EP2764577B1 - Multibeam source - Google Patents

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Publication number
EP2764577B1
EP2764577B1 EP12768843.0A EP12768843A EP2764577B1 EP 2764577 B1 EP2764577 B1 EP 2764577B1 EP 12768843 A EP12768843 A EP 12768843A EP 2764577 B1 EP2764577 B1 EP 2764577B1
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Prior art keywords
source
central
elementary
multibeam
sub
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP2764577A1 (en
Inventor
Maxime ROMIER
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Centre National dEtudes Spatiales CNES
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Centre National dEtudes Spatiales CNES
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q25/00—Antennas or antenna systems providing at least two radiating patterns
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01P—WAVEGUIDES; RESONATORS, LINES, OR OTHER DEVICES OF THE WAVEGUIDE TYPE
    • H01P5/00—Coupling devices of the waveguide type
    • H01P5/12—Coupling devices having more than two ports
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q15/00—Devices for reflection, refraction, diffraction or polarisation of waves radiated from an antenna, e.g. quasi-optical devices
    • H01Q15/24—Polarising devices; Polarisation filters 
    • H01Q15/242—Polarisation converters
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q19/00—Combinations of primary active antenna elements and units with secondary devices, e.g. with quasi-optical devices, for giving the antenna a desired directional characteristic
    • H01Q19/10—Combinations of primary active antenna elements and units with secondary devices, e.g. with quasi-optical devices, for giving the antenna a desired directional characteristic using reflecting surfaces
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q19/00—Combinations of primary active antenna elements and units with secondary devices, e.g. with quasi-optical devices, for giving the antenna a desired directional characteristic
    • H01Q19/10—Combinations of primary active antenna elements and units with secondary devices, e.g. with quasi-optical devices, for giving the antenna a desired directional characteristic using reflecting surfaces
    • H01Q19/12—Combinations of primary active antenna elements and units with secondary devices, e.g. with quasi-optical devices, for giving the antenna a desired directional characteristic using reflecting surfaces wherein the surfaces are concave
    • H01Q19/17—Combinations of primary active antenna elements and units with secondary devices, e.g. with quasi-optical devices, for giving the antenna a desired directional characteristic using reflecting surfaces wherein the surfaces are concave the primary radiating source comprising two or more radiating elements
    • 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
    • H01Q21/005—Slotted waveguides 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
    • 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
    • H01Q25/00—Antennas or antenna systems providing at least two radiating patterns
    • H01Q25/007—Antennas or antenna systems providing at least two radiating patterns using two or more primary active elements in the focal region of a focusing device

Definitions

  • Multi-beam antennas for spot coverage of a given geographical area are used in satellite communications.
  • the main objective of this technology is to reduce the cost of bit transmission by making the best use of the frequency band allocated to a given application.
  • the distribution of the signals is such that two adjacent cells do not have signals having the same characteristics, that is to say signals with the same frequency and the same polarization.
  • the identical signals are reused in non-adjacent cells to increase the capacity of the system.
  • a multi-beam type of "multiple sources beam” comprises a multi-beam source placed near the focus of a focusing system composed of one or more reflectors.
  • the multi-beam source has several elementary sources arranged in subnetworks.
  • a sub-network makes it possible to form a beam having a given frequency and a given polarization.
  • the allocated frequency band is divided into two sub-frequency bands F 1 and F 2 , and two linear orthogonal polarizations (horizontal H and vertical V) or circular polarizations (right PCG or left PCD). are used.
  • sub-networks of a fourfold reuse scheme are defined as follows: F1 + H (or PCG); F1 + V (or PCD); F2 + H (or PCG); F2 + V (or PCD).
  • the elementary sources contributing to the formation of a beam are seven in number and called septets.
  • the septets used for two adjacent beams have overlapping areas.
  • the figure 1 illustrates such a scheme of reuse of frequency and polarization.
  • the subnets are associated so that two adjacent subnetworks have elementary sources in common. On the figure 1 several subnets of seven elementary sources are associated (septets). Each subnet is hexagonal.
  • the interleaving of sub-networks makes it possible to enlarge the surface used for the formation of a beam and thus to improve its radio characteristics.
  • the multi-beam source includes a beam forming network (in English, "Beam Forming Network” (BFN)).
  • BFN Beam Forming Network
  • the BFN has N access corresponding to the number of beams.
  • a signal supplying an access is distributed with a predetermined phase and amplitude weighting on all the sources of one of the sub-networks.
  • the aim of the BFN is to distribute the signals from the accesses to the elementary sources of each subnetwork knowing that adjacent subnetworks have overlaps.
  • a BFN is known consisting of several 2: 2 couplers feeding sub-networks of which some elementary sources are shared with other subnets.
  • N. Ratkorn, M. Schneider, R. Gehring, H. Wolf "MEDUSA - A Multiple Feeds per Beam Multi Spot Beam Antenna Project", 30th ESA Antenna Workshop, Noordwijk, Netherlands, 27-30 May 2008 .
  • This structure of BFN therefore comprises a succession of 2: 2 couplers interconnected by an entanglement of waveguides.
  • the routing of the waveguides is made difficult by the fact that the elementary antenna array is two-dimensional and that the adjacent sub-networks have overlaps.
  • the solution obtained is constraining in terms of fabrication and possible calibration of the elements located in the heart of the BFN.
  • An object of the invention is to have a multi-beam source for performing the interleaving of subnets in a simple manner.
  • the invention relates to a multi-beam antenna comprising a focusing system and a multi-beam source according to the first aspect of the invention arranged near the focus of said focusing system.
  • a multi-beam source comprises a plurality of elementary sources arranged for example in a triangular mesh and which are associated in sub-networks each comprising elementary sources S11, S12, S13, S14, S15, S16 arranged around a central elemental source. S1.
  • subnets are associated such that two adjacent subnetworks have elementary sources in common (as shown in FIG. figure 1 ).
  • each subnet is hexagonal in shape (see figure 1 ).
  • a polarizer 100 (double lines on the Figures 2c , 4 ) is arranged either at each input of the distribution stage or at each output of the distribution stage.
  • the multi-beam source comprises a phase-shifting stage 30 which makes it possible to adjust the phase of the signals originating from the distribution stage 20 (see FIG. figure 2b ).
  • the source comprises a radiating stage 40 typically composed of horns connected after the phase shifter stage and corresponding to each elementary source (see FIG. figure 5 ).
  • the distribution stage 20 consists of several waveguides.
  • the figure 3a illustrates in perspective and in section the arrangement of five waveguides 1, 11, 14, 15, 16 of a septet.
  • a central waveguide 1 corresponds to the central elemental source S1 and six peripheral guides are coupled radially to the central waveguide 1.
  • the accesses of the peripheral guides may be terminated either by short-circuits or by appropriate loads designed to absorb the residual power likely to propagate in the opposite direction.
  • a sub-network is in fact a 1: 7 coupler consisting of a central waveguide 1 corresponding to the central elemental source S1 and six peripheral guides S11, S12, S13, S14, S15, S16 which correspond to the peripheral guides.
  • the waveguides are circular, oval, hexagonal or square.
  • the peripheral guides are connected to the central guide by means of coupling slots 110.
  • the peripheral guides and the central guide are coupled to one another via six rows of coupling slots 110.
  • the figure 3b illustrates a front view of a septet.
  • the coupling slots are typically rectangular in shape and are connected on the one hand to the central waveguide and on the other hand to one of the peripheral guides of the sub-network.
  • the width of the coupling slots is between the half wavelength ⁇ and the diameter of the peripheral waveguide.
  • the coupling slots may include isolation devices allowing the propagation of energy from the central guide to the peripheral guide while prohibiting propagation in the opposite direction. Insulation devices can be made by means of ferrites, for example.
  • certain waveguides are connected by coupling slots 110 to the central waveguides of the adjacent sub-networks, the waveguides corresponding to the elementary sources common to several sub-networks are connected to one another.
  • the couplers 1: 7 are interlaced, that is to say that the peripheral guides (elementary sources S11, S12, S13, S14, S15, S16) participate simultaneously in several adjacent subnetworks, the Peripheral guides are connected in parallel through rows of coupling slots to three adjacent central guides.
  • the coupling slots are spaced by a pitch less than ⁇ g (central guide) / 2 where ⁇ g (central guide) is the guided wavelength in the central waveguide calculated in the frequency band to be coupled.
  • the number of coupling slots is chosen such that the coupling area is between four and eight times ⁇ g (central guide) .
  • the spacing between the slots and the number of slots must be optimized to ensure good coupling.
  • the number of coupling slots is a function of the difference in power radiated by the central elemental source and that radiated by the elementary sources of the corresponding subarray, the apodization typically varying between 0 and 10 dB.
  • the structure is symmetrical, which makes it possible to minimize the generation of higher order modes that can propagate, as a function of the diameter of the waveguides and the frequency.
  • the unconnected coupling slots 113 of the sub-networks located at the periphery are terminated by short-circuits (reflecting the incident field in the slot) or adapted charges (absorbing the incident field in the slot) to optimize the functioning of these subnetworks.
  • the adapted charges composed of lossy material have the function of canceling the reflection of the energy propagated in the unconnected coupling slots, which can degrade the radio performance of sub-networks located at the periphery.
  • FIG 5 On the figure 5 is shown a sectional view along the axis BB of the figure 4 .
  • the coupling is provided here by five rectangular coupling slots 111.
  • the phase-shifter stage 30 consists, for an elementary source, in a variable-section waveguide for modulating the guided wavelength and thus the output phase.
  • the figure 6 illustrates this principle with two waveguides of identical length for obtaining differentiated output phases.
  • the phase shifter stage can be made by stacking machined metal layers.
  • a multibeam source formed by a stack of layers of material.
  • the material used is identical for all the layers in order to promote a homogeneous mechanical and thermoelastic behavior. Materials such as aluminum or invar can be used.

Description

DOMAINE TECHNIQUE GENERALGENERAL TECHNICAL FIELD

L'invention concerne le domaine des télécommunications par satellite. Elle concerne plus particulièrement une source multi-faisceaux pour une antenne multi-faisceaux.The invention relates to the field of satellite telecommunications. It relates more particularly to a multi-beam source for a multi-beam antenna.

ETAT DE LA TECHNIQUESTATE OF THE ART

Les antennes multi-faisceaux pour la couverture par spots d'une zone géographique donnée sont utilisées dans les communications par satellite.Multi-beam antennas for spot coverage of a given geographical area are used in satellite communications.

L'objectif principal de cette technologie est la baisse du coût de transmission par bit en utilisant au mieux la bande de fréquence allouée à une application donnée.The main objective of this technology is to reduce the cost of bit transmission by making the best use of the frequency band allocated to a given application.

Les techniques actuelles font appel à des systèmes antennaires multi-faisceaux fonctionnant en diversité de fréquence et diversité de polarisation.Current techniques use multi-beam antennal systems operating in frequency diversity and polarization diversity.

Ces techniques sont similaires à celles utilisées pour des réseaux de communications terrestres dits « cellulaires ».These techniques are similar to those used for so-called "cellular" terrestrial communications networks.

Avec cette technique, la répartition des signaux est telle que deux cellules adjacentes n'ont pas de signaux ayant les mêmes caractéristiques, c'est-à-dire des signaux avec la même fréquence et la même polarisation. En revanche, les signaux identiques sont réutilisés dans des cellules non adjacentes afin d'accroître la capacité du système.With this technique, the distribution of the signals is such that two adjacent cells do not have signals having the same characteristics, that is to say signals with the same frequency and the same polarization. In contrast, the identical signals are reused in non-adjacent cells to increase the capacity of the system.

De manière connue, une antenne multi-faisceaux de type « multiples sources par faisceaux » comporte une source multi-faisceaux placée à proximité du foyer d'un système focalisant composé de un ou plusieurs réflecteurs. La source multi-faisceaux comporte plusieurs sources élémentaires arrangées en sous-réseaux.In known manner, a multi-beam type of "multiple sources beam" comprises a multi-beam source placed near the focus of a focusing system composed of one or more reflectors. The multi-beam source has several elementary sources arranged in subnetworks.

Un sous-réseau permet de former un faisceau ayant une fréquence donnée et une polarisation donnée.A sub-network makes it possible to form a beam having a given frequency and a given polarization.

De façon usuelle, pour les transmissions par satellite, la bande de fréquence allouée est divisée en deux sous bandes de fréquences F1 et F2, et deux polarisations orthogonales linéaires (horizontale H et verticale V) ou circulaires (droite PCG ou gauche PCD) sont utilisées.In the usual way, for satellite transmissions, the allocated frequency band is divided into two sub-frequency bands F 1 and F 2 , and two linear orthogonal polarizations (horizontal H and vertical V) or circular polarizations (right PCG or left PCD). are used.

Ainsi les sous-réseaux d'un schéma de réutilisation par quatre (schéma quatre couleurs) sont définies comme suit : F1 + H (ou PCG) ; F1 + V (ou PCD) ; F2 + H (ou PCG) ; F2 + V (ou PCD).Thus the sub-networks of a fourfold reuse scheme (four-color scheme) are defined as follows: F1 + H (or PCG); F1 + V (or PCD); F2 + H (or PCG); F2 + V (or PCD).

Les sources élémentaires contribuant à la formation d'un faisceau sont au nombre de sept et appelées septets. Les septets utilisés pour deux faisceaux adjacents présentent des zones de recouvrement.The elementary sources contributing to the formation of a beam are seven in number and called septets. The septets used for two adjacent beams have overlapping areas.

La figure 1 illustre un tel schéma de réutilisation de fréquence et de polarisation.The figure 1 illustrates such a scheme of reuse of frequency and polarization.

Les sous-réseaux sont associés de telle sorte que deux sous-réseaux adjacents comportent des sources élémentaires en commun. Sur la figure 1 plusieurs sous-réseaux de sept sources élémentaires sont associés (septets). Chaque sous-réseau est de forme hexagonale.The subnets are associated so that two adjacent subnetworks have elementary sources in common. On the figure 1 several subnets of seven elementary sources are associated (septets). Each subnet is hexagonal.

L'entrelacement de sous-réseaux permet d'agrandir la surface utilisée pour la formation d'un faisceau et donc d'améliorer ses caractéristiques radioélectriques.The interleaving of sub-networks makes it possible to enlarge the surface used for the formation of a beam and thus to improve its radio characteristics.

Pour former les faisceaux, la source multi-faisceaux comporte un réseau de formation de faisceaux (en anglais, « Beam Forming Network », (BFN)).To form the beams, the multi-beam source includes a beam forming network (in English, "Beam Forming Network" (BFN)).

De manière classique le BFN comporte N accès correspondant au nombre de faisceaux. Un signal alimentant un accès est distribué avec une pondération de phase et d'amplitude prédéterminée sur l'ensemble des sources d'un des sous-réseaux. Le BFN a pour but de répartir les signaux issus des accès vers les sources élémentaires de chaque sous-réseau sachant que des sous-réseaux adjacents possèdent des recouvrements.In a conventional manner the BFN has N access corresponding to the number of beams. A signal supplying an access is distributed with a predetermined phase and amplitude weighting on all the sources of one of the sub-networks. The aim of the BFN is to distribute the signals from the accesses to the elementary sources of each subnetwork knowing that adjacent subnetworks have overlaps.

On connaît un BFN constitué de plusieurs coupleurs 2 :2 alimentant des sous-réseaux dont certaines sources élémentaires sont partagées avec d'autres sous-réseaux. On peut se référer à cet effet au document N. Ratkorn, M. Schneider, R. Gehring, H. Wolf, "MEDUSA - A Multiple Feeds per Beam Multi Spot Beam Antenna Project", 30th ESA Antenna Workshop, Noordwijk, Netherlands, 27-30 May 2008 . Le brevet US-A1-4,710,776 et l'article R. Gehring et al., "Trade-off for overlapping feed array configurations", 29th ESA Antenna Workshop on Multiple Beams and Reconfigurable Antennas, 18-20 avril 2007, ESTEC, Noordwijk (NL ), sont également connus.A BFN is known consisting of several 2: 2 couplers feeding sub-networks of which some elementary sources are shared with other subnets. For this purpose, reference may be made to the document N. Ratkorn, M. Schneider, R. Gehring, H. Wolf, "MEDUSA - A Multiple Feeds per Beam Multi Spot Beam Antenna Project", 30th ESA Antenna Workshop, Noordwijk, Netherlands, 27-30 May 2008 . The patent US-A1-4,710,776 and the article R. Gehring et al., "Trade-off for overlapping feed array configurations", 29th ESA Antenna Workshop on Multiple Beams and Reconfigurable Antennas, 18-20 April 2007, ESTEC, Noordwijk (NL) ), are also known.

Cette structure de BFN comporte donc une succession de coupleurs 2:2 reliés entre eux par un enchevêtrement de guides d'ondes. Le routage des guides d'onde est rendu difficile par le fait que le réseau d'antennes élémentaires est bi-dimensionnel et que les sous-réseaux adjacents présentent des recouvrements. En conséquence la solution obtenue est contraignante en termes de fabrication et de calibration éventuelle des éléments situés au coeur du BFN.This structure of BFN therefore comprises a succession of 2: 2 couplers interconnected by an entanglement of waveguides. The routing of the waveguides is made difficult by the fact that the elementary antenna array is two-dimensional and that the adjacent sub-networks have overlaps. As a result, the solution obtained is constraining in terms of fabrication and possible calibration of the elements located in the heart of the BFN.

PRESENTATION DE L'INVENTIONPRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

Un objectif de l'invention est d'avoir une source multi-faisceaux permettant de réaliser l'entrelacement de sous-réseaux de manière simple.An object of the invention is to have a multi-beam source for performing the interleaving of subnets in a simple manner.

A cet effet, l'invention concerne une source multi-faisceaux pour antenne multi-faisceaux, la source comportant une pluralité de sources élémentaires identiques telles que :

  • les sources élémentaires sont associées en sous-réseaux identiques autour d'une source élémentaire centrale, chaque sous-réseau étant destiné à former un faisceau et que
  • deux sous-réseaux adjacents comportent au moins une source élémentaire en commun ;
la source comprenant
  • un étage d'alimentation et de polarisation pour alimenter en puissance et polariser le champ électromagnétique aux accès des sources élémentaires centrales ; et
  • un étage de répartition de la puissance issue des sources élémentaires centrales vers les sources élémentaires du sous-réseau correspondant et celles communes à plusieurs sous-réseaux selon une loi d'amplitude déterminée ;
dans laquelle l'étage de répartition est constitué d'une pluralité de guides d'ondes parallèles orientés selon un axe de rayonnement de ladite source, chaque guide d'onde correspondant à chaque source élémentaire et sont arrangés les uns par rapport aux autres tels que pour un sous-réseau, un guide d'onde central correspond à la source élémentaire centrale et des guides d'ondes périphériques sont connectés radialement au guide d'onde central et tels que les guides d'ondes correspondant aux sources élémentaires communes à plusieurs sous-réseaux sont connectés entre eux ; et dans laquelle
  • les guides d'ondes sont connectés au moyen de fentes de couplages disposées radialement autour du guide d'onde de manière à coupler le mode fondamental du guide central et le mode fondamental du guide périphérique, le mode fondamental étant défini comme le premier mode propagatif.
For this purpose, the invention relates to a multi-beam source for a multi-beam antenna, the source comprising a plurality of identical elementary sources such as:
  • the elementary sources are associated in identical subarrays around a central elemental source, each sub-network being intended to form a beam and that
  • two adjacent subnetworks have at least one elementary source in common;
the source comprising
  • a power supply and bias stage for supplying power and biasing the electromagnetic field to the accesses of the central elementary sources; and
  • a power distribution stage from the central elemental sources to the elementary sources of the subnetwork corresponding and those common to several sub-networks according to a given amplitude law;
wherein the distribution stage consists of a plurality of parallel waveguides oriented along an axis of radiation of said source, each waveguide corresponding to each elementary source and arranged relative to one another such that for a sub-network, a central waveguide corresponds to the central elemental source and peripheral waveguides are radially connected to the central waveguide and such as the waveguides corresponding to the elementary sources common to several sub-waves. networks are connected to each other; and in which
  • the waveguides are connected by means of coupling slots arranged radially around the waveguide so as to couple the fundamental mode of the central guide and the fundamental mode of the peripheral guide, the fundamental mode being defined as the first propagative mode.

En outre, l'invention concerne une antenne multi-faisceaux comprenant un système focalisant ainsi qu'une source multi-faisceaux selon le premier aspect de l'invention disposée à proximité du foyer dudit système focalisant.In addition, the invention relates to a multi-beam antenna comprising a focusing system and a multi-beam source according to the first aspect of the invention arranged near the focus of said focusing system.

L'invention est avantageusement complétée par les caractéristiques suivantes, prises seules ou en une quelconque de leur combinaison techniquement possible :

  • les fentes de couplage sont espacées de moins de la moitié de la longueur d'onde guidée dans le guide d'onde central à la fréquence de fonctionnement, de préférence d'un quart de la longueur d'onde guidée du guide d'onde central à la fréquence de fonctionnement ;
  • le nombre de fentes de couplage est fonction de la différence de puissance rayonnée par la source élémentaire centrale et celle rayonnée par les sources élémentaires du sous-réseau correspondant, l'apodisation variant typiquement entre 0 et 10dB ;
  • les fentes de couplage non-connectées des réseaux situés en périphérie sont terminées par des charges adaptées ou des parois métalliques disposées à leur extrémité ;
  • l'étage d'accès comporte un polariseur adapté pour fonctionner en polarisation circulaire ou linéaire correspondant à chaque source élémentaire centrale ;
  • elle comprend un étage déphaseur disposé à la suite de l'étage de répartition pour contrôler la phase des signaux issus des guides d'ondes ;
  • l'étage de répartition et l'étage déphaseur sont formés, pour une source élémentaire, par un unique guide d'onde à section variable ;
  • les guides d'ondes correspondant à chaque source élémentaire et les connexions entre les guides sont formés par un empilement de couches de matériau, typiquement de l'aluminium ou de l'invar ;
  • chaque sous-réseau est constitué de sept sources, une source élémentaire centrale six sources élémentaires disposées autour de la source élémentaire centrale ;
  • l'étage de répartition comprend une pluralité de coupleurs directionnels 1:7 constitués d'un guide central et de six guides périphériques disposés autour du guide d'onde central.
The invention is advantageously completed by the following features, taken alone or in any of their technically possible combination:
  • the coupling slots are spaced from less than half of the guided wavelength in the central waveguide to the operating frequency, preferably one quarter of the guided wavelength of the central waveguide at the operating frequency;
  • the number of coupling slots is a function of the difference in power radiated by the central elemental source and that radiated by the elementary sources of the corresponding sub-network, the apodization typically varying between 0 and 10 dB;
  • the unconnected coupling slots of the networks at the periphery are terminated by suitable charges or metal walls arranged at their ends;
  • the access stage comprises a polarizer adapted to operate in circular or linear polarization corresponding to each central elemental source;
  • it comprises a phase shifter stage arranged following the distribution stage to control the phase of the signals from the waveguides;
  • the distribution stage and the phase-shifter stage are formed, for an elementary source, by a single variable-section waveguide;
  • the waveguides corresponding to each elemental source and the connections between the guides are formed by a stack of layers of material, typically aluminum or invar;
  • each subnet consists of seven sources, a central elemental source six elementary sources arranged around the central elemental source;
  • the distribution stage comprises a plurality of directional couplers 1: 7 consisting of a central guide and six peripheral guides arranged around the central waveguide.

Les avantages de l'invention sont multiples.The advantages of the invention are manifold.

Grâce à l'utilisation de fentes de couplages pluri-directionnelles le couplage des sources d'un sous-réseau est facilité. L'utilisation d'une succession de coupleurs 2:2 est donc évitée.Thanks to the use of multi-directional coupling slots the coupling of the sources of a sub-network is facilitated. The use of a succession of 2: 2 couplers is thus avoided.

PRESENTATION DES FIGURESPRESENTATION OF FIGURES

D'autres caractéristiques et avantages de l'invention ressortiront encore de la description qui suit laquelle est purement illustrative et non limitative et doit être lue en regard des dessins annexés sur lesquels outre la figure 1 déjà discutée :

  • les figures 2a, 2b et 2c illustrent schématiquement la structure d'une source multi-faisceaux selon l'invention ;
  • les figures 3a et 3b illustrent respectivement une vue de profil en coupe et de face d'un septet de la source selon l'invention ;
  • la figure 4 illustre une vue de face d'une source selon un mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
  • la figure 5 illustre une vue en coupe de la figure 4 ;
  • la figure 6 illustre une vue de deux guides d'ondes de la source selon l'invention.
Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description which follows, which is purely illustrative and nonlimiting, and should be read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which, in addition to the figure 1 already discussed:
  • the Figures 2a, 2b and 2c schematically illustrate the structure of a multi-beam source according to the invention;
  • the Figures 3a and 3b respectively illustrate a profile view in section and front of a septet of the source according to the invention;
  • the figure 4 illustrates a front view of a source according to one embodiment of the invention;
  • the figure 5 illustrates a sectional view of the figure 4 ;
  • the figure 6 illustrates a view of two waveguides of the source according to the invention.

Sur l'ensemble des figures, les éléments similaires portent des références numériques identiques.In all the figures, similar elements bear identical reference numerals.

DESCRIPTION DETAILLEE DE L'INVENTIONDETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

La description qui suit est effectuée en relation avec les figures 2a à 6.The following description is made in relation to the Figures 2a to 6 .

Une source multi-faisceaux comporte une pluralité de sources élémentaires agencées par exemple selon une maille triangulaire et qui sont associées en sous-réseaux comportant chacun des sources élémentaires S11, S12, S13, S14, S15, S16 disposées autour d'une source élémentaire centrale S1.A multi-beam source comprises a plurality of elementary sources arranged for example in a triangular mesh and which are associated in sub-networks each comprising elementary sources S11, S12, S13, S14, S15, S16 arranged around a central elemental source. S1.

Un sous-réseau comporte par exemple sept sources élémentaires, on parle alors de septets. Dans ce cas là le sous-réseau comporte six sources élémentaires S11, S12, S13, S14, S15, S16 disposées autour d'une source élémentaire centrale S1.For example, a subnet contains seven elementary sources, which is called septets. In this case the sub-network comprises six elementary sources S11, S12, S13, S14, S15, S16 arranged around a central elementary source S1.

Comme on l'a mentionné, pour obtenir l'entrelacement des sous-réseaux les sous-réseaux sont associés tels que deux sous-réseaux adjacents comportent des sources élémentaires en commun (comme illustré sur la figure 1).As mentioned, to obtain subnetwork interleaving, subnets are associated such that two adjacent subnetworks have elementary sources in common (as shown in FIG. figure 1 ).

Comme cela est illustré sur la figure 4, sept sous-réseaux sont associés dont certains ont des sources élémentaires en commun. Chaque sous-réseau est de forme hexagonale (voir la figure 1).As illustrated on the figure 4 seven subnetworks are associated, some of which have elementary sources in common. Each subnet is hexagonal in shape (see figure 1 ).

La source multi-faisceaux est constituée de plusieurs étages (voir la figure 2a) dont :

  • un étage 10 d'alimentation et de polarisation pour alimenter en puissance et polariser le champ électromagnétique aux accès des sources élémentaires centrales S1-S7 ; et
  • un étage de répartition 20 pour répartir la puissance entre la source élémentaire centrale S1-S7 et les sources élémentaires du sous-réseau ainsi qu'entre les sources communes à plusieurs sous-réseaux.
The multi-beam source consists of several stages (see figure 2a ) whose :
  • a supply and bias stage 10 for supplying power and biasing the electromagnetic field to the accesses of the central elementary sources S1-S7; and
  • a distribution stage 20 for distributing the power between the central elementary source S1-S7 and the elementary sources of the sub-network as well as between the sources common to several sub-networks.

Pour assurer la polarisation du champ rayonné, un polariseur 100 (double traits sur les figures 2c, 4) est disposé soit à chaque entrée de l'étage de répartition soit à chaque sortie de l'étage de répartition.To ensure the polarization of the radiated field, a polarizer 100 (double lines on the Figures 2c , 4 ) is arranged either at each input of the distribution stage or at each output of the distribution stage.

De manière complémentaire la source multi-faisceaux comprend un étage déphaseur 30 qui permet de régler la phase les signaux provenant de l'étage de répartition 20 (voir la figure 2b).In a complementary manner, the multi-beam source comprises a phase-shifting stage 30 which makes it possible to adjust the phase of the signals originating from the distribution stage 20 (see FIG. figure 2b ).

Enfin, la source comporte un étage 40 rayonnant typiquement composé de cornets connectés à la suite de l'étage 30 déphaseur et correspondants à chaque source élémentaire (voir la figure 5).Finally, the source comprises a radiating stage 40 typically composed of horns connected after the phase shifter stage and corresponding to each elementary source (see FIG. figure 5 ).

L'étage de répartition 20 est constitué de plusieurs guides d'ondes. La figure 3a illustre en perspective et en coupe l'agencement de cinq guides d'ondes 1, 11, 14, 15, 16 d'un septet.The distribution stage 20 consists of several waveguides. The figure 3a illustrates in perspective and in section the arrangement of five waveguides 1, 11, 14, 15, 16 of a septet.

Pour un sous-réseau : un guide d'onde central 1 correspond à la source élémentaire centrale S1 et six guides périphériques sont couplés radialement au guide d'onde central 1. Les accès des guides périphériques peuvent être terminés soit par des court-circuits, soit par des charges adaptées destinées à absorber la puissance résiduelle susceptible de se propager dans la direction inverse.For a subnet: a central waveguide 1 corresponds to the central elemental source S1 and six peripheral guides are coupled radially to the central waveguide 1. The accesses of the peripheral guides may be terminated either by short-circuits or by appropriate loads designed to absorb the residual power likely to propagate in the opposite direction.

En d'autres termes, un sous-réseau est en fait un coupleur 1:7 constitué d'un guide d'onde central 1 correspondant à la source élémentaire centrale S1 et six guides périphériques S11, S12, S13, S14, S15, S16 qui correspondent aux guides périphériques.In other words, a sub-network is in fact a 1: 7 coupler consisting of a central waveguide 1 corresponding to the central elemental source S1 and six peripheral guides S11, S12, S13, S14, S15, S16 which correspond to the peripheral guides.

Les guides d'ondes sont à section circulaire, ovale, hexagonale ou carrée.The waveguides are circular, oval, hexagonal or square.

La connexion des guides périphériques au guide central est effectuée par l'intermédiaire de fentes 110 de couplage. En particulier, dans le cas du coupleur 1 :7 les guides périphériques et le guide central sont couplés entre eux par l'intermédiaire de six rangées de fentes 110 de couplage.The peripheral guides are connected to the central guide by means of coupling slots 110. In particular, in the case of the coupler 1: 7, the peripheral guides and the central guide are coupled to one another via six rows of coupling slots 110.

La figure 3b illustre une vue de face d'un septet.The figure 3b illustrates a front view of a septet.

Les fentes de couplage sont typiquement de forme rectangulaire et sont connectées d'une part au guide d'onde central et d'autre part à l'un des guides périphériques du sous-réseau. La largeur des fentes de couplage est comprise entre la demi-longueur d'onde λ et le diamètre du guide d'onde périphérique. Les fentes de couplage peuvent inclure des dispositifs d'isolation autorisant la propagation de l'énergie du guide central vers le guide périphérique tout en interdisant la propagation dans le sens inverse. Les dispositifs d'isolation peuvent être réalisés au moyen de ferrites par exemple.The coupling slots are typically rectangular in shape and are connected on the one hand to the central waveguide and on the other hand to one of the peripheral guides of the sub-network. The width of the coupling slots is between the half wavelength λ and the diameter of the peripheral waveguide. The coupling slots may include isolation devices allowing the propagation of energy from the central guide to the peripheral guide while prohibiting propagation in the opposite direction. Insulation devices can be made by means of ferrites, for example.

Dans le cas d'une source comprenant plusieurs sous-réseaux certaines sources sont partagées. Dans ce cas les guides d'ondes correspondant aux sources élémentaires sont couplés de la même manière (voir la figure 4).In the case of a source comprising several subnets some sources are shared. In this case the waveguides corresponding to the elementary sources are coupled in the same way (see figure 4 ).

Les sous-réseaux étant entrelacés, certains guides d'ondes sont connectés par des fentes 110 de couplage aux guides d'ondes centraux de sous-réseaux adjacents, les guides d'ondes correspondant aux sources élémentaires communes à plusieurs sous-réseaux sont connectés entre eux.The subnets being interlaced, certain waveguides are connected by coupling slots 110 to the central waveguides of the adjacent sub-networks, the waveguides corresponding to the elementary sources common to several sub-networks are connected to one another.

En d'autres termes, les coupleurs 1:7 sont entrelacés, c'est-à-dire que les guides périphériques (sources élémentaires S11, S12, S13, S14, S15, S16) participent simultanément à plusieurs sous-réseaux adjacents, les guides périphériques sont connectés en parallèle par l'intermédiaire de rangées de fentes de couplage à trois guides centraux adjacents.In other words, the couplers 1: 7 are interlaced, that is to say that the peripheral guides (elementary sources S11, S12, S13, S14, S15, S16) participate simultaneously in several adjacent subnetworks, the Peripheral guides are connected in parallel through rows of coupling slots to three adjacent central guides.

Les fentes de couplage sont espacées d'un pas inférieur à λg(guide central)/2 où λg(guide central) est la longueur d'onde guidée dans le guide d'onde central calculée dans la bande de fréquence à coupler.The coupling slots are spaced by a pitch less than λ g (central guide) / 2 where λ g (central guide) is the guided wavelength in the central waveguide calculated in the frequency band to be coupled.

Le nombre de fentes de couplage est choisi de sorte que la zone de couplage soit comprise entre quatre et huit fois λg(guide central). L'espacement entre les fentes et le nombre de fentes doivent être optimisé afin d'assurer un bon couplage.The number of coupling slots is chosen such that the coupling area is between four and eight times λ g (central guide) . The spacing between the slots and the number of slots must be optimized to ensure good coupling.

De manière préférée, le nombre de fentes de couplage est fonction de la différence de puissance rayonnée par la source élémentaire centrale et celle rayonnée par les sources élémentaires du sous-réseau correspondant, l'apodisation variant typiquement entre 0 et 10dB.Preferably, the number of coupling slots is a function of the difference in power radiated by the central elemental source and that radiated by the elementary sources of the corresponding subarray, the apodization typically varying between 0 and 10 dB.

Pour chaque sous-réseau, la structure est symétrique ce qui permet de minimiser la génération de modes d'ordre supérieur susceptibles de se propager, en fonction du diamètre des guides d'ondes et de la fréquence.For each sub-network, the structure is symmetrical, which makes it possible to minimize the generation of higher order modes that can propagate, as a function of the diameter of the waveguides and the frequency.

De manière avantageuse les fentes de couplage non-connectées 113 des sous-réseaux situés en périphérie sont terminées par des courts-circuits (réfléchissant le champ incident dans la fente) ou des charges adaptées (absorbant le champ incident dans la fente) pour optimiser le fonctionnement de ces sous-réseaux. Les charges adaptées composées de matériau à pertes ont pour fonction d'annuler la réflexion de l'énergie propagée dans les fentes de couplage non-connectées, susceptibles de dégrader les performances radioélectriques des sous-réseaux situés en périphérie.Advantageously, the unconnected coupling slots 113 of the sub-networks located at the periphery are terminated by short-circuits (reflecting the incident field in the slot) or adapted charges (absorbing the incident field in the slot) to optimize the functioning of these subnetworks. The adapted charges composed of lossy material have the function of canceling the reflection of the energy propagated in the unconnected coupling slots, which can degrade the radio performance of sub-networks located at the periphery.

Sur la figure 5 est représenté une vue en coupe selon l'axe BB de la figure 4. Le couplage est assuré ici par cinq fentes 111 de couplage rectangulaires.On the figure 5 is shown a sectional view along the axis BB of the figure 4 . The coupling is provided here by five rectangular coupling slots 111.

L'étage déphaseur 30 consiste, pour une source élémentaire, en un guide d'onde à section variable permettant de moduler la longueur d'onde guidée et donc la phase de sortie. La figure 6 illustre ce principe avec deux guides d'ondes de longueur identique permettant d'obtenir des phases de sorties différenciée.The phase-shifter stage 30 consists, for an elementary source, in a variable-section waveguide for modulating the guided wavelength and thus the output phase. The figure 6 illustrates this principle with two waveguides of identical length for obtaining differentiated output phases.

Comme l'étage répartiteur, l'étage déphaseur peut être réalisé par empilement de couches métalliques usinées.Like the splitter stage, the phase shifter stage can be made by stacking machined metal layers.

De cette façon il est possible d'avoir une source multifaisceaux formée par un empilement de couches de matériau. De manière préférentielle, le matériau utilisé est identique pour l'ensemble des couches dans le but de favoriser un comportement mécanique et thermoélastique homogène. Des matériaux tels que l'aluminium ou l'invar peuvent être utilisés.In this way it is possible to have a multibeam source formed by a stack of layers of material. Preferably, the material used is identical for all the layers in order to promote a homogeneous mechanical and thermoelastic behavior. Materials such as aluminum or invar can be used.

Claims (11)

  1. A multibeam source for a multibeam antenna, the source including a plurality of identical elementary sources such that:
    - the elementary sources (S1, S11-S16) are associated in identical sub-networks around a central elementary source (S1-S7), each sub-network being intended to form a beam; and that
    - two adjacent sub-networks include at least one elementary source in common;
    the source comprising
    - a supply and polarization stage (10) to power-supply and polarize the electromagnetic field at the accesses of the central elementary sources (S1-S7); and
    - a stage (20) for distributing the power derived from the central elementary sources to the elementary sources of the corresponding sub-network and those shared by several sub-networks according to a determined amplitude law;
    wherein the distribution stage (20) is composed of a plurality of parallel waveguides (1, 11-16) oriented along a radiation axis of said source, each waveguide (1, 11-16) corresponding to each elementary source and are arranged relative to each other such that, for a sub-network, a central waveguide (1) corresponds to the central elementary source and peripheral waveguides are radially connected to the central waveguide and such that the waveguides corresponding to the elementary sources shared by several sub-networks are connected together;
    and wherein the waveguides are connected by means of coupling slots (110) disposed radially around the waveguide so as to couple the fundamental mode of the central guide and the fundamental mode of the peripheral guide, the fundamental mode being defined as the first propagation mode.
  2. The multibeam source according to claim 1, wherein the coupling slots (110) are spaced apart by less than half of the guided wavelength in the central waveguide at the operating frequency, preferably by a quarter of the guided wavelength of the central waveguide at the operating frequency.
  3. The multibeam source according to any of claims 1 to 2, wherein the number of coupling slots (110) depends on the difference of power radiated by the central elementary source and the power radiated by the elementary sources of the corresponding sub-network, the apodization typically ranging between 0 and 10 dB.
  4. The multibeam source according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the unconnected coupling slots (113) of the networks located at the periphery are terminated with suitable loads or metallic walls disposed at their ends.
  5. The multibeam source according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the access stage (10) includes a polarizer adapted to operate in a circular or linear polarization mode corresponding to each central elementary source.
  6. The multi-beam source according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a phase shifter stage (30) disposed following the distribution stage (20) to control the phase of signals derived from the waveguides.
  7. The multi-beam source according to the preceding claim, wherein the distribution stage (20) and the phase shifter stage (30) are formed, for an elementary source, by a single variable section waveguide.
  8. The multibeam source according to the preceding claim, wherein the waveguides corresponding to each elementary source and the connections between the guides are formed by a stack of layers of material, typically of aluminum or of invar.
  9. The multibeam source according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each sub-network consists of seven sources, a central elementary source, and six elementary sources disposed around the central elementary source.
  10. The multibeam source according to claim 10, wherein the distribution stage comprises a plurality of directional couplers 1: 7 consisting of a central guide and of six peripheral guides disposed around the central waveguide.
  11. A multibeam antenna comprising a focusing system composed of one or more reflector(s) as well as a multibeam source according to any of the preceding claims disposed close to the focus of said focusing system.
EP12768843.0A 2011-10-05 2012-10-05 Multibeam source Active EP2764577B1 (en)

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FR1158993A FR2981207B1 (en) 2011-10-05 2011-10-05 MULTI-BEAM SOURCE
PCT/EP2012/069699 WO2013050517A1 (en) 2011-10-05 2012-10-05 Multibeam source

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US10601143B2 (en) * 2016-02-26 2020-03-24 Mitsubishi Electric Corporation Antenna apparatus
JP6501981B2 (en) * 2016-12-08 2019-04-17 三菱電機株式会社 Antenna device
FR3067535B1 (en) * 2017-06-09 2023-03-03 Airbus Defence & Space Sas TELECOMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE, METHOD FOR BEAM FORMING AND METHOD FOR MAKING A SATELLITE PAYLOAD

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US4090203A (en) * 1975-09-29 1978-05-16 Trw Inc. Low sidelobe antenna system employing plural spaced feeds with amplitude control
FR2560446B1 (en) * 1984-01-05 1986-05-30 Europ Agence Spatiale POWER DISTRIBUTOR FOR MULTI-BEAM ANTENNA WITH SHARED SOURCE ELEMENTS
US8289132B2 (en) 1997-10-27 2012-10-16 Direct Source International, Inc. Locking system for electronic equipment
US6606077B2 (en) * 1999-11-18 2003-08-12 Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc. Multi-beam antenna
US7994996B2 (en) * 1999-11-18 2011-08-09 TK Holding Inc., Electronics Multi-beam antenna
US8041437B2 (en) 2008-04-15 2011-10-18 International Business Machines Corporation System and method for virtual control of laboratory equipment
US9625602B2 (en) 2009-11-09 2017-04-18 SeeScan, Inc. Smart personal communication devices as user interfaces
US20130113648A1 (en) 2011-09-30 2013-05-09 L-3 Communications Cyterra Corporation Sensor head

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EP2764577A1 (en) 2014-08-13
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US20140333498A1 (en) 2014-11-13
US9876284B2 (en) 2018-01-23
WO2013050517A1 (en) 2013-04-11

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