EP2757634A1 - Source de ligne réfléchissante - Google Patents

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Publication number
EP2757634A1
EP2757634A1 EP13151716.1A EP13151716A EP2757634A1 EP 2757634 A1 EP2757634 A1 EP 2757634A1 EP 13151716 A EP13151716 A EP 13151716A EP 2757634 A1 EP2757634 A1 EP 2757634A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
region
electromagnetic field
regions
reflective
line source
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP13151716.1A
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German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Alan Julian Paul Hnatiw
John Patten Carr
Matthew Philip Hills
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
CMC Electronics Inc
Original Assignee
CMC Electronics Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by CMC Electronics Inc filed Critical CMC Electronics Inc
Priority to EP13151716.1A priority Critical patent/EP2757634A1/fr
Publication of EP2757634A1 publication Critical patent/EP2757634A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01P—WAVEGUIDES; RESONATORS, LINES, OR OTHER DEVICES OF THE WAVEGUIDE TYPE
    • H01P3/00—Waveguides; Transmission lines of the waveguide type
    • H01P3/18—Waveguides; Transmission lines of the waveguide type built-up from several layers to increase operating surface, i.e. alternately conductive and dielectric layers
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01P—WAVEGUIDES; RESONATORS, LINES, OR OTHER DEVICES OF THE WAVEGUIDE TYPE
    • H01P1/00—Auxiliary devices
    • H01P1/18—Phase-shifters
    • H01P1/182—Waveguide phase-shifters
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01P—WAVEGUIDES; RESONATORS, LINES, OR OTHER DEVICES OF THE WAVEGUIDE TYPE
    • H01P3/00—Waveguides; Transmission lines of the waveguide type
    • H01P3/12—Hollow waveguides
    • H01P3/123—Hollow waveguides with a complex or stepped cross-section, e.g. ridged or grooved waveguides

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the field of line sources.
  • a line source may be used in a waveguide antenna to expand a point source in one direction.
  • Such a line source can be used as an input source to feed a larger two-dimensional aperture antenna, such as a sectoral horn.
  • the line source may also be used solely as a line source emitter.
  • a reflective line source comprising at least one region adapted to receive thereat an input electromagnetic field and to expand the input electromagnetic field in at least one dimension and at least one reflective phase compensator coupled to the at least one region, the at least one reflective phase compensator adapted to fold a direction of propagation of the expanded electromagnetic field and correct a phase error thereof.
  • a method for manufacturing a reflective line source comprising providing at least one region adapted to receive thereat an input electromagnetic field and to expand the input electromagnetic field in at least one dimension and coupling at least one reflective phase compensator to the at least one region, the at least one reflective phase compensator adapted to fold a direction of propagation of the expanded electromagnetic field and correct a phase error thereof.
  • Figure 1 is a perspective view of a folded reflective line source in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention
  • Figure 2a is a schematic diagram of a taper region of Figure 1 ;
  • Figure 2b is a bottom view of the folded reflective line source of Figure 1 ;
  • Figure 2c is a schematic diagram of a reflective phase compensator of Figure 1 ;
  • Figure 3a is a perspective cross-sectional view of the folded reflective line source of Figure 1 ;
  • Figure 3b is a perspective view of the folded reflective line source of Figure 1 with an input beam propagating through a first taper region;
  • Figure 3c is a schematic diagram of a reflector of Figure 3a ;
  • Figure 3d is a perspective view of the folded reflective line source with the input electromagnetic field of Figure 3b propagating through the first and a second taper region;
  • Figure 3e is a perspective view of the folded reflective line source with the input electromagnetic field of Figure 3b propagating through a second, a third and a fourth taper region;
  • Figure 4a is a plot of the phase error for the folded reflective line source of Figure 1 prior to compensation using the reflective phase compensator;
  • Figure 4b is a plot of the phase error for the folded reflective line source of Figure 1 after compensation
  • Figure 5a is a bottom perspective view of a folded reflective line source integrated with an E-plane sectoral horn in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention
  • Figure 5b is a front perspective view of the folded reflective line source integrated with the E-plane sectoral horn of Figure 5a ;
  • Figure 6 is a plot of modeled and measured results of the azimuth far field gain pattern for the folded reflective line source integrated with the E-plane sectoral horn of Figure 5a ;
  • Figure 7 is a flow diagram of a method for manufacturing a folded reflective line source in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.
  • the line source 100 may be used to expand in one direction, e.g. the X direction, a point source fed thereto.
  • the line source 100 may be used as an input source to feed an antenna (not shown), such as an aperture antenna, e.g. a horn, waveguide aperture, reflector, or the like, that emits electromagnetic waves through an opening or aperture.
  • an antenna not shown
  • an aperture antenna e.g. a horn, waveguide aperture, reflector, or the like, that emits electromagnetic waves through an opening or aperture.
  • the line source 100 illustrative comprises an input 102, a plurality of expansion regions 104 used to guide therethrough an electromagnetic field received at the input 102, a plurality of 180 degrees elongate reflectors 106 used to fold the direction of propagation of the field by 180 degrees, and a reflective phase compensator 108.
  • each expansion region 104 flares away from a first edge 110 1 towards a second edge 110 2 opposite to the first edge 110 1 .
  • a field 112 1 that has a width w 1 and enters the expansion region 104 at the first edge 110 1 is expanded when propagating down the expansion region 104 towards the second edge.
  • the width w 2 of the field 112 2 exiting the expansion region 104 is illustratively greater than the width w 1 of the field 112 1 entering the expansion region 104.
  • the flare angle ⁇ may be adjusted to achieve the desired flare in the expansion region 104.
  • the rate of flare of the expansion region 104 may be increased, resulting in a faster expansion of the input electromagnetic field 112 1 .
  • the flare angle ⁇ of the expansion regions 104 is illustratively comprised between zero and ninety (90) degrees.
  • one expansion region 104, and more particularly the last expansion region through which the field exits the line source 100 is a straight region that is provided with no taper.
  • each tapered one of the expansion regions 104 introduces a phase error between the field 112 1 entering the tapered expansion region 104 and the field 112 2 exiting the tapered expansion region 104.
  • the difference between the length d 1 from the center point of the first edge 110 1 of the tapered expansion region 104 to the center point of the second edge 110 2 and the length d 2 along each one of the side edges as in 114 of the tapered expansion region 104 results in a difference between the phase of the field 112 1 and the phase of the field 112 2 .
  • the length d 2 is substantially greater than the length d 1 .
  • each expansion region 104 has been illustrated in Figure 2a as comprising side edges 114, e.g. metal walls, it should be understood that the expansion regions 104 may be provided without such edges 104.
  • the reflective phase compensator 108 may be used to compensate for the above-mentioned phase error.
  • the phase compensator 108 may be provided to couple a pair of consecutive expansion regions as in 104 of the line source 100.
  • the phase compensator 108 is provided at the end of the second to last expansion region 104.
  • the phase compensator 108 may be provided at the end of any tapered one of the expansion regions 104 and thus may couple any pair of consecutive expansion regions 104. In such cases, the phase compensator 108 may be designed to overcompensate the phase error.
  • phase compensator 108 may be provided for coupling to more than one pair of expansion regions 104.
  • the reflective phase compensator 108 illustratively has an arcuate profile and comprises an arcuate edge 116.
  • the complex shape of the reflective phase compensator 108 illustratively introduces a complex phase correction factor, i.e. a non-uniform phase.
  • the reflective phase compensator 108 may have a simple conic profile, may be of high order aspherical type, or any other suitable profile known to those skilled in the art.
  • the phase compensator 108 may be shaped as an arc of circle, a conic section, a polynomial surface, a parabola, or the like.
  • the shape of the phase compensator 108 may or may not be smooth continuous.
  • the phase compensator 108 may have a discontinuous curvature, be piecewise arcuate, or otherwise segmented. Other profiles may also apply.
  • the reflective line source 100 may comprise five (5) connected expansion regions 104 1 , 104 2 , 104 3 , 104 4 , and 104 5 . It should be understood that any suitable number of expansion regions may also apply.
  • the expansion regions 104 1 , 104 2 , 104 3 , 104 4 , and 104 5 may be provided in a vertically, i.e. along the Z direction, stacked relationship and connected by the elongate reflectors 106 to create a compact folded structure.
  • expansion regions 104 1 , 104 2 , 104 3 , and 104 4 are illustratively tapered waveguides with a flare angle ⁇ while the fifth expansion region 104 5 through which the electromagnetic field exits the line source 100 is a straight waveguide, i.e. is not tapered. It should be understood that other configurations may apply.
  • the tapered expansion regions 104 1 , 104 2 , 104 3 , and 104 4 illustratively have an increasing size. Indeed, the width w2 of the second edge 110 2 of a first tapered expansion region, as in 104 1 , is illustratively equal to the width w1 of the first edge 110 1 of the tapered expansion region, as in 104 2 , which is connected and consecutive to the first tapered expansion region, as in 104 1 .
  • a guided electromagnetic field 112 1 illustratively enters the line source 100 at the input 102 along a direction A.
  • the field 112 1 then travels along a direction B through the first expansion region 104 1 found on the top layer 118 of the line source 100. While traveling through the first expansion region 104 1 , the field 112 1 gets expanded into a field 112 2 .
  • the first reflector 106 1 redirects the expanded field 112 2 into the second expansion region 104 2 found below the top layer 118.
  • the reflector 106 1 illustratively comprises a first angled facet 120 1 and a second angled facet 120 2 .
  • the first and the second angled facets 120 1 and 120 2 illustratively act as reflective surfaces oriented at forty-five (45) degrees to the incident field.
  • the field 112 2 incoming along the direction B is illustratively turned through 90 degrees by each one of the first angled facet 120 1 and the second angled facet 120 2 .
  • the field 112 3 exiting the first reflector 106 1 into the second expansion region 104 2 along direction C is illustratively turned by 180 degrees by the pair of angled facets 120 1 and 120 2 , as illustrated in Figure 3d .
  • first reflector 106 1 may comprise more than two angled facets as in 120 1 and 120 2 and that the angled facets 120 1 and 120 2 may be oriented at angles other than forty-five (45) degrees. Still, regardless of the design of the first reflector 106 1 and remaining ones of the reflectors as in 106, it is desirable for the incoming field to be reflected by 180 degrees.
  • the field 112 3 may then continue to travel down the second expansion region 104 2 of the reflective line source 100 along the direction C.
  • the field 112 3 may get redirected by a second reflector 106 2 found at the end of the second expansion region 104 2 .
  • the second reflector 106 2 illustratively comprises a first and a second angled facet similar to the facets 120 1 and 120 2 of the first reflector 106 1 of Figure 3c .
  • the field 112 4 exiting the second reflector 106 2 is illustratively turned by 180 degrees upon entering into the third expansion region 104 3 along the direction D.
  • the field 112 4 travels through the third expansion region 104 3 towards the end thereof.
  • the field 112 4 may then be redirected as a field 112 5 towards the fourth expansion region 104 4 by a third 180 degree reflector 106 3 comprising angled facets similar to the facets 120 1 and 120 2 of the first reflector 106 1 .
  • the field 112 5 may then travel through the fourth expansion region 104 4 along the direction E.
  • the field 112 5 may further encounter the reflective phase compensator 108, which illustratively corrects errors induced by the finite length tapered expansion regions as in 104 1 , 104 2 , 104 3, 104 4 .
  • the field 112 5 has illustratively traveled through an expansion region 104 4 where the length (reference d 1 in Figure 2c ) along the center line is longer than the length (reference d 2 in Figure 2c ) along the edges (reference 114 in Figure 2c ).
  • the phase compensator 108 may correct the phase error so that a planar phase front is achieved at an output of the line source 100.
  • the phase compensator may alternatively correct the phase error so that a target value phase front is achieved.
  • the arcuate edge 116 illustratively comprises a first and a second reflective phase compensating surface 122 1 and 122 2 .
  • the reflective phase compensating surfaces 122 1 and 122 2 are arcuate angled facets each oriented at substantially forty-five (45) degrees for turning an electromagnetic field impinging thereon by substantially ninety (90) degrees.
  • the phase compensator 108 may comprise more than two reflective phase compensating surfaces 122 1 and 122 2 and that the latter may be oriented at angles other than forty-five (45) degrees.
  • the field 112 5 Upon reaching the arcuate edge 116, the field 112 5 thus successively encounters the first and the second reflective phase compensating surfaces 122 1 and 122 2 .
  • the field 112 5 is folded by 180 degrees and redirected towards the fifth expansion region 104 5 found on the bottom layer 124 of the folded structure 100.
  • the field 112 6 exiting the reflective phase compensator 108 may then propagate along the direction F through the fifth expansion region 104 5.
  • Figure 4a and Figure 4b illustrate results obtained by simulating a 600 mm by 700 mm reflective line source (reference 100 in Figure 1 ). Such a line source 100 is then used as an input source to feed an antenna (not shown). Simulations were performed using electromagnetic simulation software, such as CST Microwave Studio TM . It should be understood that any other suitable software known to those skilled in the art may be used.
  • Figure 4a shows a plot 200 of the phase error in the reflective line source 100 without phase error compensation. Due to the periodic nature of electromagnetic waves, phase jumps 202 of substantially 360 degrees occur due to phase wrapping. The unwrapped total phase error of the uncompensated expansion regions (reference 104 in Figure 1 ) is in excess of 2600 degrees or approximately 7.2 wavelengths.
  • Figure 4b shows a plot 300 of the phase error after compensation using a reflective phase compensator (reference 108 in Figure 1 ).
  • a non-uniform and complex phase correction factor is introduced.
  • the peak-to-peak phase error is reduced to less than five (5) degrees over half of the width of the antenna aperture.
  • the phase correction factor being non-uniform, a residual phase error remains across the full width of the antenna aperture.
  • this phase error is reduced to approximately sixty (60) degrees or 0.17 wavelengths.
  • a phase error less than one-quarter of a wavelength can therefore be achieved using the reflective line source architecture 100 described above.
  • a phase error of lambda/6, with lambda being the wavelength of the electromagnetic wave, or sixty (60) degrees is typically sufficient for most antenna applications.
  • the reflective line source 100 may be coupled to a plurality of antenna types.
  • Figure 5a and Figure 5b show a proof-of-concept reflective line source 400 integrated with an E-plane sectoral horn 402.
  • the proof-of-concept line source 400 and the sectoral horn 402 may be fabricated using any suitable manufacturing process, such as rapid prototyping.
  • the rapid prototyping process illustratively uses a laser to cure polymer into a specific geometry.
  • the resulting polymer part is then metalized with copper.
  • An input waveguide 404 as well as two (2) expansion regions 406 1 and 406 2 of the line source 400 can be seen in Figure 5a .
  • Figure 5b shows the output radiator 408 of the sectoral horn 402 with the line source 100 attached on top and to the back of the horn 402.
  • Figure 6 illustrates a comparison between modeled and measured results of the azimuth far field gain pattern at 19.7 GHz for the folded reflective line source 400 and E-plane sectoral horn 402 of Figure 5a and Figure 5b .
  • the gain pattern plot 500 shows the agreement of the integration of the line source 400 with the sectoral horn 402. Indeed, well-behaved and low sidelobe levels 502 are obtained due to the fact that the phase error is reduced to less than one-quarter of a wavelength using the reflective phase compensator (reference 108 in Figure 1 ).
  • the method 500 comprises providing at step 502 one or more expansion regions (reference 104 in Figure 1 ).
  • each expansion region may be such that an input field may be received at a first end thereof and an output field output through a second end thereof opposite the first end.
  • the next step 504 may then comprise arranging the expansion regions in a vertically stacked relationship.
  • the expansion regions may be arranged such that the second end of each expansion region is adjacent the first end of the consecutive expansion region.
  • the method 500 may then comprise coupling at step 506 a reflector (reference 106 in Figure 1 ) to each consecutive pair of expansion regions.
  • the step 506 may comprise, as discussed above, coupling the reflector between the second end of the first expansion region of each pair and the first end of the second expansion region of the pair. In this manner, any electromagnetic field exiting through the second end of the first expansion region of each pair may be redirected towards the first end of the second expansion region of the pair, thereby connecting the expansion regions.
  • the step 506 may, for instance, comprise providing a reflector having a first and a second angled facet each oriented at forty-five (45) degrees to an incident electromagnetic field for folding the direction of propagation of a field incident on the reflector by 180 degrees.
  • the next step 508 may then be to couple at least one reflective phase compensator (reference 108 in Figure 1 ) to at least one of the expansion regions.
  • the phase compensator may be coupled to the second end of a first expansion region and the first end of the second expansion region consecutive to the first expansion region.
  • the phase compensator may be provided with an arcuate or other suitable shape for compensating a phase error due to propagation of a field through the taper regions connected at step 506.
  • the phase compensator coupled at step 508 to the expansion region(s) may be provided with at least two reflective phase compensating surfaces for folding by 180 degrees a field incident on the phase compensator.
  • the folded reflective line source architecture illustratively compensates for arbitrary phase errors over a very large frequency bandwidth.
  • broadband response over 50% of the bandwidth may be achieved and the design may be scalable from 5 GHz to 75 GHz operating frequency.
  • the line source 100 may further allow for superior phase control and provide continuous and smooth phase responses as well as a symmetric and well controlled phase and amplitude field distribution. Moreover, a reduction of losses and a loosening of assembly tolerances may be achieved.
  • the reflective line source 100 illustratively enables a compactness and a reduction in the weight of the overall antenna structure.
  • the design may further be compatible with conventional high speed machining, extrusion, injection molding, arc-machining, stamping, or other manufacturing processes known to those skilled in the art.

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EP13151716.1A 2013-01-17 2013-01-17 Source de ligne réfléchissante Withdrawn EP2757634A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

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EP13151716.1A EP2757634A1 (fr) 2013-01-17 2013-01-17 Source de ligne réfléchissante

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP13151716.1A EP2757634A1 (fr) 2013-01-17 2013-01-17 Source de ligne réfléchissante

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EP2757634A1 true EP2757634A1 (fr) 2014-07-23

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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN110504551A (zh) * 2018-05-17 2019-11-26 瑞士电信公司 用于电信系统的散射面板

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2767396A (en) * 1946-04-30 1956-10-16 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Directive antenna systems
US20060103489A1 (en) * 2002-08-16 2006-05-18 Martin Johansson Parallel plate waveguide structure
US20120092224A1 (en) * 2009-04-02 2012-04-19 Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique Multilayer pillbox type parallel-plate waveguide antenna and corresponding antenna system

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2767396A (en) * 1946-04-30 1956-10-16 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Directive antenna systems
US20060103489A1 (en) * 2002-08-16 2006-05-18 Martin Johansson Parallel plate waveguide structure
US20120092224A1 (en) * 2009-04-02 2012-04-19 Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique Multilayer pillbox type parallel-plate waveguide antenna and corresponding antenna system

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN110504551A (zh) * 2018-05-17 2019-11-26 瑞士电信公司 用于电信系统的散射面板

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