CN104505594A

CN104505594A - Communication System With Broadband Antenna

Info

Publication number: CN104505594A
Application number: CN201410478564.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: F·J·布兰达; M·J·巴雷特; M·N·兰德尔; M·A·弗莱赖; M·J·乔奥尼瑞; W·麦克纳瑞; R·B·安德森
Original assignee: AeroSat Corp
Current assignee: AeroSat Corp
Priority date: 2007-09-13
Filing date: 2008-09-12
Publication date: 2015-04-08
Anticipated expiration: 2028-09-12
Also published as: WO2009036305A1; CN101842938A; HK1206871A1; JP2014082786A; JP5735144B2; JP2010539812A; CN101842938B; EP2188870A1; CN104505594B; JP5453269B2

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.

Description

There is the communication system of broad-band antenna

The application is the application number submitted on September 12nd, 2008 is 200880113615.8, and denomination of invention is the divisional application of " communication system having broad-band antenna ".

Related application

It be the United States Patent (USP) provisional application the 60/971st that topic is applied for " Communication System with Broadband Antenna " that this part of application requirement to be given at this by quoting 13 days September in 2007 being all incorporated into as proof, No. 958, on September 17th, 2007 is the United States Patent (USP) provisional application the 60/973rd of topic application with " Communication Systemwith Broadband Antenna ", No. 112 and on September 8th, 2008 are the United States Patent (USP) provisional application the 61/095th of topic application with " Communication System with Broadband Antenna ", the priority of No. 167.

Invention field

The present invention relates to wireless communication system, specifically, relate to the antenna and communication subsystem that can use on passenger's delivery vehicle.

Background technology

Many communication systems relate to the data-signal received from artificial satellite.Traditional system has used perhaps eurypalynous antenna reception from the signal of artificial satellite, such as, and Rotman lens, Luneberg lens, disk antenna or phase array.But these systems because of limited view or the low sustain damage of efficiency, may limit the ability that they receive satellite signal.Specifically, these traditional systems may lack the required performance of reception satellite signal, or are that signal strength signal intensity is low, or are that noise is high, for example, from the signal of low elevation angle artificial satellite.

In addition, many traditional systems do not comprise any or fill the polarization correction of part, and therefore alternated polarization (adjective) signal noise may disturb required signal, stops this system suitably to receive desired signal.In addition, such system is made to locate on the fuselage of aircraft to launch or the some problems submitting to such system of Received signal strength proposition.

So, need the communication system of improvement, comprise the antenna system that may can receive weak signal in adverse environment or signal of communication and can be positioned at least in part on airframe of improvement.

Summary of the invention

Some aspects and embodiment point to comprise can be arranged on delivery vehicle and among antenna array and the communication system of electronic building brick.This communication system may comprise the external component be arranged on the outer surface of delivery vehicle and the internal part being positioned at delivery vehicle usually, and external component and internal part lean on liaison coupled to each other.According to discussion below, external component may comprise antenna array and by the erection unit of orientation, the elevation angle and polarization portable antenna battle array (for example, following the tracks of artificial satellite or other signal source) and transfer.Internal part may comprise the electronic equipment that major part is associated with communication system.Internal part is positioned at may to be conducive to inside delivery vehicle, close to electronic equipment and impact that electronic equipment can be protected to make it from delivery vehicle external environment condition, will to discuss in detail further below.The embodiment of this communication system provides the interests much surmounting prior art systems, comprise size and weight relatively little (this may be particularly advantageous to the system of installing aboard), and have excellent wide band radio-frequency performance, will discuss further below.

According to an embodiment, antenna array comprises the dielectric lens of numerous horn antenna element, numerous correspondence, the horn antenna component couples that each dielectric lens among numerous dielectric lens is corresponding among numerous horn antenna element respectively, and by the waveguide feed network that numerous horn antenna element and shared feed point are tied, wherein the dielectric lens of numerous horn antenna element and numerous correspondence has such shape and size so that antenna array diminishes gradually at arbitrary end of antenna array.

In one embodiment, numerous horn antenna element is arranged to two parallel row, and those two parallel row offset one from another along the length of antenna array a half width of one of numerous horn antenna element.In another embodiment, numerous horn antenna element comprises inside loudspeaker antenna element, the 3rd horn antenna element, the second horn antenna element and end horn antenna element, wherein the 3rd horn antenna element than inside loudspeaker antenna element little and position than the end of inside loudspeaker antenna element closer to antenna array, second horn antenna element and position less than the 3rd horn antenna element is than the end of the 3rd horn antenna element closer to antenna array, and end horn antenna element is less than the second horn antenna element and be positioned at the end of antenna array.In another embodiment, numerous dielectric lens element comprises interior dielectric lens, the 3rd dielectric lens, the second dielectric lens and end dielectric lens, wherein interior dielectric lens are coupled with inside loudspeaker antenna element, 3rd dielectric lens than interior dielectric lens little and also with the 3rd horn antenna component couples, second dielectric lens less than the 3rd dielectric lens and also with the second horn antenna component couples, and end dielectric lens is less than the second dielectric lens and with end horn antenna component couples.This antenna array may comprise numerous tubaeform insert further, and each tubaeform insert among numerous tubaeform insert to lay respectively among numerous horn antenna element within corresponding horn antenna element.In one embodiment, the tubaeform insert radar absorbent material being positioned at end horn antenna element and the second horn antenna element is made.In another embodiment, each dielectric lens glass fibre pin fastener is on respective horn antenna element.

Another aspect orientation-correcting is arranged on the method for the antenna array on delivery vehicle.In one embodiment, the method comprises the radio frequency center determining antenna beam pattern relative to the position of the position coder be arranged on antenna array, calculate antenna array relative to the first pitching side-play amount of the position of position coder and the first rolling side-play amount, and the first pitching side-play amount calculated and the first rolling side-play amount are stored in local memory arrangement.In another embodiment, the method comprises the delivery vehicle pitching of main delivery vehicle and the data of delivery vehicle rolling that accept to represent the battle array that fixes up an aerial wire further, antenna pitching and antenna rolling is predicted with position coder, calculate the second pitching side-play amount between delivery vehicle pitching and antenna pitching, calculate the second rolling side-play amount between delivery vehicle rolling and antenna rolling, and the second pitching side-play amount calculated and the second rolling side-play amount are stored in local memory arrangement.In one embodiment, the method comprise further calculate the second pitching side-play amount and the second rolling side-play amount be stored in remote memory device.In another embodiment, the method comprises further correct the second pitching and rolling side-play amount based on the first pitching side-play amount and the first rolling side-play amount, and the second pitching side-play amount after correcting and the second rolling side-play amount are stored in local memory arrangement.The method may comprise the second pitching side-play amount after correction further and the second rolling side-play amount is stored in remote memory device.In one embodiment, the method comprises the data accepting to represent the delivery vehicle course of main delivery vehicle further, antenna array is aimed at selected satellite signal source, antenna course is determined based on the signal locking selected satellite signal source, calculate the course offset amount between delivery vehicle course and antenna course, and course offset amount is stored in local memory arrangement.The method may comprise further course offset amount is stored in remote memory device.In one embodiment, the data accepting the delivery vehicle pitching and delivery vehicle rolling that represent main delivery vehicle comprise the date of the navigation system accepting autonomous delivery vehicle.

According to another embodiment, communication system comprises by the antenna array being configured to receive and transmit, be configured to antenna array to install on main platform and by the cardan universal joint component of orientation and elevation angle portable antenna battle array, first memory device is arranged on the first subsystem of the position coder composition on antenna array with at least one, and comprise the second subsystem of second memory device and the control unit of the motion be configured to by orientation and elevation angle control antenna battle array by liaison and the first subsystems couple, wherein at least one position coder is configured to detect relative to the pitching of this antenna array of antenna array position of factory calibrated level and rolling and the pitching of antenna array providing representative to detect and the first antenna data-signal of rolling, first and second storage arrangements are bound up by liaison and are configured to accept and stored antenna data-signal.In one embodiment, the first and second storage arrangements are further configured to the identifying information stored about the first and second subsystems.

According to another embodiment, the communication system be arranged on delivery vehicle comprises the external subsystems be arranged on the outer surface of delivery vehicle, this external subsystems comprises the antenna array being configured to receive and transmit, be configured to antenna array to be installed on delivery vehicle and by the cardan universal joint component of orientation and elevation angle portable antenna battle array, local memory arrangement and at least one be arranged on position coder on antenna array, and comprise the internal subsystems of control store apparatus and the control unit of the motion be configured to by orientation and elevation angle control antenna battle array by liaison and the first subsystems couple, wherein control unit is configured to accept to represent installed the pitching of the delivery vehicle of antenna array and the data of rolling, position coder is configured to the pitching and the rolling that predict antenna array, control unit is configured to calculate the rolling side-play amount between the rolling of the pitching of delivery vehicle and the pitching side-play amount in the twinkling of an eye of antenna and delivery vehicle and the rolling of antenna, and control store apparatus is configured to the pitching side-play amount and the rolling side-play amount that store calculating.

In one embodiment, local memory arrangement is configured to the pitching side-play amount and the rolling side-play amount that store calculating.In another embodiment, local and control store apparatus is further configured to the identifying information stored about inside and outside subsystem.

The communication system comprising antenna array is pointed in another aspect, comprise numerous antenna element, each antenna element is applicable to receiving the data-signal from signal source, and the polarization converter unit to be coupled with shared feed point, this polarization converter unit is configured to compensate the polarization distortion (polarization skew) between antenna array and signal source.In one embodiment, polarization converter unit comprises two orthogonally polarized component signals being configured to accept composition data-signal and provides the rotary-type orthomode transducer of the output signal through polarization correction, becomes to accept the drive system of the control signal representing the rotary-type orthomode transducer degree of rotation of expecting with rotary-type orthomode transducer coupled configuration and be configured to that power is supplied to drive system to make rotary-type orthomode transducer rotate to the motor of the degree of rotation of expection.

In one embodiment, polarization conversion cellular installation is on antenna array.In another embodiment, numerous antenna element and feed network are arranged to provide cavity between feed network and numerous antenna element, and wherein polarization converter unit is mounted at least partially inside cavity.In another embodiment, numerous antenna element is horn antenna element, and feed network is waveguide feed network.

According to an embodiment, antenna array comprises each dielectric lens among numerous horn antenna element, the dielectric lens of numerous correspondence, numerous dielectric lens horn antenna component couples corresponding among numerous horn antenna element, and numerous horn antenna element and shared feed point connect by waveguide feed network, wherein each dielectric lens is the planoconvex spotlight of the middle chimb having flat edge and opposite, each dielectric lens comprises numerous impedance matching characteristics that the inner surface near middle chimb is formed, and the outer surface of middle chimb is level and smooth.

In one embodiment, numerous impedance matching characteristics comprises numerous hollow pipe.In another embodiment, each dielectric lens comprises the numerous impedance matching grooves extending to dielectric lens inside from the surface of flat edge further.Numerous dielectric lens may comprise, for example, crosslinked polystyrene material or, for example, Rexolite ^tM.

In another embodiment, antenna array comprises the numerous horn antenna elements being configured to receive data-signal; The orthomode transducer of numerous correspondence, each corresponding orthomode transducer and corresponding horn antenna component couples and be configured data-signal to be divided into the first component signal and second component signal, the first and second component signals are orthogonal polarizations; And by the waveguide feed network that numerous orthomode transducer and shared feed point are tied, this waveguide feed network is configured to the summation calculating the component signal from each orthomode transducer in E-plane and H-plane.

In one embodiment, waveguide feed network comprises the first path of guiding first component signal and guides the second path of second component signal, wherein the first path calculates the summation of the first component signal received from each orthomode transducer in E-plane, second path calculates the summation of the second component signal received from each orthomode transducer in H-plane, and waveguide feed network is configured to provide the first total component signal and second to amount to component signal in shared feed point.In another embodiment, numerous orthomode transducer comprises and the first orthomode transducer of the first horn antenna component couples and the orthomode transducer with the second horn antenna component couples, wherein waveguide feed network includes the first input being configured to the first component signal received from the first orthomode transducer, be configured to receive the second input from the first component signal of the second orthomode transducer and the T-shaped joint portion of waveguide of output being configured to provide the output signal corresponding with the weighted sum of two the first component signals, the T-shaped joint portion of this waveguide comprises and is configured to make the T-shaped joint portion of this waveguide be biased the tuned cell of generation two the first component signal weighted sums.

The communication system that can be contained on delivery vehicle is pointed in another aspect.In one embodiment, this communication system comprise can be contained in delivery vehicle outer surface on comprise be configured to receive and on the antenna array of transmitted data signal and the outer surface that is configured to antenna array to be arranged on delivery vehicle and the external subsystems moving the cardan universal joint component of this antenna array by orientation and the elevation angle with can be contained in inside delivery vehicle and to comprise the internal subsystems of control unit and wireless set, this internal subsystems is coupled with external subsystems by liaison and is configured to power and control signal to be supplied to external subsystems, wherein control unit is configured to control signal to be supplied to the motion of cardan universal joint component by orientation and elevation angle control antenna battle array, wherein cardan universal joint component comprises the antenna installation stent being configured to external subsystems be installed to the mounting bracket on delivery vehicle outer surface and is configured to antenna array is installed on cardan universal joint component.

In an embodiment of this communication system, mounting bracket comprises middle body and four pin be connected with middle body by four corresponding support arm portion; And the revolution that four pin are all placed on antenna array is scanned outside scope.In another embodiment, external subsystems comprises the swivel joint inside the middle body being placed on mounting bracket further, and this swivel joint makes external subsystems be coupled with internal subsystems.In another embodiment, antenna installation stent firmly grasps antenna array along the length of antenna array two positions, and two points are not at the end of antenna array.In another embodiment, cardan universal joint component comprises the control signal that is configured to receive from control unit and rotates elevation angle control assembly to the antenna array of control signal sensitivity by the elevation angle.Elevation angle control assembly may comprise push-pull type pulley system.In another embodiment, cardan universal joint component comprises further and is arranged on antenna array and is configured to by the mobile polarization converter unit to the antenna array of polarization sensitive of polarization.

The other aspect of these aspects exemplary and embodiment, embodiment and interests will be discussed below in detail.In addition, people will understand the illustrative embodiment that information above and detailed description are below all only various different aspect and embodiment, and object is to provide the characteristic of aspect and embodiment for understanding requirement of having the right and the summary of feature or framework.Any embodiment disclosed at this all may combine with any mode consistent with the object, target and the needs that disclose at this and other embodiment any, and about " embodiment ", " some embodiments ", " alternate embodiment ", " various different embodiment ", " embodiment " or similar saying need not to be mutual repulsion but tend to point out may be included among at least one embodiment in conjunction with the specific feature of this embodiment description, structure or characteristic.The appearing at this and may not all mention same embodiment of such word.In order to furnish an example and understand various different aspect and embodiment further, accompanying drawing is included, and is merged in this part of specification, forms a part for this part of specification.Described by accompanying drawing is used for explaining together with the remainder of specification and propose the aspect of claim and the principle of embodiment and operation.

Accompanying drawing explanation

The various different aspect of at least one embodiment is by below with reference to the accompanying drawing discussion not intending to draw to scale.Have the occasion of reference symbol after technical characteristic in accompanying drawing, detailed description or any claim, these reference symbols are included, are only used to the intelligibility increasing accompanying drawing, detailed description and claim.Therefore, be all not inclined to or without reference symbol and require that the scope of element produces any restriction to any.In the drawings, illustrational each same or similar numeral of almost same composition in various different accompanying drawing.For the sake of clarity, may not each composition be marked out often opening in accompanying drawing.These accompanying drawings illustratively provide with explanation, are not inclined to and define as extreme of the present invention.In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is the functional-block diagram of an embodiment of communication system according to some aspect of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is the functional-block diagram of the embodiment illustrating external subsystems according to some aspect of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is displaying is arranged on the aircraft of the Communications System Segment on the neutralization of aircraft illustration according to some aspect of the present invention;

Fig. 4 is the perspective view of an embodiment of external subsystems according to some aspect of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is the plane graph of an embodiment of radome according to some aspect of the present invention;

Fig. 6 is the perspective view not having an embodiment of the external subsystems of lid according to some aspect of the present invention;

Fig. 7 is the exploded view of the external subsystems of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is used for the plane graph of embodiment external subsystems being fixed to the mounting bracket on main platform according to some aspect of the present invention;

Fig. 9 is the partial exploded view of an embodiment of elevation actuator according to some aspect of the present invention;

Figure 10 is the function diagram that may be used for by an embodiment of the pulley system of elevation angle portable antenna battle array according to some aspect of the present invention;

Figure 11 illustrates according to some aspect of the present invention the schematic diagram that spring-loading cam adjustment antenna array is shaken;

Figure 12 is the front view of an embodiment of antenna array according to some aspect of the present invention;

Figure 13 is the partial exploded view of the antenna array of Figure 12;

Figure 14 is the sectional view of an embodiment of horn antenna;

Figure 15 is the end view of an embodiment of inside loudspeaker antenna element according to some aspect of the present invention;

Figure 16 is the end view of an embodiment of the 3rd horn antenna element according to some aspect of the present invention;

Figure 17 is the end view of an embodiment of the second horn antenna element according to some aspect of the present invention;

Figure 18 is the end view of an embodiment of end horn antenna element according to some aspect of the present invention;

Figure 19 is the end view of an embodiment of interior dielectric lens according to some aspect of the present invention;

Figure 20 is the perspective view of the interior dielectric lens of Figure 19;

Figure 21 is the plane graph of the plane surface of the dielectric lens of Figure 19;

Figure 22 A is the end view of an embodiment of the 3rd dielectric lens according to some aspect of the present invention;

Figure 22 B is the plane graph of the plane surface of the 3rd dielectric lens of Figure 22 A;

Figure 23 A is the end view of an embodiment of the second dielectric lens according to some aspect of the present invention;

Figure 23 B is the plane graph of the plane surface of second dielectric lens of Figure 23 A;

Figure 24 A is the end view of an embodiment of end dielectric lens according to some aspect of the present invention;

Figure 24 B is the plane graph of the plane surface of the end dielectric lens of Figure 24 A;

Figure 25 is the end view of another embodiment of dielectric lens according to some aspect of the present invention;

Figure 26 is the end view of another embodiment of dielectric lens according to some aspect of the present invention;

Figure 27 A can be used for the end view of embodiment dielectric lens being fastened to the pin on antenna element according to some aspect of the present invention;

Figure 27 B is the longitudinal section view of the pin of Figure 27 A;

Figure 28 A-C is the perspective view that dielectric lens can be used for be fastened to according to some aspect of the present invention geometrical clamp on antenna element;

Figure 29 shows according to some aspect of the present invention to be used for the perspective view of an embodiment of dielectric lens of the slit of accommodating geometrical clamp;

Figure 30 is used for the end view of another embodiment at least some dielectric lens being fixed on the geometrical clamp in antenna array according to some aspect of the present invention;

Figure 31 A is the isometric view of an embodiment of tubaeform insert according to some aspect of the present invention;

Figure 31 B is the end view of the tubaeform insert of Figure 31 A;

Figure 32 A-C is the isometric view of the further embodiment of tubaeform insert according to some aspect of the present invention;

Figure 33 A is the zero degree rolling illustration of the beam pattern of an antenna array embodiment according to some aspect of the present invention, and this array has the element spacing of about 1/2 wavelength;

Figure 33 B is 15 degree of rolling illustrations of the beam pattern of linear array embodiment on the same day;

Figure 34 is the chart illustrating another embodiment of antenna array according to some aspect of the present invention;

Figure 35 is the illustration of the embodiment having the horn antenna element of integrated orthomode transducer according to some aspect of the present invention;

Figure 36 is the perspective view of an embodiment of orthomode transducer according to some aspect of the present invention;

Figure 37 is the perspective view of another embodiment of orthomode transducer according to some aspect of the present invention;

Figure 38 is another view of the orthomode transducer of Figure 37;

Figure 39 is the perspective view of an embodiment of waveguide feed network according to some aspect of the present invention;

Figure 40 A is the illustration of a part for an embodiment of feed network according to some aspect of the present invention;

Figure 40 B is the sectional view of the part that the feed network of Figure 40 A intercepts along the line A-A in Figure 40 A;

Figure 41 is the chart of another embodiment of feed network part according to some aspect of the present invention;

Figure 42 is the perspective view of an embodiment of the T-shaped joint portion of waveguide according to some aspect of the present invention;

Figure 43 is the chart of a part for another embodiment of feed network according to some aspect of the present invention;

Figure 44 is the partial exploded view of the embodiment comprising the antenna array of polarization converter unit according to some aspect of the present invention;

Figure 45 is the partial exploded view of an embodiment of polarization converter unit according to some aspect of the present invention;

Figure 46 is the perspective view of an embodiment of low noise amplifier according to some aspect of the present invention;

Figure 47 is the functional-block diagram of an embodiment of internal subsystems according to some aspect of the present invention;

Figure 48 is the functional-block diagram of an embodiment of down converter unit according to some aspect of the present invention;

Figure 49 is according to the perspective view of some aspect of the present invention for an embodiment of the housing of the subsystem of inside;

Figure 50 is the flow chart of the embodiment illustrating calibration procedure according to some aspect of the present invention.

Embodiment

At least some aspect and embodiment point to comprise can be arranged on delivery vehicle and among the communication system of antenna array and electronic equipment part.This communication system may comprise the external component be arranged on delivery vehicle outer surface and the internal part being positioned at delivery vehicle usually, and external component and internal part intercouple by liaison.According to discussion below, external component may comprise antenna array and by the erection unit of orientation, the elevation angle and polarization portable antenna battle array (for example, following the tracks of artificial satellite or other signal source) and transfer.Internal part may comprise the electronic equipment that major part is associated with communication system.Internal part is positioned at inside delivery vehicle may be conducive to close to electronic equipment, and the external environment influence that electronic equipment can be protected to make it from delivery vehicle, will discuss in detail further below.The embodiment of this communication system provides many interests surmounting prior art systems, comprise size and weight relatively less (this may be particularly advantageous for the system of installing aboard), and have excellent wide band radio-frequency performance, will discuss further below.

It will be appreciated that the embodiment of method and apparatus discussed herein application aspect be not limited to state in following description or the structure of illustrational parts combination in the accompanying drawings and the details of arrangement.These method and apparatus can be implemented and can put into practice in a variety of ways or implement in other embodiment.The embodiment of particular implementation this just illustratively provide and also be not inclined to as restriction.Specifically, be all not inclined in what its embodiment in office in conjunction with the behavior of any one or more embodiment discussion, element and feature and be excluded outside similar function.In addition, wording and term are the objects in order to describe as used herein, should not be regarded as restriction.Also may comprise at the embodiment of this system and method mentioned with odd number or element or behavior the embodiment comprising these elements numerous, and any embodiment mentioned with plural number at this or element or behavior also may comprise the embodiment only including single element.Any benchmark about front and back, the left side and the right, top and bottom and upper part and lower part is be not inclined to and system and method for the present invention or its part are confined to any one position or spatial orientation for convenience intentionally.

With reference to Fig. 1, illustrate the block diagram of an embodiment of the communication system comprising external subsystems 102 and internal subsystems 104.External subsystems 102 comprises antenna array 106 and cardan universal joint component 108, will discuss in detail one by one below.Antenna array 106 receive from signal source 110 signal of communication and signal is sent to one or more destination, will discuss further below.Internal subsystems 102 may be coupled with external subsystems 104 via other the transmission medium (such as waveguide) of cable and delivering power, data and control signal.Internal subsystems 104 may comprise most of electronic equipment of this communication system, processes the signal will transmitted and received by antenna array 106.In one embodiment, internal subsystems 104 comprises the antenna control unit 112 with cardan universal joint component 108 Control on Communication antenna array 106.For example, antenna control unit 112 may be supplied to cardan universal joint component 108 control signal antenna array correctly to be pointed to the orientation and the elevation angle that receive from the expection signal in signal source 110.Antenna control unit 112 also may communicate from other various different parts of internal subsystems 104, will discuss further below.High-power wireless electricity transceiver 114 accepts and processes signal that antenna array 106 receives and may export these signals via modulator-demodulator 116.Modulator-demodulator 116 may operate in the mode that person familiar with the technology is known.High-power wireless electricity transceiver 114 also processes the signal that antenna array 106 will be launched.

According to an embodiment, internal subsystems 104 also comprises the power supply 118 providing power to the various different components and parts of internal subsystems 104 and external subsystems 102.It will be appreciated that power supply 118 may comprise the power source special of the part as internal subsystems, maybe may comprise any required components and parts the components and parts being supplied to the internal subsystems of required power after the power transfer of the power supply of next autonomous delivery vehicle.Internal subsystems may comprise network management server 120 further.May may provide navigation data from the delivery vehicle wherein having installed this communication system as a part for internal subsystems 104 or the separated and navigational reference system 122 communicated with, will discuss further below.

With reference to Fig. 2, in one embodiment, cardan universal joint component 108 comprises low noise amplifier 124, and the latter is in order to consider that signal to noise ratio should be placed on as far as possible near the position of antenna array, therefore be included among external subsystems 102, instead of be included among internal subsystems 104.In one embodiment, the antenna that cardan universal joint component 108 comprises machinery further aims at assembly 126, this assembly may comprise the inclination sensor of the Angle Position for predicting external component (not being illustrated) and be used for adjusting the polarization converter unit 128 of polarization distortion between antenna array 106 and signal source 110, will discuss further below.Cardan universal joint component 108 may comprise the storage arrangement 130 that can comprise the distinctive data of external subsystems 102 further, will discuss further below.

According to an embodiment, this communication system can be arranged on delivery vehicle (such as, aircraft or automobile) and among.With reference to Fig. 3, illustrate the embodiment being equipped with the aircraft 132 of communication system according to some aspect of the present invention.Although it will be appreciated that below about communication system some in and the discussion of embodiment mainly may mention installation system aboard, but the present invention is not by such restriction, and the embodiment of this communication system may be installed on multiple different delivery vehicle, comprise ship, train, automobile and aircraft, and be arranged on static platform, such as, business or residential building.External subsystems 102 may be installed on aircraft 132 with any suitable position.In the installation site of the upper external component of aircraft (or other delivery vehicle) may be by consider various different factor (such as, the easy degree of the installation of aerodynamic consideration, weight balancing, this system and/or maintenance, FAA requirement, to the interference of other part and the visual field of antenna array) selected.According to discussion above, external subsystems 102 comprises the antenna array 106 (see Fig. 1) of the interested data-signal 134 received from signal source 110.Signal source 110 may be the data-signal source of another delivery vehicle, artificial satellite, fixing or static platform (such as, base station, tower or broadcasting station) or other type any.Data-signal 134 may be any signal of communication, the signal of include but not limited to TV signal, encoding by maintenance information, positional information or out of Memory, voice or transfer voice (digitally or otherwise), etc.In one embodiment, this System's composition can be used for about system itself or about the part of aircraft 132 information (such as, operation information, required maintenance information, etc.) part of the communication network of the remote monitoring that sends to remote server or control/maintenance prevention to provide for this system and/or aircraft.

Known to those people being familiar with the operation of artificial satellite in many regions in the world, there is the multiple artificial satellite operation frequency causing broadband frequency operation.For example, live artificial satellite may with the frequency receive signal of about 14.0GHz-14.5GHz, and this artificial satellite may send signal in the frequency range of about 10.7GHz-12.75GHz.Some parameters of existence with regard to the reception that table 1 below illustrates the live signal adapted to regard to antenna module of the present invention and system except frequency.Signal source 110 may comprise any artificial satellite among the artificial satellite of these or other type.

Table 1

Still with reference to Fig. 3, this communication system may comprise or may connect numerous passenger interface, such as, for every passenger provides other channel selection, the seat back display unit 136 of internet access ability, the earphone be associated and Selection Floater, etc.As an alternative, for example, live video also can be distributed to all passenger by the numerous fluorescent screens be periodically placed in the passenger area of aircraft and shares viewing for them.Signal or may use cable to provide by radio between internal subsystems 104 and passenger interface.In addition, this communication system also may comprise Systematical control/display station 138, for example, this Systematical control/display station may be arranged in the area of aircraft cabins being used for controlling whole system for the flight service crew in trade route, so that does not need the direct interaction of people and external component except maintenance and repairing.In one embodiment, this communication system may be go up use as the front end of artificial satellite Video Reception System at the delivery vehicle (such as, the aircraft of Fig. 3) of movement.Artificial satellite Video Reception System can be used for a live program (such as, news, weather, sports, internet program, film, etc.) and be supplied to some passengers inside delivery vehicle.

With reference to Fig. 4, illustrate an embodiment of external subsystems 102 with perspective view.According to discussion above, external subsystems 102 comprises and is applicable to receiving the signal from information source (110 in Fig. 1) and the antenna array 106 transmitted.According to further discussion below, antenna array 106 may comprise the numerous antenna elements (displaying) be coupled with feed network 202.In one embodiment, these antenna element is horn antenna, and feed network 202 is waveguide feed network.Every antenna element may be coupled to the corresponding lens 204 of the gain being configured to improve corresponding antenna element, will discuss further below.Geometrical clamp 206a, 206b and 206c may be used for a lens 204 and be fastened on corresponding antenna element, are also discussed below.According to an embodiment, due to structure and the arrangement of feed network 202 and antenna element and lens 204, antenna array 106 forms the structure of rigidity in fact, only has the natural frequency of basic modal structure.From the viewpoint of structural vibration, therefore antenna array 106 may serve as single unit, instead of the array of multiple Individual cells.The vibration that the interests of the structure of this rigidity in fact of antenna array 106 may comprise antenna array is minimum, otherwise may produce adverse influence to the accuracy of the performance of antenna array and aiming.In one embodiment, the basic modal structure natural frequency of antenna array 106 is about 20 hertz (Hz).

Antenna array 106 may use antenna installation stent 208 to be arranged on cardan universal joint component 108.As shown in Figure 4, in one embodiment, antenna installation stent 208 is not end at antenna array 106 but firmly grasps antenna array at the several points close to antenna array center.These of antenna installation stent are promptly put and may be separated with the length direction center substantial symmetry of antenna array 106.Along its length at the point of inside instead of firmly grasp antenna array 106 at end and may promote further to reduce unwelcome antenna array structural vibration.

Still with reference to Fig. 4, at least some embodiment, the substantial portions of external subsystems 102 may be covered with by lid 210.Some parts that lid 210 may be at least external component 102 provide environmental protection.Cable 212a, 212b and 212c may be used for transmitting data, power and control signal between internal subsystems 104 and external subsystems 102.It will be appreciated that this communication system is not limited to and use group cable 212a, 212b of three shown in Fig. 4 and as 212c, but the cable of any proper number may be used.External subsystems 102 can use can be fastened to delivery vehicle body (such as, the fuselage 132 of aircraft) on mounting bracket 214 be installed on delivery vehicle.

According to an embodiment, external subsystems may be covered by the radome that may be used for reducing the head resistance that external component produces when delivery vehicle 132 moves.The embodiment of radome 270 is shown in Figure 5.In one embodiment, antenna is covered with the maximum height of about 9.5 inches and the length 272 of about 64.4 inches; But, it will be appreciated that the size of radome 270 in any given embodiment may depend on the antenna array 106 of external subsystems 106 and the size of other part.According to an embodiment, radio frequency (RF) signal that radome 270 pairs of antenna arrays 106 are launched and/or received to transmit.Radome 270 may be make with the material that person familiar with the technology is known, include, but are not limited to fiber (such as, quartz or glass) and the laminated sheet of resin (such as, epoxy resin, polyester, cyanate or bismaleamide).These or other material may be used for forming high, the lightweight radome of transmittance with honeycomb or foam combination and construct.

With reference to Fig. 6, illustrate the embodiment taking away the external subsystems 102 that lid 210 is shown.The various different part of external subsystems will continue to discuss in more detail with reference to Fig. 6 below.

With reference to Fig. 7, illustrate the decomposed figure of the embodiment of external subsystems 102 shown in Fig. 6.In one embodiment, lid 210 comprises several part, and such as, upper part 210a, aft section 210b and two lateral parts 210c and 210d, these parts may formation lid 210 secured together.But it will be appreciated that the present invention not by such restriction, lid 210 may comprise more than or may be different from the illustrational configuration of Fig. 7 less than the various piece of four parts and lid.In one embodiment, the various piece of lid only uses securing member (such as, screw or bolt) to be fixed together.The number of securing member may be the minimal amount that fixed cover needs, so that must close to unnecessary delay when avoiding time external subsystems 102 (such as, in order to upgrade or repair part) removing lid and complicated.In another embodiment, may use bonding agent that cover part 210a-d is fixed together individually or together with securing member.But, in some applications, for example, when external subsystems 102 is installed on aircraft 132, use bonding agent may be unwelcome, because this may make dismounting lid 210 complicated further.

According to discussion above, external subsystems 102 may be use mounting bracket 214 to be installed on delivery vehicle (or other platform).The embodiment of mounting bracket 214 is shown in fig. 8.In the embodiment enumerated, mounting bracket comprises four pin 218 of middle body 216 and the end in the part 220 that stretches out from middle body 216.The securing member (such as, screw or bolt) that mounting bracket 214 may be through pin 218 is fixed on delivery vehicle.The mounting bracket 214 using the configuration having the configuration of illustrating with Fig. 8 similar may be favourable in some applications, because four securing members only may be needed just therefore mounting bracket to be also installed to external subsystems 102 on delivery vehicle securely, thus to make the installation of external subsystems on delivery vehicle become easier.In one embodiment, the rotation that pin 218 may be placed on antenna array 106 is scanned outside scope, so that at any time can close to securing member regardless of the position of antenna array.This configuration may be conducive to mounting bracket 214 and external subsystems 102 installation and removal under the orientation of multiple condition and antenna array 106.Cable may through middle body 216 delivering power, data and/or control signal external subsystems 102 and internal subsystems 104.Pad or other sealing device may be used for sealing the link between the middle body 216 of mounting bracket 214 (or the cable carriage extended therethrough) and delivery vehicle itself, allow cable through the hole arriving internal subsystems 104 because must provide on delivery vehicle body

According to an embodiment, 110 to communicate to promote to originate from a plurality of locations of delivery vehicle and orientation and signal, at least some part (such as, the some parts of antenna array 106 and at least cardan universal joint component 108) of external subsystems 102 is can according to any one among the elevation angle, orientation and polarization or all movements.Therefore, cardan universal joint component 108 may be designed to adapt to such motion.In one embodiment, the middle body 216 of mounting bracket 214 may adapt to the orientation assembly 222 defining orientation rotation center.Orientation assembly 222 may comprise, and for example, may penetrate delivery vehicle housing (such as, the housing of aircraft 132) and allow cable through the swivel joint of the delivery vehicle housing internal subsystems 104 and external subsystems 102.In one embodiment, orientation assembly may comprise swivel joint and slip ring, as discrete part or as integrated package, radio frequency (RF) communication, power and control signal is allowed to transmit between the movable part and the static main platform of aircraft 132 of external subsystems 102 via cable 212a-c.Swivel joint and slip-ring combination, or other device that person familiar with the technology is known, may make antenna array 106 can relative to main aircraft 132 in either direction continuously by orientation rotation, make the coverage that installable subsystem provides continuous print hemispheric or larger when using with orientation motor combination whereby.Do not adopt swivel joint or similar device, antenna array 106 must forward its halt to, and then once reel each other toward back rotation to stop cable.Again with reference to Fig. 6 and Fig. 7, in one embodiment, cardan universal joint component 108 comprises motor by orientation and elevation angle portable antenna battle array 106 and transmission component.In order to press orientation portable antenna battle array 106, cardan universal joint component 108 may comprise the Amimuth Transmission assembly 224 be coupled with orientation hub 226.In one embodiment, orientation hub 226 228 to be coupled with the orientation pulley 230 of the middle body 216 around mounting bracket 214 via pulling strings.Amimuth Transmission assembly 224 may comprise control circuit and be housed in the orientation motor within orientation motor case 232.This orientation transmission component may receive the control signal from antenna control unit 112 (see Fig. 1) and start orientation motor and make antenna array 106 by orientation rotation.

According to an embodiment, cardan universal joint component 108 comprises the elevation angle control assembly 234 be coupled with elevation angle motor 238 via flexible coupling 236.Elevation angle motor 238 is arranged on elevation angle motor support thing 240 and may be housed in inside housing 242.In the embodiment enumerated, elevation drive 244a and 244b is coupled with antenna installation stent 208 and is installed on orientation hub 226, antenna array 106 and Amimuth Transmission system mechanics is tied whereby.As shown in Figure 7, in one embodiment, antenna installation stent 208 has the shape of part-cylindrical, and elevation drive 244a, 244b comprise the arcuate flanks supporter that support bending antenna installation stent 208.With reference to Fig. 9, illustrate the decomposed figure of the elevation drive 244a on the right.It will be appreciated that the elevation drive 244b on the left side may be the real mirror image of the elevation drive 244a on the right.As shown in Figure 9, elevation drive 244a comprises band and allows antenna installation stent 208 and therefore allow antenna array 106 along the arcuate flanks supporter 246 of the cylinder 248 of bending rail moving, allows antenna array 106 to rotate by the elevation angle whereby.

In one embodiment, use the flexible coupling as flexible coupling 236 that various different parts are interconnected the strain that can be connected with removal or minimizing by the inclination in absorption connection and/or angle tolerance and increase the easy degree manufacturing external subsystems 102.

According to an embodiment, elevation drive system may use pulley system by elevation angle portable antenna battle array 106.The embodiment of plug-type pulley system is schematically illustrational with Figure 10.Plug-type pulley system comprises via the annular 254 driving-chain gear 250 be coupled with antenna array 106 and the idle pulleys 252 of pulling strings of continuous print.With reference to Fig. 6 and Fig. 8, illustrate the embodiment of the plug-type pulley system of the driving-chain gear 250 comprising elevation drive assembly 234 (see Fig. 7) and the idle pulley 252 be coupled with elevation drive 244.As shown in Figure 9, idle pulley 252 may comprise axle 256, cylinder 258 and support 260.The arc track cylinder 248 that elevation angle motor in housing 232 may provide power drive pulley system that antenna installation stent 208 is formed along lateral support 246 rotates.Therefore plug-type pulley system may produce the motion that antenna array 106 responsive control signal changes the elevation angle, will discuss further below.In one embodiment, antenna array may be mobile in about-10 ° to the elevation coverage on 90 ° (summits).Advantage pulley system being configured to push-pull system is that it may allow to use the elevation angle motor of low moment of torsion.In addition, antenna installation stent 208 may comprise relatively wide fringing for antenna array 106 provides wide support and upper at most of antenna installation stent of the sharing of load of antenna array.This feature may be conducive to using relatively little low moment of torsion elevation angle motor further.

According to an embodiment, antenna installation stent 208 may comprise spring-loaded cam 262, schematically illustrational as Figure 11.These spring-loaded cams 262 can be used for eliminating the dither of antenna array 106.In one embodiment, spring-loaded cam 262 is spring-loaded wedge cams.In another embodiment, on the arc of antenna installation stent 208, the location of antenna array may be maintain by wedge shape and standard cams 264.In addition, the damping wheel (displaying) stoping antenna array 106 to wave may be provided on antenna installation stent 208.Antenna array 106 may easily due to its structural natural frequencies waggle.Damping wheel may stop this waving, and shake is become pure translational motion (that is, moving up and down), and the latter does not affect the directional angle of antenna array.

In one embodiment, again with reference to Fig. 6 and Fig. 7, cardan universal joint component 108 comprises universal joint Connection Card 266, and the latter provides between various different cable in external subsystems 102 and parts and the link of other parts to antenna control unit 112 and/or internal subsystems 104.This universal joint Connection Card 266 may accept plug-in type cable and may replace the traditional cable electrical power wiring assembly that uses in many distribution situations, greatly simplifies the inner and/or connection composition to internal subsystems 104 of external subsystems 102 whereby.Adopt universal joint Connection Card 266, each composition of external subsystems 102 may comprise plug-in type cable, so that it can inject universal joint Connection Card easily.Therefore, each composition can connect with universal joint Connection Card 266 or be separated, and therefore connects with other composition of system or be separated, without any the demand of distribution changing or disturb other composition.

According to discussion above, according to an embodiment, antenna array 106 comprises the antenna element (see Fig. 6) as horn antenna 268 that numerous feed network 202 with being waveguide network at least some embodiment is coupled.In addition, each antenna element 268 may be coupled with corresponding dielectric lens 204.Dielectric lens 204 may be used for concentrated antenna element 268 and receive and the radiation of launching and improve the gain of antenna element, will be discussed in more detail below.Feed network 202 may be based on the type of the antenna element 268 that antenna array 106 uses and configuration adaptive.In the illustrational embodiment of Fig. 4, Fig. 6 and Fig. 7, feed network 202 is waveguide feed network that the size and dimension specified by client makes.The advantage of waveguide is that its consume is usually few than other transmission medium (such as, cable or microstrip).So, reduce or reduce to greatest extent in hope in the application of the loss be associated with antenna array 106, use waveguide may be favourable as feed network 202.But, it will be appreciated that feed network 202 may use the transmission medium outside waveguide to form whole or in part.Feed network 202 will be described in greater detail below.

With reference to Figure 12 and Figure 13, illustrate front view (Figure 12) and the decomposed figure (Figure 13) of an embodiment antenna array 106.In the embodiment enumerated, antenna array 106 comprises the array of 64 the rectangular horn antennas 268 arranged by parallel two row (that is, by 2 × 32 configurations).But it will be appreciated that antenna array 106 may comprise the antenna element of how number, each antenna element may be the suitable antenna of any type.For example, the antenna array substituted may comprise horn antenna that is circular by eight of 2 × 4 or 1 × 8 configuration or rectangle.Although antenna element has the antenna of wide bandwidth (such as, horn antenna) may be favourable in some applications, the present invention is not limited to horn antenna but can uses any suitable antenna.Therefore, although discussion below enumerates embodiment by what mainly mention 2 × 32 arrays of rectangular horn antenna, people pass through discussion and apparent correction may be equally applicable to the array of other type and size by understanding this for person familiar with the technology.

In general, the electromagnetic radiation that the hole 302 that each horn antenna element 268 may accept to be defined by the side 304 of antenna element enters, as shown in figure 14.Antenna element 268 may focus on the radiation received the feed point 306 that this antenna element is coupled with feed network 202 (not showing in fig. 14).Although it will be appreciated that this by main according to receive from information source introduce radiation antenna array 106 is discussed further, but antenna array also may operate according to emission mode, wherein feed network 202 is supplied to each antenna element 268 signal via the feed point 306 of correspondence, and this signal launched by this antenna array.

According to discussion above, according to an embodiment, external subsystems 102 may be installed on delivery vehicle (aircraft 132 such as, shown in Fig. 3).Such with in similar application, it may be desirable that resistance when aircraft moves by the height (with the height of whole external subsystems 102) reducing antenna array 106 minimizes.Therefore, the antenna element 268 in low cross section may be preferred at present in such an application.So in one embodiment, horn antenna element 268 is configured to relatively wide interior angle 308, thus causes relatively wide hole wide by 310, to provide large hole area while keeping the height 312 of horn antenna element 268 relatively little.In one embodiment, horn antenna element 288 has such size, so that the azimuthal separation on same row between loudspeaker is the about wavelength at the highest transmitted frequency.Such sizing may contribute to the outside of the visible space the first graing lobe being remained on operational frequency bands, will discuss further below.

The horn antenna highly low, hole is wide is used to be that antenna element may have the gain lower than the preferable gain of possibility as a result of antenna element 268.Produce this lower gain be because, as shown in figure 14, first signal 314 of vertical incidence on bellmouth orifice 302 and along side 304 incidence of antenna element 268 secondary signal 316 between may there is important path length difference.This path length difference may cause important phase difference between the first and second signals 314,316, thus causes signal disturbing and lower overall gain.Therefore, according to an embodiment, dielectric lens 204 is coupled with each horn antenna element 268 gain improving horn antenna element.The hole 310 that dielectric lens 204 may be arranged on horn antenna element 268 concentrates on radio-frequency (RF) energy the feed point 306 of horn antenna element.Dielectric lens 204 may be used for making to be incident on different angles phase place and the path-length match of the signal on horn antenna element 268, increases the gain of antenna array 106 whereby.

According to an embodiment, antenna array 106 is tapered to promote further to reduce the secondary lobe in antenna array beam pattern.In one embodiment, less than remaining antenna element at deep three the horn antenna elements 268 of each end often arranging antenna element, the latter may be in fact same in size and shape.The dielectric lens 204 that the antenna element 268 diminished gradually with these is associated may be less than the lens be associated with remaining antenna element accordingly.This reference Figure 12 and Figure 13 that diminish gradually of antenna array 106 can see.As shown in Figure 12 and Figure 13, in one embodiment, the 3rd dielectric lens 318 from each end often arranging antenna array 106 is less than 26 the interior dielectric lens 320 often arranged slightly.In one embodiment, all interior dielectric lens 320 and corresponding inside loudspeaker antenna element 322 are in fact same in size.The embodiment of inside loudspeaker antenna element 322 is shown in fig .15.The 3rd dielectric lens 318 be associated with the 3rd horn antenna element 324 may be less than inside loudspeaker antenna element 322 slightly.The embodiment of the 3rd horn antenna element 324 is shown in figure 16.Similarly, the second dielectric lens 328 be associated from the second horn antenna element 326 and it of each end often arranged may be less than the 3rd horn antenna element 324 and the 3rd dielectric lens 318 respectively slightly.The embodiment of the second horn antenna element 326 is shown in fig. 17.Equally, the end dielectric lens 332 that the end horn antenna element 330 on each end often arranged is associated with it may be less than the second horn antenna element 326 and the second dielectric lens 328 respectively slightly.The embodiment of end horn antenna element 330 is shown in figure 18.By this way, the size of dielectric lens 204 being reduced horn antenna element 268 gradually by the edge towards antenna array 106 and be associated, antenna array is diminished gradually.Careful conical design may promote the reduction of secondary lobe in the beam pattern of antenna array 106, will discuss further below.

According to an embodiment, dielectric lens 204 is planoconvex spotlights, and it may be contained in above feedhorn apertures 302 and/or partly be contained in inside feedhorn apertures 302.With regard to the object of this part of specification, planoconvex spotlight is defined as the lens of surface smooth in fact and relative convex face.Dielectric lens 204 may be shaped, so lens can focus on the radiation introduced the feed point 306 of horn antenna element 268 according to known optical principle (comprise, for example, the diffraction according to Snell's law).

With reference to Figure 19, illustrate the end view of an embodiment of interior dielectric lens 320.In the embodiment enumerated, dielectric lens 320 is the planoconvex spotlights having plane surface 336 and relative convex face 338.People can see that the convex-shaped of dielectric lens 302 causes the dielectric substance being present in central authorities 334 compared with the edge of lens to have larger vertical depth (this material may be placed on the overcentre of corresponding bellmouth orifice 302).Therefore, the signal (such as the first signal 314) (see Figure 14) of vertical incidence can pass more dielectric substance compared with the secondary signal 316 of edge 304 incidence along horn antenna element 268.Because electromagnetic wave signal is propagated through dielectric than much slow through air, so therefore the shape of dielectric lens 320 may be used for making the electrical pathways length of the first and second incoming signals 314,316 equal.By reducing the phase mismatch between the signal that to incide from different angles horn antenna element 268, dielectric lens 320 may be used for increasing the gain of horn antenna element.

The reflection of signal incident in the convex face 338 of dielectric lens 320 may be due to the impedance mismatching between air dielectric and lens medium usually.The characteristic impedance of free space (or dry air) is known, is approximately 377 ohm.For dielectric lens 204, the square root of the dielectric constant of this characteristic impedance and lens material is inverse ratio.Therefore, in general, the dielectric constant of lens material is higher, and the impedance mismatching between lens and air is larger.The dielectric constant of lens material is given dielectric characteristic quantity, is sometimes called relative permittivity.In general, dielectric constant is plural number, the imaginary part of the real part (being also referred to as Fresnel reflection coefficient) comprising the reflecting surface characteristic representing material and the radio wave absorption characteristic representing material.The permittivity of lens material is more close to the permittivity of air, and the signal of communication received is lower by the percentage reflected.

The dielectric substance of lens 204 may be select based on the dielectric constant of known material and loss factor numerical value at least in part.For example, in numerous applications, it may be desirable for reducing or reduce the loss of antenna array 106 to greatest extent, therefore for have low loss factor lens selection material may be desirable.The scope of the dielectric constant of material is determined at least in part, because in general, the dielectric constant of material is lower, and lens may be larger about the size of antenna array 106 and weight limits.In some applications, it may be desirable that size and weight in order to reduce lens utilize the relatively high material of dielectric constant to manufacture dielectric lens 204.But the reflection of the impedance mismatching between lens and air of resulting from may be unwelcome.

Therefore, in one embodiment, dielectric lens 204 has at one of convex face 338 and plane surface 336 or impedance matching characteristics that both are formed.Again with reference to Figure 19, dielectric lens 320 comprises the impedance matching hole 340 just formed under the inner surface of convex face 338.This some holes 340 may extend to " pipe " along the degree of depth of dielectric lens 320, as shown in figure 20.The impedance matching of dielectric lens 320 and surrounding air can be improved in hole 340 by reducing the effective dielectric constant of lens near convex face 338 and convex face.The impedance matching improved between dielectric lens 320 and surrounding air can reduce the reflection of radio-frequency (RF) energy in lens/Air Interface, improves or at least improve the efficiency of antenna whereby to greatest extent.Similarly, impedance matching groove 342 may be provide on the plane surface 336 of dielectric lens 320, in order that reduce the impedance mismatching in horn antenna element 268 between lens and air.The pattern embodiments of the groove 342 that may provide in the plane surface 336 of dielectric lens 320 is illustrational with Figure 21.Increase the additional benefit that impedance matching hole 340 and/or groove 342 may have the weight reducing dielectric lens 320, because the material used fewer (in order to form hole and/or material removes by groove).

The size of reflected signal may occur being greatly reduced at lens surface due to impedance matching characteristics.Adopt impedance matching hole 340, the signal reflected in convex face 338 may as the refractive index η on each border _nfunction reduce according to equation 1 below:

\frac{(η_{2} - η_{1})}{(η_{2} + η_{1})} - - - (1)

The further minimizing of reflected signal can be obtained by the diameter optimizing hole 340, so that direct and inner reflected signal constructively increases.In one embodiment, hole 340 be in fact make by same size and also have the diameter of about 0.129 inch.

Although it will be appreciated that interior dielectric lens 320 are mainly mentioned in the above-mentioned discussion of the impedance matching characteristics about dielectric lens, this discussion is equally applicable to the dielectric lens 318,328 and 330 diminished gradually.The impedance matching hole 340 formed in each lens 318,328 and 332 diminished gradually and/or the number of impedance matching groove 342 may change relative to interior lens 320 to some extent due to the less size of lens 318,328 and 332 diminished gradually and the shape changed to some extent.In addition, form " groove area " of impedance matching groove 342 or region in plane surface 336 to may be smaller less lens, will discuss further below.With reference to Figure 19, in one embodiment, dielectric lens 320 has the groove area length 350 of about 3.000 inches and the groove area width 352 of about 0.650 inch.

With reference to Figure 22 A, illustrate the end view of an embodiment of the 3rd dielectric lens 318.Figure 22 B illustrates the embodiment of the plane surface 336 of the 3rd dielectric lens 318, shows impedance matching groove 342.Because the 3rd dielectric lens 318 is less than interior dielectric lens 320 slightly, so groove area length 350 may be about 2.750 inches, be slightly less than that length of interior dielectric lens 320.In one embodiment, the width of various different horn antenna element 268 may keep invariable, although their length changes to realize diminishing gradually to some extent.Therefore, groove area width 352 may keep identical approx for all dielectric lens 318,320,328 and 332.Figure 23 A and Figure 23 B illustrates the plane graph of the end view of an embodiment of the second dielectric lens 328 and plane surface 336 correspondence of the second dielectric lens respectively.In one embodiment, the second dielectric lens 328 may have the groove area length 350 of about 2.200 inches.Similarly, Figure 24 A and 24B illustrates the plane graph of the end view of an embodiment of end dielectric lens 332 and plane surface 336 correspondence of end dielectric lens 332 respectively.In one embodiment, end dielectric lens 332 has the groove area length 350 of about 1.650 inches.

Again with reference to Figure 21, in one embodiment, the groove 342 on plane surface 336 has center to center " vertical " interval 346 of the center to center of about 0.750 inch " level " interval 344 and about 0.325 inch.Groove 342 may have " level " width 348 of about 0.125 inch and " vertical " width 354 of about 0.135 inch.In one embodiment, groove 342 has the degree of depth of about 0.087 inch.These sizes may be approximately uniform for the groove 342 formed on each different lens 318,320,328 and 332.But, it will be appreciated that the size of groove 342 and interval and may be used for the dielectric constant of the material manufacturing lens and change along with the size of dielectric lens 204.

Lens may be pass through, and for example, grind one piece of hard lens material and form that planoconvex spotlight produces whereby.Impedance matching hole 340 and/or groove 342 may be formed by the technique that grinding, etching or other person familiar with the technology are known.It will be appreciated that term " hole " and " groove " are just exemplary and be not inclined to as to the shape of feature or the restriction of size aspect.

It will be appreciated that has a lot of change with regard to the size of dielectric lens 204, shape and architectural feature, and the present invention is not limited to the dielectric lens using the size, shape and the architectural feature that there are embodiment previously discussed.For example, with reference to Figure 25, the end view of the alternate embodiment of the dielectric lens 356 that can be used for some or all of dielectric lens 204 to use is illustrated.Dielectric lens 356 is the planoconvex spotlight having convex face 338 and plane surface 336 according to discussion above.In one embodiment, dielectric lens 356 has the impedance matching groove 358 formed on the outer surface 338 of convexity.Groove 358 may reduce the percentage of dielectric substance at lens surface, effectively reduces dielectric constant, makes it closer to the dielectric constant of air.In one embodiment, dielectric constant may reduce to 1.59 from about 2.53.Groove walls (thickness is approximately quarter-wave in one embodiment) plays a part to reduce signal at the reflection of lens/air boundary and optimization efficiency.Therefore, the region forming groove provides less " ladder " between air and residue lens material to change in dielectric constant, thus is conducive to impedance matching.

Groove 358 may be formed according to many different configurations, include but not limited to: (level or vertical) parallel lines, discontinuous impression array, continuous print broken line, the hole separated to series of rules or the impression separated, for example, every 1/2nd wavelength, etc.The number of groove may be even number or odd number, and these grooves may be separated regularly or brokenly.In one embodiment, groove 358 is spaced uniformly, and machining is out on the lens material can be easy to the grinding technique of use standard and skill.In one embodiment, groove may be machining out, so they have width same in fact for ease of machining.In another embodiment, each groove 358 has recessed surface characteristics at the depth capacity place of groove, and groove may diminish gradually to the blunt point inside lens arrangement in this case.According to discussion above, be in the embodiment of planoconvex spotlight at lens 356, lens have the lens material degree of depth larger than rims of the lens near lens centre.Therefore, at least one embodiment, the degree of depth of groove 358 is along with position change on the surface of the lens.For example, the grinding degree of depth of each groove may leave the summit of middle convex lens surface along with groove location or center 360 more far increases more to some extent.In one embodiment, groove may thrust the about quarter-wave in surface and may be regularly spaced in the degree of depth near central axis, to maintain direct relevant summation that is that reflect and the signal of internal reflection, when groove is close to becoming darker when lens perimeter continuously.

The width of groove 358 may be invariable, also may change along with position on the surface of the lens.In one embodiment, groove 358 may have about 1/10th wavelength (center at operating frequency range) or less width 368 usually.The lens 356 and expection operating frequency of antenna array 106 may be depended in the size of groove 358 that lens surface is formed.In a specific embodiment, dielectric lens 204, for using design at Ku frequency band (10.70-12.75GHz), has height and the length of this frequency band applicable.

Still with reference to Figure 25, in one embodiment, dielectric lens 356 has the impedance matching groove 358 and 362 formed on middle convex lens surface 338 and plane surface 336 respectively.In one embodiment, as series of parallel line or impression array, grinding in plane surface 336 out, is similar to the groove 358 of grinding in the convex face 338 of lens 356 to groove 362.In one embodiment, groove 362 unified has invariable width 364.But people need not be unified by understanding groove and may have different width and the degree of depth, depend on the expection characteristic of lens 356.Be different from the exterior groove 358 in convex face 338, central authorities 360 distance that groove 362 on plane surface 336 may not leave lens 356 along with each groove in the degree of depth changes, but change into fluted 362 may have the degree of depth 366 similar in fact and width 364.

In the illustrational embodiment of Figure 25, the groove 358 in the convex face 338 of dielectric lens 356 does not ideally align with the groove 362 on the plane surface 336 of these lens, and change into may be skew.For example, the groove on the upper possibility alignment surface surface 336, each peak in lens 356 on convex surface 338 or paddy.On the contrary, each peak on the plane surface 336 of lens 356 may be offset in a grinding groove out in the middle convex surface of lens 338.In one embodiment, groove 362 may have the width 364 of about 0.090 inch.Enumerate on plane surface 336 fluted 362 and in the convex face 338 of lens 356 fluted 358 embodiment may reflection radio-frequency (RF) energy reduce about 0.23 decibel, be approximately with identical material make by same size make the half not having 0.46 decibel of reeded reflection from lens.

In the illustrational embodiment of Figure 25, each groove 358 introduces along the vertical direction (vertical line) of the convex face 338 of dielectric lens 356.Figure 26 illustrates alternate embodiment, and groove 358 is formed parallel to each other in this embodiment, and therefore at least some groove 358 is that other angle being different from vertical line introduces the convex face 338 of dielectric lens 356.It will be appreciated that the advantage of the illustrational embodiment of Figure 26 is to provide groove 358 abreast than being easier to, because all groove parts cut in parallel plane.Specifically, manufacture has the dielectric lens 356 of parallel groove 358 than being easier to, because all machining is all vertical and does not need to rotate the part be machined.

In numerous applications, the external subsystems 102 comprising antenna array 106 is exposed in environmental condition (such as, precipitation and different humidity).In this environment, in those embodiments of grinding on the outer surface of lens (or processing) groove, be possible inside the groove 358 of moisture accumulation in the convex face 338 of dielectric lens 204.Moisture may be very unwelcome in this gathering of groove 358, because it may reduce the radio-frequency performance of lens, for example, by changing the effective dielectric constant of lens, and produces adverse influence to the impedance matching between lens and surrounding air.For example, due to inside the groove 358 of dielectric lens condensation formed water may make signal power reduce about 2 decibels.In addition, especially when antenna array 106 stands large-scale variations in temperature, the structure problem that any water be gathered in groove 358 all may freeze and cause owing to expanding when water becomes ice time such as lens broken and so on.By by radome cover antenna battle array 106 be coated with the suitable material do not got wet of last layer in certain embodiments on the inner surface of radome to reduce that moisture assembles in exterior groove 358 may be possible.An embodiment of the coating material that may use is fluothane.But, it will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to use fluothane, but the material that do not get wet using other may be changed into.But even if be coated with in radome that one deck do not bedew the material of gas covers at antenna array, stoping moisture completely, to assemble in groove 358 may be impossible.In addition, grit and other material also may be gathered in groove 358, affect the radio-frequency performance of lens and the environment abrasion increased lens and scuffing further.Therefore, at least in some embodiments, the inner surface instead of outer surface of dielectric lens 204 provide impedance matching characteristics to be preferred at present.For example, according to discussion above with illustrate, impedance matching hole 340 provides in the inside of dielectric lens 204, so that the outer surface 338 of convexity can keep level and smooth.

According to another embodiment, the impedance matching between dielectric lens 204 and surrounding air realizes by there being the dielectric substance of differing dielectric constant to form dielectric lens with two or more.For example, the interior section of dielectric lens 204 may utilize a kind of material to make, and the lower material of another kind of dielectric constant may be used to some belt-like zone along convex face 338 and plane surface 336.By this way, then the exterior section from air to lens may become more incremental to then fall back the again change of effective dielectric constant of the interior section of lens, reduces unnecessary reflection whereby.By the material using some dielectric constants to reduce gradually, the dielectric lens 204 of the effective dielectric constant changed gradually is had to be formed.In one embodiment, bonding agent can be used for each layer of different materials to be bonded together.In this embodiment, the bonds well between different layers should be guaranteed carefully, to avoid the reflection that may occur between the different layers as bond quality difference or the result of short space.In addition, especially dielectric lens 204 is likely run into the application of temperature miscellaneous, maybe to be reduced to by this stress minimum may be important to avoid the border between different materials produces the life-span that may shorten dielectric lens 204 and the stress causing the structural intergrity of lens and/or radio-frequency performance to decline to select different dielectric substances to make it similar thermal coefficient of expansion carefully.

According to discussion above, dielectric lens 204 may be designed to the combination of the weight of the best stable in the temperature range of broadness, dielectric constant, loss factor and refractive index.Dielectric lens 204 is not because being exposed among broad temperature range or being out of shape or bending between processing period to be desirable yet.Only absorbing the moisture of very low amount (such as, being less than 0.1%) or water so that any moisture of absorbing time dielectric lens 204 exposes in humid conditions by not producing adverse influence to the combination of the dielectric constant of lens, loss factor and refraction index may also be preferred.In addition, with regard to affordability, it may be desirable that dielectric lens 204 easily manufactures.In addition, it may be desirable lens should be able to maintain it dielectric constant, loss factor and refractive index and also chemically can alkaline-resisting, alcohol, aliphatic hydrocarbon and inorganic acid.

According to an embodiment, dielectric lens 204 be use stand processing, withstand physical impact and the temperature conditions miscellaneous that likely can experience when antenna array 106 is installed aboard under the polystyrene formation of particular form that operates.In one embodiment, this material is the polystyrene of the rigid form being called as crosslinked polystyrene.The polystyrene formed when highly cross-linked (for example) more than 20% is cross-linked may form the structure of very rigidity, and its shape may not also may have low dielectric constant, low loss factor and low refractive index by solvent effect and this structure.In one embodiment, cross-linked polymer polystyrene may have following characteristic: the dielectric constant of about 2.5, the loss factor being less than 0.0007, the moisture being less than 0.1% absorb and low plastic deformation characteristic.Polymer (such as, polystyrene) can form low dielectric losses and may have nonpolar or nonpolar in fact composition and the thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) having thermoplastic polymer composition and elastomer polymer composition.Term " nonpolar " refers to the monomeric unit not having dipole or wherein dipole vector balancing in fact.In these polymeric materials, the result of dielectric property mainly electronic polarization effect.For example, 1% or 2% divinylbenzene and cinnamic mixture can obtain cross-linked polymer by radical reaction polymerization, and this cross-linked polymer can provide low-loss dielectric material to form thermoplastic polymer composition.Polystyrene may be by, for example, following polarity or nonpolar monomeric unit composition: styrene, AMS, olefine, halogenated olefine, sulfone, urethanes, ester, acid amides, carbonic ester, acid imide, acrylonitrile and copolymer thereof and mixture.Non-polar monomer unit (such as, styrene and AMS) and olefine (such as, propylene and ethene) and copolymer thereof and mixture also may use.Thermoplastic polymer composition may be selected from polystyrene, poly-(AMS) and polyolefin.

The dielectric lens 204 be made up of cross-linked polymer polystyrene (such as previously described that) may use traditional machining operations to make easily, and can be ground to the surface accuracy being less than about 0.0002 inch.Cross-linked polymer polystyrene is down to the temperature exceeding-7F and its dielectric constant can be maintained within 2%, and can have chemical resistance to physical property, i.e. alkaline-resisting, resistance to alcohol, resistance to aliphatic hydrocarbon and inorganic acid resistance.

In one embodiment, the dielectric lens 204 formed like this comprises impedance matching characteristics embodiment discussed above.In these embodiments, dielectric lens 204 may be being combined to form by low-loss lens material, and these materials may be crosslinked polystyrene and thermosetting resin, for example, from the foundry goods of monomer sheet stock and bar.An embodiment of this material is called as the crosslinked polystyrene microwave plastics of the uniqueness that C-Lec Plastics Company makes. maintained the dielectric constant of about 2.53 by 500GH with extremely low dissipation factor. permanent deformation or Plastic Flow is not presented under normal duty.All foundry goods may be all stressless, and may not need before mechanical machining, among or eliminate stress afterwards.At a test period, it is found that the moisture of incomplete absorption 0.08% after submergence 1000 hours in boiling water, and dielectric constant does not have great change.Be used for machining tool configuration may with similar for those of acrylic resin.Therefore, standard technique machining can be used.Because resistance to cold moulding processability is high and itself do not have stress, may be easy to be machined or laser beam is cut to very little tolerance, for example, the precision of about 0.0001 obtains by grinding.Overheated by using sharp keen instrument to avoid during polishing, break and can be avoided. chemically can tolerate alkali, alcohol, aliphatic hydrocarbon and inorganic acid.In addition, lighter than acrylic resin about 5% and by volume less than the half of the weight of TFE (teflon).

According to discussion above, dielectric lens 204 can install on horn antenna element 268 and is designed to be assemblied on respective horn antenna element and is assemblied at least in part within respective horn antenna element.Again with reference to Figure 19, in one embodiment, dielectric lens 320 has the side 370 diminished gradually to be beneficial to lens to be firmly installed on corresponding horn antenna element 322.In one embodiment, the gradient of the side 370 diminished gradually of dielectric lens 320 is equal to the gradient of the side 304 of horn antenna element 322 approx.The side 370 diminished gradually like this may be conducive to the relative horn antenna element 322 of dielectric lens 320 and automatically determine center.Pin 372 can be used for a dielectric lens 320 and be fixed on horn antenna element 322.Can be used for the embodiment of the pin 372 that dielectric lens 204 is fixed on their respective antenna elements 268 is illustrated in Figure 27 A and Figure 27 B.With reference to Figure 27 A, in one embodiment, pin 372 has the length 374 of about 0.320 inch, and tolerance is about 0.030 inch.With reference to Figure 27 B, in one embodiment, pin 372 has the diameter 376 of about 0.098 inch, and tolerance is about 0.001 inch.In one embodiment, pin 372 glass fibre makes.But, it will be appreciated that other material multiple may be suitable.

Again with reference to Figure 22 A, 23A and 24A, in one embodiment, for the ease of the lens 318,328 and 332 diminished gradually being installed on their respective horn antenna elements 324,326 and 330, the length 350 of plane surface 336 (namely, the length of groove area previously discussed may reduce to some extent relative to the whole length of lens, for example, grinding is passed through.The bottom of cutting down rear plane surface 336 may allow lens 318,328 and 332 to be partly inserted into respective horn antenna element 324,326 and 330.Pin 372 may be used for dielectric lens 318,328 and 332 be fastened to respective horn antenna element 324,326 with 330 on.

According to an embodiment, geometrical clamp 206a, 206b and 206c (see Fig. 4 and Figure 13) are used for tapered dielectric lens 318,328 and 332 to be fastened on their respective horn antenna elements 324,326 and 330.In one embodiment, these geometrical clamps are used for together with pin 372, dielectric lens 318,328 and 332 being more firmly fastened on horn antenna element 324,326 and 330.As an alternative, geometrical clamp 206a, 206b and 206c may be used for replacing pin 372.This be arranged in lens 318,328 and 332 very little and also enough space may do not had to use pin 372 when may be preferred, do not comprise the structural intergrity of lens or the radio-frequency performance of lens.In addition, it will be appreciated that various other different fastening mechanism may be applicable to dielectric lens 204 to install on horn antenna element 268.Figure 28 A-C illustrates the embodiment that can be used for dielectric lens 318,328 and 332 being fastened to geometrical clamp 206a, 206b and 206c on respective horn antenna element 324,326 and 330 respectively.With reference to Figure 29, in one embodiment, dielectric lens 328 comprises the long and narrow hole 378 accepting geometrical clamp 206b.Similar long and narrow hole may provide on dielectric lens 318 and 332.Again with reference to Figure 13, in one embodiment, other geometrical clamp 380 is used for fixing further the lens 318,328 and 332 of taper.In the embodiment enumerated, use the geometrical clamp 380 that four such, each end one often arranged among two row's antenna elements of antenna array 106.The embodiment of geometrical clamp 380 illustrates in fig. 30.

In another embodiment, dielectric lens 204 uses bonding agent to adhere among respective horn antenna element.Bonding agent is fixing may be used alone or with pin 372 discussed above and geometrical clamp 206a, 206b, 206c and 380 among any one or all combine use.In one embodiment, pin 372 and/or geometrical clamp 206a, 206b, 206c are used for dielectric lens 204 to be more firmly fastened on respective antenna element 268 together with bonding agent as secondary attachment device with 380.This arrangement may be preferred, for example, mounted aboard and when must meet safety standard applicatory at antenna array 106.

Still with reference to Figure 13, in one embodiment, tubaeform insert 382 is put at least some horn antenna element 268, under dielectric lens 204.According to discussion above, in some applications, such as, when communication system is arranged on aircraft 132, antenna array 106 may experience large changes in environmental conditions, such as, and large temperature, humidity and pressure conditions change.These change condition can cause moisture accumulation on the various different parts of antenna array 106 and among, may adverse influence be had to the performance of antenna array.Therefore, in one embodiment, tubaeform insert 382 is put into horn antenna element 268 and prevents moisture from assembling inside horn antenna element.In one embodiment, tubaeform insert 382 utilizes the trolit extruded to make.In another embodiment, tubaeform insert polystyrene foam plastics is made.But person familiar with the technology may be applicable by understanding other material multiple.

With reference to Figure 31 A, be illustrated as the embodiment injecting the tubaeform insert 382a that inside loudspeaker antenna element 322 makes by given size.In one embodiment, tubaeform insert 382a has the length 384 of about 2.899 inches.As shown in Figure 31 A and Figure 31 B, in one embodiment, tubaeform insert 382a has slightly tapered edge, so that the width 386a of tubaeform insert 382a is about 0.745 inch, its tolerance is about 0.005 inch, but the width 386b comprising tapered edge is about 0.790 inch.In one embodiment, the tapered edge of tubaeform insert 382a has the angle of about 45 degree.The tubaeform insert 382 that it will be appreciated that for less horn antenna element 324,326 and 330 suitably may be less than the tubaeform insert 382a for inside loudspeaker antenna element 322, and shape through revising may be had in case better with the form fit of corresponding horn antenna element.For example, with reference to Figure 32 A, the embodiment being placed on the tubaeform insert 382b making by given size inside the 3rd horn antenna element 324 and be shaped is illustrated as.In one embodiment, tubaeform insert 382b has the length 384 of about 2.850 inches.Figure 32 B is illustrated as the embodiment of tubaeform insert 382c that adaptation second horn antenna element 326 makes by given size and is shaped.In one embodiment, tubaeform insert 382c has the length 384 of about 2.300 inches.Figure 32 C is illustrated as the embodiment of tubaeform insert 382d adapting to end horn antenna element 330 and make by given size and be shaped.In one embodiment, tubaeform insert 382d has the length 384 of about 1.750 inches.In the embodiment that Figure 32 B and Figure 32 C enumerates, tubaeform insert 382c and 382d has the straight flange 388 of part, instead of has continuous print curved surface as the embodiment of enumerating of tubaeform insert 382a and 392b.But it will be appreciated that to have a lot of change be possible and the present invention is not limited to the embodiment enumerated in the shape and size of tubaeform insert 382.In addition, the shape and size of tubaeform insert 382 may change, and depend on the shape and size of the various different antenna element 268 for antenna array 106.

According to discussion above, in one embodiment, antenna array 106 diminishes gradually, has less antenna element 268 at the adjacent edges of this array, in order that reduce the secondary lobe in the beam pattern of this array.The contribution of whole signals that less antenna element 324,326 and 330 has lower signal amplitude and receives this array or launch is fewer than internal antenna element 322.By suitably determining these antenna element 324,326 and 330 and their sizes of dielectric lens 318,328 and 332 of being associated, the signal contribution from these elements can be adjusted and therefore adjust the beam pattern of antenna array to reduce secondary lobe.In addition, according to further discussion below, feed network 202 can be designed in a different manner to the signal contribution weighting from different antenna elements 268, the beam pattern of further whereby control antenna battle array 106 and minimizing secondary lobe.In one embodiment, tubaeform insert 382 also may the structure of helpful suppressed sidelobes.For example, the tubaeform insert 382 for some or all outside horn antenna elements 324,326 and 330 may be utilize the material (RAM) of energy absorbing radar wave to make, with the signal contribution of these antenna element of decaying further.Some tubaeform inserts selected among the tubaeform insert 382 of inside loudspeaker antenna element 322 also may be with RAM make to control beam pattern further.

It may be favourable that secondary lobe reduces, there is some reason, comprise, for example, improve the gain (more energy is caught by main lobe useful in antenna radiation pattern to have less secondary lobe to mean) of antenna array and meet specific performance objective and/or rule (such as, federal flight management board may be the specification of the application settings suppressed sidelobes of such as satellite television or broadcast receiver and so on).Be arranged on the application on delivery vehicle (such as, aircraft) for antenna array 106, the motion of delivery vehicle also may be taken into account the impact of antenna beam pattern.For example, when antenna array 106 is arranged on aircraft 132 time, beam pattern should be such, so that it not only when direct registration signal source 110 but also between antenna array and signal source due to the motion of aircraft have polarization to compensate in all meet secondary lobe specification (for example, by federal flight management board or other international competent department or rule settings).Therefore, among the arrangement of the size of antenna element 268, the dielectric lens 204 be associated and tubaeform insert 382, shape and arrangement (comprising tapering and interval) and feed network (being discussed below) any one or all can be controlled, be beneficial to produce with regard to antenna array relative to signal source or destination various different orientation (polarization compensates) with regard to meet the beam pattern of Sidelobe Suppression standard.

Again with reference to Figure 12, in another embodiment, two row's antenna elements 268 of composition antenna array 106 offset each other slightly along the length of array, instead of ideally align.In the embodiment enumerated, people can be seen that row's antenna element 268 (front from antenna array) uppermost is placed by the left side of that row's antenna element 268 slightly towards bottom.This position offset also may be conducive to the secondary lobe reduced in the radiation diagram of antenna array 106.In one embodiment, this side-play amount approximates greatly the half of the width of the antenna element 268 of antenna array 106, as shown in figure 12, the secondary lobe in observable space is reduced to minimum with regard to zero degrees elevation plane.

With reference to Figure 33 A, illustrate beam pattern, with regard to the embodiment of antenna array, artificial antenna gain is along with the curve chart of azimuthal variation, wherein antenna array have the antenna element interval of about half wavelength and also before comprising and cone discussed below, row's side-play amount, RAM is tubaeform insert and feed network be biased.The illustrational beam pattern of Figure 33 A is applicable to have zero degree " rolling " or polarization to compensate between the frequency of operation of 14.3GHz and signal source 110 and antenna array 106.Line 390 represents the embodiment required the Sidelobe Suppression of antenna array, and line 392 represents co-polarization requirement.Figure 33 B illustrates with regard to the same analog beam directional diagram still having 15 degree of antenna arrays compensated that polarize of Figure 33 A.People can see that the beam pattern in Figure 33 B still meets Sidelobe Suppression and co-polarization requirement.In one embodiment, by suitably designing side-play amount and tapering and use the tubaeform insert of RAM in close to the antenna element of array edges between feed network, antenna element interval, antenna array row, antenna array can become to be had just up to the beam pattern meeting Sidelobe Suppression applicatory requirement with regard to about 25 degree polarization compensation.

According to discussion above, antenna array 106 comprises the feed network 202 be coupled with each antenna element 268, and in one embodiment, feed network 202 is waveguide feed network, as shown in Fig. 4, Fig. 6, Fig. 7 and Figure 13.When antenna array is in receiving mode time, feed network 200 works, and receives the signal from each horn antenna element and provides one or more output signal in the feed port be coupled with communication system electronic installation.Equally, when emission mode work pressed by antenna array 106 time, feed network 202 guides each antenna element 268 into for launching the signal provided in feed port.Although it will thus be appreciated that discussion below will mainly mention the operation of receiving mode, when reflective-mode operation pressed by antenna array 106 time, those components and parts work in a similar manner by putting upside down signal stream.Although it is also to be appreciated that feed network 202 is exemplified as waveguide feed network, and may be waveguide feed network in a presently preferred embodiment, but any suitable technology that this feed network can use person familiar with the technology to recognize (such as, printed wire, coaxial cable, etc.) realize.

According to an embodiment, waveguide feed network 202 be compression, incomparable inconsistent (that is, by client's given size make and be shaped) have low profile and for be adapted at limit volume inside design waveguide feeding.According to discussion above, in some applications, antenna array 106 will be arranged on the delivery vehicle of movement (such as, automobile or aircraft) on, so, in order to bring minimum impact and be easy to be arranged on delivery vehicle to the aerodynamics of delivery vehicle, it may be desirable that antenna array occupies volume little as far as possible.Therefore, feed network 202 may have the shape and arrangement that occupy less volume.In one embodiment, feed network 202 settling signal in E-plane with H-plane add with/be separated, provide the factor of ability the feed network of the low profile of compression contributive feature, will discuss further below.In one embodiment, feed network 202 may be designed to be assemblied in after two row's antenna elements 268 shown in Figure 13, so that the polarization converter unit of discussion can be assemblied in antenna array 106 " inside " below.As an alternative, feed network 202 may be designed to be assemblied between two row's antenna elements 268, as shown in figure 34.In any one arranges or may during to person familiar with the technology, apparent various different other arranges, feed network 202 may have the design of the low profile of compression.

With reference to Figure 35, in one embodiment, each antenna element 268 is coupled with orthomode transducer (OMT) 402 in its feed point 306.OMT 402 can provide coupling interface between antenna element 268 and feed network 202, and can isolate two orthogonal linearly polarized radiofrequency signals, will discuss further below.When antenna array 106 Received signal strength time, OMT 402 to become from the input signal of antenna element 268 and by this Signal separator second and the orthogonal component signal of the 3rd port 404,406 two of providing with the first port accepts.When antenna array transmits time, OMT 402 with second and the 3rd port 404,406 receive the component signal of those two orthogonal polarizations and they are combined at the first port, the signal for launching be supplied to antenna element 268.In the embodiment enumerated, OMT 402 is integrally formed with antenna element 268.But, it will be appreciated that OMT 402 then can be coupled with antenna element as with the shape components that antenna element 268 separates.

According to discussion above, in one embodiment, the radiofrequency signal received at the first port is separated into two orthogonal radio-frequency component signals by OMT 402.A radio-frequency component signal has it to be parallel to the E-field of loudspeaker major axis (being appointed as vertical here, V), and another radio-frequency component signal has its electrical parallel in the E-field of loudspeaker minor axis (be appointed as level, H) here.These radio-frequency component signals are referred to here as the radio-frequency component signal of perpendicular polarization, or the radio-frequency component signal of vertical component signal (V) and horizontal polarization or horizontal component signal (H).Be beneficial to these two orthogonal component signals, any input signal be transmitted can be rebuilt by the vectorial combination of two component signals.

With reference to Figure 36, illustrate the isometric view of an embodiment of compact broadband orthomode transducer (OMT) 402.In one embodiment, OMT 402 is the multi-facet waveguide OMT prepared for transmitting orthogonal electromagnetic wave.According to discussion above, OMT 402 comprises two rectangular waveguide port 404,406 and first rectangular waveguide ports 408 in orthogonal plane.Embody inside waveguide OMT 402 be formed below by numerous inclinations of describing in more detail, level with the multi-facet surface on vertical surface.For the antenna array 106 pressing receiving mode work, port 408 can be regarded as the input of OMT 402, and port 404 and 406 can be regarded as the output of OMT 402.In one embodiment, simultaneously the combination on the multi-facet surface of OMT 402 places consequently in the region of port 408, to propagate the electric wave H of horizontal polarization and the electric wave V of perpendicular polarization with directed, produces very inappreciable signal reflex simultaneously.

Figure 37 illustrates another embodiment of OMT 402.In the embodiment that Figure 37 enumerates, multi-facet surface comprises and the inclined-plane 414 and 416 be mutually symmetrical being not limited to be placed on symmetrically the vertical center line left side of OMT 402 and the inclined-plane 410 and 412 on the right and describing near square cross section end.The plane 410 and 414 tilted all offsets 45 degree, forms 90 degree of angles in their intersections each other.Equally, inclined-plane 412 and 416 all offsets 45 degree, forms 90 degree of angles in their intersections each other.Inclined-plane 410 with 412 the same with inclined-plane 414 and 416 be coplanar, and to be placed on symmetrically within OMT 402.In one embodiment, the intersection that inclined-plane has also forms the effective low-loss transfer of electromagnetic wave produced the antenna element 268 by correspondence.This total intersection also may conform to the feed point 306 of antenna element 268.

With reference to Figure 37 and Figure 38, in one embodiment, level may enter the terminal 408 of waveguide OMT 81 with vertical electromagnetic wave.The electromagnetic wave V of perpendicular polarization is by port 408, by being then sent to port 404 with the sidewall on waveguide OMT 402 left side and the right and the spatial being formed as horizontal surface 418,420,422,424,426 and 428 restriction in the space of the band designs used of waveguide OMT 402.In one embodiment, due to the frequency cutoff effect that metallic walls 430,432,434 and 436 causes, almost do not have or do not have completely the electric wave V of perpendicular polarization to be sent to the port 406 of OMT 402.The multi-facet feature of OMT 402 can form effective waveguide.In one embodiment, the size of this effective waveguide is about 0.600 inch wide and 0.270 inch high and provides loss low-down transmission for the frequency band of 10.7GHz to 14.5GHz.

Still with reference to Figure 37, in one embodiment, horizontal polarization electric wave H by the inwall up and down of OMT 402 limit and formed be limited to waveguide OMT 81 surface 430,432,434,436, the terminal 408 in space between 438 and 440 enters waveguide OMT 402.Due to wall 418,420,422,424, the frequency cutoff effect that causes of the space that formed between 426 and 428, almost do not have or do not have completely the electric wave H of horizontal polarization can be sent to the port 404 of OMT 402.It will be appreciated that the OMT 402 of waveguide type can provide some benefits, comprise small form factor and low-loss broadband communication.Person familiar with the technology is possible by understanding about the change of OMT402 further, and the present invention is not limited only to the embodiment enumerated.

In one embodiment, the perpendicular polarization electromagnetic wave V of basic friction angle (such as, TEOl) from the port 408 of OMT 402, through waveguide OMT, walk around rectangle branch-waveguide 406 and be then transmitted to port 404 by basic friction angle (such as, TEOl).Perpendicular polarization electromagnetic wave V through during, each space defined between the upper lower wall surface of the rectangle branch-waveguide in OMT 402 may be half for being equal to or less than in the free space wavelength with frequency band and design.Therefore, due to the cut-off effect in the low-down space of those reflection characteristics, the electromagnetic wave V of perpendicular polarization can not propagate among port 406.Therefore, the electromagnetic wave V being supplied to the perpendicular polarization of port 408 can effectively be sent to port 404 and provide as vertical component signal at that port, and OMT 402 suppresses the reflection to port 408 and the propagation eliminated to port 406 simultaneously.Equally, the electromagnetic wave H of horizontal polarization is by basic friction angle TElO from port 408, and through OMT 402, the Waveguide branching walked around for port 404 is propagated, and is then supplied to port 406 as horizontal component signal.

It will be appreciated that, as discussed above, although the operation of OMT 402 describes using port 408 as input, using port 404 and 406 as the situation of output with regard to signal stream, but OMT 402 also can operate like this, so that port 404 and 406 is the inputs for the orthogonal component signal then provided at output (port 408) that will be combined.In addition, it will be appreciated that OMT 402 also may comprise in fact circular or oval waveguide and terminal.

According to an embodiment, feed network 202 comprises being coupled to guide the first path of perpendicular polarisation components signal and be coupled with the 3rd port 406 of OMT 402 with second port 404 of OMT 402 and guides the second path of horizontal polarized components signal.Every paths is all coupled with antenna elements 268 all in antenna array 106.Therefore, the component signal of two orthogonal polarizations is each can be sent to feed port in the corresponding port 404,406 along the isolated path separated from OMT 402, and signal is fed to system electronics discussed below there.With regard to the receiving mode of antenna array 106, feed network 202 accepts from the perpendicular polarization of each antenna element and the component signal of horizontal polarization and the summations calculating them along two feed path, to provide the signal of a perpendicular polarization and the signal of a horizontal polarization in feed port.With regard to the transmitting mode of antenna array 106, feed network 202 receives the signal of perpendicular polarization and the vertical component signal that Signal separator is become to provide at the port 404 of each OMT 402 in feed port.Equally, feed network 202 receives the signal of horizontal polarization in feed port and it is separated into the horizontal component signal provided at the port 406 of each OMT 402.In one embodiment, that two paths is in fact symmetrical, comprises same number of bending, T-shaped joint portion and other waveguide element, so that this feed network 202 does not give unbalance in phase vertical with component signal that is level.

According to discussion above, in one embodiment, feed network 202 is included in the path calculating signal summation in E-plane and the path calculating signal summation in H-plane.In E-plane with H-plane, calculate summation allows the feed network that only in one plane calculate summation of this feed network in fact than similar compacter.Specifically, because the size and shape of two paths is different, E-plane and H-plane is used to allow two paths 440,442 of feed network to interweave, as shown in figure 39.Therefore, compared with the situation of suing for peace to two paths in the same plane, whole feed network 202 can be assemblied in inside less volume.In one embodiment, vertical component signal is with the feeding of E-panel path and guide, and horizontal component the signal feeding of H-panel path and guiding.But, it will be appreciated that contrary arrangement (that is, horizontal component signal E-panel path guides, and vertical component signal H-panel path guides) also can realize.Vertical component signal and horizontal component signal are made up of the field of E-plane and the field of H-plane; So arbitrary component signal can be sued for peace in any plane.Therefore, two feed path of feed network 202 will be called as horizontal feed path and vertical feed path at this, and people will understand arbitrary path and can calculate signal summation/separation signal in H-plane or E-plane.

According to an embodiment, feed network 202 is included in the T-shaped joint portion of the numerous E-planes in E-panel path, all antenna elements 268 are bound up and bend and the T-shaped joint portion of numerous H-planes that in H-panel path, all antenna elements 268 is bound up and bend.When receiving mode operation pressed by antenna array 106 time, the operation of T-shaped joint portion, the component signal received from each antenna element 268 (vertical or level) addition, provide single output signal (each is orthogonal polarization) in feed port.When antenna array 106 press emission mode operation time, power divider is served as in T-shaped joint portion, (for each orthogonal component signal) the Signal separator from single feed port to be fed to each antenna element 268 of antenna array 106.

With reference to Figure 40 A, illustrate an embodiment of horizontal feed path sections, show the T-shaped joint portion of some waveguides and bend.Figure 40 B is the sectional view that horizontal feed path sections intercepts along the line A-A in Figure 40 A.With reference to Figure 40 A and Figure 40 B, in one embodiment, the T-shaped joint portion 444 of waveguide comprises the section 446 that (compared with the width of all the other sections) that realize impedance matching function narrows.The section narrowed may have impedance that wider section is high and also may in length normally about quarter-wave.In another embodiment, waveguide feed network 202 has circular arc shaped curvature 448, instead of sharp keen 90 degree of bends, this may allow feed network 202 to occupy than space little during use right angle bends further, and can be used for reducing the phase distortion of signal through bend.In one embodiment, each vertical component signal is by addition after being all waveguide step transformer for minimum VSWR designs and 90 degree chamfered bend 448.Equally, each horizontal component signal may be by addition after being all waveguide step transformer for minimum VSWR designs and 90 degree chamfered bend 448.According to discussion above, in one embodiment, in feed network 202, every bar level to have the bend of identical number with vertical feed path in each direction, so two component signals accept equal to the delayed phase propagated through feed network 202.

According to an embodiment, the T-shaped joint portion of waveguide is included in the indentation 450 in the crosspoint of T, and this indentation can be used for reducing the phase distortion of signal when T-joint 444.In another embodiment, staged barrier film is had at the center of H-slab guide T-joint 444.In another embodiment, the barrier film of " V " shape is had at the center of E-slab guide T-joint 444.With regard to impedance matching, input relevant waveguide shortwall size and may be approximately with two of E-plane T-joint the half that waveguide exports the shortwall size of section.In another embodiment, the tuning cylinder 452 of short conductibility provides on the top of barrier film, as shown in figure 41.Tuning cylinder 452 is projected among this waveguide, perpendicular to one of the wide wall of waveguide, and terminates in little " ball " 454 in the embodiment enumerated.In one embodiment, tuning cylinder 452 has the length 456 of about 0.214 inch, and " ball " 454 has the diameter 458 of about 0.082 inch.But, it will be appreciated that these sizes are exemplary because waveguide feed network 202 characteristic size (comprise tuning cylinder 452 and " ball " 454 those) may change, depend on the working band of antenna array 106 needs.Some embodiment angle of bend of these waveguide sections are also illustrational and just exemplary in Figure 41, are not intended as restriction.

In one embodiment, the position of E and H-slab guide T-shaped joint portion barrier film is location like this, so that they are biased towards one of two input ports of T-joint, to produce amplitude balance or imbalance.With reference to Figure 42, from the angle of summation, T-shaped joint portion is with two inputs 460 and 462 Received signal strength and provide the signal after addition with output 464.Support an input (such as, input 460) by offseting T-shaped joint portion, the contribution of signal in the resultant signal of output 464 received at that input 460 may be greater than the contribution of the signal from another input 462.This relation can provide with equation below:

S _out＝AS ₁+BS ₂(2)

Wherein S ₁and S ₂be the signal received at input 460 and 462, A and B is the proportionality factor of the biased decision of T-shaped joint portion.The biased of T-shaped joint portion 444 may also be use tuned cell 466 to realize.If tuned cell 466 is positioned at the center of T-shaped joint portion 444, as shown in figure 42, proportionality factor A and B may be equal, so that is added equally at the signal of two inputs 460 and 462.But by changing shape and/or the position of tuned cell 466, a proportionality factor can become and be greater than another, so that total output signal S _outcomprise the larger contribution of the signal from the larger input of proportionality factor.

For example, with reference to Figure 43, illustrate the feed network 202 of part, show several T-shaped joint portion 444 having biased tuned cell 466.In the embodiment enumerated, tuning cylinder 452 is displaced to the right at center, T-shaped joint portion, and " ball " 454 offsets from tuning cylinder 452, so that it is greater than the part on the right at tuning cylinder 452 in the part on the left side of tuning cylinder 452.Therefore, the proportionality factor of two arms 468a, 468b of T-shaped joint portion 444 is different.By shape and the side-play amount of the side-play amount He " ball " 454 that control tuning cylinder 452, the signal through each arm 468a, 468b can be controlled the contribution of the resultant signal at output 464.By this way, contribution from the component signal of each antenna element 268 of antenna array 106 can be controlled, outside tangible diminish gradually (that is, the less horn antenna element and the dielectric lens be associated) of array previously discussed, also form signal amplitude whereby to diminish gradually.This signal amplitude diminishes gradually and can be controlled, and according to discussion above, is conducive to the Sidelobe Suppression realizing expection level.It will be appreciated that in emission mode, when signal stream reverses time, the side-play amount of tuned cell 466 and shape controlling are supplied to the amplitude of the component signal of often kind of antenna element 268 of antenna array 106, and in antenna array transmit beam direction figure, facilitate Sidelobe Suppression whereby.Therefore, the beam pattern that the illustrational Sidelobe Suppression/minimizing of Figure 33 A and Figure 33 B is all very high can by the size of antenna element, number and interval, antenna array tangible diminish gradually and the combination comprising the design that signal amplitude diminishes gradually of feed network 202 realizes.Design comprises the following fact to the benefit of the contributive feed network of Sidelobe Suppression 202: horn antenna element 268 far away does not need to become less and therefore larger Sidelobe Suppression can realize with little antenna cost efficiency.

According to an embodiment, dielectric interposer may be placed on inside feed network 202 by various different position, for example, inside the T-shaped joint portion being placed on E-plane and/or H-plane.The size of dielectric interposer and to be used for the dielectric constant of the material forming dielectric interposer may be radio-frequency (RF) impedance coupling between input and output for improving the T-shaped joint portion of waveguide and transmission characteristic and selected.In one embodiment, dielectric interposer may be used make.The length of dielectric interposer and width may be selected like this, so that dielectric interposer is assemblied in inside waveguide securely by the position of expection.In one embodiment, dielectric interposer may have numerous hole formed wherein.This some holes may be used for reducing the effective dielectric constant of dielectric interposer, so that good impedance matching can realize.

According to discussion above, in one embodiment, feed network 202 calculates the summation of the vertical and horizontal component signal of each antenna element 268 from antenna array 106 in a receive mode and provides total perpendicular polarization signal and aggregate level polarized signal in feed port.In one embodiment, two resultant signals are reconfigured by system electronics.As an alternative, in another embodiment, feed network 202 is included in the feeding orthomode transducer (displaying) of feed port, and this feeding orthomode transducer combines two orthogonal resultant signals with the same manner discussed with regard to OMT 402 above.In one embodiment, antenna OMT 402 and feeding OMT may be fed to orthogonally.Therefore, vertical component signal may accept the delayed φ of first phase from antenna OMT 402 ₁, the delayed φ in path _pwith the delayed φ of second phase from feeding OMT ₂.Equally, horizontal component signal may accept the delayed φ of first phase from antenna OMT 402 ₂, the delayed φ in path _pwith the delayed φ of second phase from feeding OMT ₁.Therefore, the combination of the OMT of two orthogonal feedings may make each total delayed phase equal in fact with the component signal acceptance of level vertically, as equation 3 is below shown:

Φ[(ωt+φ ₁)+φ _p+φ ₂]＝Φ[(ωt+φ ₂)+φ _p+φ ₁] (3)

Wherein (ω t+ φ ₁) and (ω t+ φ ₂) be the component signal of perpendicular polarization and horizontal polarization, and be the output port phase matched at feeding OMT.Although the operation that it will be appreciated that OMT and feed network 202 is according to two orthogonal linear polarization component signal discussion, but the present invention by such restriction and also as an alternative OMT the signal introduced may be designed to be divided into two orthogonal circular polarization (such as, left-handed polarization and right-hand polarization) signals (and these component signals of recombinating).In this case, feed network 202 may be designed to guide those two orthogonal circularly polarized signals.

According to another embodiment, be sent to the first feeding OMT of circular double mode port from two of feed network orthogonal total component signals of polarization (V and H).The circular double-mode port that circular rotating waveguide section may be fed to OMT with first is connected.Also have second of circular double-mode port the feeding OMT may be connected with circular rotating waveguide, so that the second feeding OMT can rotate on the axle of circular double-mode port.Therefore, at least one embodiment, be effectively equal by the circular double-mode port of the first feeding OMT from the V signal of feed network 202 and the phase lengths of H signal.Rotate the second feeding OMT and effectively produce the linear orthogonally polarized signal of two of applicable any angle of inclination at the output of the second feeding OMT.In one embodiment, the position being fed to OMT and circular rotating waveguide may depart from antenna array.In this embodiment, flexible waveguide may be used for the last T-shaped joint portion of feed network 202 to receive on the first feeding OMT.To adapt to the motion of antenna array.

According to an embodiment, feed network 202 may be piecemeal manufacture, is then mechanically bound up.According to discussion above, feed network 202 may comprise the section of numerous symmetry, forms " tree-shaped " structure and each antenna element 268 in antenna array 106 is coupled with single feed point.Therefore, the structure of feed network 202 may be of value to and is divided into and can individually manufactures the element be then bound up.In one embodiment, feed network 202 be section by metal casting being caused needs then this metal of brazing its completion is manufactured.Casting and brazing procedure may be complete on the section (such as, comprising the section of four antenna elements) of feed network simultaneously.Then, these workpiece completed may be bound up on together, form complete feed network 202.In another embodiment, the antenna array comprising feed network 202 and horn antenna element 268 arranges like this, so that it is symmetrical along the center line that the length along it obtains.Therefore, in this embodiment, this antenna array can be divided into two symmetrical sections along this center line, and each section individually can be manufactured (such as, by casting and brazing), and be then bound up coupling.Antenna array 106 " longitudinal direction " separately can be shortened manufacturing time greatly, though each section among two sections may significantly than four the less elements occurred when this array separates according to discussion above time or similar section more complicated.

Artificial satellite (or other communication) signal may be transmit on two orthogonal wavefront.This allows artificial satellite (or other information source) to transmit more information on the same frequencies and relies on polarization diversity that signal is avoided interference.If antenna array 106 directly identical with the transmitting antenna on artificial satellite (or other signal originate 110) meridianal below or above, so the polarization of receiving antenna array and emission source antenna may be align.But, according to discussion above, in some illustrations, may have and be originated the polarization distortion that 110 and the antenna array 106 that causes of the relative position of main platform of antenna array 106 and signal originate between 110 by signal.For example, be arranged on regard to the application on aircraft 132 with regard to antenna array 106, the polarization distortion β that the pitching of aircraft, rolling, driftage and locus (such as, meridian or longitude) may cause signal to originate between 110 and antenna array 106.Therefore, in one embodiment, external subsystems 102 comprises the polarization converter unit of the polarization distortion between applicable compensated information source and antenna array.

With reference to Figure 44, illustrate an embodiment of the antenna array 106 comprising the polarization converter unit (PCU) 502 be coupled with it.According to discussion above, in the embodiment enumerated, antenna array 106 arranges like this, so that PCU 502 is assemblied in array " the inside ".This being arranged in maintains the relatively little footprint of external subsystems 102 and volume aspect may be favourable; But, it will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited only to the illustrational arrangement of Figure 44, and PCU 502 can be positioned at any appropriate location in external subsystems 102.In addition, in other embodiment, polarization skew compensation may be that method electronically completes purely.Therefore, internal subsystems 104 may comprise the polarization distortion β being applicable to compensating between antenna array 106 and signal source 110 and the electronic equipment (circuit and/or software) being optionally applicable to any polarization distortion compensated between vertical and horizontal component signal.In one embodiment, polarization converter unit 502 or other signal processing electronic equipment may be applicable to one of signal adapting to linearly polarized signal and circular polarization or both.

According to an embodiment, PCU 502 may be supplied to low noise amplifier 504 polarization correction signal, and the latter amplifies this signal and it is fed to internal subsystems 104.According to discussion above, most of signal transacting of communication system and control electronic equipment and may to be included among inner subsystem 104 and to be housed in inside main platform, makes it to protect it to damage from environmental condition.But as person familiar with the technology knows, in numerous applications, consider signal to noise ratio, having is desirable close to low noise amplifier 504 signal of feeder as far as possible.Therefore, in one embodiment, low noise amplifier 504 is parts of external subsystems 102.In the embodiment that Figure 44 enumerates, low noise amplifier is installed on PCU 502, so that it can directly or the polarization correction signal received on very short path from PCU 502.Then, the amplifying signal from low noise amplifier 504 may be fed to internal subsystems 104, will discuss further below.

With reference to Figure 45, illustrate the exploded view of an embodiment of polarization converter unit (PCU) 502.According to discussion above, low noise amplifier (LNA) 504 may be installed on PCU 502.Therefore, PCU 502 may comprise the base 506 for low noise amplifier 504.In the embodiment enumerated, LNA 504 is the LNA based on waveguide, and LNA base 506 is polarization correction signals of receiving from PCU 502 and it is fed to the waveguide section of the LNA based on waveguide.

According to an embodiment, PCU 502 comprises the rotary-type orthomode transducer (OMT) 508 being responsible for polarization skew control, will discuss further below.Rotate OMT 508 and be installed into the backbone 510 laying the cable 512 driven for PCU along it.Be coupled with rotation OMT 508 in one end 514 of cable 512, the other end 516 is coupled with head pulley 518.Motor 520 provides power drive head pulley 518 and pulley 522 cable 512 that rotation OMT 508 is rotated.Motor 520 may be support with motor base 524.In one embodiment, two the total component signals (vertical with level) from the feed point of antenna array 106 are fed to the first and second waveguide port 526,528 rotating OMT 508.These two waveguide port 526,538 are coupled with the rotatable section 530 rotating OMT 508.This rotatable section 530 rotates the polarization distortion β between electromagnetic field compensating signal source 110 and antenna array 106 received.Polarization Coding device 532 may be used for determining the degree of rotation of the rotation OMT 508 corresponding with the polarization correction factor of expection.In one embodiment, PCU 502 receives the control signal from antenna control unit 112 (see Fig. 1), determine to correct actual measurement/degree of rotation of the necessity needed for polarization distortion that detects.Signal finally by polarization correction is fed to low noise amplifier 504 via waveguide section 534.In one embodiment, PCU 502 can rotate about 270 degree along either direction (clockwise direction or counter clockwise direction).

According to discussion above, in one embodiment, the skew compensation that polarizes can electronically complete.But using the embodiment of PCU 502 previously discussed mechanically to compensate polarization distortion β may have some benefits.For example, the polarization skew compensation of machinery is not suffered and first radiofrequency signal is become (to be processed in order to compensate the distortion that polarizes) electronic signal and then become the loss in efficiency that radiofrequency signal is associated again.In addition, mechanical type PCU 502 may can the very large signal of processing power, for compensating when antenna array 106 transmits time, polarization distortion is particularly useful, otherwise the electronic equipment that can realize electronic polarization skew compensation may require that signal has relatively low power.

Still with reference to Figure 45, in one embodiment, the reception for antenna array 106 operates, and the output rotating OMT 508 is coupled with low noise amplifier 504.Amplifying signal from low noise amplifier 508 may be fed to swivel joint 538 via cable 536, and the latter makes external subsystems 102 be coupled with internal subsystems 104.With regard to the firing operation of antenna array 106, the signal launched with antenna array may be directly fed to via another swivel joint 538 and cable 540 and rotate OMT 508.In one embodiment, swivel joint 538 is swivel joints of single channel.Swivel joint 538 may be coupled with the radio frequency coaxial-cable on internal subsystems 104 side and/or flexible waveguide.Swivel joint 538 may adapt to antenna array 106 by orientation rotation.

With reference to Figure 46, illustrate the embodiment of low noise amplifier 504.Low noise amplifier 504 comprises the waveguide port 542 that can be coupled with rotation OMT 508.According to discussion above, output port 544 can be coupled with the cable 536 amplifying signal being sent to internal subsystems 104.In one embodiment, output port 544 is the coaxial port with coaxial cable matched-pair design.Power can be supplied to low noise amplifier 504 (such as, via internal subsystems 104) by power connector 546.

Again with reference to Fig. 1, in a receive mode, external subsystems 102 receive and did process (such as, by waveguide feed network 202, with PCU 502 adjust to polarization distortion β done compensate and with low noise amplifier 504 amplification) signal is fed to internal subsystems 104.Discussion below about the operation of internal subsystems 104 mainly may mention the antenna array 106 of reception from the signal in signal source 110; But person familiar with the technology will recognize that any part can to contrary signal flow operation when antenna array 106 transmits time.

With reference to Figure 47, illustrate the block diagram of an embodiment of internal subsystems 104.According to discussion above, internal subsystems may comprise the antenna control unit 112 of some or all parts control signal being supplied to respectively inside and outside subsystem 104,102.High-power wireless electricity transceiver 114 may receive the amplifying signal (that signal is referred to herein as " acknowledge(ment) signal ") from low noise amplifier 504, and processes this acknowledge(ment) signal, will discuss further below.High-power wireless electricity transceiver also may receive the signal launched with antenna array 106 from modulator-demodulator 116, processes that signal, then exports " transmission signal ".Acknowledge(ment) signal and transmission signal transmit between internal subsystems 104 and external subsystems 104 via connector 140.It will be appreciated that connector 140 may comprise swivel joint 538 and the cable between two parties between swivel joint 538 and internal subsystems electronic equipment and other components and parts.As shown in figure 47, except the acknowledge(ment) signal respectively on circuit 142a and 142b and transmission signal, connector 140 also may send the power (on circuit 144) from power supply 118 and the control signal (on circuit 146) from antenna control unit 112 to the components and parts of external subsystems 102.

According to an embodiment, internal subsystems 104 comprises and can receive input signal (such as via connector 140, the signal of linear polarization or circular polarization) and the down converter unit (DCU) 148 of output signal (such as, the signal of linear polarization or circular polarization) can be provided with the frequency lower than the frequency of the input signal received on circuit 150.DCU 148 will be described in more detail below.Signal on circuit 150 can process with signal processing electronic equipment 152.Equally, in transmission path, internal subsystems 104 may comprise frequency up-converter unit 154.To send signal may be internal subsystems 104 receives from signal source (such as, passenger or user interface) via connector 156, process with signal processing electronic equipment 152 and arrive transmission frequency with frequency up-converter unit 154 increasing frequency.As person familiar with the technology by recognizing, frequency up-converter unit 154 can operate in the mode similar with down converter unit 148, for example, by mixing with local oscillator signals sending signal, change the frequency of data-signal, will discuss further below.

According to discussion above, signal may be launch in the frequency range extending to some gigahertzs of broadness with antenna array 106 and/or receive.For example, vertical may in the frequency range of about 10.7GHz-12.75GHz with the component signal of level.So, in some applications, especially antenna array 106 can with very high frequency reception and/or transmitting when, use two local oscillators to complete frequency reducing conversion or up conversion may be preferred.Therefore, at least one embodiment, internal subsystems 104 optionally may comprise the second local oscillator interested signal is transformed into the spendable frequency of modulator-demodulator 116.Before it will be appreciated that signal transacting may occur in any frequency reducing or up conversion, different frequency reducing/between the up conversion stage, or after all frequency reducing/up conversion completed.In a receive mode, the signal changed through frequency reducing and process can be supplied to passenger interface (such as, seat back display) via modulator-demodulator 116 and connector 156 and access for the passenger relevant to main delivery vehicle.Equally, in emission mode, process, the signal of up conversion and transmitting may receive from passenger interface via connector 156.

With reference to Figure 48, illustrate the functional-block diagram of an embodiment of down converter unit (DCU) 148.It will be appreciated that Figure 48 only tends to show the sustainable development of DCU 148, may not be actual implementing.In addition, as person familiar with the technology understands, frequency up-converter unit 154 can realize by similar structure with down converter unit 158.In one embodiment, DCU 148 is to obtain radiofrequency signal (for example, frequency range is at the signal of 10.7GHz to 12.75GHz) and 10.7GHz to the 11.7GHz of this frequency band part is down converted to intermediate-freuqncy signal (for example, frequency range is at the signal of 0.95GHz to 1.95GHz) and forms.Second local oscillator 158 is used for converting 11.7GHz to the 12.75GHz of this frequency band part the intermediate frequency (IF) of 1.1GHz to 2.15GHz to.

Still with reference to Figure 48, according to an embodiment, DCU 148 accepts the power from power supply 118 (see Fig. 1) via circuit 162.According to an embodiment, the radiofrequency signal on DCU 148 receiving lines 142a and the intermediate-freuqncy signal of output can be provided on circuit 166.According to discussion above, radiofrequency signal may be supplied via connector 140 by external subsystems 102 (such as, low noise amplifier).In one embodiment, directional coupler 168 is used for injecting the built-in testing signal from local oscillator 170.Can be used for controlling when inject built-in testing signal by the switch 172 that antenna control unit 112 (it is supplied to control interface 174 control signal on circuit 176) controls via control interface 174.Power divider 178 can be used for be separated from local oscillator 70 single signal and it is supplied to two paths.The straight-through port of directional coupler 168 may be coupled with band pass filter 180, and the latter may be used for filtering any undesired signal harmonic of signal removing received.According to discussion above, the signal received may be divided into two frequency bands of use two local oscillator frequency reducing conversions; So as shown in figure 48, DCU 148 may comprise two band pass filters 180 signal received being divided into two frequency bands.Then, filtered signal may be fed to frequency mixer 182a, 182b.Frequency mixer 182a may mix this signal the Part I of this frequency band is down converted to IF-FRE with the local oscillator harmonics from local oscillator 184 on circuit 183.Equally, the Part II of this frequency band may be down converted to IF-FRE this signal with mixing from the local oscillator harmonics of the second local oscillator 158 on circuit 160 by the second frequency mixer 182b.In one embodiment, the second local oscillator 184 possibility can be tuning in the frequency from 7GHz to 8GHz, therefore allows all types of operations and IF-FRE.Amplifier 188 and/or attenuator 189 can be used for balancing intermediate-freuqncy signal.Filter 190 can be used for the undesired frequency mixer product that may be present in before intermediate-freuqncy signal is supplied to output line 166 in this intermediate-freuqncy signal to minimize.

Therefore, internal subsystems 104 may receive with antenna array 106 transmit from, for example, the data-signal of the passenger interface inside main delivery vehicle, signal of communication or other signal, these signals may be processed, and be supplied to external subsystems 102 sending signal via connector 140.In external subsystems 102, polarization converter unit 502 may compensate the polarization distortion β between antenna array 106 and the intended destination sending signal.The feed network 202 of antenna array 106 may be divided into transmission signal the component signal of two orthogonal polarizations, and these component signals are all assigned among all antenna elements 268 of antenna array 106.Each antenna element 268 may comprise the OMT402 those two orthogonal component signals being reassembled into the signal transmitted with this antenna element 268.Equally, antenna array 106 may receive the information signal of originating from signal via antenna element 268 each in array.Feed network 202 may be divided into the signal that each antenna element 268 receives two orthogonal component signals and calculate the summation from the component signal of all antenna elements by often kind of polarization, produces two orthogonal resultant signals.These resultant signals may correct the polarization distortion β that signal is originated between 110 and antenna array 106, are then rearranged into acknowledge(ment) signal, and this acknowledge(ment) signal warp after low noise amplifier amplifies sends internal subsystems 104 to by connector 140.In internal subsystems 104, this acknowledge(ment) signal may be supplied to the passenger interface in main delivery vehicle through process (such as, frequency reducing conversion) via connector 156.

According to an embodiment, internal subsystems be installed in be arranged on main vehicle interior housing inside.Such housing embodiments 192 is illustrational with Figure 49.According to discussion above, in some applications, specifically, when using communication system aboard, the change of various temperature, pressure and humidity may be stood in the outside of delivery vehicle.The components and parts of electronic equipment are allowed to stand life-span that such change condition may shorten electronic equipment components and parts greatly.By the components and parts of electronic equipment are placed on inside delivery vehicle, these components and parts can obtain the infringement of the potential adverse circumstances be protected from outside delivery vehicle.In addition, realize more effective components and parts temperature to control may be relatively easy to.In addition, allowing electronic equipment be positioned at can the easier easy for maintenance, repair and replacing close to electronic equipment inside delivery vehicle.In one embodiment, mounting bracket 214 may be considered and be easy to installation and removal external subsystems 102.The surface that the connector 140 that may comprise swivel joint 538 according to discussion above may penetrate main delivery vehicle allows cable to be shifted between external subsystems 102 and main vehicle interior.Therefore, the signal of such as data-signal, control signal and power signal and so on can provide to and fro between external subsystems 102 and internal subsystems 104.

With reference to Figure 49, in one embodiment, housing 192 is small and exquisite flat boxes, and this box may be designed to be assemblied between the fuselage of aircraft and insulation.Housing may comprise the fan 194 of the electronic equipment components and parts inside this housing of cooling.In order to the temperature being conducive to electronic equipment controls, air-flow directedly may cross housing 192 so that cooling housing and electronic equipment wherein.Housing may comprise connector 196a and 196b of power of the power supply accepting autonomous delivery vehicle and reception (for example, carry out passenger interface in autonomous delivery vehicle) the connector 196c (such as, second too net connector) of signal of communication.

When there being the fault of internal subsystems 104, in one embodiment, internal subsystems comprises and points out the out of order fault detector of internal subsystems 104.For example, fault detector may comprise double-colored (such as, white and black) flag, and wherein a kind of color is that time given how is observable by housing 192.First color (such as, white) may point out the internal subsystems 104 interior operation of normal parameter area, and the second color (such as, black) may point out fault.In one embodiment, fault detector starts by machinery (such as, by magnetic), even if so that when supplying power to internal subsystems 104, it also can operate.

Illustrational as Fig. 1 and Figure 47, in one embodiment, may comprise for the power amplifier (displaying) of conveyer chain high-power wireless electricity transceiver 114 inside internal subsystems 104.Have found that, when power amplifier is connected with antenna array 106 via cable (such as, coaxial cable) time, when power amplifier distant from antenna array (that is, the cable connecting them is long) time, heavy losses can occur.But, according to discussion above, in numerous applications, there is the system electronics comprising power amplifier (that is, as a part for internal subsystems 104) may be very preferred may cause in the sizable main delivery vehicle of the distance between power amplifier and antenna array 106.In order to solve the connection loss problem between power amplifier and antenna array 106, in one embodiment, connector 140 comprises flexible waveguide transmission signal being sent to swivel joint 538 from internal subsystems 104 (such as, from power amplifier).This flexible waveguide can be used for cutting down and connect tolerance and allow the arrangement of waveguide and/or internal subsystems housing 192 more how flexible.Waveguide is low-loss transmission medium.Have found that by use flexible waveguide connect, result from power amplifier from antenna array 106 relatively away from systematic function decline be negligible.In one embodiment, filter (such as, band pass filter) is merged in flexible waveguide Connection Element the filtering from transmission signal of undesired radio-frequency component.Therefore, can provide a kind of and hold easily changeable single element, this element comprises filtering components and parts and the transmission line being used for being connected high-power wireless electricity transceiver 114 and antenna array 106.Therefore, change this single element and may allow to change band pass filter when not needing change internal subsystems 104, and therefore change Dynamic System frequency band.In addition, because waveguide is the transmission medium that loss ratio coaxial cable is low, so sending signal can be power lower (because it experiences less loss on the path leading to antenna array), reduce the power consumption of communication system whereby.In addition, it will be appreciated that the similar flexible waveguide Connection Element optionally comprising filtering components and parts may be used to receive chain and wireless set 114 is coupled with the swivel joint 538 being connected low noise amplifier 504.

The pointing accuracy of antenna array 106 (that is, antenna array can how to take accurate aim signal source 110 or signal destination) may be the performance metrics of the key for communication system.But, especially, when communication system is arranged on delivery vehicle (such as, aircraft 132), manyly do not consider that the situation that can have a negative impact to pointing accuracy (such as if existed, shape and available installation site, environmental factor and mechanical tolerance).Therefore, in one embodiment, calibration procedure is used for correcting the mechanical tolerance of antenna array and the structure tolerance of main delivery vehicle and automatically adjusts the parts of replacing, will discuss further below.In one embodiment, calibration procedure can consider that external subsystems departs from the position offset of Navigation for Means of Transportation system.Supposition delivery vehicle is aircraft by discussion below, and mentions the inertial navigation system 122 of aircraft; But, it will be appreciated that the type no matter this calibration procedure may install the delivery vehicle of this system is all applicable.

With reference to Figure 50, illustrate the flow chart of an embodiment of calibration procedure.The first stage of this calibration procedure may comprise the factory calibrated stage 602.This stage 602 may complete before communication system is arranged on delivery vehicle.In one embodiment, antenna array 106 comprises the one or more position coders (also referred to as " inclination sensor ") being directly installed on and antenna array predicting the sensing position of antenna array by orientation and the elevation angle.In one embodiment, position coder provides the pitching of representative antennas battle array 106 and the data of rolling.During Dynamic System, the information from position coder may be fed back to antenna control unit 112 (see Fig. 1) and help antenna control unit 112 that control signal is supplied to orientation and the elevation angle that motor (with the motor driver be associated) aims at antenna array 106 expection.So in one embodiment, the factory calibrated stage 602 comprises the program (step 604) of the radio frequency center determining antenna array 106 relative to the position of position coder.This program may consider any position offset between the radio frequency center of antenna array 106 and the position of encoder, thus allow encoder to be positioned on array anyly facilitate position.In addition, the variations in temperature of position coder data also may be calibrated.May be stored in the storage arrangement 130 that antenna control unit 112 can access during the further calibration of comparatively this communication system and/or operation (see Fig. 1) (step 606) through the side-play amount of calibration.In one embodiment, the information be stored in storage arrangement 130 comprises position coder calibration data (such as, variations in temperature etc.), mechanically calibrated and the correction data discussed above (such as, side-play amount between antenna array and position coder), and operating parameter and restriction normally, (such as, with regard to antenna array 106 or PCU 502) is for (optionally) sequence number of external subsystems 102 and/or part number data as a complete unit or with regard to its individual components.Mechanically calibrated data may consider the geometry variable of the radio frequency center of antenna array 106, all between installation component and cardan universal joint component.Sequence number and/or Part No. information may be used for the automatic detection of part exchanging (correcting with part), will discuss further below.Data storage in storage arrangement 130 allows manufacture in factory and determine and store the individual characteristic of (step 602) each external subsystems 102 between alignment epoch.

In one embodiment, this communication system comprises two storage arrangements, and a storage arrangement 130 is arranged in external subsystems 102, and another is arranged in internal subsystems 104.The storage arrangement 130 of external subsystems 102 is referred to herein as day linear memory 130, and the storage arrangement of internal subsystems is referred to herein as antenna control storage.It will be appreciated that antenna control storage may be merged in as the part when antenna control unit 112, or may be the self-contained unit (not showing in FIG) be coupled with antenna control unit 112 by liaison.Memory may be the suitable electronic memory of any type, includes but not limited to the random access memory that person familiar with the technology is known or flash memories.It linear memory 130 and antenna control storage may be coupled to each other by liaison, allow data to shift between two memories.This data sharing between sky linear memory 130 and antenna control storage can provide data setting completely for this communication system, this can be used for, for example, detect and run initial installation calibrating program (being discussed below), detection communication system or outside part are (such as, the inertial navigation system of aircraft) the replacing of various different parts, with the system information settings project recalculated required for part exchanging, will discuss further below.

In one embodiment, the calibration data of the side-play amount and so on of such as previous calculations may be stored in day linear memory 130 and antenna control storage.Can be similarly stored in two memories any change of calibration storage or upgrade.This dual memory device structure may provide some benefits, comprise: data redundancy (namely, if a memory damages, data can not be lost, because it is also stored in second memory) and factory calibrated just " changing " outside or inside subsystem (or its part) replace their ability with new/parts of upgrading of need not reforming.For example, if internal subsystems will be replaced, new antenna control storage may download the calibration data be stored in day linear memory 130, avoids the demand to again calibrating this system whereby.

Again with reference to Figure 50, after factory calibrated 602, communication system can be installed on main delivery vehicle.Therefore, the second stage of calibration may comprise installation calibrating 608.According to further discussing below, installation calibrating program 608 may be considered side-play amount between the antenna array 106 installed and the inertial navigation system 122 of aircraft and tolerance and make the installation of external subsystems become more simply too much than conventional method.

Usually, delivery vehicle (comprising aircraft) does not have the large flat surfaces installing external subsystems 102 thereon, but those surfaces may have some to tilt or bend.Therefore, when external subsystems is installed on this surface time, antenna array will depart from certain side-play amount of horizontal line.In addition, assuming that closely the inertial navigation system of aircraft transducer the battle array that fixes up an aerial wire may be unlikely, so between antenna array 106 and inertial navigation system 122, also may there is side-play amount.Installation calibrating program 608 can consider these side-play amounts, will discuss further below.Traditional installation procedure may to allow external subsystems 102 to be accurately put into the deviation concerning the inertial navigation system 122 of the aircraft known within a few tenths of degree.But if not do not compensated, even this few tenths of degree also may cause antenna array only to use to point to concerning airborne receiver and calculate the artificial satellite that to take accurate aim not locking signal, and therefore may cause the loss of signal to passenger.In addition, external subsystems 102 be accurately placed on delivery vehicle may be difficulty with consuming time.So it may be preferred for using installation calibrating program 608 to eliminate the demand that external subsystems is accurately placed on delivery vehicle.

According to discussion above, external subsystems 102 may comprise one or more position coder, and these position coders are once be arranged on the pitching and rolling that delivery vehicle just can predict antenna array 106.In one embodiment, the pitching of antenna array and rolling may be (steps 610) that calculate relative to pitching and the rolling of Airborne Inertial navigation system 122.In one embodiment, step 610 comprises the side-play amount used between airborne parameter measurement (correcting with using the factory calibration data stored after position coder actual measurement) antenna array reference system and (using inertial navigation system 122 to survey) aircraft reference system.This allows just to determine pitching and rolling side-play amount without the need to manual calibration consuming time and eliminate aircraft manufacturing tolerance.In addition, because all pitching and rolling side-play amount can be calibrated consider, so do not need external subsystems 102 accurately to put aboard.But the antenna array error of aiming between inertial navigation system aligning is stored in storage arrangement simply and is compensate pointing in control signal is supplied to 106 of antenna array at it with antenna control unit 112.Therefore, installation calibrating 608 can improve the easy degree that system is installed greatly.

That traditional antenna alignment program just completes usually between initial antenna system installation period and complete with manual program.Traditional manual program does not input the ability of rolling number increment, pitching number increment and driftage number increment usually, so manual program needs to use shim.These shims be placed on antenna attachment bottom and between aircraft, for example, the packing material of the small pieces forcing antenna system coordinate consistent with navigation system coordinate, for example, aluminum shim.But, use shim to need to remove radome, settle shim and reinstall radome.This is very consuming time and dangerous method.Limited people is only had to be authorized to work on aircraft top and it needs a large amount of scaffold.Once complete adjustment, radome just must adhere to again and radome sealing must be cured several hours.This artificial adjustment programme may be very consuming time with difficulty.Otherwise Auto-mounting calibration procedure 608 can be completed rapidly and easily, do not need portable antenna battle array.

Again with reference to Figure 50, by after comparing (calibrated) data from position coder and the data from inertial navigation system 122 and calculate and storing pitching side-play amount and rolling side-play amount (step 610), satellite signal can be used to lock and to calculate course offset amount (step 612).In one embodiment, step 610 may comprise order antenna control unit 112 antenna array 106 is aimed at known artificial satellite navigation system 112 check antenna array 106 course aim at.In time asking this to aim at inspection, antenna control unit 112 may use inertial navigation data to aim at selected artificial satellite at first.At first, that is, when antenna array 106 not yet adjusts course offset amount or corrects time, system may start to scan this region and find peak value acknowledge(ment) signal.When system determines the highest signal strength signal intensity time, this peak value may be determined.According to discussion above, the error between the course (for example, use location encoder is determined) that antenna is pointed out and the course that navigation system is pointed out can be calculated and be recorded in storage arrangement.Because pitching and rolling side-play amount may be determined (step 610) and be compensated, so course offset amount can use single artificial satellite to calculate.

Therefore, installation calibrating program 608 can be used for easily and any deviation between antenna array 106 and the inertial navigation system 122 of aircraft or side-play amount are automatically described.This allow antenna control unit 112 (see Fig. 1) accept from the inertial navigation system 122 of delivery vehicle navigation information and use this navigation information to take accurate aim antenna array 106, do not result from the error of the side-play amount between inertial navigation system 122 and antenna array 106.According to an embodiment, installation calibrating program 608 may be the software simulating being used on antenna control unit 112 or running under the control of antenna control unit 112.Installation calibrating data also can be stored in day linear memory 130 and antenna control storage.

According to discussion above, in one embodiment, communication system automatically can detect the replacement of various different system parts and be that this replacement adjusts by the communication between sky linear memory 130 and antenna control storage.In one embodiment, energising that time, sky linear memory 130 and antenna control storage all may be addressed inquires to the other side and whether be determined that arbitrary storage arrangement is new, use share with this locality store data.Compared by any new data that existing data and new storage arrangement are provided, system automatically can calculate the compensation having potential different tolerance and parameter of the new part to fresh memory device identification.Be energized that time, this system may determine whether there is the condition again assessing current calibration offset at every turn.If there is such condition, so whether this system may be assessed current side-play amount and remain valid.This is that the detection of any fuselage change of the replacing comprising inertial navigation system 122 and correction are prepared.In addition, during flying, follow the tracks of any the drift slowly upgrading and can process from being perhaps the inertial navigation system 122 and/or fuselage machinery change caused by shell supercharging and temperature effect.

In some applications, even after accurate calibration, navigation data may be not enough to keep the antenna array locked with the source of expection by oneself in acceptable tolerance levels.Therefore, according to an embodiment, antenna control unit 112 may realize track algorithm, and this algorithm may use navigation data and signal feedback data tracking signal source.Track algorithm always can find the strongest satellite signal, if therefore inertial navigation data is slow, track algorithm can be taken over and find best re-pointing angle.When inertial navigation data be correct with up-to-date data time, system can use this inertial data to calculate its azimuth and the elevation angle, because these data are by consistent with the peak of beam.This is because do not have measurable mistake, antenna is not aimed at the artificial satellite of expection by inertial navigation system coordinate system with accurately can having measurable error; In other words, the visual angle of prediction and the visual angle of preferred aspect will be same.When inertial navigation data is incorrect time, follow the tracks of software and can be used for maintaining this sensing, because it " correction " can calculate the difference up to about 5 degree between visual angle and optimal viewing angle originally.

In one embodiment, antenna array can be controlled, in the future the location, peak of the expection signal in self information source.Then, antenna array " shake " (beam width relative to antenna array) can determine the beam width of source signal near this signal peak.If signal receives power, in one embodiment, antenna control unit 112 may monitor the amplitude of acknowledge(ment) signal, the amplitude of acknowledge(ment) signal may be used to determine, and angle is pointed in best orientation and pitching, its way discontinuously antenna is repositioned onto from its calculating location the position that slightly offsets and determines that whether the signal strength signal intensity that receives is best and whether do not reorientated towards by optimum orientation by antenna, etc.As the people technically experienced knows, geometry calculates the visual angle that may be easy to for utilizing known coordinate system (comprise from aircraft those) to determine geostationary satellite.By locating and follow the tracks of three artificial satellites, trigdatum can be used for weighing further antenna array towards and guidance system data between any deviation.Then, the error through weighing may be stored in the signal facilitating accurate tracking to expect during antenna control storage and sky linear memory 130 neutralizes the operation be used in system and originate 110.

Again with reference to Figure 48, in the embodiment realizing track algorithm, antenna control unit 112 may to from, for example, the acknowledge(ment) signal sampling of DCU 148 (on circuit 166), although it will be appreciated that antenna control unit 112 may change into the signal sampling from signal processing electronic equipment 152 or the 2nd DCU 158.Therefore, although the signal of sampling from DCU 148 is mentioned in discussion below, it will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited.According to an embodiment, the control interface 174 of DCU 148 may be supplied to antenna control unit 112 via circuit 176 signal to the signal sampling on circuit 166.It will be appreciated that sampling may require such the regarding of such as composition, for example, the components and parts of directional coupler, radio frequency detector device and analog to digital converter (displaying) and so on obtain intermediate-freuqncy signal from circuit 166 and it are converted to the information being supplied to antenna control unit 112.Antenna control unit 112 may use the sensing angle of the amplitude adjustment antenna array of sampled signal, as the shake that a part for continuous calibration procedure is discussed before being similar to.Tracking/flight calibration program also may be used for upgrading flight side-play amount, to process the slow drift of aloft change and aircraft components and parts.

Be described several aspects of at least one embodiment, it will be appreciated that various different change, correction and improvement will be easy to occur for person familiar with the technology.Such change, correction and improvement are tended to become a part that this part disclose and are tended to fall within the scope of the present invention.Therefore, description above and accompanying drawing are only as embodiment.

Claims

1. an antenna array, comprising:

Numerous horn antenna element, these horn antenna elements are arranged at and extend to the N row horn antenna of the second end of antenna array from the first end of antenna array, and among numerous horn antenna element, each horn antenna element is configured to receiving information signal and provides this information signal in the feed point of this horn antenna element; And

Make the waveguide feed network that numerous horn antenna element is coupled with public array feed point, this waveguide feed network is configured to the summation calculated from the information signal of numerous horn antenna element and provides summation signals in public array feed point;

In the numerous antenna elements wherein arranged in the often row of horn antenna at N between adjacent antenna elements center to center loudspeaker between be interposed between this antenna array transmission frequency lower aprons the highest in fact equal 0.9 wavelength; And

What wherein N arranged horn antenna element often arranges the horn antenna element that horn antenna element comprises at least 32 or more.

2. antenna array according to claim 1, wherein said numerous horn antenna element is arranged at the parallel horn antenna element of at least two rows, a half width of one of numerous horn antenna element and the parallel horn antenna element of wherein said two rows offsets one from another along the length of antenna array.

3. antenna array according to claim 1, comprises further:

Numerous orthomode transducer, each corresponding orthomode transducer is with corresponding horn antenna component couples and be configured to information signal to be divided into the first component signal and second component signal, and the first and second component signals are orthogonal polarizations;

Wherein waveguide feed network makes numerous orthomode transducer be coupled with public array feed point, and this waveguide feed network is configured to the summation calculated from the component signal of each orthomode transducer and provides total signal in public array feed point.

4. antenna array according to claim 3, wherein waveguide feed network comprises the first path of guiding first component signal and guides the second path of second component signal;

Wherein the first path calculates the summation of the first component signal received from each orthomode transducer in E-plane;

Wherein the second path calculates the summation of the second component signal received from each orthomode transducer in H-plane;

Wherein waveguide feed network is configured to provide the first total component signal and second to add up to component signal in public array feed point; And

Wherein add up to signal to comprise the first total component signal and second and add up to component signal.

5. antenna array according to claim 4, wherein numerous orthomode transducer comprises and the first orthomode transducer of the first horn antenna component couples and the second orthomode transducer with the second horn antenna component couples;

Wherein the first path of waveguide feed network include be configured to receive from the first component signal of the first orthomode transducer first input end, be configured to receive the second input from the first component signal of the second orthomode transducer and the T-shaped joint portion of E-slab guide of output being configured to provide the output signal corresponding with the weighted sum of two the first component signals; And

Wherein the T-shaped joint portion of E-slab guide comprises the tuned cell being configured to the weighted sum T-shaped for E-slab guide joint portion being biased generation two the first component signals.

6. antenna array according to claim 5, wherein the second path of waveguide feed network include be configured to receive from the second component signal of the first orthomode transducer first input end, be configured to receive the second input from the second component signal of the second orthomode transducer and the T-shaped joint portion of H-slab guide of output being configured to provide the output signal corresponding with the weighted sum of two second component signals.

7. antenna array according to claim 6, the wherein each impedance matching portion being included in each corresponding first and second inputs in the T-shaped joint portion of E-slab guide and the T-shaped joint portion of H-slab guide.

8. antenna array according to claim 4, wherein the first and second paths of waveguide feed network comprise the bend of identical number.

9. antenna array according to claim 3, wherein waveguide feed network comprises the first path of guiding first component signal and guides the second path of second component signal;

Wherein the summation of numerous first component signals that receives from numerous orthomode transducer of the first path computing is to provide the first total component signal in public array feed point;

Wherein the summation of numerous second component signals that receives from numerous orthomode transducer of the second path computing is to provide the second total component signal in public array feed point.

10. antenna array according to claim 9, wherein the first path of waveguide feed network comprises at least one E-plane component being configured to the summation of numerous first component signals calculated in E-plane is configured to the summation of numerous first component signals calculated in a H-plane H-plane component with at least one;

Wherein the second path of waveguide feed network comprises at least one the 2nd E-plane component being configured to the summation of the numerous second component signals calculated in E-plane is configured to the summation of the numerous second component signals calculated in H-plane the 2nd H-plane component with at least one.

11. antenna arrays according to claim 1, comprise the polarization converter unit be coupled with public array feed point further, and this polarization converter cell location becomes to compensate the polarization distortion between antenna array and signal source.

12. antenna arrays according to claim 11, wherein polarization converter unit comprises:

Be configured to reception first and second and add up to component signal and the rotary-type orthomode transducer that the output signal through polarization correction is provided;

Be coupled with rotary-type orthomode transducer, be configured to the control signal of the expection degree of rotation accepting to represent rotary-type orthomode transducer, the drive system of the output signal through polarization correction is provided; And

Power is configured to be supplied to the motor that rotary-type orthomode transducer to be rotated to the degree of rotation of expection by this drive system.

13. antenna arrays according to claim 1, wherein N arranges horn antenna element and is selected from 1,2,4 and 8 one of them of arranging.

14. antenna arrays according to claim 1, wherein waveguide feed network is configured to each information signal from numerous horn antenna element to the signal contribution weighting adding up to signal, so that the beam direction figure of control antenna battle array.

15. antenna arrays according to claim 1, wherein numerous horn antenna element comprises the second horn antenna element being configured to provide the first horn antenna element of the first antenna output signal He being configured to provide the second antenna output signal;

Wherein waveguide feed network includes the first input end being configured to reception first antenna output signal, the second input being configured to reception second antenna output signal and is configured to provide the waveguide of the output of output signal T-shaped joint portion.