Abstract: A method for manufacturing an array antenna having a design phase, including synthesizing an array layout of the array antenna and choosing or designing radiating elements to be arranged according to the array layout; and a phase of physically making the array antenna, including arranging the radiating elements according to the array layout; the design phase having the steps of: a) synthesizing an array layout complying with a required minimum beamwidth, a required field of view, a required side lobe level and a target angular dependence of the maximum directivity of the array antenna over the required field of view; b) determining shaped radiation patterns of the radiating elements in order to approximate said target angular dependence of the maximum directivity of the array antenna over the required field of view; and c) choosing or designing radiating elements having the shaped radiation patterns determined at step b).

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an array antenna having a design phase, including synthesizing an array layout of the array antenna and choosing or designing radiating elements to be arranged according to the array layout; and a phase of physically making the array antenna, including arranging the radiating elements according to the array layout; the design phase having the steps of: a) synthesizing an array layout complying with a required minimum beamwidth, a required field of view, a required side lobe level and a target angular dependence of the maximum directivity of the array antenna over the required field of view; b) determining shaped radiation patterns of the radiating elements in order to approximate said target angular dependence of the maximum directivity of the array antenna over the required field of view; and c) choosing or designing radiating elements having the shaped radiation patterns determined at step b).

Abstract: An antenna capable of generating multiple beams that are close together and have side lobes of low level includes optics comprising a single main reflector and a set of primary sources, each source suitable for generating a beam taken up by the optics that transmits it, or suitable for receiving a beam picked up by the optics of the antenna. The main reflector has an aperture of diameter D as a function of the center wavelength of the frequency band of the beams and the half-power beam width of the beams coming from the main antenna element, and a dimensionless number lying in the range 1.5 to 4. The optics present a profile that is modified relative to conventional optics comprising a parabolic main reflector by a correction that imparts an amplitude and phase distribution that is preferably circularly symmetrical, and compliant with a relationship for enlarging the reflected beams.

Abstract: An antenna capable of generating multiple beams that are close together and have side lobes of low level includes optics comprising a single main reflector and a set of primary sources, each source suitable for generating a beam taken up by the optics that transmits it, or suitable for receiving a beam picked up by the optics of the antenna. The main reflector has an aperture of diameter D as a function of the center wavelength of the frequency band of the beams and the half-power beam width of the beams coming from the main antenna element, and a dimensionless number lying in the range 1.5 to 4. The optics present a profile that is modified relative to conventional optics comprising a parabolic main reflector by a correction that imparts an amplitude and phase distribution that is preferably circularly symmetrical, and compliant with a relationship for enlarging the reflected beams.

Abstract: The invention relates to a radiating source for transmitting and receiving, intended to be installed on board a satellite to define a radiation pattern in a terrestrial zone, said source being intended to be disposed in or near the focal plane of a reflector associated with other sources corresponding to other terrestrial zones. The source includes a plurality of radiating apertures, each of which has an efficiency at least equal to 70%, and feed means for feeding said radiating apertures. The radiating apertures and their feed means are such that the energy radiated by all of the radiating apertures is practically limited to the corresponding reflector, at least for transmission.

Abstract: The invention relates to a radiating source for transmitting and receiving, intended to be installed on board a satellite to define a radiation pattern in a terrestrial zone, said source being intended to be disposed in or near the focal plane of a reflector associated with other sources corresponding to other terrestrial zones. The source includes a plurality of radiating apertures, each of which has an efficiency at least equal to 70%, and feed means for feeding said radiating apertures. The radiating apertures and their feed means are such that the energy radiated by all of the radiating apertures is practically limited to the corresponding reflector, at least for transmission.

Abstract: A method of forming the radiation pattern of a high efficiency active antenna for electronically-scanned radar, wherein its illumination laws, and thus its radiation patterns are dissociated in transmission and in reception; and equal amplitude illumination is provided in transmission in order to maximize the efficiency of the transmit amplifiers which are all identical, thereby minimizing their DC energy consumption and their dissipation. The invention is particularly suitable for use in space radars.