Summary of the invention
Technical problem to be solved by this invention is for the defective that existing satellite tv antenna processing is difficult for, cost is high, to provide a kind of feedback type satellite tv antenna simple, low cost of manufacture of processing.
The technical solution adopted for the present invention to solve the technical problems is: a kind of feedback type satellite tv antenna, described feedback type satellite tv antenna comprises that the electromagnetic wave that has that is arranged on feed the place ahead disperses dispersing element and being arranged on the super material panel of dispersing element the place ahead of function, described super material panel comprises core layer, described core layer comprises at least one core layer lamella, described core layer lamella comprises the base material of sheet and is arranged on a plurality of artificial pore structure on the base material, the rounded distribution of the refractive index of described core layer lamella, and the refractive index at same radius place is identical, along with the increase refractive index of radius reduces gradually.
Further, described core layer comprises the core layer lamella that a plurality of refraction index profile are identical and be parallel to each other.
Further, described super material panel also comprises the matching layer that is arranged on the core layer both sides, to realize the index matching from the air to the core layer.
Further, the rounded distribution take its center as the center of circle of the refractive index of described core layer lamella, the refractive index n of described core layer lamella (r) distributes and satisfies following formula:
Wherein, radius is the refractive index value at r place on n (r) the expression core layer lamella;
L is the distance that feed arrives the matching layer close with it, or l is the distance that feed arrives core layer;
D is the thickness of core layer,
R represents maximum radius;
n
MaxRefractive index maximum on the expression core layer lamella;
n
MinRefractive index minimum value on the expression core layer lamella.
Further, described each matching layer lamella has single refractive index, and the refractive index of a plurality of matching layer lamellas of the matching layer of core layer both sides all satisfies following formula:
Wherein, m represents total number of plies of matching layer, and i represents the numbering of matching layer lamella, wherein, and near the m that is numbered of the matching layer lamella of core layer.
Further, described each matching layer lamella comprises first substrate and the second substrate that material is identical, fills air between described first substrate and the second substrate.
Further, the a plurality of artificial pore structure shape of each core layer lamella of described core layer is identical, be filled with refractive index greater than the medium of base material in described a plurality of artificial pore structure, the a plurality of artificial pore structure at same radius place has identical volume, and along with the volume of the artificial pore structure of increase of radius reduces gradually.
Further, the a plurality of artificial pore structure shape of each core layer lamella of described core layer is identical, be filled with refractive index less than the medium of base material in described a plurality of artificial pore structure, the a plurality of artificial pore structure at same radius place has identical volume, and along with the volume of the artificial pore structure of increase of radius increases gradually.
Further, the described element of dispersing is concavees lens.
Further, the described element of dispersing is for dispersing super material panel, describedly disperses super material panel and comprises that at least one disperses lamella, described refractive index rounded distribution take its center as the center of circle of dispersing lamella, and the refractive index at same radius place is identical, along with the increase refractive index of radius reduces gradually.
According to feedback type satellite tv antenna of the present invention, replaced traditional parabolic antenna by the super material panel of sheet, to make processing and be more prone to, cost is cheaper.And, be provided with between super material panel and the feed and have the element of dispersing that electromagnetic wave is dispersed function, like this, in the situation that feed receives electromagnetic scope certain (in the situation that namely scope of the reception electromagenetic wave radiation of super material panel is certain), disperse element compared to not adding, distance between feed and the super material panel reduces, thereby can greatly dwindle the volume of antenna.
The present invention also provides a kind of satellite television receiving system, comprises feed, tuner and satellite receiver, and described satellite television receiving system also comprises above-mentioned feedback type satellite tv antenna, and described feedback type satellite tv antenna is arranged on the place ahead of feed.
Embodiment
Extremely shown in Figure 6 such as Fig. 1, according to the present invention the feedback type satellite tv antenna comprise be arranged on feed 1 the place ahead have that electromagnetic wave disperses function disperse element 200, and be arranged on the super material panel 100 of dispersing element 200 the place aheads, described super material panel 100 comprises core layer 10, described core layer 10 comprises at least one core layer lamella 11, described core layer lamella 11 comprises the base material 13 of sheet and is arranged on a plurality of artificial pore structure 12 on the base material 13, the rounded distribution take its center as the center of circle of the refractive index of described core layer lamella 11, the refractive index at same radius place is identical, and along with the increase refractive index of radius reduces gradually.Among the present invention, feed 1 is arranged on the axis of super material panel, and namely feed overlaps with the axis of super material panel with the line at the center of core layer lamella 11.Feed 1 all has stent support with super material panel 100, does not go out support among the figure, and it is not core of the present invention, adopts traditional supporting way to get final product.Feed is preferably horn antenna in addition.Core layer lamella 11 among the figure is square, and certainly, also can be other shape, and is for example cylindrical.
To shown in Figure 5, described core layer 10 comprises the core layer lamella 11 that a plurality of refraction index profile are identical and be parallel to each other such as Fig. 1.A plurality of core layer lamellas 11 fit tightly, each other can be bonding by double faced adhesive tape, perhaps be fixedly connected with by bolt etc.Between two adjacent core layer lamellas 11 interval can also be arranged in addition, fill air or other medium in the interval, to improve the performance of core layer.The base material 13 of each core layer lamella 11 can be divided into a plurality of identical base material unit V, be provided with artificial pore structure 12 on each base material unit V, the artificial pore structure 12 that each base material unit V is corresponding with it consists of a super material cell D, and each core layer lamella 11 only has a super material cell D at thickness direction.Each base material unit V can be identical square, it can be cube, also cuboid, the length volume of each base material unit V is not more than 1/5th (are generally incident electromagnetic wave wavelength 1/10th) of incident electromagnetic wave wavelength, so that whole core layer has continuous electric field and/or magnetic responsiveness to electromagnetic wave.Under the preferable case, described base material unit V is that the length of side is the cube of incident electromagnetic wave wavelength 1/10th.
Known refractive index
Wherein μ is relative permeability, and ε is relative dielectric constant, and μ and ε are collectively referred to as electromagnetic parameter.Experiment showed, when electromagnetic wave passes through refractive index dielectric material heterogeneous, can be to the large direction deviation of refractive index (to the large super material cell deviation of refractive index).Therefore core layer of the present invention has the effect of converging to electromagnetic wave, and the refraction index profile of appropriate design core layer can be so that the electromagnetic wave that satellite sends converges on the feed after by core layer.In the selected situation of the material of the material of base material and filled media, the electromagnetic parameter that can obtain super material internal by shape, volume and/or artificial pore structure the arranging on base material of designer's pore-creating structure distributes, thereby designs the refractive index of each super material cell.At first calculate the electromagnetic parameter spatial distribution (being the electromagnetic parameter of each super material cell) of excess of export material internal from the needed effect of super material, select the shape of the artificial pore structure on each super material cell according to the spatial distribution of electromagnetic parameter, volume (having deposited in advance various human pore-creating structured data in the computer), design to each super material cell can be used the method for exhaustion, for example select first the artificial pore structure with given shape, calculate electromagnetic parameter, with the result who obtains and the contrast that we want, circulation repeatedly, till the electromagnetic parameter that finds us to want, if found, then finished the design parameter of artificial pore structure and selected; If do not find, then change a kind of artificial pore structure of shape, the circulation above repeating is till the electromagnetic parameter that finds us to want.If still do not find, then said process can not stop yet.That is to say the artificial pore structure of the electromagnetic parameter that has only found our needs, program just can stop.Because this process is all finished by computer, therefore, seem complicated, in fact can finish soon.
Among the present invention, the base material of described core layer is made by ceramic material, macromolecular material, ferroelectric material, ferrite material or ferromagnetic material etc.Macromolecular material is available polytetrafluoroethylene, epoxy resin, F4B composite material, FR-4 composite material etc.For example, the electrical insulating property of polytetrafluoroethylene is very good, therefore can not produce electromagnetic electric field and disturb, and have good chemical stability, corrosion resistance, long service life.
Among the present invention, described artificial pore structure can be formed on the base material by the mode of high temperature sintering, injection moulding, punching press or numerical control punching.Certainly for the base material of different materials, the generating mode of artificial pore structure also can be different, for example, when selecting ceramic material as base material, preferably adopts the form of high temperature sintering to generate artificial pore structure at base material.When selecting macromolecular material as base material, for example polytetrafluoroethylene, epoxy resin then preferably adopt the form of injection moulding or punching press to generate artificial pore structure at base material.
Described artificial pore structure of the present invention can be cylindrical hole, conical bore, round platform hole, trapezoidal hole square opening is a kind of or the combination.It can certainly be the hole of other form.The shape of the artificial pore structure on each super material cell D can be identical according to different needs, also can be different.Certainly, in order to be more prone to processing and manufacturing, whole super material under the preferable case, adopts the hole of same shape.
As shown in Figure 1, be the structural representation of the super material panel of first embodiment of the invention, in the present embodiment, described super material panel also comprises the
matching layer 20 that is arranged on the core layer both sides, to realize from the air to the
core layer 10 index matching.We know, the refractive index between the medium differs larger, when then electromagnetic wave incides another medium from a medium, reflect greatlyr, and reflection is large, means the loss of energy, at this time just needs the coupling of refractive index, known refractive index
Wherein μ is relative permeability, and ε is relative dielectric constant, and μ and ε are collectively referred to as electromagnetic parameter.We know that the refractive index of air is 1, therefore, when the design matching layer, the matching layer of electromagnetic wave light incident side designs like this, namely refractive index and the air of a side of close air are basic identical, basic identical the getting final product of core layer lamella refractive index that the refractive index of a side of close core layer is joined with it; The matching layer design of electromagnetic wave exiting side then relative core layer symmetry comes to get final product.Like this, just realized the index matching of core layer, reduced reflection, i.e. energy loss can reduce greatly, like this electromagnetic wave can transmit farther.
In the present embodiment, such as Fig. 1 and shown in Figure 3, the refractive index of described core layer lamella 11 is take the rounded distribution as the center of circle of its center O, and the refractive index n of described core layer lamella 11 (r) distributes and satisfies following formula:
Wherein, radius is the refractive index value at r place on n (r) the expression core layer lamella; Also be that radius is the refractive index of the super material cell of r on the core layer lamella; The radius mid point that refers to each base material unit V is to the distance of the center O (center of circle) of core layer lamella herein, and the mid point of base material unit V herein refers to the mid point on base material unit V and the conplane surface of mid point O.
L is that feed 1 is to the distance of the matching layer 20 close with it;
D is the thickness of core layer,
R represents maximum radius;
n
MaxRefractive index maximum on the expression core layer lamella 11;
n
MinRefractive index minimum value on the expression core layer lamella 11;
By formula (1), the determined core layer 10 of formula (2), can guarantee that the electromagnetic wave that satellite sends converges on the feed.This perhaps utilizes optical principle can obtain (namely utilizing equivalent optical path to calculate) by computer simulation emulation.
In the present embodiment, the thickness of core layer lamella 11 is certain, usually below 1/5th of incident electromagnetic wave wavelength X, and preferably 1/10th of the incident electromagnetic wave wavelength X.Like this, when design, if selected the number of plies of core layer lamella 11, then the thickness d of core layer has just been determined, therefore, and for the feedback type satellite tv antenna (wavelength is different) of different frequency, we know by formula (2), by appropriate design (n
Max-n
Min) value, just can obtain arbitrarily the feedback type satellite tv antenna of the frequency that we want.For example, C-band and Ku wave band.The frequency range of C-band is 3400MHz~4200MHz.Frequency 10.7~the 12.75GHz of Ku wave band wherein can be divided into the frequency ranges such as 10.7~11.7GHz, 11.7~12.2GHz, 12.2~12.75GHz.
As shown in Figure 1, in the present embodiment, described matching layer 20 comprises a plurality of matching layer lamellas 21, and each matching layer lamella 21 has single refractive index, and the refractive index of a plurality of matching layer lamellas of the matching layer of core layer both sides all satisfies following formula:
Wherein, m represents total number of plies of matching layer, and i represents the numbering of matching layer lamella, wherein, and near the m that is numbered of the matching layer lamella of core layer.We can find out from formula (4), and the refractive index of a plurality of matching layer lamellas of core layer 10 1 sides is symmetrical arranged with the relative core layer of refractive index of a plurality of matching layer lamellas of core layer 10 1 sides.The largest refractive index n of the setting of matching layer (total number of stories m) and core layer
MaxWith minimum refractive index n
MinDirect relation is arranged; When i=1, represent the 1st layer refractive index, because it will equal the refractive index 1 of air substantially, therefore, as long as n
MaxWith n
MinDetermine, then can determine total number of stories m.
Matching layer 20 can be to be made by a plurality of materials with single refractive index that occurring in nature exists, also use matching layer as shown in Figure 6, it comprises a plurality of matching layer lamellas 21, each matching layer lamella 21 comprises material identical first substrate 22 and second substrate 23, fills air between described first substrate 21 and the second substrate 22.The ratio of the volume by the control volume of air and matching layer lamella 21, can realize the variation of refractive index from 1 (refractive index of air) to the refractive index of first substrate, thereby refractive index that can each matching layer lamella of appropriate design realizes the index matching from the air to the core layer.
Fig. 4 is a kind of core layer 10 of form, a plurality of artificial pore structure 12 shapes of each core layer lamella 11 of described core layer are identical, be the cylindrical hole shown in Fig. 2, and the mid point of corresponding base material unit V is passed in the axis of each cylindrical hole, be filled with refractive index greater than the medium of base material 13 in described a plurality of artificial pore structure, the a plurality of artificial pore structure at same radius place has identical volume, along with the volume of the artificial pore structure 12 of the increase of radius reduces gradually.Owing to being filled with refractive index greater than the medium of base material 13 in the artificial pore structure 12, therefore artificial pore structure volume is larger, and the medium of then filling is more, and its corresponding refractive index is larger, therefore, can realize the by formula distribution of (1) of refraction index profile of core layer lamella by this mode.
Fig. 5 is the core layer 10 of another kind of form, a plurality of artificial pore structure 12 shapes of each core layer lamella 11 of described core layer are identical, be filled with refractive index less than the medium of base material 13 in described a plurality of artificial pore structure 12, the a plurality of artificial pore structure at same radius place has identical volume, and along with the volume of the artificial pore structure of increase of radius increases gradually.Owing to being filled with refractive index less than the medium of base material in the artificial pore structure 12, therefore artificial pore structure volume is larger, and the medium of then filling is more, and its corresponding refractive index is on the contrary less, therefore, also can realize the by formula distribution of (1) of refraction index profile of core layer lamella by this mode.
Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 are from the appearance identical, refraction index profile is also identical, just it realizes the mode different (filled media is different) of above-mentioned refraction index profile, core layer 10 among Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 is four layers structure, here just schematically, according to different needs (different incident electromagnetic waves), and different designs needs, the different numbers of plies can be arranged.
Certainly, core layer lamella 11 is not limited to above-mentioned two kinds of forms, for example, everyone pore-creating structure can be divided into the identical cell orifice of several volumes, and the quantity by the cell orifice on each base material unit V controls the volume of the artificial pore structure on each super material cell D also can realize identical purpose.Again for example, core layer lamella 11 can be following form, that is, all artificial pore structure volume of same core layer lamella is identical, but the refractive index of the medium of its filling is corresponding to formula (1).
The present invention also has the second embodiment, and the difference of the second embodiment and the first embodiment is that the l in refractive index n (r) distribution formula of core layer lamella 11 represents that feed is to the distance (l represents that feed arrives the distance of the matching layer close with it among the first embodiment) of core layer.
In the present invention, the described element 200 of dispersing can be also Figure 10 or shown in Figure 12 disperse super material panel 300 of concavees lens, describedly disperse super material panel 300 and comprise that at least one disperses lamella 301, described refractive index of dispersing lamella 301 as shown in Figure 7, the described refractive index of lamella 301 of dispersing is take its center O3 rounded distribution as the center of circle, and the refractive index at same radius place is identical, along with the increase refractive index of radius reduces gradually.What arrange between super material panel and the feed has an element of dispersing that electromagnetic wave is dispersed function, has following effect: namely, in the situation that feed receives electromagnetic scope certain (in the situation that namely scope of the reception electromagenetic wave radiation of super material panel is certain), disperse element compared to not adding, distance between feed and the super material panel reduces, thereby can greatly dwindle the volume of antenna.
The refraction index profile rule of dispersing on the lamella 301 can be linear change, i.e. n
R=n
Min+ KR, K are constant, and R is radius (take the center O 3 of dispersing lamella 301 as the center of circle), n
MinFor dispersing the refractive index minimum value on the lamella 301, also namely disperse the refractive index at center O 3 places of lamella 301.The refraction index profile rule of dispersing on the lamella 301 in addition, also can be square law variation, i.e. n
R=n
Min+ KR
2Or be that a cube rate variation is n
R=n
Min+ KR
3Or be dark function, i.e. n
R=n
Min* K
RDeng.
Fig. 8 be realize refraction index profile shown in Figure 7 a kind of form disperse lamella 400, such as Fig. 8 and shown in Figure 9, describedly disperse the base material 401 that lamella 400 comprises sheet, be attached to metal micro structure 402 on the base material 401 and the supporting layer 403 of covering metal micro-structural 402, dispersing lamella 400 can be divided into a plurality of identical first and disperse unit 404, each first disperse the unit comprise a metal micro structure 402 with and occupied base material unit 405 and supporting layer unit 406, each is dispersed lamella 400 and only has one first to disperse unit 404 at thickness direction, first to disperse unit 404 can be identical square for each, it can be cube, also cuboid, each first length of dispersing unit 404, wide, high volume is not more than 1/5th (are generally incident electromagnetic wave wavelength 1/10th) of incident electromagnetic wave wavelength, so that the whole lamella of dispersing has continuous electric field and/or magnetic responsiveness to electromagnetic wave.Under the preferable case, described first to disperse unit 404 be the cube of incident electromagnetic wave wavelength 1/10th for the length of side.
Figure 9 shows that the front view after Fig. 8 removes base material, from Fig. 9, can clearly be seen that the spatial arrangement of a plurality of metal micro structures 402, to disperse lamella 400 center O 3 as the center of circle (O3 herein is on the mid point of middle metal micro structure), metal micro structure 402 on the same radius has identical physical dimension, and along with the physical dimension of the increase metal micro structure 402 of radius reduces gradually.Radius herein refers to that the center of each metal micro structure 402 is to the distance of dispersing lamella 400 center O 3.
The described base material 401 of dispersing lamella 400 is made by ceramic material, macromolecular material, ferroelectric material, ferrite material or ferromagnetic material etc.Macromolecular material is available polytetrafluoroethylene, epoxy resin, F4B composite material, FR-4 composite material etc.For example, the electrical insulating property of polytetrafluoroethylene is very good, therefore can not produce electromagnetic electric field and disturb, and have good chemical stability, corrosion resistance, long service life.
Described metal micro structure 402 is the metal wires such as copper cash or silver-colored line.Above-mentioned metal wire can be attached on the base material by etching, plating, brill quarter, photoetching, electronics is carved or ion is carved method.Certainly, also can adopt three-dimensional laser processing technology.Described metal micro structure 402 can adopt the alabastrine metal micro structure in plane as described in Figure 9.Certainly the also derived structure of the alabastrine metal micro structure in plane.Can also be the metal wires such as " worker " font, " ten " font.
Figure 10 shows that to utilize and a plurality ofly shown in Figure 8 disperse that lamella 400 is formed disperses super material panel 300.Have three layers among the figure, certainly according to different needs, the lamella 400 of dispersing of dispersing super material panel 300 and can being by other number of plies consists of.Described a plurality of lamella 400 of dispersing fits tightly, each other can be bonding by double faced adhesive tape, perhaps be fixedly connected with by bolt etc.In addition, also to realize the coupling of refractive index, reduce electromagnetic reflection so that matching layer as shown in Figure 6 to be set in the both sides of dispersing super material panel 300 shown in Figure 10, strengthen signal and receive.
Figure 11 be realize refraction index profile shown in Figure 7 another kind of form disperse lamella 500, the described lamella 500 of dispersing comprises the base material 501 of sheet and is arranged on artificial pore structure 502 on the base material 501, dispersing lamella 500 can be divided into a plurality of identical second and disperse unit 504, each second disperse unit 504 comprise an artificial pore structure 502 with and occupied base material unit 505, each is dispersed lamella 500 and only has one second to disperse unit 504 at thickness direction, second to disperse unit 504 can be identical square for each, it can be cube, also cuboid, each second length of dispersing unit 504, wide, high volume is not more than 1/5th (are generally incident electromagnetic wave wavelength 1/10th) of incident electromagnetic wave wavelength, so that the whole lamella of dispersing has continuous electric field and/or magnetic responsiveness to electromagnetic wave.Under the preferable case, described second to disperse unit 504 be the cube of incident electromagnetic wave wavelength 1/10th for the length of side.
As shown in figure 11, described artificial pore structure of dispersing on the lamella 500 is cylindrical hole, to disperse lamella 500 center O 3 as the center of circle (O3 herein is on the axis of middle artificial pore structure), artificial pore structure 502 on the same radius has identical volume, and along with the volume of the artificial pore structure 402 of the increase of radius reduces gradually.Radius herein, the central axis that refers to each artificial pore structure 502 is to the vertical range of the axis of dispersing the middle artificial pore structure of lamella 500.Therefore, in each cylindrical hole, fill refractive index less than the dielectric material (for example air) of base material, can realize refraction index profile shown in Figure 7.Certainly, if to disperse lamella 500 center O 3 as the center of circle, artificial pore structure 502 on the same radius has identical volume, and along with the volume of the artificial pore structure 402 of the increase of radius increases gradually, then need in each cylindrical hole, fill refractive index greater than the dielectric material of base material, could realize refraction index profile shown in Figure 7.
Certainly, disperse lamella and be not limited to above-mentioned this kind form, for example, everyone pore-creating structure can be divided into the identical cell orifice of several volumes, and the quantity by the cell orifice on each base material unit controls each second volume of dispersing the artificial pore structure on the unit and also can realize identical purpose.Again for example, dispersing lamella can also be following form, namely, it is same that to disperse all artificial pore structure volumes of lamella identical, but the refractive index of the medium of its filling satisfies distribution shown in Figure 7, be that the dielectric material refractive index of filling on the same radius is identical, and the dielectric material refractive index of filling along with the increase of radius reduce gradually.
The described base material 501 of dispersing lamella 500 is made by ceramic material, macromolecular material, ferroelectric material, ferrite material or ferromagnetic material etc.Macromolecular material is available polytetrafluoroethylene, epoxy resin, F4B composite material, FR-4 composite material etc.For example, the electrical insulating property of polytetrafluoroethylene is very good, therefore can not produce electromagnetic electric field and disturb, and have good chemical stability, corrosion resistance, long service life.
Described artificial pore structure 502 can be formed on the base material by the mode of high temperature sintering, injection moulding, punching press or numerical control punching.Certainly for the base material of different materials, the generating mode of artificial pore structure also can be different, for example, when selecting ceramic material as base material, preferably adopts the form of high temperature sintering to generate artificial pore structure at base material.When selecting macromolecular material as base material, for example polytetrafluoroethylene, epoxy resin then preferably adopt the form of injection moulding or punching press to generate artificial pore structure at base material.
Above-mentioned artificial pore structure 502 can be cylindrical hole, conical bore, round platform hole, trapezoidal hole square opening is a kind of or the combination.It can certainly be the hole of other form.Each second shape of dispersing the artificial pore structure on the unit can be identical according to different needs, also can be different.Certainly, in order to be more prone to processing and manufacturing, whole super material under the preferable case, adopts the hole of same shape.
Figure 12 shows that to utilize and a plurality ofly shown in Figure 11 disperse that lamella 500 is formed disperses super material panel 300.Have three layers among the figure, certainly according to different needs, the lamella 500 of dispersing of dispersing super material panel 300 and can being by other number of plies consists of.Described a plurality of lamella 500 of dispersing fits tightly, each other can be bonding by double faced adhesive tape, perhaps be fixedly connected with by bolt etc.In addition, also to realize the coupling of refractive index, reduce electromagnetic reflection so that matching layer as shown in Figure 6 to be set in the both sides of dispersing super material panel 300 shown in Figure 12, strengthen signal and receive.
In addition, the present invention also provides the present invention that a kind of satellite television receiving system also is provided, comprise feed, tuner and satellite receiver, described satellite television receiving system also comprises above-mentioned feedback type satellite tv antenna, and described feedback type satellite tv antenna is arranged on the place ahead of feed.
Feed, tuner and satellite receiver are existing technology, no longer state herein.
The above is described embodiments of the invention by reference to the accompanying drawings; but the present invention is not limited to above-mentioned embodiment; above-mentioned embodiment only is schematic; rather than restrictive; those of ordinary skill in the art is under enlightenment of the present invention; not breaking away from the scope situation that aim of the present invention and claim protect, also can make a lot of forms, these all belong within the protection of the present invention.