which is half of the opening angle 2?, is set between 0.8×Arcsin(0.1349114/(d/?)) and 1.2×Arcsin(0.1349114/(d/?)).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Inventors: Hok Huor Ou, Seiji Nishi, Hiroyo Ogawa, Kiyoshi Hamaguchi, Yozo Shoji
  • Patent number: 7791549
    Abstract: A communication system including an antenna array with feed network coupled to communication electronics. In one example, a communication subsystem comprises a plurality of antennas each adapted to receive an information signal and a plurality of orthomode transducers coupled to corresponding ones of the plurality of antennas, each OMT is adapted to provide at a first component signal having a first polarization and a second component signal having a second polarization. The communication subsystem also comprises a feed network that receives the first component signal and the second component signal from each orthomode transducer and provides a first summed component signal at a first feed port and a second summed component signal at a second feed port, and a phase correction device coupled to the first and second feed ports and adapted to phase match the first summed component signal with the second summed component signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: AeroSat Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Clymer, Michael Barrett, Frank Blanda, Robert Krivicich, Richard B. Anderson, Matthew Flannery
  • Publication number: 20100214186
    Abstract: A point-to-point radio communications device, with an integrated antenna-IC module, includes highly-directional antenna elements and silicon CMOS-based ICs in plastic packaging material. The high-gain horn-type antenna includes two sections made of molded plastic and covered in a metallic coating. When combined, the two sections form an aperture and an opening on a face. The face of the antenna element can be mounted directly to an integrated circuit with an antenna coupling element, such that the aperture forms a horn-IC module. The module can be completely enclosed in a plastic-packaging environment using low-cost approach. The antenna-IC module can be manufactured as an integral part of a case for a point-to-point wireless electronic device such as a mobile video phone or a set-top box with tens of gigabits of video downloading capability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventor: Debabani Choudhury
  • Publication number: 20100214185
    Abstract: A plastic, waveguide-fed, horn antenna is manufactured using a three-dimensional (3D), polymeric micro hot embossing process. Two cavity resonators may be designed to reduce the impedance mismatch between the pyramidal horn antenna and the feeding waveguide. The waveguide-fed antenna may be fabricated using a self-aligned 3D plastic hot embossing process followed by a selective electroplating and sealing process to coat an approximately 8 ?m-thick gold layer around the internal surfaces of the system. As such, this plastic, low-cost manufacturing process may be used to replace the expensive metallic components for millimeter-wave systems and provides a scalable and integrated process for manufacturing an array of antenna.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Firas Sammoura, Liwei Lin
  • Patent number: 7782262
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for controlling the specific absorption rate of mass-produced radiant objects. The inventive device is characterized in that it comprises: at least one sensor for measuring a power radiated by an object which is located in the zone, and at least one processing unit for analyzing the power thus measured. The aforementioned sensor consist of a waveguide comprising an opening which is disposed opposite the test zone and at least one measuring probe which is disposed inside the waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Societe d'Applications Technologiques de l'Imagerie Micro Ondes
    Inventors: Philippe Garreau, Luc Duchesne, Jean-Charles Bolomey
  • Publication number: 20100201587
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) antenna structure includes a micro-electromechanical (MEM) area, a feed point, and a transmission line. The micro-electromechanical (MEM) area includes a three-dimensional shape, wherein the three dimensional-shape provides an antenna structure. The feed point is coupled to provide an outbound radio frequency (RF) signal to the antenna structure for transmission and to receive an inbound RF signal from the antenna structure. The transmission line electrically coupled to the feed point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Ahmadreza (Reza) Rofougaran
  • Publication number: 20100188304
    Abstract: A communications system including an antenna array and electronics assembly that may be mounted on and in a vehicle. The communication system may generally comprise an external subassembly that is mounted on an exterior surface of the vehicle, and an internal subassembly that is located within the vehicle, the external and internal subassemblies being communicatively coupled to one another. The external subassembly may comprise the antenna array as well as mounting equipment and steering actuators to move the antenna array in azimuth, elevation and polarization (for example, to track a satellite or other signal source). The internal subassembly may comprise most of the electronics associated with the communication system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Inventors: Richard Clymer, Frank Blanda
  • Patent number: 7755557
    Abstract: A feed horn with a horn body and a waveguide body, each with a front end and a back end, respectively. The horn body and the waveguide body coupled together, the waveguide body front end to the horn body back end. The waveguide body provided with a waveguide bore between the front end and the back end. At least one slot formed in the waveguide bore parallel to a longitudinal axis of the body bore, the at least one slot extending to the front end. The horn body provided with a horn bore between the front end and the back end. The horn body and the waveguide body formable via injection molding methods such as die casting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Raven Antenna Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Neil McGonigle, Craig Mitchelson, David Geen, Graham Agnew
  • Patent number: 7756503
    Abstract: Heretofore, a plurality of packages were used in a high frequency module in which a plurality of waveguide terminals were positioned resulting in problems, such as degradation of characteristics in the connection lines between packages, lower ease of assembly when mounting and connecting the connection lines, increased cost, and so forth. To solve these problems, a plurality of cavities having a part or the entire side metallized is formed in a multi-layer dielectric substrate. The multi-layer dielectric substrate is provided with a plurality of waveguide terminals, microstrip line-waveguide converters, RF lines, bias and control signal wiring, and bias and control signal pads. A high frequency circuit is mounted within the cavity and sealed with a seal and cover. This is intended to reduce the number of package, improve performance, improve fabrication, and lower the cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsutomu Tamaki, Takuya Suzuki, Koichi Matsuo, Hiroshi Kai
  • Patent number: 7750859
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus are disclosed for high power thermal vacuum testing of satellite payloads using pick-up horns. Such pick-up horns can include at least one outer metal wall forming a metal body and at least one interior surface disposed in the metal body, forming at least one chamber in the metal body. The pick-up horn further includes a front metal surface disposed at a front end of the metal body, having at least one opening corresponding to the at least one chamber, and at least one high-power absorbing load disposed within the at least one chamber and in contact with the at least one interior surface. A pick-up horn may further include a serpentine coolant path disposed within the metal body between an outer surface of the at least one outer metal wall and the at least one high-power absorbing load. Related systems and methods are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Sudhakar K. Rao, Clency Lee-Yow, Philip Venezia, Mark W. MacGregor
  • Patent number: 7737904
    Abstract: An antenna system for transmitting and/or receiving radio frequency (RF) signals in multiple frequency bands includes a horn antenna and a feed network. The horn antenna may transmit and/or receive RF signals in multiple frequency bands that are spread over more than an octave bandwidth with at least a 2.44-to-1 bandwidth ratio. The horn antenna includes a throat, an aperture, and an interior surface. The feed network includes a first waveguide section, a first junction, one or more first filters, and a first step-down waveguide section. The first waveguide section can provide a matching network and transmit and/or receive the RF signals in the multiple frequency bands. The first junction can transmit and/or receive the RF signals in first selected band(s) of the multiple frequency bands. The first step-down waveguide section may transmit and/or receive the RF signals in second selected band(s) of the multiple frequency bands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Sudhakar K. Rao, Chris G. Baran, Chih-Chien Hsu, Surjit S. Dhillon
  • Patent number: 7737903
    Abstract: A stepped reflector for being illuminated by at least one multiple-band feed is provided. The reflector includes a central region and a first annular region with an annular width of w. The first annular region is axially stepped a height h above the central region, where h is approximately equal to m × [ ? ± ( ? ? ( ? = 0 ) - ? ? ( ? = ? 0 ) ) ] × ? 180 × ? 2 ? ? × 1 2 , where m is a positive odd integer, ? is a desired amount of phase shift of an outer region of a phase front for reflecting off of the reflector, ? is a feed phase contribution for an angle ?, and ?0 is an angle formed between an axis of the at least one feed and a line connecting a phase center of the at least one feed and an inner edge of the at least one annular region. The central region and the annular region of the reflector may be parabolically curved or may alternately be shaped. The reflector may be fed by one or more multiple-band horn antennas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Sudhakar K. Rao, Minh Tang
  • Patent number: 7737894
    Abstract: A point-to-point radio communications device, with an integrated antenna-IC module, includes highly-directional antenna elements and silicon CMOS-based ICs in plastic packaging material. The high-gain horn-type antenna includes two sections made of molded plastic and covered in a metallic coating. When combined, the two sections form an aperture and an opening on a face. The face of the antenna element can be mounted directly to an integrated circuit with an antenna coupling element, such that the aperture forms a horn-IC module. The module can be completely enclosed in a plastic-packaging environment using low-cost approach. The antenna-IC module can be manufactured as an integral part of a case for a point-to-point wireless electronic device such as a mobile video phone or a set-top box with tens of gigabits of video downloading capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Debabani Choudhury
  • Publication number: 20100141543
    Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, a dual-band four-port orthomode transducer (OMT) is molded or cast. The OMT may be external to a transceiver housing or included as an integrated portion of the transceiver housing or a drop-in module. In an exemplary embodiment, a four-port OMT is formed from two pieces, the two pieces having a joint adjacent to or aligned to the axis of the common port. In an exemplary embodiment, the OMT is substantially planar and formed of a split-block embodiment. The two OMT pieces are joined and held together with a plurality of discrete fasteners. Furthermore, the OMT is configured to switch polarizations. The polarization switching is initiated using a remote signal and can facilitate load balancing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: VIASAT, INC.
    Inventors: Sharad Vinodrai Parekh, Kevin Mark Skinner, Donald Lawson Runyon, David Mark Kokotoff
  • Publication number: 20100123615
    Abstract: For safety reasons the potential of an electrical supply line of a radar sensor should be separate from the potential of the filling level container. An arrangement for potential separation for a filling level radar is provided, which arrangement comprises a separation element for insulating the waveguide from the antenna. The separation element, corresponding to the cross section of the waveguide, is ring shaped. In this way rotatability between the sensor housing and the antenna subassembly is provided without influencing the signal line between the antenna and the waveguide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Inventors: Josef Fehrenbach, Daniel Schultheiss, Karl Griessbaum
  • Publication number: 20100109963
    Abstract: An adaptation apparatus comprises a closing-off body and an enlargement. The closing-off body comprises a generated surface which is adapted to establish contact with an external conductor of a waveguide. The enlargement is arranged on the generated surface. The enlargement is adapted such that the enlargement spaces apart an electrical short circuit at a predetermined space from the generated surface of the closing-off body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Inventors: Klaus Kienzle, Josef Fehrenbach, Juergen Motzer
  • Patent number: 7707706
    Abstract: A method is provided for producing a smart card comprising a chip module with at least one contacting area, the chip module arrangeable in a mounting location of a substrate, wherein one contacting loop is formed from a wire connector fed by a wire guiding unit for at least one of the contacting areas, respectively by attaching a first section of the wire conductor to a surface of the substrate outside the mounting location, wherein a second section of the wire conductor proximate to the first section is guided to form the contacting loop along with and protruding from the surface, wherein a subsequent third section of the wire conductor is attached to the surface outside the mounting location, wherein the chip module is inserted into the mounting location and wherein the second section is bent over and electrically contacted to the contacting area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: ruhlamat GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Koch, Bernd Gebhardt
  • Patent number: 7710339
    Abstract: An antenna device including a reflectarray with array antenna elements, and an outer feed provided with a waveguide and a widening funnel which in a widened end carries a waveguide aperture for illumination of the reflectarray. The antenna device eliminates or at least reduces a position dependence of an antenna lobe with respect to frequency. Furthermore, the antenna device presents a low monostatic radar cross section and compactness. To this end the antenna device is fed offset and is provided with a device for movement of a phase center of the antenna with a frequency relative to the waveguide aperture of the feed in the vicinity of the waveguide aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: SAAB AB
    Inventor: Ola Forslund
  • Publication number: 20100097283
    Abstract: This disclosure provides an antenna device that includes a horn having a deeper-side portion and an opening-side portion, a feeder line, and an antenna element that is supplied with electric power from the feeder line to generate an electric wave, and radiates the electric wave from the horn. The feeder line is arranged parallel to the radiating direction of the electric wave.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Inventors: Akihiro HINO, Koji ATSUMI
  • Publication number: 20100085266
    Abstract: An apparatus for an antenna system comprising one or more blades for splitting the electromagnetic field received by an antenna into a plurality of sections corresponding to separate beams and redirecting said plurality of sections for detection by a plurality of detectors. The apparatus may comprise a plurality of blades for splitting the field into successively smaller and smaller portions. The plurality of detectors can be positioned outside the focal region of the antenna system. The apparatus may further comprise focusing means for focusing the sections of the field onto another blade or a detector. There is also provided an antenna system comprising a plurality of feed horns for producing a plurality of beams; and a plurality of elements for redirecting said beams towards a focal region of the antenna system so as to form a group of closely packed beams for transmission by the antenna system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: ASTRIUM LIMITED
    Inventor: Graham Maxwell-Cox
  • Patent number: 7692593
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus are disclosed for high power thermal vacuum testing of satellite payloads using pick-up horns. Such pick-up horns can include at least one outer metal wall forming a metal body and at least one interior surface disposed in the metal body, forming at least one chamber in the metal body. The pick-up horn further includes a front metal surface disposed at a front end of the metal body, having at least one opening corresponding to the at least one chamber, and at least one high-power absorbing load disposed within the at least one chamber and in contact with the at least one interior surface. A pick-up horn may further include a serpentine coolant path disposed within the metal body between an outer surface of the at least one outer metal wall and the at least one high-power absorbing load. Related systems and methods are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Sudhakar K. Rao, Clency Lee-Yow, Philip Venezia, Mark W. MacGregor
  • Patent number: 7683848
    Abstract: In an antenna for a level meter employing the radar principle, a fastening device is provided for detachably mounting a dielectric insert in the antenna. The fastening device may be a continuous clamping collar that clamps the dielectric insert in place in the antenna. This offers a simple, universally employable possibility for fastening a dielectric insert in the antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Krohne Messtechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Gerding, Achim Matt, Thomas Musch
  • Publication number: 20100066594
    Abstract: A modular system is for assembling a fill-level radar antenna, a fill-level radar antenna, and o a fill level radar. The modular system comprises several modules that can be interconnected. In this way a host of different fill-level radar antennae may be produced that are optimally adapted to the corresponding conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventors: Klaus KIENZLE, Josef Fehrenbach, Juergen Motzer, Johannes Falk, Fritz Lenk
  • Publication number: 20100060546
    Abstract: A reflector for a reflector antenna is provided for producing a far field pattern with near-zero field strength at a predetermined position, the reflector having a surface comprising a stepped profile for generating the near-zero field strength. The stepped profile may comprise a radial step. The location of the near-zero field strength can be steered by moving the reflector only or by adjusting the amplitude and phase of an additional low resolution beam, produced by, for example, a simple horn, covering the same region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Inventors: David Robson, Simon John Stirland
  • Publication number: 20100033709
    Abstract: An integrated antenna for transmitting or receiving radiation in a frequency range from 100 GHz to 3 THz, the antenna being characterized in that it comprises: a conductive ground plane (GP) deposited on a “top” surface (S) of a dielectric or semiconductor substrate (SB); a conductive ribbon (CR) extending above said ground plane (GP) and forming an angle (?) therewith, so as to form a radiating structure (RS) of the transverse electromagnetic wave horn type; and a planar waveguide (G) comprising at least first and second conductive strips (CS1, CS2) formed on said top surface of the substrate, and connected respectively to said conductive ribbon (CR) and to said conductive ground plane (GP). A terahertz transmitter and/or receiver including such an antenna and a device for generating and/or detecting a terahertz signal integrated on the same substrate (SB) as the antenna and connected thereto by said waveguide (G). A method of fabricating such an antenna and such a transmitter and/or receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Inventors: Jean-Francois Fernand Lampin, Emilien Pascal Peytavit
  • Publication number: 20100033391
    Abstract: A dual- or quad-ridged horn antenna with an embedded impedance matching network is provided herein. According to one embodiment, the horn antenna may include at least one pair of ridges arranged opposite one another for guiding an electromagnetic wave there between. A transmission line is coupled to a first one of the ridges for supplying power to, or receiving a signal from, a feed region of the horn antenna. To reduce impedance mismatches between the transmission line and the ridges, an impedance matching network is embedded within a second one of the ridges at the feed point. The impedance matching network reduces impedance mismatch and extends the operational frequency range of the horn antenna by providing a sufficient amount of series capacitance between the transmission line and the ridges at the feed region. As set forth herein, the impedance matching network is preferably implemented as an open-circuit transmission line stub or capacitive stub.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventor: James S. McLean
  • Patent number: 7659861
    Abstract: The invention discloses a dual frequency feed assembly for receiving signals of both a first band and a second band lower than the first band, or transmitting signals of one of the first band and the second band while receiving signals of the other band. The dual frequency feed assembly includes an orthogonal-mode transducer, which includes: a core unit having an inner waveguide, an outer waveguide with a diameter larger than that of the inner waveguide and the two waveguides being concentric, a first band output/input port connected to the inner waveguide, and a second band output/input port; and two or four detachable branch waveguides connected to the core unit. An O-ring is provided at each connection between the core unit and the branch waveguides. The dual frequency feed assembly further comprises a first band polarizer made of a metal septum and/or a second band polarizer made of dielectric slabs, when receiving circularly polarized signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignees: Wistron NeWeb Corp., Cheng-Geng Jan
    Inventor: Cheng-Geng Jan
  • Publication number: 20100026598
    Abstract: A satellite broadcast receiving converter is provided with a feedhorn to which a satellite broadcast wave is input, a circuit board on which a converting circuit to convert the satellite broadcast wave to a receiving signal is formed, and a converter case disposed on a back end side of the feedhorn to support the circuit board. The converter case is comprised of two case members configured to cover and shield the front and back surfaces of the circuit board, and to be able to hold the circuit board. A first case member of the two case members is integrally formed with the feedhorn.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: MASPRODENKOH KABUSHIKIKAISHA
    Inventors: Koji Yokoi, Takehito Kuno, Kenzi Suzuki, Toshihiro Sugiura
  • Patent number: 7656359
    Abstract: An RF feed is provided which is structured as a curved reflector coupled to a sidewall of a waveguide cavity. A radiation source is situated facing the curved reflector. The RF feed may be coupled to a waveguide cavity having radiation elements coupled to top surface thereof, to thereby feed an antenna array. When an antenna array is used, several curved reflector RF feeds may be used, operating in the same or different frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Wavebender, Inc.
    Inventor: Dedi David Haziza
  • Publication number: 20100019980
    Abstract: An apparatus for an antenna system comprising at least one blade to cut the energy in the electric field received by an antenna into a plurality of portions and redirect said plurality of portions for detection by a plurality of detectors. The at least one blade may comprise a plurality of blades to cut the energy into successively smaller and smaller portions. The plurality of detectors can be positioned outside the focal region of the antenna system. If the dimensions of the detectors are required to be relatively large, the system can then detect more closely packed beams than if the detectors had been positioned in the focal region. The apparatus may further comprise at least one focusing element to focus the cut energy onto another blade or a detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Inventor: Graham Maxwell-Cox
  • Publication number: 20100001894
    Abstract: An electromagnetic radiation filter uses a plurality of dipole antennas to mitigate the transmission of electromagnetic radiation. The dipole antennas can form one or more arrays that scatter electromagnetic radiation. Examples of application include mitigating the reception of a difference frequency in non-linear radar, use in protective goggles, and use in a protective shield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Inventors: Sandor Holly, Nicholas Koumvakalis, Robert A. Smith
  • Patent number: 7642982
    Abstract: A relatively low cost, easy to install and aesthetically pleasing multi-band, multi-port digital video broadcast from satellite (DVBS) elliptical horn antenna designed as part of a reflector antenna system to simultaneously receive satellite television broadcast signals with circular polarity on two frequency channels. This type antenna may be implemented with a single antenna feed horn with multiple feed horns that may be arranged separately or in one or more integral feed horn blocks. The antennas may be designed to achieve acceptable circular polarity performance over broad and multiple frequency bands through the use of oppositely sloped differential phase differential sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Inventor: Scott J. Cook
  • Publication number: 20090309801
    Abstract: An antenna system for transmitting and/or receiving radio frequency (RF) signals in multiple frequency bands includes a horn antenna and a feed network. The horn antenna may transmit and/or receive RF signals in multiple frequency bands that are spread over more than an octave bandwidth with at least a 2.44-to-1 bandwidth ratio. The horn antenna includes a throat, an aperture, and an interior surface. The feed network includes a first waveguide section, a first junction, one or more first filters, and a first step-down waveguide section. The first waveguide section can provide a matching network and transmit and/or receive the RF signals in the multiple frequency bands. The first junction can transmit and/or receive the RF signals in first selected band(s) of the multiple frequency bands. The first step-down waveguide section may transmit and/or receive the RF signals in second selected band(s) of the multiple frequency bands.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Sudhakar K. RAO, Chris G. Baran, Chih-Chien Hsu, Surjit S. Dhillon
  • Publication number: 20090303147
    Abstract: Planar, sectorized, millimeter-wave antenna arrays may include one or more of housings of dielectric material, such as split-blocks of a plastic material, having metallized plastic horns and waveguides formed, etched, and/or cut therein, waveguide-to-planar-transmission-line transition devices and planar structures embedded therein, and one or more integrated circuits coupled thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Debabani Choudhury
  • Patent number: 7629937
    Abstract: A horn antenna includes a conducting horn having an inner wall and a first dielectric layer lining substantially the entire inner wall of the conducting horn. The first dielectric layer includes a metamaterial having a dielectric constant of greater than 0 and less than 1. The horn antenna may further include a dielectric core abutting at least a portion of the first dielectric layer. In one aspect, the dielectric core includes a fluid. A waveguide and a power combiner assembly, each including a metamaterial, are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Erik Lier, Allen Katz
  • Publication number: 20090295661
    Abstract: A wide band antenna tracking modulator and method is disclosed. The system includes a common port for receiving an electromagnetic signal, a waveguide connected to the common port, at least a pair of side arms and a pair of coupling slots separated along an axis of the waveguide coupling the electromagnetic signals between the waveguide and the pair of side arms. The pair of coupling slots substantially coupled a higher order TE mode signal while substantially not coupling a primary TE mode signal. The method includes substantially coupling a higher order Transverse Electric (TE) mode signal of the electromagnetic signal while substantially not coupling a primary TE mode signal of the electromagnetic signal to at least a pair of side arms coupled to the wave guide though a pair of coupling slots separated along the axis of the waveguide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventors: Christ P. Tzelepis, Paul J. Tatomir
  • Patent number: 7626558
    Abstract: A monoconical antenna comprises: a substantially conical concavity formed in one end face of a dielectric; a radiation electrode provided on the surface of the concavity; and a ground conductor provided in proximity to and substantially in parallel with the other end face opposite the one end face of the dielectric. The monoconical antenna is so constituted that electrical signals are fed to between the near vertex region of the radiation electrode and the region of the ground conductor. The half-cone angle ? of the substantially conical concavity formed in the one end face of the dielectric is determined by a predetermined rule corresponding to relative dielectric constant ?r. Thus, the quality of wideband characteristics inherent in the monoconical antenna can be sufficiently maintained, and further size reduction can be accomplished by dielectric loading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Kuroda, Hisato Asai, Tomoya Yamaura