EP2869400B1 - Bi-polarisation compact power distributor, network of a plurality of distributors, compact radiating element and planar antenna having such a distributor - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a compact bipolarization planar power distributor, a network of several distributors, a compact radiating element and a planar antenna comprising such a distributor. It applies to the field of multibeam antennas with focal grating operating in low frequency bands and more particularly in the field of C-band, L-band, and S-band telecommunications. It also applies to radiating elements for network antennas. especially in X-band or Ka-band, as well as for a global coverage space antenna, in particular in C-band.

For these different applications, the radiating elements must be able to be excited compactly in single or double polarization, operate for high RF power, and have a bandwidth compatible with the intended application. In addition, the radiating elements used in the focal network multibeam antennas operating in low frequency bands must have a high surface efficiency, a small footprint, a low mass. The radiating elements for network antennas have an objective of integration which requires to have a very compact distributor.

For high power missions at low frequencies, the radiating elements used are generally metal cones. However, these horns are very bulky and have a large mass.

An alternative solution to the metal horn is described in the document FR 2959611 . This solution relates to a compact radiating element consisting of a stack of two Fabry-Perot cavities which makes it possible to reduce the height of the radiating element by 50% compared to a compact metal horn. However, this radiating element is limited to an opening diameter of less than 2.5λ, where λ represents the central wavelength, in a vacuum, of the frequency band of use.

Flat antennas with micro-ribbon-type radiating elements make it possible to efficiently distribute the RF signals over a

radiant opening. By the combination of metal cavities, a stack consisting of a spacer and a dielectric substrate of small thickness, and micro-ribbon circuits, it is possible to obtain planar elements with low losses. However these antennas are limited in power.

Plane antennas with apertures greater than 10λ generally comprise a waveguide technology splitter for routing the RF signal over long lengths and a splitter in micro-ribbon technology for locally distributing the RF signal to radiating elements. The RF signals are divided inside the splitter into waveguide technology, and the power output of this splitter is often reduced, thus making it possible to finalize the distribution of the signal to the radiating elements by a splitter in micro-ribbon technology. However, when the radiating surface is very small, for example of the order of a few wavelengths, this hybridization of the waveguide and micro-ribbon technologies may not be possible. Indeed, the first waveguide technology splitter is too bulky and does not allow the distribution of radiant energy on a very small surface.

The document EP 1930982 describes an example of a splitter in waveguide technology.

The object of the invention is to solve the problems of existing solutions and to propose an alternative solution to existing radiating elements, having a radiating aperture diameter of average size between 2.5λ and 5λ, including a high surface efficiency, low losses and being compatible with high power applications.

For this, the invention consists in segmenting a radiant aperture in several parts, each portion, the size of which varies between 1.5λ and 2.5λ, comprising a planar radiating element of known type, and then putting the radiating elements in a network. using a new compact planar power splitter operating in bipolarization.

For this purpose, the invention relates to a compact bipolarization planar power distribution device comprising at least four transducers intended for be coupled in phase to an orthogonal double polarization power source, the four transducers being networked by by means of two power distributors dedicated to each polarization, the two distributors being mounted parallel to an XY plane and oriented perpendicularly relative to each other. Each transducer is an OMT asymmetric ortho-mode transducer comprising two access ports located in the XY plane and oriented orthogonally between them and a radiating opening opening perpendicular to the XY plane, each power distributor comprising at least two lateral branches arranged parallel to each other. a transverse branch coupled perpendicularly to the two lateral branches and four ends of the lateral branches respectively coupled in the XY plane to the respective access ports of the four asymmetrical OMTs, each lateral and transverse branch consisting of metal waveguides, the transverse branch each distributor being coupled to a power port for connection to the power source.

According to one embodiment of the invention, each waveguide of the splitter comprises a rectangular section delimited by four opposite peripheral walls in pairs of different widths, and the waveguides of the transverse branches and side branches are mounted to flat on one of their peripheral wall of greater width parallel to the XY plane.

According to another embodiment of the invention, each waveguide of the splitter comprises a rectangular section delimited by four opposite peripheral walls two by two of different widths, the waveguides of the transverse branches are mounted on one of their peripheral wall of smaller width so that their peripheral walls of greater width are perpendicular to the XY plane, and the waveguides of the lateral branches are mounted flat with their two peripheral walls of greater width parallel to the XY plane.

According to another embodiment of the invention, each waveguide of the splitter comprises a rectangular section delimited by four opposite peripheral walls in pairs of different widths, the waveguides of the transverse branches and the waveguides of the branches. side are mounted on one of their smaller peripheral wall width so that their peripheral walls of greater width are perpendicular to the XY plane.

Advantageously, the power supply port may comprise a coupling slot arranged in a wall of the waveguides of the transverse branches of the two distributors.

Alternatively, the power supply port may be an access port of a fifth symmetrical or asymmetrical OMT disposed in an overlap area of the transverse branches of the power splitter.

Advantageously, the two power distributors may be arranged parallel to the XY plane and their transverse branches intersect in an overlap zone and be coupled together by a tee coupler.

Alternatively, the two power distributors may be arranged parallel to the XY plane and their transverse branches may be superimposed in an overlap zone and be coupled together by a tee coupler in a plane E.

Advantageously, the waveguides of the two transverse branches may have a thinned thickness P in the overlap zone.

According to one embodiment, the two lateral branches and the four transverse branches of the two power distributors can be mounted on two distinct stages, respectively lower and upper, parallel to the XY plane, and be coupled together by tee couplers in the plane E via coupling slots formed in an upper wall of the waveguides of the transverse branches and corresponding coupling slots formed in a lower wall of the waveguides of the lateral branches.

According to one embodiment, the waveguide of each transverse branch may consist of two waveguide sections located on either side of a central opening for the supply and linearly offset one by relation to the other in a direction perpendicular to the corresponding transverse branch, and the coupling slots arranged in the upper wall of the waveguide of each transverse branch, can be aligned and arranged on two opposite edges of said upper wall, the two transverse branches then having a symmetry of revolution around a central axis of the power splitter.

According to one embodiment, the two power distributors can be arranged in the same plane H parallel to the XY plane, their transverse branches can cross in an overlap zone and be coupled together by a tee coupler in a plane H, and the waveguides of the transverse branches being coupled with the waveguides of the lateral branches by tee couplers in the plane E.

Advantageously, according to one embodiment, at the tee couplers in the plane E, the waveguides of the transverse branches can be embedded in the corresponding waveguides of the lateral branches.

Advantageously, according to one embodiment, the two power distributors may comprise two independent transverse branches superimposed one above the other, one of the walls of smaller width of the waveguide of each transverse branch comprising a respective notch, the two respective notches of the two distributors being abutted one on the other.

According to one embodiment, the four ends of the two lateral branches of the two distributors can be bent and folded on the upper wall of the corresponding lateral guides and respectively be coupled to the access ports of the four asymmetric OMTs from outside the power splitter , the two distributors being superimposed one above the other and oriented perpendicularly relative to each other.

According to one embodiment, the transverse branches of the two distributors can be mounted in two distinct planes parallel to the XY plane and located on either side of the XY plane in which are arranged the lateral branches of the two distributors and coupled to the lateral branches of the corresponding distributor by a tee coupler in the plane E.

The invention also relates to a network of several power distributors having a higher level comprising four identical power splitters coupled in a network, and a lower level comprising a fifth power distributor, the fifth power distributor of the lower level having a port of power supply arranged in a central zone which supplies the four power distributors of the higher level in phase.

The invention also relates to a compact radiating element comprising a power distributor and at least four elementary radiating sources connected in an array by the power distributor, each elementary radiating source having an access port coupled to the radiating aperture of an OMT. respective asymmetric of the power splitter.

Advantageously, the compact radiating element may comprise five elementary radiating sources connected in an array by the power distributor, the fifth elementary radiating source being disposed in an opening formed in an upper wall of the waveguides, in the extension of the ports of FIG. power supply of the splitter, and being intended to be directly connected to the power supply of the splitter.

Advantageously, each elementary radiating source may comprise two cavities Fabry-Perot, respectively lower and upper, concentric and stacked.

Advantageously, each Fabry-Perot cavity, respectively lower and upper, may have a cross section of square shape.

Advantageously, the upper cavities of all the elementary radiating sources connected in a network by the power splitter can be joined together by eliminating any internal wall, and form a single cavity common to all the elementary radiating sources.

According to one embodiment, the compact radiating element may comprise an array of several power distributors and at least sixteen radiating sources coupled to the distributor network.

The invention finally relates to a planar antenna comprising at least one compact radiating element including a power distributor.

• figure 1a: un schéma en perspective d'un premier exemple d'OMT asymétrique pouvant être utilisé dans un répartiteur compact, selon l'invention ;
• figure 1b: un schéma en perspective d'un deuxième exemple d'OMT asymétrique pouvant être utilisé dans un répartiteur compact, selon l'invention ;
• figure 1c: un schéma en perspective d'un troisième exemple d'OMT asymétrique pouvant être utilisé dans un répartiteur compact, selon l'invention ;
• figure 2 : un schéma en perspective d'un premier exemple de répartiteur planaire compact bipolarisation avec coupleur en té dans le plan H entre la branche centrale et les branches transversales, dans lequel les branches transversales se croisent, selon un premier mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• figure 3: un schéma en perspective d'un exemple de distributeur, selon le premier mode de réalisation de l'invention;
• figures 4a et 4b: une vue de dessous et une vue de dessus d'un deuxième exemple de répartiteur planaire compact avec coupleur en té dans le plan H, dans lequel les branches transversales se superposent, selon un deuxième mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• figures 5a et 5b : deux schémas en perspective, illustrant deux étages d'un troisième exemple de répartiteur planaire compact avec coupleur en té dans le plan E entre les branches latérales et transversales, selon un troisième mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• figures 6a, 6b et 6c : trois schémas en perspective illustrant respectivement un étage inférieur, deux étages superposés sans les OMT asymétriques, deux étages superposés avec les OMT asymétriques, d'un quatrième exemple de répartiteur planaire compact avec coupleur en té dans le plan E et invariant par rotation, selon un quatrième mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• figures 7a et 7b : une vue de dessus et une vue de dessous illustrant un cinquième exemple de répartiteur planaire compact avec coupleur en té dans le plan E entre les branches latérales et transversales, les branches transversales des deux distributeurs étant disposées de part et d'autre du plan contenant les branches latérales, selon un cinquième mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• figures 7c et 7d : une vue de dessus des quatre branches latérales des deux distributeurs couplées aux quatre OMT asymétriques et respectivement une vue de dessous d'une branche transversale d'un distributeur, selon le cinquième mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• figure 8a : une vue en perspective d'un sixième exemple de répartiteur planaire compact avec coupleur en té dans le plan E entre les branches latérales et transversales, les guides d'onde des branches transversales étant montés sur leur tranche de façon que leur face de plus grande largeur soit perpendiculaire au plan XY, selon un sixième mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• figure 8b : une vue de détail de la jonction entre les branches latérales et la branche transversale au niveau du coupleur en té dans le plan E correspondant au sixième exemple de réalisation de la figure 8a, selon l'invention ;
• figures 8c et 8d : deux vues, respectivement de dessous et de côté, du répartiteur planaire compact, selon le sixième mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• figure 8e : une vue éclatée de détail des tronçons de guide d'onde destinés au réglage du déphasage de l'alimentation de la cinquième source rayonnante centrale, selon l'invention ;
• figure 9a : un schéma en perspective d'un septième exemple de répartiteur planaire compact avec coupleur en té dans le plan E entre les branches latérales et transversales, les guides d'onde des branches transversales et les guides d'onde des branches latérales étant montés sur leur tranche de façon que leur face de plus grande largeur soit perpendiculaire au plan XY, les OMT étant omis, selon un septième mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• figure 9b: une vue en perspective d'un huitième exemple de répartiteur planaire compact dans lequel les guides d'onde des branches transversales sont montés sur la tranche, les branches transversales des deux distributeurs étant indépendantes et munies d'une encoche respective, selon un huitième mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• figure 9c : une vue de face d'un distributeur du répartiteur de la figure 9b ;
• figures 10a et 10b : une vue de dessus d'un distributeur et respectivement d'un neuvième exemple de répartiteur planaire compact avec coupleur en té dans le plan H, les deux distributeurs étant superposés et comportant des extrémités courbées et repliées, les OMT asymétriques étant alimentés par leurs ports d'accès orientés vers l'extérieur du répartiteur, selon un neuvième mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• figures 11a et 11b: deux vues en perspective de deux exemples d'élément rayonnant comportant un répartiteur compact selon n'importe quel mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• figures 12a et 12b: respectivement une vue en coupe transversale et une vue de dessus, d'un exemple de source rayonnante constituée de cavités Fabry-Perot empilées, selon l'invention ;
• figure 13 : une vue schématique éclatée d'un exemple de réseau de plusieurs répartiteurs de puissance, selon l'invention.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become clear in the following description given by way of purely illustrative and non-limiting example, with reference to the attached schematic drawings which represent:

• figure 1a : a perspective diagram of a first example of asymmetric OMT that can be used in a compact distributor, according to the invention;
• figure 1b : a perspective diagram of a second example of asymmetric OMT that can be used in a compact distributor, according to the invention;
• figure 1c : a perspective diagram of a third example of asymmetric OMT that can be used in a compact distributor, according to the invention;
• figure 2 : a perspective diagram of a first example of a compact planar bipolarization splitter with a tee coupler in the plane H between the central branch and the transverse branches, in which the transverse branches intersect, according to a first embodiment of the invention ;
• figure 3 : a perspective diagram of an example of a dispenser, according to the first embodiment of the invention;
• Figures 4a and 4b : a bottom view and a top view of a second example of a compact planar splitter with tee coupler in the plane H, in which the transverse branches are superimposed, according to a second embodiment of the invention;
• Figures 5a and 5b : two diagrams in perspective, illustrating two stages of a third example of planar splitter compact with tee coupler in the plane E between the lateral and transverse branches, according to a third embodiment of the invention;
• Figures 6a, 6b and 6c three perspective diagrams respectively illustrating a lower stage, two superimposed stages without the asymmetric OMTs, two stages superimposed with the asymmetric OMTs, of a fourth example of a compact planar tundish with a tee coupler in the plane E and invariant by rotation, according to a fourth embodiment of the invention;
• figures 7a and 7b : a top view and a bottom view illustrating a fifth example of compact planar splitter with tee coupler in the plane E between the lateral and transverse branches, the transverse branches of the two distributors being disposed on either side of the plane containing the lateral branches, according to a fifth embodiment of the invention;
• figures 7c and 7d : a top view of the four lateral branches of the two distributors coupled to the four asymmetrical OMTs and respectively a bottom view of a transverse branch of a distributor, according to the fifth embodiment of the invention;
• figure 8a : a perspective view of a sixth example of a compact planar splitter with tee coupler in the plane E between the lateral and transverse branches, the waveguides of the transverse branches being mounted on their edge so that their larger face width is perpendicular to the XY plane, according to a sixth embodiment of the invention;
• figure 8b : a detailed view of the junction between the lateral branches and the transverse branch at the tee coupler in the plane E corresponding to the sixth embodiment of the figure 8a according to the invention;
• figures 8c and 8d two views, respectively from below and from the side, of the compact planar distributor, according to the sixth embodiment of the invention;
• figure 8e : an exploded detail view of the waveguide sections for adjusting the phase shift of the power supply of the fifth central radiating source according to the invention;
• figure 9a : a perspective diagram of a seventh example of a compact planar splitter with tee coupler in the plane E between the lateral and transverse branches, the waveguides of the transverse branches and the waveguides of the lateral branches being mounted on their slice so that their side of greater width is perpendicular to the XY plane, the OMTs being omitted, according to a seventh embodiment of the invention;
• figure 9b : a perspective view of an eighth example of a compact planar distributor in which the waveguides of the transverse branches are mounted on the wafer, the transverse branches of the two distributors being independent and provided with a respective notch, according to an eighth mode embodiment of the invention;
• Figure 9c : a front view of a dispatcher distributor of the figure 9b ;
• Figures 10a and 10b a top view of a distributor and respectively a ninth example of a compact planar distributor with tee coupler in the plane H, the two distributors being superimposed and having curved and folded ends, the asymmetrical OMTs being powered by their ports outward facing accesses of the distributor, according to a ninth embodiment of the invention;
• Figures 11a and 11b two perspective views of two examples of radiating element comprising a compact distributor according to any embodiment of the invention;
• Figures 12a and 12b : respectively a cross-sectional view and a top view of an example of a radiating source consisting of stacked Fabry-Perot cavities, according to the invention;
• figure 13 : an exploded schematic view of an example of a network of several power distributors, according to the invention.

According to the invention, the bipolarization compact planar power distributor comprises at least four asymmetric OMT ortho-mode transducers 10 connected in a network and intended to be coupled in phase with a power source operating in two orthogonal polarizations via two distributors. 16, 17 mounted parallel to the same XY plane and oriented perpendicularly relative to each other. Each asymmetric OMT 10 has two access ports 12, 13 located in the same XY plane and oriented orthogonally between them and a radiating aperture 11 opening perpendicular to the XY plane. The two access ports are intended to be powered by two orthogonal polarizations. Advantageously, the two distributors are identical. Each power distributor 16, 17 comprises at least two lateral branches 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b arranged parallel to each other and a transverse branch 16c, 17c coupled perpendicular to the two lateral branches. The two power distributors 16, 17 being oriented perpendicularly with respect to each other, the two transverse branches 16c, 17c of the two distributors 16, 17 are perpendicular to each other and meet in a covering zone 20 in which the two transverse branches can cross or overlap. The overlap zone is thus located in a central zone of the power splitter while the four asymmetric OMTs are located in a peripheral zone of the power splitter, the two access ports of each asymmetric OMT being respectively coupled in the XY plane. to both distributors. Thus, each asymmetric OMT has its two access ports respectively coupled in the XY plane at one end of a side branch of each of the two distributors. All access ports of the four asymmetric OMTs are therefore located in the XY plane and in the extension of the respective ends of the side branches of the two distributors, which provides a particularly compact planar power distributor. The lateral and transverse branches of the two distributors 16, 17 comprise metal waveguides, respectively lateral and transverse, for example rectangular section, coupled together. According to various embodiments of the invention, the metal waveguides can be mounted flat with their wider wall, called the long side of the waveguide, parallel to the XY plane or on their edge, also called small side of the waveguide, with their wall of greater width perpendicular to the XY plane. According to the various embodiments of the invention, the coupling between the different waveguides can be achieved by a tee coupler in the plane H or in the plane E.

By definition, a tee coupler is a tee-shaped junction between an input waveguide having an input port and two lateral output waveguides each having an output port. A tee coupler in the H plane is a tee coupler in which the two output ports extend in a plane parallel to the magnetic field H in the input waveguide. A tee coupler in the plane E is a tee coupler for which the two output ports extend in a plane parallel to the electric field E in the input waveguide. Thus, when the input waveguide is mounted flat, on its wall of greater width, the two output waveguides of a coupler in the plane H are parallel to the XY plane and the two waveguides output wave of a coupler in the plane E are perpendicular to the XY plane. On the other hand, when the input waveguide is mounted on the wafer, that is to say on its wall of smaller width, the two output waveguides of a coupler in the plane E are parallel to the XY plane.

The four ends of the two lateral branches 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b of each distributor constitute four access ports of the corresponding distributor. The four access ports of each distributor are respectively coupled to a first access port 12, respectively to a second access port 13, of the four asymmetric OMTs 10. The four asymmetric OMTs 10 connected in a network are thus arranged to the four corners of a planar square or rectangular mesh bounded by the four side branches of the two distributors and each comprise two access ports 12, 13 oriented perpendicular to each other, respectively connected to the two distributors 16, 17 and intended to be respectively fed by two orthogonal polarizations. The polarizations can be linear or circular. Each distributor of the power distributor has an excitation input port intended to be connected to the power source and coupled to the transverse branches 16c, 17c of each distributor 16, 17, for example at the overlap area. This excitation input port may comprise a coupling slot 21, 22 respectively connected to a power supply port 1, 2, the power supply port being able to be an access port of a symmetrical or asymmetrical OMT arranged in the overlap zone 20 of the power splitter.

The Figures 1a and 1b represent two embodiments of a compact asymmetric OMT according to the invention. The asymmetrical OMT 10 has a cross-connection having four ports diametrically opposed two by two located in the same XY plane and a radiating opening 11 placed above the cross junction, perpendicular to the XY plane. Two first ports of the cross junction are connected to stubs 14, 15 shorted. Two second ports 12 and 13 opposite to each stub 14, 15 are access ports operating in two orthogonal polarizations. The length S1 of each stub 14, 15 is set to reflect the waves in phase opposition with respect to the incident waves which feed the access port 12, 13 opposite. The two access ports 12 and 13 respectively couple two orthogonal polarizations towards the radiating aperture 11. To minimize the coupling between the two access ports 12 and 13 over a predetermined frequency band, the width S2 of the stubs 14, 15 can be adjusted so that the impedance returned by the stub at the aperture and combined with that of one or more irises 6 has a value close to the characteristic impedance of a powered access. As shown on the figure 1b a metal pyramid 5 may also be inserted on the lower plane of the OMT to promote coupling to the radiating aperture 11. In addition, as shown in FIG. figure 1b , the radiating aperture 11 may be offset with respect to the center and in two directions parallel to the axes of symmetry of the cross junction respectively by a distance d1, d2, to compensate for the asymmetry of the ports 12, 13. It is thus possible to decoupling 20dB between the two access ports 12 and 13 over a bandwidth of 10% relative to the central operating frequency of the OMT.

The figure 1c represents a third example of compact asymmetric OMT according to the invention. In contrast to the two examples of asymmetric OMT represented on the Figures 1a and 1b according to this third example, the asymmetrical OMT comprises a main waveguide having a longitudinal axis parallel to the Z axis and two transverse branches orthogonal to each other and coupled to the main waveguide via coupling slots . The coupling slots are arranged in the walls of the main waveguide so as to be oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis. The main waveguide has an end provided with a radiating opening 11 intended to be connected to a radiating source such as a horn or a Fabry-Perot cavity source, and the two transverse branches constitute two orthogonal access ports. 12, 13 of the OMT to which can be connected the waveguides side branches 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b of the power distributor according to the invention. However, since the coupling slots are oriented parallel to the Z axis, the transverse branches of the OMT and the access ports of the OMT are also oriented parallel to the Z axis. the OMT then makes it possible to mount the lateral waveguides of the power splitter on their edge, that is to say on one of their peripheral wall of smaller width, so that their peripheral walls of larger width are perpendicular to the XY plane.

As described later in connection with the Figures 11a and 11b the four asymmetric OMTs arranged at the four corners of the mesh formed by the four lateral branches of the two distributors to which the four OMTs are coupled, can then be respectively associated with four radiating sources respectively coupled to the four radiating openings 11 of the four asymmetric OMTs 10 to feed them in phase and in double linear or circular polarization. The assembly then constitutes a compact radiating element whose size can be adjusted as needed by adjusting the length of the waveguides of the power splitter. The four radiating sources in a network can be metal cones, or stacked Fabry-Perot cavities elements or planar radiating sources if the power delivered by each asymmetric OMT 10 allows it. This makes it possible to obtain a large radiating aperture with high surface efficiency and low losses, which is essential to maximize the gain and to limit the level of the side lobes of the corresponding antenna.

According to a first embodiment of the invention, the two distributors 16, 17 are identical and mounted perpendicularly relative to one another in the same XY plane, parallel to the direction of propagation of the guided waves, and their branches. respective transverse 16c, 17c intersect in the overlap area. The lateral and transverse waveguides are all mounted flat with their peripheral wall of greater width parallel to the XY plane and the connections between each lateral waveguide and the transverse waveguide of the lateral and transverse branches of each distributor. are made by tee couplers in the plane H. The supply of each distributor 16, 17 can be achieved for example by two different power supply ports connected to a power source operating in two orthogonal polarizations, the two ports supply being respectively coupled to the distributor by a respective coupling slot 21, 22, disposed in the wall of the transverse waveguide 16c, 17c corresponding and parallel to the XY plane. The two coupling slots 21, 22 may be arranged in a bottom wall or in an upper wall of the transverse waveguide 16c, 17c corresponding, as shown in FIG. figure 2 . Alternatively, the supply of each distributor 16, 17 can also be performed by a symmetrical OMT with four access ports placed in the overlap area 20 of the two transverse branches of the two distributors 16, 17. For the excitation slots of the four asymmetric OMTs corresponding to the same polarizations are excited in phase and obtain a coherent excitation of the four networked radiating sources, not shown in FIG. figure 2 associated with the four asymmetric OMTs 10, it is necessary, in the case of Figures 2 and 3 where the junction between the lateral and transverse branches is made by a tee coupler in the plane H, to add a stub, having a length equal to a guided half-wavelength, on one sections of each transverse waveguide. Taking into account the additional length provided by the stub, this splitter makes it possible to excite radiating sources separated by approximately 2λ and thus to produce a radiating element of the order of 4λ. However, this splitter is asymmetrical, which is detrimental to the performance of the radiating element because of a risk of generating a coupling between the access ports having different polarizations and to generate cross-polarization excitations.

According to a second embodiment of the invention shown on the Figures 4a and 4b , the two distributors 16, 17 are mounted perpendicularly relative to each other in the same plane XY but, in the overlap zone, their respective transverse branches 16c, 17c are superimposed one above the other. other. The superposition can be carried out either by a curvature of the transverse branches, or by a progressive reduction of their section as shown in FIG. figure 4b . So, on the bottom view of the figure 4a and the top view of the figure 4b , the transverse branch 16c of the distributor 16 passes below the transverse branch 17c of the distributor 17. The transverse branch 16c, 17c of each distributor is coupled to a respective input port 1, 2 arranged in the bottom wall of each guide d transverse wave 16c, 17c corresponding, the two input ports 1, 2 of the two transverse branches being orthogonal polarizations. The two transverse branches of the two distributors 16, 17 therefore do not intersect, thereby reducing the coupling between the two input ports 1, 2 of the two distributors 16, 17. The connections between each lateral waveguide and the transverse waveguide of the lateral and transverse branches of each distributor are made by tee couplers in the plane H. To allow the superposition of the waveguides, the waveguides of the transverse branches 16c, 17c have a thickness thinned in the overlap area so that the total thickness of the two transverse waveguides in the overlap area corresponds to the normal thickness P of a single waveguide.

According to a third embodiment of the invention, the connections between each lateral branch 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b and the transverse branch 16c, 17c of each distributor 16, 17 are made by tee couplers in the plane E. In this case, as represented for example on the Figures 5a and 5b , the two transverse waveguides 16c, 17c of the two distributors and the four lateral waveguides 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b are mounted on two distinct stages parallel to the XY plane. For example, the lower stage may consist of the two transverse waveguides 16c, 17c which intersect in the plane H and the upper stage may consist of the four lateral waveguides 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b coupled to the four OMTs 10 mounted at the four corners of the square mesh. In this case, the couplings in the plane E between each transverse waveguide and the two lateral waveguides of the same distributor are made by two respective coupling slots 23a, 23b, 24a, 24b arranged in the wall. upper, at both ends of the transverse waveguide and two corresponding slots 25a, 25b, 26a, 26b arranged in the center of the bottom wall of each lateral waveguide of the distributor. The two coupling slots 21, 22 for supplying each distributor with two orthogonal polarizations are located in the crossing zone of the two transverse branches 16c, 17c, and can be either slots arranged in the lower wall of the waveguides transversal or a fifth asymmetric OMT placed in the crossing zone. The couplings between the lateral branches and the transverse branch of each distributor being in the plane E, the two sections of each transverse waveguide placed on either side of the crossing zone of the transverse waveguides are fed with phase. This makes it possible to excite the four unbalanced OMTs in phase, without the need to add a stub on the transverse branches of the distributors, and thus to improve the compactness of the radiating element obtained. In addition, each distributor is then symmetrical with respect to the arrangement of the four asymmetric OMTs 10, which makes it possible to improve the bandwidth of the radiating element obtained. However, to excite the lateral waveguides symmetrically, it is necessary that the coupling slots provided in each lateral waveguide and in each transverse waveguide are placed asymmetrically with respect to the corresponding waveguide. . In particular, on Figures 5a and 5b the coupling slots 23a, 23b, 24a, 24b are disposed at the edge of the transverse waveguides and the coupling slots 25a, 25b, 26a, 26b are placed at the edge of the lateral waveguides and not in the center. As a result, as in the first embodiment of the invention, there is an asymmetry of the power splitter which risks generating couplings between the access ports of the asymmetric OMTs 10 operating in different polarizations and generating an excitation of crossed polarizations.

According to a fourth embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 6a, 6b , 6c , the connections between each lateral waveguide and the transverse waveguide of each distributor are made by tee couplers in the plane E as in the Figures 5a and 5b but the schema of the lower stage represented on the figure 6a shows that the coupling slots provided at both ends of each transverse waveguide are arranged on two opposite edges of the upper wall of the transverse waveguide. The two transverse guide sections, located on either side of the crossing zone where there is a central opening 20 intended to supply the distributors, are not aligned but are linearly offset with respect to one another. another in a direction perpendicular to the corresponding transverse branch so that the coupling slots 23a, 23b, 24a, 24b, respectively, provided on the opposite edges of each transverse waveguide are aligned and arranged symmetrically with respect to the central opening . The figure 6b , is a bottom view showing the configuration of the two lower and upper stages when superimposed one above the other, asymmetric OMTs being omitted. The Figure 6c is a top view of the two superimposed stages, the asymmetrical OMTs being coupled to the four ends of the two distributors. The coupling slots in the transverse and lateral waveguides correspond in pairs. In this configuration the transverse waveguides then have a symmetry of revolution about a central axis of the power splitter. The splitter therefore has an invariant configuration by rotation. This rotational invariance gives this configuration an excellent decoupling between orthogonal polarization access ports in the case where the power supply is in circular polarization.

According to a fifth embodiment of the invention shown in the top view of the figure 7a and the bottom view of the figure 7b the connections between each lateral branch and the transverse branch of each distributor are made by tee couplers in the plane E but the transverse branches of the two distributors are not located in the same plane. The transverse branches 16c, 17c of the two distributors are disposed on either side of the plane containing the lateral branches 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b and are mounted in two directions perpendicular to each other. The transverse branches 16c, 17c of the two distributors therefore do not cross and do not overlap. The distributor therefore comprises three different stages, lower, central, upper. The upper stage comprises a transverse branch 16c of the first distributor coupled in the plane E to the two lateral branches 16a, 16b of the first distributor by corresponding coupling slots provided in the transverse branch and in the two lateral branches of the first distributor. Similarly, the lower stage comprises a transverse branch 17c of the second distributor coupled in the plane E to the two lateral branches 17a, 17b of the second distributor by corresponding coupling slots arranged in the transverse branch and in the two lateral branches of the second distributor. . The lower stage therefore has a structure identical to the upper stage but is oriented in a direction perpendicular to the lower stage. The transverse branch 16c has a feed inlet port of the first distributor and the transverse branch 17c has a feed inlet port of the second distributor. The Figure 7c is a top view of the four lateral branches 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b of the two distributors coupled to the four asymmetric OMTs 10 showing two coupling slots formed in two opposite lateral branches 17a, 17b of the second distributor. The figure 7d is a bottom view of a transverse branch 16c of the first distributor showing two coupling slots intended to be placed opposite two corresponding coupling slots provided in two opposite lateral branches 16a, 16b of the first distributor.

According to a sixth preferred embodiment of the invention, as represented on the figures 8a , 8b 8c and 8d , the waveguides of the transverse branches 16c, 17c of the compact planar distributor can be mounted on their edge so that their wall of greater width is perpendicular to the XY plane, while the waveguides of the side branches 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b are mounted flat with their wall of greater width parallel to the XY plane. At the junction between the transverse and lateral branches, as shown in the detail view of the figure 8b , the waveguides of the transverse branches 16c, 17c fit into the corresponding lateral waveguides 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b, which makes it possible to limit the thickness of the distributor to the width L of their larger wall. width. In this case, the two transverse branches 16c, 17c intersect at the center of the tundish and the junctions between the lateral waveguides and the transverse waveguides are couplers in the plane E which do not require any coupling slot. the junction. The waveguides of the lateral and transverse branches intersect and are excited by access ports arranged in the center of the splitter and connected to a power source operating in two orthogonal polarizations. This planar splitter structure has the advantage of being perfectly symmetrical, simpler to perform and the most compact of all the examples of splitter described above. The central access ports of the planar splitter can be powered by an asymmetrical OMT or alternatively by a symmetrical OMT. As the structure of this sixth example of a distributor is perfectly symmetrical, it is possible to arrange a fifth radiating source, for example with direct radiation, in the center of the distributor, in an opening 30 provided in the upper wall of the transverse waveguides 16c. , 17c of the dispatcher. The fifth radiating direct radiation source may be located in the extension of the central feed port of the planar distributor and directly connected to the central feed source of the distributor located in the lower wall of the transverse waveguides of the distributor. The addition of this fifth radiating source makes it possible to better distribute the distribution of energy over the entire surface of the radiating aperture made by all the radiant sources connected in a network. However, the central power access may not be in phase with the four peripheral accesses of the four OMTs 10. In this case, to bring the central access in phase with the four peripheral accesses, it may be necessary to add a waveguide section housed in the central opening 30 of the power splitter, between the central power supply and the fifth radiating source. In order for the waveguide section not to significantly increase the thickness of the power splitter, it is possible to carry out the phase shift by using four sections of waveguides 27 folded on themselves and equipped with coupling slots. lower 28 and upper 29, as shown schematically in the exploded view of the figure 8e . To allow a good understanding, the four waveguide sections are shown remote from each other, but they are intended to be located side by side in the central opening 30 of the power splitter. But the addition of this fifth radiating source is possible only in the case of a tee coupler in the plane E whose transverse guides are mounted on their edge. In the other configurations, this radiating source would not be centered and furthermore, in the configurations that include couplers in the plane H, the orthogonal excitation polarizations of this fifth radiating source would not be coherent.

According to a seventh embodiment of the invention shown in the figure 9a , the lateral waveguides and transverse waveguides of the power splitter are all mounted on their edge, that is to say on one of their peripheral wall of smaller width, so that their walls larger devices are perpendicular to the XY plane. The transverse waveguides are then coupled to the lateral waveguides by tee couplers in the plane E. In this case, the four asymmetrical OMTs fed by the power distributor are all in accordance with the embodiment example described in FIG. liaison with the figure 1c . On the figure 9a , the transverse branches 16c, 17c of the two distributors intersect in the center of the distributor, and the power supply ports 1, 2 connected to a power source operating in two orthogonal polarizations, are in the crossing zone. This arrangement is very compact but due to the presence of the crossing zone, parasitic cross-polarization modes can appear which reduce the operating band of the splitter.

According to an eighth embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 9b and 9c , the waveguides of the transverse branches 16c, 17c of the power distributor are mounted on their edge with their wall of smaller width parallel to the XY plane, however the transverse branches 16c, 17c of the two distributors do not cross but are independent and superimposed one above the other. The side branches 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b are mounted flat on their wall of greater width and coupled in the plane E to the transverse branches. The transverse branch of each distributor, respectively lower and upper, then comprises a respective power port, the two power ports 1, 2 being oriented in a direction perpendicular to the XY plane and arranged on a lower wall, respectively on a wall superior, of the dispenser. To reduce the bulk of the power distributor in the direction of the thickness, that is to say in the direction perpendicular to the XY plane, each distributor has, in its wall opposite the feed port, a notch 90 of width at least equal to the width of a small side of the waveguide of a transverse branch and height less than or equal to half the width of a long side of the waveguide of a transverse branch. Under these conditions, the transverse branch of the upper distributor is mounted perpendicularly above the transverse branch of the lower distributor, the two respective notches of the two distributors being abutted one on the other. The two transverse branches of the two distributors are then separated and independent of one another, which makes it possible to have good insulation between the two polarizations. The splitter obtained in this eighth embodiment therefore does not generate cross-polarization modes.

In the first eight embodiments of the invention, the OMTs are powered by their input port ports oriented inward of the splitter. It is also possible to fold the ends of the lateral waveguides of the splitter so that the OMTs are powered by their access ports oriented towards the outside of the splitter, as represented for example on the Figures 10a and 10b of the ninth embodiment of the invention. On the top view of the figure 10a , each distributor 16, 17 consists of two lateral branches and a transverse branch coupled to the two lateral branches by a tee coupler in the plane H as on the Figures 2 and 3 . In addition, the four ends 41, 42, 43, 44 of the lateral waveguides of the two lateral branches of each distributor are bent and bent over the upper wall of the guides. corresponding side waves so that the output ports 45, 46, 47, 48 of each distributor are placed above said upper wall. Each distributor 16, 17 has a feed inlet port 1, 2 coupled in the plane H to the transverse branch of the distributor. Since the power input port 1, 2 is in the H plane, no coupling slot is needed between the power input port and the transverse waveguide. As shown in the top view of the figure 10b illustrating the assembled distributor, the two distributors 16, 17 are superimposed one above the other in the direction Z, on two different stages, and oriented perpendicularly relative to each other. The four output ports of the first distributor 16 and the four output ports of the second distributor 17 are arranged, orthogonally in pairs, on a third stage of the distributor and respectively externally coupled to the corresponding orthogonal input ports of the four OMTs. In this ninth embodiment, the four asymmetric OMTs are therefore powered by their access ports oriented towards the outside of the splitter, while in all the other embodiments the four OMTs are powered by their ports. access oriented towards the inside of the splitter. The principle of supplying the OMTs with their access ports oriented towards the outside of the splitter as explicitly represented on the Figures 10a and 10b for a splitter whose configuration comprises a tee coupler in the plane H, can also be applied to a splitter whose configuration comprises a tee coupler in the plane E.

The Figures 11a and 11b represent two perspective views of two examples of radiating element comprising a compact distributor according to any embodiment of the invention. The radiating element is constituted by an array of four identical elementary radiating sources 31, 32, 33, 34 intended to be supplied in phase by two orthogonal polarizations delivered by the radiating aperture of one of the four asymmetric OMTs of the distribution splitter. which each radiating source is coupled. Each elementary radiating source may for example consist of a compact horn or a stack of Fabry-Perot cavities.

A schematic example, in cross-section and in plan view, of an elementary radiating source consisting of stacked Fabry-Perot cavities is shown in FIGS. Figures 12a and 12b . The elementary radiating source 31 comprises two concentric resonant cavities 35, 36 stacked, each cavity being delimited by a metal bottom wall constituting a ground plane and by metal side walls, the upper cavity 36 having dimensions larger than the lower cavity 35. The lower cavity 35 has a power input port 37 for coupling to excitation means operating in a bipolar manner. The input port 37 may for example be a feed waveguide or an inlet opening opening into the lower cavity, for example through the ground plane 38 of the lower cavity 35. The cross section of each cavity can be circular, square, hexagonal or any other shape. But to be compatible with networking in a square mesh, the cross section of each cavity is preferably chosen square. Each resonant cavity 35, 36 may comprise a cover 51, 52 respectively forming an upper wall, the cover may for example be constituted by a metal grid forming a partially reflecting surface and to increase the excitation of the resonant cavities. For bipolarization operation, the metal grid must be two-dimensional. Concentric metallic corrugations 53, for example of cylindrical shape, can be arranged below the ground plane 39 of the upper cavity to control and limit the excitation of the upper modes in this cavity.

According to the invention, as shown in figure 11a , the input access port 37 of the lower resonant cavity of each elementary radiating source is coupled to the radiating aperture of an asymmetric OMT 10. To improve the distribution of the electric field over the radiating aperture obtained with the four networked radiating sources, as shown in the variant embodiment of the figure 11b it is possible to join the four upper resonant cavities of the four networked radiating sources and to remove the internal metal walls of the upper resonant cavities. The four upper resonant cavities of the four Fabry-Perot cavity radiating sources are then replaced by a single upper resonant cavity 50 common to the four sources. radiating network and stacked on the four lower resonant cavities. The radiating element thus obtained is very compact, in waveguide technology, and comprises a large radiating aperture of size between 2.5λ and 4λ, with high surface efficiency and low losses, and compatible with power applications. In addition, in the case where the power distributor has a perfectly symmetrical structure as described in the sixth embodiment of the invention, the array of radiating sources may comprise a fifth central elementary radiating source, which further improves the efficiency of the surface of the radiating aperture obtained.

As shown on the example of figure 13 in order to obtain a larger radiating aperture, it is possible to couple a plurality of network power distributors to feed a larger number of radiating sources. So, on the example of the figure 13 two stages of power splitters are shown. The upper level comprises four identical power distribution units 61, 62, 63, 64 which are supplied in phase and positioned next to one another, for example in a square or rectangular mesh, and the lower level comprises a fifth power distributor 65 which supplies power in phase the four splitters of the higher level. The fifth power distributor 65 of the lower level has four asymmetric OMTs 10 positioned at the four corners of a square or rectangular mesh and coupled into a first network. The four OMTs 10 are supplied in phase by a power port arranged in a central zone 80 of the distributor 65 and intended to be connected to a power source, the central zone 80 corresponding to the overlap zone 20 of the transverse branches of the two distributors of the power distributor 65. The radiating openings 66, 67, 68, 69 of the four OMTs 10 constitute four phase supply ports respectively coupled to the four central accesses 76, 77, 78, 79 of the four distributors of the upper level. For this, the different lateral and transverse waveguides of the fifth power distributor 65 of the lower level have lengths adapted to the distances between two power ports of two power distributors of the upper level. Each upper level power splitter comprises four asymmetric OMTs 10 coupled in a network and powered in phase by their central power access 76, 77, 78, 79. The power ports of the higher level splitters are phased in by the four lower level OMTs 10, all the radiating openings 70 of the higher level OMTs 10 are in phase. Radiant sources, for example of the radiator or Fabry-Perot cavity type, can be coupled with each of the radiating openings of all the OMTs 10 of the higher level to be supplied in phase by the network coupled power distributors and thus constitute a single radiating element whose radiating opening has a size multiplied by four.

Although the invention has been described in connection with particular embodiments, it is obvious that it is not limited thereto and that it includes all the technical equivalents of the means described and their combinations if they are within the scope of the invention.

Claims (24)

1. Bi-polarisation compact planar power distributor comprising at least four transducers (10) intended to be coupled in phase to an orthogonal dual polarisation power supply source, the four transducers (10) being linked as a network by means of two power distributors (16, 17) dedicated to each polarisation, the two distributors (16, 17) being mounted parallel to a plane XY and being oriented perpendicular relative to each other, each transducer (10) comprising two access ports (12, 13) oriented orthogonal to each other and a radiating opening (11) emerging perpendicular to the plane XY, each power distributor comprising at least two lateral branches (16a, 16b), (17a, 17b) disposed parallel to each other, a transverse branch (16c, 17c) coupled perpendicular to the two lateral branches and four ends of the lateral branches respectively coupled to the four transducers (10), each lateral and transverse branch being formed by metal waveguides, the transverse branch of each distributor being coupled to a power supply port (1, 2) intended to be linked to the power supply source, characterized in that each transducer (10) is an asymmetric orthomode transducer OMT and in that the two access ports (12, 13) are located in the plane XY and the four ends of the lateral branches of the power distributors are respectively coupled in the plane XY to the respective access ports of the four asymmetric OMTs (10).
2. Power distributor according to Claim 1, characterized in that each waveguide of the distributor comprises a rectangular section defined by four peripheral walls of different widths that are opposite in pairs, and in that the waveguides of the transverse branches and of the lateral branches are mounted flat on one of the wider peripheral walls thereof parallel to the plane XY.
3. Power distributor according to Claim 1, characterized in that each waveguide of the distributor comprises a rectangular section defined by four peripheral walls of different widths that are opposite in pairs, in that the waveguides of the transverse branches are mounted on one of the narrower peripheral walls thereof so that the wider peripheral walls thereof are perpendicular to the plane XY, and in that the waveguides of the lateral branches are mounted flat with the two wider peripheral walls thereof parallel to the plane XY.
4. Power distributor according to Claim 1, characterized in that each waveguide of the distributor comprises a rectangular section defined by four peripheral walls of different widths that are opposite in pairs, and in that the waveguides of the transverse branches and the waveguides of the lateral branches are mounted on one of the narrower peripheral walls thereof so that the wider peripheral walls thereof are perpendicular to the plane XY.
5. Power distributor according to any of Claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the power supply port (1, 2) comprises a coupling slot (21, 22) arranged in a wall of the waveguides of the transverse branches (16c, 17c) of the two distributors (16, 17).
6. Power distributor according to any of Claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the power supply port (1, 2) is an access port of a fifth symmetric or asymmetric OMT disposed in a coverage zone (20, 80) of the transverse branches (16c, 17c) of the power distributor.
7. Power distributor according to either of Claims 2 and 4, characterized in that the two power distributors (16, 17) are disposed parallel to the plane XY and in that the transverse branches thereof intersect in a coverage zone (20) and are coupled together by a T-coupler.
8. Power distributor according to Claim 2, characterized in that the two power distributors (16, 17) are disposed parallel to the plane XY and in that the transverse branches thereof are superimposed in a coverage zone (20) and are coupled together by a T-coupler in a plane E.
9. Power distributor according to Claim 8, characterized in that the thickness P of the waveguides of the two transverse branches is thinner in the coverage zone (20).
10. Power distributor according to Claim 2, characterized in that the two lateral branches (16c, 17c) and the four transverse branches (16a, 16b), (17a, 17b) of the two power distributors (16, 17) are mounted on two distinct stages, respectively lower and upper stages, parallel to the plane XY, and are coupled together by T-couplers in the plane E by means of coupling slots (23a, 23b, 24a, 24b) arranged in an upper wall of the waveguides of the transverse branches (16a, 16b, 17a, 17b) and by means of corresponding coupling slots (25a, 25b, 25c, 25d) arranged in a lower wall of the waveguides of the lateral branches (16c, 17c) .
11. Power distributor according to Claim 10, characterized in that the waveguide of each transverse branch (16c, 17c) is formed by two waveguide sections located on either side of a central opening intended for the power supply and linearly offset relative to each other in a direction perpendicular to the corresponding transverse branch, and in that the coupling slots (23a, 23b, 24a, 24b) arranged in the upper wall of the waveguide of each transverse branch (16a, 16b), (17a, 17b) are aligned and disposed on two opposite edges of said upper wall, the two transverse branches having rotational symmetry about a central axis of the power distributor.
12. Power distributor according to Claim 3, characterized in that the two power distributors (16, 17) are disposed in the same plane H parallel to the plane XY, in that the transverse branches (16c, 17c) thereof intersect in a coverage zone (20) and are coupled together by a T-coupler in a plane H, and in that the waveguides of the transverse branches are coupled to the waveguides of the lateral branches by T-couplers in the plane E.
13. Power distributor according to Claim 12, characterized in that, in the vicinity of the T-couplers in the plane E, the waveguides of the transverse branches (16c, 17c) are embedded in the corresponding waveguides of the lateral branches (16a, 16b), (17a, 17b).
14. Power distributor according to Claim 3, characterized in that the two power distributors (16, 17) comprise two independent transverse branches (16c, 17c) superimposed one on top of the other, one of the narrower walls of the waveguide of each transverse branch comprising a respective notch (90), the two respective notches of the two distributors being in abutment with each other.
15. Power distributor according to either of Claims 7 and 8, characterized in that the four ends (41, 42, 43, 44) of the two lateral branches of the two distributors (16, 17) are curved and folded on the upper wall of the corresponding lateral guides and are respectively coupled to the access ports of the four asymmetric OMTs (10) through the exterior of the power distributor, the two distributors (16, 17) being superimposed one on top of the other and being oriented perpendicular to each other.
16. Power distributor according to Claim 1, characterized in that the transverse branches of the two distributors (16, 17) are mounted in two distinct planes parallel to the plane XY and are located on either side of the plane XY, in which the lateral branches of the two distributors (16, 17) are disposed, and are coupled to the lateral branches of the corresponding distributor by a T-coupler in the plane E.
17. Network of a plurality of power distributors according to any of Claims 1 to 16, characterized in that it comprises an upper level comprising four identical power distributors (61, 62, 63, 64) coupled as a network, and a lower level comprising a fifth power distributor (65), the fifth power distributor (65) of the lower level comprising a power supply port arranged in a central zone (80) that supplies the four power distributors of the upper level in phase.
18. Compact radiating element characterized in that it comprises a power distributor according to any of Claims 1 to 16 and at least four elementary radiating sources (31, 32, 33, 34) linked as a network by the power distributor, each elementary radiating source having an access port (37) coupled to the radiating opening (11) of a respective asymmetric OMT (10) of the power distributor.
19. Compact radiating element according to Claim 18, characterized in that it comprises five elementary radiating sources linked as a network by the power distributor, the fifth elementary radiating source being disposed in an opening (30) arranged in an upper wall of the waveguides, in the extension of the power supply ports of the distributor, and being intended to be directly connected to the power supply source of the distributor.
20. Compact radiating element according to either of Claims 18 and 19, characterized in that each elementary radiating source (31, 32, 33, 34) comprises two Fabry-Perot cavities (35, 36), respectively lower and upper cavities, that are concentric and stacked.
21. Compact radiating element according to Claim 20, characterized in that each respectively lower and upper Fabry-Perot cavity (35, 36) has a square shaped transverse section.
22. Compact radiating element according to any of Claims 20 or 21, characterized in that the upper cavities (36) of all the elementary radiating sources (31, 32, 33, 34) linked as a network by the power distributor are joined together by removing any internal wall and form a single cavity (50) common to all the elementary radiating sources.
23. Compact radiating element, characterized in that it comprises a network of a plurality of power distributors according to Claim 17 and at least sixteen radiating sources coupled to the network of distributors.
24. Planar antenna, characterized in that it comprises at least one compact radiating element according to any of Claims 18 to 23.

Images