EP0407258B1 - Ultrahigh frequency energy distributor radiating directly - Google Patents

Ultrahigh frequency energy distributor radiating directly Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0407258B1
EP0407258B1 EP90401775A EP90401775A EP0407258B1 EP 0407258 B1 EP0407258 B1 EP 0407258B1 EP 90401775 A EP90401775 A EP 90401775A EP 90401775 A EP90401775 A EP 90401775A EP 0407258 B1 EP0407258 B1 EP 0407258B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
guide
obstacles
strip
lateral walls
distributor
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EP90401775A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0407258A1 (en
Inventor
Hervé Coppier
Jean-Louis Pourailly
Joseph Roger
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Thales SA
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Thomson CSF SA
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    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01QANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q13/00Waveguide horns or mouths; Slot antennas; Leaky-waveguide antennas; Equivalent structures causing radiation along the transmission path of a guided wave
    • H01Q13/10Resonant slot antennas
    • H01Q13/12Longitudinally slotted cylinder antennas; Equivalent structures
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01QANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q17/00Devices for absorbing waves radiated from an antenna; Combinations of such devices with active antenna elements or systems
    • H01Q17/001Devices for absorbing waves radiated from an antenna; Combinations of such devices with active antenna elements or systems for modifying the directional characteristic of an aerial

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to radar antennas for transmitting or receiving microwave energy and in particular, so-called multibeam antennas capable of transmitting or receiving energy in space according to several different radiation patterns.
  • Such multibeam antennas are used for example to simultaneously establish orthogonal radiation patterns between them such as a so-called “sum diagram” diagram having a very narrow main lobe in a pointing direction and a so-called “difference diagram” diagram with attenuation very important in the direction of the pointing and with two narrow main lobes on either side of this direction.
  • a solution usually adopted for making such antennas consists in providing a network of radiating elements supplied by an energy distributor known as the Blass matrix.
  • This distributor has several main lines of energy supply and several secondary lines which cross the first and lead to the network of radiating elements. Couplers are placed at each crossing so that a fraction of the energy incident on a main line is directed on a secondary line in a well-defined direction, towards a radiating element placed at one end of this secondary line. The other end of the secondary line is provided with an absorbent filler. Between two crossings of a secondary line with the different main lines, that is to say between the directional couplers corresponding to these crossings, phase shifters are inserted which may be pieces of line.
  • Coupling coefficients of the different couplers and the phase shift values of the different constant or variable phase shifters are calculated so as to obtain the desired radiation patterns which are different depending on whether the energy arrives or is taken up by one or the other of the main lines. We are talking here, to simplify only the operation in transmission of the antennas, but it is understood that they can operate in reception.
  • the Blass matrix is widely used but it is costly and complex to produce, in particular because of the directional couplers which must be provided at each crossing.
  • This known microwave energy distributor of the optical Blass matrix type has the drawback of having radiating obstacles formed by thin tongues which have a low pass band and which do not allow significant couplings to be carried out which is disadvantageous for achieving illuminations with a low number of sources. It also has the disadvantage of having obstacles which must be manufactured with main lines, requiring precise folds perpendicular to the plane of the latter.
  • a three-plate antenna structure is known with a flat central power supply conductor disposed between two larger flat external conductors grounded and joined by side walls, one of which is pierced with radiating longitudinal slots of length ⁇ / 2 excited by short-circuit bars arranged at the level of the slots between the central conductor and one of the external conductors.
  • the object of the present invention is to obtain a microwave energy distributor of the optical Blass matrix type with radiating obstacles with bandwidth of use and with coupling dynamics as large as possible, which are also very flexible. Manufacturing.
  • a microwave energy distributor of the optical Blass matrix type with pairs of asymmetrical obstacles integral with the lateral walls of the guide distributed along the conductive strips forming the main lines, the obstacles of the same pair being placed l 'one facing a first longitudinal edge of a blade and the other facing the second longitudinal edge of the blade in question.
  • These pairs of asymmetrical obstacles can either be fixed to the side walls of the guide, or be part of it. They are advantageously made up of pairs of metal pins.
  • the microwave energy distributor which will be described is a distributor radiating directly thanks to a guide structure with trough opening and comprising two main lines making it possible to obtain two diagrams, for example a sum diagram and a difference diagram. It has, as shown in Figure 1, the appearance of a hollow beam defining an elongated cavity open on one side over its entire length.
  • the metallic hollow beam has two parallel side walls 11, 12 joined on one side by a bottom 13 and separated from the other by a radiating opening shaped like a horn thanks to the flaring of the edges 14, 15 of the side walls 11, 12. These two side walls 11, 12 are also joined at the ends of the hollow beam by end walls not shown.
  • a load 16 absorbing the electromagnetic waves at the working frequencies is placed inside the hollow beam against the bottom 13.
  • Two conductive strips 17, 18 extend over the entire length of the hollow beam, in the median plane between the two parallel side walls 11, 12. They constitute the two main lines propagating electromagnetic energy in electromagnetic transverse mode along the distributor. They are connected at one end of the hollow beam to an energy source or receiver by means, for example, of transitions with coaxial cables, and embedded at the other end of the hollow beam in absorbent charges intended to dissipate the residues of energy. They are held in place by not shown spacers which are made of a low loss dielectric material such as polyethylene tetrafluoride for example. Their thickness is very small compared to the spacing of the side walls 11, 12 of the hollow beam. Their width is of the order of a quarter of the wavelength of the frequencies used. The spacing between the side walls 11, 12 of the hollow beam is preferably of this order of magnitude or even less.
  • Dissymmetrical conductive obstacles formed by pairs of metal pins 19, 20, 21, 22 are placed inside the cavity on the side walls 11, 12 opposite the conductive plates 17, 18. They excite a transverse electromagnetic propagation mode radiating towards the opening from an electromagnetic transverse mode propagating on the conductive strips (17, 18) in the direction of the arrows.
  • the pins 19, 20, 21, 22 constituting the obstacles are cylindrical and have a diameter of 10 mm for example for use in strip C.
  • Their arrangement in pairs across the conductive strips 17, 18 allows them to generate a propagation of 'only one side of each conductive strip 17, 18 towards the cornet opening of the hollow beam, somewhat in the manner of semi-transparent mirrors in optics.
  • Their height relative to the internal faces of the side walls 11, 12 determines the electromagnetic coupling between the energy transmitted on the conductive strips 17, 18 and the energy radiated towards the opening.
  • one 22, 24 of the pins is centered on a first longitudinal edge 25 of a busbar 17 while the other pin 21, 23 is centered on the second longitudinal edge 26 with a spacing in the direction the length of the conductive strip close to a quarter of the working wavelength ⁇ / 4.
  • the pairs of pawns 21, 22, 23, 24 are spaced by a step close to the half working wavelength ⁇ / 2 in order to have a good sampling of the space and arranged alternately on one and the other of the side walls 11, 12 in order to compensate for the phase shift of ⁇ resulting from the spacing step.
  • the metal pins 21, 22, 23, 24 can be made of copper like the conductive blades 17, 18 and mounted on the inner surface of the side walls in blind holes by means of a screw fixing system making it possible to adjust their sinking. They can also be milled in the mass of the metal side walls 11, 12.
  • the distributor which has just been described radiates microwave energy directly from the opening of its guide shaped like a horn and behaves as an antenna. It could also include, on its opening, a cover equipped with a row of sensors and of departures of coaxial guides or cables connected to radiating elements.

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Description

La présente invention concerne les antennes radar pour l'émission ou la réception d'énergie en hyperfréquence et notamment, les antennes dites multifaisceau capables d'émettre ou de recevoir de l'énergie dans l'espace selon plusieurs diagrammes de rayonnement différents.The present invention relates to radar antennas for transmitting or receiving microwave energy and in particular, so-called multibeam antennas capable of transmitting or receiving energy in space according to several different radiation patterns.

On utilise de telles antennes multifaisceau par exemple pour établir simultanément des diagrammes de rayonnement orthogonaux entre eux tels qu'un diagramme dit "diagramme somme" présentant un lobe principal très étroit dans une direction de pointage et un diagramme dit "diagramme différence" avec un affaiblissement très important dans la direction du pointage et avec deux lobes principaux étroits de part et d'autre de cette direction.Such multibeam antennas are used for example to simultaneously establish orthogonal radiation patterns between them such as a so-called "sum diagram" diagram having a very narrow main lobe in a pointing direction and a so-called "difference diagram" diagram with attenuation very important in the direction of the pointing and with two narrow main lobes on either side of this direction.

Une solution habituellement retenue pour réaliser de telles antennes consiste à prévoir un réseau d'éléments rayonnants alimenté par un distributeur d'énergie connu sous le nom de matrice de Blass. Ce distributeur comporte plusieurs lignes principales d'amenée d'énergie et plusieurs lignes secondaires qui croisent les premières et mènent au réseau d'éléments rayonnants. Des coupleurs sont placés à chaque croisement pour qu'une fraction de l'énergie incidente sur une ligne principale soit dirigée sur une ligne secondaire dans un sens bien déterminé, vers un élément rayonnant placé à une extrémité de cette ligne secondaire. L'autre extrémité de la ligne secondaire est pourvue d'une charge absorbante. Entre deux croisements d'une ligne secondaire avec les différentes lignes principales, c'est-à-dire entre les coupleurs directifs correspondant à ces croisements, on insère des déphaseurs qui peuvent être des morceaux de ligne. Les coefficients de couplage des différents coupleurs et les valeurs de déphasage des différents déphaseurs constants ou variables sont calculés de manière à obtenir les diagrammes de rayonnement désirés qui sont différents selon que l'énergie arrive ou est prélevée par l'une ou l'autre des lignes principales. On ne parle ici, pour simplifier que du fonctionnement en émission des antennes, mais il est bien entendu qu'elles peuvent fonctionner en réception.A solution usually adopted for making such antennas consists in providing a network of radiating elements supplied by an energy distributor known as the Blass matrix. This distributor has several main lines of energy supply and several secondary lines which cross the first and lead to the network of radiating elements. Couplers are placed at each crossing so that a fraction of the energy incident on a main line is directed on a secondary line in a well-defined direction, towards a radiating element placed at one end of this secondary line. The other end of the secondary line is provided with an absorbent filler. Between two crossings of a secondary line with the different main lines, that is to say between the directional couplers corresponding to these crossings, phase shifters are inserted which may be pieces of line. Coupling coefficients of the different couplers and the phase shift values of the different constant or variable phase shifters are calculated so as to obtain the desired radiation patterns which are different depending on whether the energy arrives or is taken up by one or the other of the main lines. We are talking here, to simplify only the operation in transmission of the antennas, but it is understood that they can operate in reception.

La matrice de Blass est très utilisée mais elle est de réalisation coûteuse et complexe à cause notamment des coupleurs directifs qu'il faut prévoir à chaque croisement.The Blass matrix is widely used but it is costly and complex to produce, in particular because of the directional couplers which must be provided at each crossing.

Pour lutter contre cet inconvénient, il est connu de supprimer les liaisons physiques avec des lignes secondaires. On parle alors de matrice de Blass optique. Dans ces matrices de Blass optiques, les lignes secondaires sont remplacées par des rayonnements directs dans l'espace à partir des lignes principales qui seules subsistent. Ces rayonnements provoqués par des obstacles sur les lignes principales se propagent directivement d'un seul côté des lignes principales avec un degré de couplage et un déphasage variant le long de chacune des lignes principales, les courbes de variation du couplage et du déphasage étant différentes pour les différentes lignes principales de manière à établir des diagrammes de rayonnement différents, par exemple un diagramme somme et un diagramme différence à une même fréquence, ou encore deux diagrammes somme correspondant à deux fréquences différentes..To combat this drawback, it is known to remove physical links with secondary lines. We then speak of an optical Blass matrix. In these optical Blass matrices, the secondary lines are replaced by direct radiation in space from the main lines which alone remain. These radiations caused by obstacles on the main lines propagate directly on one side of the main lines with a degree of coupling and a phase shift varying along each of the main lines, the variation curves of the coupling and the phase difference being different for the different main lines so as to establish different radiation patterns, for example a sum diagram and a difference diagram at the same frequency, or even two sum diagrams corresponding to two different frequencies.

On connaît un distributeur d'énergie hyperfréquence de type matrice de Blass optique qui comporte :

  • un guide ouvert allongé pourvu de parois latérales parallèles constituant une poutre creuse allongée ouverte d'un côté sur essentiellement toute sa longueur,
  • une charge absorbante placée tout le long du guide entre les parois latérales,
  • au moins deux lames conductrices minces, allongées, placées entre la charge et le côté ouvert du guide, parallèlement à la longueur du guide, ces lames servant de lignes principales de propagation d'énergie en mode transverse électrique et magnétique, et
  • des obstacles dissymétriques répartis dans la cavité le long du guide et constitués par des languettes découpées sur les côtés des lames conductrices et repliées transversalement à celles-ci, ces obstacles engendrant, à partir de l'énergie incidente, sur chacune des lames conductrices, un rayonnement se propageant vers l'ouverture du guide.
A microwave energy distributor of the optical Blass matrix type is known which comprises:
  • an elongated open guide provided with parallel side walls constituting an elongated hollow beam open on one side over substantially its entire length,
  • an absorbent filler placed all along the guide between the side walls,
  • at least two thin, elongated conductive strips, placed between the load and the open side of the guide, parallel to the length of the guide, these strips serving as main lines of energy propagation in transverse electric and magnetic mode, and
  • asymmetrical obstacles distributed in the cavity along the guide and constituted by tabs cut on the sides of the conductive blades and folded transversely to these, these obstacles generating, from the incident energy, on each of the conductive blades radiation propagating towards the opening of the guide.

Ce distributeur d'énergie hyperfréquence connu de type matrice de Blass optique présente l'inconvénient d'avoir des obstacles rayonnants formés de languettes minces qui ont une faible bande passante et qui ne permettent pas de réaliser des couplages importants ce qui est pénalisant pour réaliser des éclairements avec un nombre de sources peu élevé. Il a également l'inconvénient d'avoir des obstacles qui doivent être fabriqués avec des lignes principales en nécessitant des repliements précis à la perpendiculaire du plan de ces dernières.This known microwave energy distributor of the optical Blass matrix type has the drawback of having radiating obstacles formed by thin tongues which have a low pass band and which do not allow significant couplings to be carried out which is disadvantageous for achieving illuminations with a low number of sources. It also has the disadvantage of having obstacles which must be manufactured with main lines, requiring precise folds perpendicular to the plane of the latter.

Par ailleurs, on connaît par le brevet américain US-A-3,002,189 (figure 12) une structure triplaque d'antenne avec un conducteur central plat d'amenée d'énergie disposé entre deux conducteurs extérieurs plats de plus grande largeur mis à la masse et réunis par des parois latérales dont une est percée de fentes longitudinales rayonnantes de longueur λ/2 excitées grâce à des barreaux de court-circuit disposés à hauteur des fentes entre le conducteur central et l'un des conducteurs extérieurs.Furthermore, from US Pat. No. 3,002,189 (FIG. 12), a three-plate antenna structure is known with a flat central power supply conductor disposed between two larger flat external conductors grounded and joined by side walls, one of which is pierced with radiating longitudinal slots of length λ / 2 excited by short-circuit bars arranged at the level of the slots between the central conductor and one of the external conductors.

On connaît également par le brevet américain US-A-3,015,100 une antenne formée d'un guide rectangulaire allongé ouvert en auge sur un petit côté, avec une arête médiane parcourant le fond du guide opposé à l'ouverture et des obstacles disposés au fond du guide de part et d'autre de l'arête médiane pour rompre la symétrie du mode de propagation à l'intérieur du guide et rayonner de l'énergie par le côté ouvert du guide.Also known from American patent US-A-3,015,100 is an antenna formed by an elongated rectangular guide open in trough on a small side, with a central edge traversing the bottom of the guide opposite to the opening and obstacles placed at the bottom of the guide on either side of the middle edge to break the symmetry of the propagation mode inside the guide and radiate energy through the open side of the guide.

La présente invention a pour but l'obtention d'un distributeur d'énergie hyperfréquence du type matrice Blass optique avec des obstacles rayonnants à bande passante d'utilisation et à dynamique de couplage aussi grandes que possible, qui soient également d'une grande souplesse de fabrication.The object of the present invention is to obtain a microwave energy distributor of the optical Blass matrix type with radiating obstacles with bandwidth of use and with coupling dynamics as large as possible, which are also very flexible. Manufacturing.

Elle a pour objet un distributeur d'énergie hyperfréquence du type matrice de Blass optique avec des paires d'obstacles dissymétriques solidaires des parois latérales du guide répartis le long des lames conductrices formant les lignes principales, les obstacles d'une même paire étant placés l'un en regard d'un premier bord longitudinal d'une lame et l'autre en regard du deuxième bord longitudinal de la lame considérée. Ces paires d'obstacles dissymétriques peuvent être soit fixées aux parois latérales du guide, soit en faire partie. Elles sont avantageusement constituées de paires de pions métalliques.It relates to a microwave energy distributor of the optical Blass matrix type with pairs of asymmetrical obstacles integral with the lateral walls of the guide distributed along the conductive strips forming the main lines, the obstacles of the same pair being placed l 'one facing a first longitudinal edge of a blade and the other facing the second longitudinal edge of the blade in question. These pairs of asymmetrical obstacles can either be fixed to the side walls of the guide, or be part of it. They are advantageously made up of pairs of metal pins.

D'autres caractéristiques et avantages de l'invention ressortiront de la description ci-après d'un mode de réalisation donné à titre d'exemple. Cette description sera faite en regard du dessin dans lequel :

  • une figure 1 est une coupe en perspective d'un distributeur d'énergie selon l'invention,
  • une figure 2 est une vue en coupe longitudinale partielle illustrant les positionnements relatifs des obstacles rayonnants par rapport à une lame conductrice et aux parois latérales du distributeur d'énergie vu à la figure 1 et
  • une figure 3 est une vue de dessus en coupe partielle dans le plan de la face intérieure de la paroi latérale supérieure du distributeur vu à la figure 1 illustrant le positionnements des obstacles vis-à-vis d'une lame conductrice.
Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description below of an embodiment given as an example. This description will be made with reference to the drawing in which:
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective section of an energy distributor according to the invention,
  • FIG. 2 is a partial longitudinal section view illustrating the relative positions of the radiating obstacles with respect to a conductive strip and to the side walls of the energy distributor seen in FIG. 1 and
  • Figure 3 is a top view in partial section in the plane of the inner face of the upper side wall of the dispenser seen in Figure 1 illustrating the positioning of obstacles vis-à-vis a conductive strip.

Le distributeur d'énergie hyperfréquence qui va être décrit est un distributeur rayonnant directement grâce à une structure en guide à ouverture en auge et comportant deux lignes principales permettant d'obtenir deux diagrammes par exemple un diagramme somme et un diagramme différence. Il présente, comme représenté à la figure 1, l'aspect d'une poutre creuse délimitant une cavité allongée ouverte d'un côté sur toute sa longueur.The microwave energy distributor which will be described is a distributor radiating directly thanks to a guide structure with trough opening and comprising two main lines making it possible to obtain two diagrams, for example a sum diagram and a difference diagram. It has, as shown in Figure 1, the appearance of a hollow beam defining an elongated cavity open on one side over its entire length.

La poutre creuse métallique comporte deux parois latérales parallèles 11, 12 réunies d'un côté par un fond 13 et séparées de l'autre par une ouverture rayonnante conformée en cornet grâce à un évasement des bords 14, 15 des parois latérales 11, 12. Ces deux parois latérales 11, 12 sont également réunies aux extrémités de la poutre creuse par des parois d'extrémité non représentées.The metallic hollow beam has two parallel side walls 11, 12 joined on one side by a bottom 13 and separated from the other by a radiating opening shaped like a horn thanks to the flaring of the edges 14, 15 of the side walls 11, 12. These two side walls 11, 12 are also joined at the ends of the hollow beam by end walls not shown.

Une charge 16 absorbant les ondes électromagnétiques aux fréquences de travail est disposée à l'intérieur de la poutre creuse contre le fond 13.A load 16 absorbing the electromagnetic waves at the working frequencies is placed inside the hollow beam against the bottom 13.

Deux lames conductrices 17, 18 s'étendent sur toute la longueur de la poutre creuse, dans le plan médian entre les deux parois latérales parallèles 11, 12. Elles constituent les deux lignes principales propageant l'énergie électromagnétique en mode transverse électromagnétique le long du distributeur. Elles sont raccordées à une extrémité de la poutre creuse à une source ou à un récepteur d'énergie au moyen par exemple de transitions avec des câbles coaxiaux, et noyées à l'autre extrémité de la poutre creuse dans des charges absorbantes prévues pour dissiper les résidus d'énergie. Elles sont maintenues en place par des entretoises non représentées qui sont en une matière diélectrique à faible perte telle que du tétrafluorure de polyéthylène par exemple. Leur épaisseur est très faible devant l'écartement des parois latérales 11, 12 de la poutre creuse. Leur largeur est de l'ordre du quart de la longueur d'onde des fréquences utilisées. L'écartement entre les parois latérales 11, 12 de la poutre creuse est de préférence de cet ordre de grandeur ou même moins.Two conductive strips 17, 18 extend over the entire length of the hollow beam, in the median plane between the two parallel side walls 11, 12. They constitute the two main lines propagating electromagnetic energy in electromagnetic transverse mode along the distributor. They are connected at one end of the hollow beam to an energy source or receiver by means, for example, of transitions with coaxial cables, and embedded at the other end of the hollow beam in absorbent charges intended to dissipate the residues of energy. They are held in place by not shown spacers which are made of a low loss dielectric material such as polyethylene tetrafluoride for example. Their thickness is very small compared to the spacing of the side walls 11, 12 of the hollow beam. Their width is of the order of a quarter of the wavelength of the frequencies used. The spacing between the side walls 11, 12 of the hollow beam is preferably of this order of magnitude or even less.

Des obstacles dissymétriques conducteurs formés de paires de pions métalliques 19, 20, 21, 22 sont placés a l'intérieur de la cavité sur les parois latérales 11, 12 en regard des lames conductrices 17, 18. Ils excitent un mode de propagation transverse électromagnétique rayonnant vers l'ouverture à partir d'un mode transverse électromagnétique se propageant sur les lames conductrices (17, 18) dans le sens des flèches.Dissymmetrical conductive obstacles formed by pairs of metal pins 19, 20, 21, 22 are placed inside the cavity on the side walls 11, 12 opposite the conductive plates 17, 18. They excite a transverse electromagnetic propagation mode radiating towards the opening from an electromagnetic transverse mode propagating on the conductive strips (17, 18) in the direction of the arrows.

Les pions 19, 20, 21, 22 constituant les obstacles sont cylindriques et ont un diamètre de 10 mm par exemple pour une utilisation en bande C. Leur disposition par paire en travers des lames conductrices 17, 18 leur permet d'engendrer une propagation d'un seul côté de chaque lame conductrice 17, 18 vers l'ouverture en cornet de la poutre creuse, un peu à la manière de miroirs semi-transparents en optique. Leur hauteur par rapport aux faces intérieures des parois latérales 11, 12 détermine le couplage électromagnétique entre l'énergie transmise sur les lames conductrices 17, 18 et l'énergie rayonnée vers l'ouverture.The pins 19, 20, 21, 22 constituting the obstacles are cylindrical and have a diameter of 10 mm for example for use in strip C. Their arrangement in pairs across the conductive strips 17, 18 allows them to generate a propagation of 'only one side of each conductive strip 17, 18 towards the cornet opening of the hollow beam, somewhat in the manner of semi-transparent mirrors in optics. Their height relative to the internal faces of the side walls 11, 12 determines the electromagnetic coupling between the energy transmitted on the conductive strips 17, 18 and the energy radiated towards the opening.

Ces pions dont les dispositions par rapport aux lames conductrices 17, 18 sont illustrées aux figures 2 et 3 sont répartis par paires le long de chaque lame conductrice 17, 18 de manière à obtenir la directivité souhaitée de rayonnement.These pins whose arrangements with respect to the conductive strips 17, 18 are illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 are distributed in pairs along each conductive strip 17, 18 of so as to obtain the desired directivity of radiation.

Dans une paire donnée, l'un 22, 24 des pions est centré sur un premier bord longitudinal 25 d'une barre conductrice 17 tandis que l'autre pion 21, 23 est centré sur le deuxième bord longitudinal 26 avec un écartement dans le sens de la longueur de la lame conductrice voisin du quart de la longueur d'onde de travail λ /4.In a given pair, one 22, 24 of the pins is centered on a first longitudinal edge 25 of a busbar 17 while the other pin 21, 23 is centered on the second longitudinal edge 26 with a spacing in the direction the length of the conductive strip close to a quarter of the working wavelength λ / 4.

Le long d'une lame conductrice 17, les paires de pions 21, 22, 23, 24 sont espacées d'un pas voisin de la demi longueur d'onde de travail λ /2 afin d'avoir un bon échantillonnage de l'espace et disposées alternativement sur l'une et l'autre des parois latérales 11, 12 afin de compenser le déphasage de ¶ résultant du pas d'espacement.Along a conductive strip 17, the pairs of pawns 21, 22, 23, 24 are spaced by a step close to the half working wavelength λ / 2 in order to have a good sampling of the space and arranged alternately on one and the other of the side walls 11, 12 in order to compensate for the phase shift of ¶ resulting from the spacing step.

Les pions métalliques 21, 22, 23, 24 peuvent être en cuivre comme les lames conductrices 17, 18 et montés à la surface intérieure des parois latérales dans des trous borgnes grâce à un système de fixation à vis permettant de régler leurs enfoncements. Ils peuvent être également fraisés dans la masse des parois latérales métalliques 11, 12.The metal pins 21, 22, 23, 24 can be made of copper like the conductive blades 17, 18 and mounted on the inner surface of the side walls in blind holes by means of a screw fixing system making it possible to adjust their sinking. They can also be milled in the mass of the metal side walls 11, 12.

Le distributeur qui vient d'être décrit rayonne directement de l'énergie hyperfréquence à partir de l'ouverture de son guide conformée en cornet et se comporte en antenne. Il pourrait également, comporter sur son ouverture un couvercle équipé d'une rangée de capteurs et de départs de guides ou câbles coaxiaux raccordés à des éléments rayonnants.The distributor which has just been described radiates microwave energy directly from the opening of its guide shaped like a horn and behaves as an antenna. It could also include, on its opening, a cover equipped with a row of sensors and of departures of coaxial guides or cables connected to radiating elements.

Claims (6)

  1. Microwave energy distributor including:
    - an elongate guide provided with lateral walls (11, 12) constituting an elongate hollow strut having an opening in one side;
    - at least one elongate thin conductive strip (17, 18) placed in a mid-plane between the lateral walls (11, 12) serving as main propagation line for microwave energy in transverse electromagnetic mode; and
    - obstacles (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24) dispersed inside the guide between the said strip (17, 18) and the lateral walls (11, 12) so as to produce, from the energy propagating over the said strip, radiation in transverse electromagnetic mode of a fraction of this energy propagating directively towards the opening of the guide; and being characterized in that:
    - the said opening extends essentially over the whole length of the said guide;
    - the said distributor also includes an absorbent load (16) placed along the whole guide between the lateral walls (11, 12) in such a way that the said strip lies between the load (16) and the said opening in the guide;
    - the said obstacles are asymmetric (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24) and integral with the interior surface of the lateral walls (11, 12) of the guide; and
    - the said obstacles are disposed in pairs, the two obstacles of the same pair being placed the one (22) facing a first longitudinal edge (25) of the said strip (17) and the other (21) facing the second longitudinal edge (24) of the said strip (17).
  2. Distributor according to Claim 1, characterized in that the said asymmetric obstacles (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24) form part of the lateral walls (11, 12) of the guide.
  3. Distributor according to Claim 1, characterized in that the said asymmetric obstacles (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24) are studs.
  4. Distributor according to Claim 3, characterized in that the said studs are cylindrical.
  5. Distributor according to Claim 1, characterized in that two pairs of obstacles arranged successively along a strip are placed the one (21, 22) on a lateral wall (11) of the guide, the other (23, 24) on the other (12).
  6. Distributor according to Claim 1, characterized in that it includes two elongate thin conductive strips (17, 18) arranged the one beside the other in the mid-plane of the guide and pairs of asymmetric obstacles (19, 20; 21, 22) dispersed along each of the said conductive strips (17, 18).
EP90401775A 1989-07-07 1990-06-22 Ultrahigh frequency energy distributor radiating directly Expired - Lifetime EP0407258B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR8909174 1989-07-07
FR8909174A FR2649543B1 (en) 1989-07-07 1989-07-07 HYPERFREQUENCY ENERGY DISTRIBUTOR THAT CAN RADIATE DIRECTLY

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0407258A1 EP0407258A1 (en) 1991-01-09
EP0407258B1 true EP0407258B1 (en) 1994-10-12

Family

ID=9383584

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP90401775A Expired - Lifetime EP0407258B1 (en) 1989-07-07 1990-06-22 Ultrahigh frequency energy distributor radiating directly

Country Status (5)

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US (1) US5049893A (en)
EP (1) EP0407258B1 (en)
JP (1) JPH0346403A (en)
DE (1) DE69013247T2 (en)
FR (1) FR2649543B1 (en)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2697949B1 (en) * 1992-11-06 1995-01-06 Thomson Csf Antenna for radar, in particular for designation and trajectography.
FR2702090B1 (en) * 1993-02-26 1995-05-19 Thomson Csf Deviation measurement antenna for monopulse radar.
FR2725075B1 (en) * 1994-09-23 1996-11-15 Thomson Csf METHOD AND DEVICE FOR ENLARGING THE RADIATION DIAGRAM OF AN ACTIVE ANTENNA

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2703841A (en) * 1945-08-01 1955-03-08 Edward M Purcell Antenna
US3013267A (en) * 1957-03-20 1961-12-12 Rotman Walter Trough waveguide slow wave antennas and transmission lines
US3015100A (en) * 1957-03-20 1961-12-26 Rotman Walter Trough waveguide antennas
US3002189A (en) * 1959-11-18 1961-09-26 Sanders Associates Inc Three conductor planar antenna
FR2153164B1 (en) * 1971-09-22 1976-10-29 Thomson Csf
US4210793A (en) * 1978-03-06 1980-07-01 Agence Nationale De Valorisation De La Recherche (Anvar) Microwave applicator for radiating microwaves to an elongated zone
GB2027558B (en) * 1978-08-10 1983-03-02 Marconi Co Ltd Waveguide radiators

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPH0346403A (en) 1991-02-27
FR2649543B1 (en) 1991-11-29
US5049893A (en) 1991-09-17
DE69013247T2 (en) 1995-02-23
EP0407258A1 (en) 1991-01-09
FR2649543A1 (en) 1991-01-11
DE69013247D1 (en) 1994-11-17

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