EP2757635A1 - Niedrigprofilantenne - Google Patents

Niedrigprofilantenne Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP2757635A1
EP2757635A1 EP13151722.9A EP13151722A EP2757635A1 EP 2757635 A1 EP2757635 A1 EP 2757635A1 EP 13151722 A EP13151722 A EP 13151722A EP 2757635 A1 EP2757635 A1 EP 2757635A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
signal
antenna
radiating elements
input
feed network
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Withdrawn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
EP13151722.9A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
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 EP13151722.9A priority Critical patent/EP2757635A1/de
Publication of EP2757635A1 publication Critical patent/EP2757635A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q21/00—Antenna arrays or systems
    • H01Q21/0006—Particular feeding systems
    • H01Q21/0037—Particular feeding systems linear waveguide fed arrays
    • H01Q21/0043—Slotted waveguides
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q21/00—Antenna arrays or systems
    • H01Q21/0087—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing antenna arrays
    • H01Q21/0093—Monolithic arrays
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q21/00—Antenna arrays or systems
    • H01Q21/06—Arrays of individually energised antenna units similarly polarised and spaced apart
    • H01Q21/061—Two dimensional planar arrays
    • H01Q21/064—Two dimensional planar arrays using horn or slot aerials
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q21/00—Antenna arrays or systems
    • H01Q21/06—Arrays of individually energised antenna units similarly polarised and spaced apart
    • H01Q21/08—Arrays of individually energised antenna units similarly polarised and spaced apart the units being spaced along or adjacent to a rectilinear path

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the field of antennas, and more particularly low profile antennas.
  • a combination of a waveguide feed network and radiator element may be used to enable an antenna to collect energy from a large area and guide the collected energy to a single input/output waveguide, which may in turn be connected to a transmitter/receiver.
  • a waveguide feed network and radiator element may be used to enable an antenna to collect energy from a large area and guide the collected energy to a single input/output waveguide, which may in turn be connected to a transmitter/receiver.
  • both an efficient radiating aperture and feed network are typically required.
  • slot radiators are often used to fill the antenna aperture.
  • the slots need to be spaced no more than one guide wavelength apart in the vertical and horizontal direction.
  • This architecture thus requires N horizontal radiators and M vertical radiators, for a total of NxM radiators.
  • the resulting complexity in creating the feed network and fabricating the multitude of slots is then costly and leads to poor performance. For example, limited bandwidth, frequency scanning, and the like may result.
  • This problem can also be found in other conventional antenna designs using different radiators, such as patches, printed dipoles, etc., as the latter usually still require NxM radiators.
  • a low profile antenna comprising a radiator array comprising a plurality of radiating elements arranged linearly along a first direction, each one of the plurality of radiating elements adapted to radiate along a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, and a corporate feed network integrated with the radiator array, the corporate feed network comprising an input transmission line adapted to receive an input signal and a plurality of output transmission lines each coupled to the input transmission line and to a corresponding one of the plurality of radiating elements, the input signal adapted to be routed among the plurality of output transmission lines for delivery to the plurality of radiating elements.
  • a method for manufacturing a low profile antenna comprising arranging a plurality of radiating elements linearly along a first direction to form a radiator array, each one of the plurality of radiating elements adapted to radiate along a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, and integrating a corporate feed network with the radiator array, the corporate feed network comprising an input transmission line adapted to receive an input signal and a plurality of output transmission lines each coupled to the input transmission line and to a corresponding one of the plurality of radiating elements, the input signal adapted to be routed among the plurality of output transmission lines for delivery to the plurality of radiating elements.
  • Figure 1 is a front perspective view of an antenna aperture in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention
  • Figure 2a is a cross-sectional view of the antenna aperture of Figure 1 ;
  • Figure 2b is a right side view of the corporate feed network of Figure 2a ;
  • Figure 3a is a perspective view of a folded reflective line source for use in the antenna of Figure 1 ;
  • Figure 3b is a perspective view of a discretized line source for use in the antenna of Figure 1 ;
  • Figure 4 is a perspective view of the antenna aperture of Figure 1 mounted on an elevation over azimuth computer controlled positioner;
  • Figure 5a is a plot of a simulated azimuth gain pattern for the antenna of Figure 1 ;
  • Figure 5b is a plot of a simulated elevation gain pattern for the antenna of Figure 1 .
  • the antenna aperture 100 illustratively comprises a line source 102 and a linear radiator array 104 comprising a number N of horizontal radiators 106 1 , ..., 106 N each extending along the X axis and a number M of vertical radiators (not shown) each extending along the Y axis.
  • the number of radiators as in 106 1 , ..., 106 N in the array 104 may vary according to system requirements.
  • Each radiator as in 106 1 , ..., or 106 N may be a tapered slot antenna that is adapted to radiate at a given directionality the energy of an electromagnetic wave received thereat. It should be understood that other configurations of the radiator may apply.
  • the antenna aperture 100 further comprises a corporate feed network 108 supplying electromagnetic energy to the radiators 106 1 , ..., 106 N .
  • the radiators 106 1 , ..., 106 N are integrated with the feed network 108 as a single component.
  • both the radiators 106 1 , ..., 106 N and the feed network 108 may be manufactured from the same waveguide piece 110 having an air-filled or other appropriate structure, such as a dielectric-filled or partially-filled waveguide structure.
  • each radiator as in 106 1 , ..., or 106 N may be etched on the waveguide piece 110 and excited using the corporate feed network 108 also etched on the waveguide piece 110.
  • the radiator array 104 may for instance be manufactured using solid metal extrusions, hollow extrusions, plastic extrusions, or composite extrusions with application of a metal coating or foil.
  • the line source 102 may then be provided separately from the integrated radiators 106 1 , ..., 106 N and feed network 108. In particular, when in use, the line source 102 may be coupled to feed network 108 to become part thereof. In this manner, a low weight and compact size antenna aperture 100 may be provided.
  • the line source 102 may further be coupled to a source of electromagnetic signals (not shown), from which an input signal may be received.
  • the line source 102 may then transform the input into an output having an expanded dimension, e.g. width, along the X axis.
  • a single mode input is provided by the source to the line source 102 and the latter outputs a single linear beam that is continuous along the X axis.
  • the signal output by the line source 102 may then be transmitted to the feed network 108 and replicated thereby to feed each one of the N horizontal radiators 106 1 , ..., 106 N for transmittal.
  • the antenna aperture 100 is described herein in the context where it is used as a transmitter, it should be understood that the antenna aperture 100 may, by reciprocity, be used as a receiver and route receive signals to single outputs.
  • the feed network 108 may comprise a plurality of transmission or feed lines as in 112 1 , ..., 112 n and power dividers (not shown) provided over a number n of successive feed levels.
  • the first feed level i.e. level 1
  • the last feed level i.e. level n
  • Each one of the transmission lines provided at the last feed level n e.g. transmission line 112 n in Figure 2a and Figure 2b , may then be coupled to a corresponding radiator, e.g. radiator 106 1 , of the radiator array 104.
  • the output of each one of the transmission lines found at the last feed level may be provided to the corresponding radiator as in 106 1 , ..., or 106 N for feeding thereof.
  • the feed network 108 illustratively receives at an input port 114 thereof the expanded signal output by the line source 102.
  • the power splits may be accomplished by using tapered lines or impedance transformers. It should also be understood that, instead of binary power splits, the feed network 108 may achieve triple or quadruple power splits. Still, binary power splits may be preferable as they gave a simple design.
  • each one of the transmission lines 112 1 , ..., 112 n-1 is split into two (2) transmission lines provided at the next feed level.
  • a transmission line at a level n e.g. transmission line 112 2 at the second feed level
  • a junction 116 which branches out into a first and a second transmission line provided at the following level n+1, e.g. transmission lines 112 3 at the third feed level.
  • the junction 116 may be a tee junction where the first and second transmission lines, e.g.
  • transmission lines 112 3 meet at an angle of substantially ninety (90) degrees and are collinear to one another. It should be understood that, although other configurations, e.g. y-junction geometries, may apply, the tee junction geometry may be preferable as it ensures a low profile for the feed network 108. Also, the energy of the signal routed through the transmission line of level n, e.g. transmission line 112 2 , is illustratively divided at the junction 116 among the first and second transmission lines of level n+1, e.g. transmission lines 112 3 .
  • the power split provided at each junction 116 of the feed network 108 may be an equal or unequal power split.
  • the amplitudes of the signals provided at the first and the second transmission lines of level n+1 may be equal or unequal.
  • non-uniform power distribution may be used to lower sidelobe levels of the gain pattern of the antenna aperture 100.
  • the phases of the signals provided at the first and the second transmission lines of level n+1 may also be uniform or non-uniform, e.g. equal or unequal.
  • non-uniform phases may be used when it is desired to squint a beam or otherwise shape the far-field gain pattern of the antenna aperture 100.
  • the linear radiator array 104 illustratively comprises N horizontal radiators 106 1 , ..., 106 N arranged in a single column along the Y axis so that the radiator array 104 comprises a radiator arrangement, which is discrete along the vertical Y axis and continuous along the horizontal X axis.
  • the line source 102 may then provide the horizontal excitation to the radiator array 104 while the corporate feed network 108 provides the vertical excitation.
  • the embodiment of Figure 1 illustrates a radiator array 104 where each horizontal radiator as in 106 1 , ..., 106 N is continuous along the X axis, it should be understood that each horizontal radiator as in 106 1 , ..., 106 N may also be discretized along the X axis.
  • the line source 102 may comprise a folded reflective line source architecture 200, as shown in Figure 3a . Still, it should be understood that other configurations may apply.
  • the folded reflective line source 200 may be used to transform a single mode input 202 into a single line source 204 that is continuous along the X axis, i.e. the horizontal direction.
  • the line source 204 illustratively has a dimension along the X axis, e.g. a width, that is expanded compared to the dimension of the single mode input 202 along the same X axis.
  • the folded reflective line source 200 may comprise a plurality of taper regions as in 206 adapted to expand a beam propagating therethrough.
  • the taper regions 206 may be provided in a stacked relationship and connected by 180 degree reflectors as in 208. Each reflector 208 may be used to fold the direction of propagation of a beam traveling down each one of the taper regions 206, thereby ensuring compactness of the structure.
  • the folded reflective line source 200 may also comprise a reflective phase compensator 210 for compensating for the phase error introduced during travel of the beam down the successive taper regions 206.
  • Using such a folded reflective line source 200 to build the antenna aperture 100 may result in a circuit largely comprised of slab waveguides.
  • Such a slab waveguide geometry illustratively has low loss and allows most of the antenna design to be constructed from low cost extrusions. For example, aluminum metal extrusions or metal coated plastic extrusions or molded parts may be used.
  • the line source 102 may comprise a corporate feed line source architecture 300, which produces an output that is discretized along the X axis.
  • the energy radiated by each one of the horizontal radiators as in 106 1 , ..., 106 N may in turn be discretized.
  • the corporate feed line source 300 may be used to transform a single mode input 302 into a plurality of discrete outputs 304 distributed along the direction of the X axis.
  • the discrete outputs 304 may together form a discretized output 306 having an overall dimension along the X axis, e.g. a width, that is expanded compared to the dimension of the single mode input 302 along the same X axis.
  • the corporate feed line source 300 may comprise multiple feed lines as in 308 providing binary power splits over a plurality of levels (not shown).
  • the corporate feed line source 300 transforms the single mode input 302 into sixty-four (64) discretized outputs 304 over seven (7) levels.
  • the antenna aperture 100 may be incorporated into a computer-controlled elevation over azimuth rotary antenna positioner 400.
  • an antenna positioner 400 may be used to position the antenna 100 for tracking a moving object (not shown).
  • an antenna aperture having a dimension along the X axis, i.e. a length, of 594.06mm, a dimension along the Y axis, i.e. a height of 152.50mm, and a dimension along the Z axis, i.e. a width of 56.31 mm is used. Elevation and azimuth gain patterns may then be measured, as shown in Figure 5a and Figure 5b .
  • Figure 5a shows a simulated azimuth gain pattern 500 at a frequency of 30GHz for the antenna aperture 100 of Figure 4 . It can be seen that the first sidelobe 502 in the azimuth gain pattern 500 is approximately 23dB below the peak 504, as desired in aeronautical applications and the like. Indeed, it is desirable, when communicating with a geostationary satellite, for the azimuth pattern as in 500 to provide low side lobe levels in order to comply with regulatory requirements to limit interference with adjacent satellites.
  • Figure 5b shows a simulated elevation gain pattern 600 at a frequency of 30GHz for the antenna aperture 100 of Figure 4 .
  • the elevation feed shown in Figure 5b illustratively uses equal output binary power splitters (not shown) for splitting the power of the signal received from the line source 102, a uniform excitation may be achieved along the Y axis, i.e. the vertical direction, of the radiator array 104. This results in higher sidelobes being obtained for the elevation gain pattern 600 than for the azimuth gain pattern 500.
  • the uniform excitation leads to the first sidelobe 604 being at approximately 13dB below the peak 602.
  • feed designs using unequal splits may be used in some applications.
  • each radiator of the radiator array 104 provides a non uniform illumination, e.g. more energy is output towards the center of the radiator than at the edges thereof.
  • the gain pattern of such an antenna aperture would thus comprise a wider main beam and lower sidelobe levels. However, this would lower the gain of the overall antenna structure.
  • gain is the principal limiting factor for aeronautical satellite communications antennas, sidelobe control in the elevation plane is of limited utility. The reduction in antenna gain would therefore not provide any additional net benefit for the intended applications.
  • the antenna aperture 100 illustratively has low loss and high gain over a 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. This is particularly desirable for satellite communications applications where a wideband signal is to be radiated in a single direction regardless of the input frequency.
  • the antenna aperture 100 may further allow for a minimal number of radiator elements to be used in the radiator array 104, thus achieving a low profile and low weight structure having a flat plate, i.e. compact, design. The impact of an installed system on the operating costs of a device, such as an aircraft, may therefore minimized while achieving high performance.
EP13151722.9A 2013-01-17 2013-01-17 Niedrigprofilantenne Withdrawn EP2757635A1 (de)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP13151722.9A EP2757635A1 (de) 2013-01-17 2013-01-17 Niedrigprofilantenne

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP13151722.9A EP2757635A1 (de) 2013-01-17 2013-01-17 Niedrigprofilantenne

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2757635A1 true EP2757635A1 (de) 2014-07-23

Family

ID=47603361

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP13151722.9A Withdrawn EP2757635A1 (de) 2013-01-17 2013-01-17 Niedrigprofilantenne

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2757635A1 (de)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2019527508A (ja) * 2016-07-26 2019-09-26 ウェイモ エルエルシー メッキ処理および射出成形された車載レーダ導波管アンテナ
CN111602299A (zh) * 2017-11-10 2020-08-28 雷神公司 增材制造技术(amt)薄型辐射器

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0409221A2 (de) * 1989-07-21 1991-01-23 SELENIA INDUSTRIE ELETTRONICHE ASSOCIATE S.p.A. Strahlende Elemente und Verteilernetzwerk in einer integrierten Anordnung als Radarantenne verwendet
WO2001015275A1 (en) * 1999-08-25 2001-03-01 Aerosat Corporation Low-height, low-cost, high-gain antenna and system for mobile platforms

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0409221A2 (de) * 1989-07-21 1991-01-23 SELENIA INDUSTRIE ELETTRONICHE ASSOCIATE S.p.A. Strahlende Elemente und Verteilernetzwerk in einer integrierten Anordnung als Radarantenne verwendet
WO2001015275A1 (en) * 1999-08-25 2001-03-01 Aerosat Corporation Low-height, low-cost, high-gain antenna and system for mobile platforms

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2019527508A (ja) * 2016-07-26 2019-09-26 ウェイモ エルエルシー メッキ処理および射出成形された車載レーダ導波管アンテナ
CN111602299A (zh) * 2017-11-10 2020-08-28 雷神公司 增材制造技术(amt)薄型辐射器
CN111602299B (zh) * 2017-11-10 2023-04-14 雷神公司 增材制造技术(amt)薄型辐射器

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US11276937B2 (en) Waveguide feed network architecture for wideband, low profile, dual polarized planar horn array antennas
US10193225B2 (en) Beam forming network for feeding short wall slotted waveguide arrays
EP2575210B1 (de) Strahleröffnung mit variabler Höhe
EP3482456B1 (de) Radarantenne mit durch oberflächenwellen angeregten parasitären elementen
US10539656B2 (en) Antenna and radar system that include a polarization-rotating layer
JP5583267B2 (ja) モジュラ能動開口電子指向性アレイのためのｒｆ給電ネットワーク
US7061443B2 (en) MMW electronically scanned antenna
JP2013529411A5 (de)
WO2018121256A1 (zh) 低剖面天线
EP2757635A1 (de) Niedrigprofilantenne
US20140198005A1 (en) Low profile antenna
Nguyen et al. Highly efficient leaky-wave antenna array using a power-recycling series feeding network
CN108270072A (zh) 低剖面天线
KR102147952B1 (ko) 패턴이 형성된 혼 안테나 및 이를 구비한 안테나 장치
CA2802148A1 (en) Low profile antenna
CN112909557B (zh) 环状圆盘上的波导缝隙阵列天线及组合天线
CN113140916B (zh) 一种多层脊波导天线馈电结构
CN113140917B (zh) 一种多层矩形波导天线馈电结构
US20220166140A1 (en) Periodic linear array with uniformly distributed antennas
CN116505264A (zh) 一种轻薄化缝隙波导天线及基于其的天线阵面
CN113285230A (zh) 一种用于毫米波mimo和空间功率合成的反射式超表面
Liang et al. A large-aperture broadband wide-angle scanning system based on overlapped subarrays
JP2006332757A (ja) マイクロストリップ型電波レンズ及びアンテナ

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20130117

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: BA ME

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN

18D Application deemed to be withdrawn

Effective date: 20150124