EP3435480B1 - Antenna incorporating delay lenses inside a divider based distributor with a parallel plate waveguide - Google Patents

Antenna incorporating delay lenses inside a divider based distributor with a parallel plate waveguide Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3435480B1
EP3435480B1 EP18185469.6A EP18185469A EP3435480B1 EP 3435480 B1 EP3435480 B1 EP 3435480B1 EP 18185469 A EP18185469 A EP 18185469A EP 3435480 B1 EP3435480 B1 EP 3435480B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
stage
lenses
quasi
power distributor
distributor
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EP18185469.6A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP3435480A1 (en
Inventor
Ségolène TUBAU
Hervé Legay
Etienne Girard
Jean-Philippe Fraysse
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Thales SA
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Thales SA
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q21/00—Antenna arrays or systems
    • H01Q21/0006—Particular feeding systems
    • H01Q21/0031—Parallel-plate fed arrays; Lens-fed arrays
    • 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
    • H01P5/16—Conjugate devices, i.e. devices having at least one port decoupled from one other port
    • H01P5/19—Conjugate devices, i.e. devices having at least one port decoupled from one other port of the junction type
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q1/00—Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
    • H01Q1/27—Adaptation for use in or on movable bodies
    • H01Q1/28—Adaptation for use in or on aircraft, missiles, satellites, or balloons
    • H01Q1/288—Satellite antennas
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q13/00—Waveguide horns or mouths; Slot antennas; Leaky-waveguide antennas; Equivalent structures causing radiation along the transmission path of a guided wave
    • H01Q13/02—Waveguide horns
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q13/00—Waveguide horns or mouths; Slot antennas; Leaky-waveguide antennas; Equivalent structures causing radiation along the transmission path of a guided wave
    • H01Q13/20—Non-resonant leaky-waveguide or transmission-line antennas; Equivalent structures causing radiation along the transmission path of a guided wave
    • H01Q13/28—Non-resonant leaky-waveguide or transmission-line antennas; Equivalent structures causing radiation along the transmission path of a guided wave comprising elements constituting electric discontinuities and spaced in direction of wave propagation, e.g. dielectric elements or conductive elements forming artificial dielectric
    • 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
    • H01Q15/02—Refracting or diffracting devices, e.g. lens, prism
    • H01Q15/06—Refracting or diffracting devices, e.g. lens, prism comprising plurality of wave-guiding channels of different length
    • 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
    • H01Q3/00—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system
    • H01Q3/44—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system varying the electric or magnetic characteristics of reflecting, refracting, or diffracting devices associated with the radiating element
    • H01Q3/46—Active lenses or reflecting arrays
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q5/00—Arrangements for simultaneous operation of antennas on two or more different wavebands, e.g. dual-band or multi-band arrangements
    • H01Q5/20—Arrangements for simultaneous operation of antennas on two or more different wavebands, e.g. dual-band or multi-band arrangements characterised by the operating wavebands
    • H01Q5/22—RF wavebands combined with non-RF wavebands, e.g. infrared or optical

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a multibeam antenna, applied in particular to space communications, and intended to be carried on satellites, or in ground stations.
  • the antenna can operate either in transmission or in reception, reciprocally.
  • the multibeam antenna operates in transmission.
  • Multibeam antennas are commonly used in space communications, on board a satellite (telemetry data transmission, telecommunications), or on the ground (Satcom terminal or telecommunications system user terminal).
  • the antennas with continuous radiating linear openings using a beam former in parallel plate waveguide make it possible to form several beams over a wide angular sector. They also operate over a very wide band, due to the absence of resonant propagation modes. It is thus possible to obtain a multibeam antenna with continuous linear radiating aperture operating simultaneously at 20 and 30 GHz.
  • they are capable of radiating over a very wide angular sector, and have very superior performance compared to the networking of several radiating elements.
  • a parallel plate waveguide 20 makes it possible to guide the waves in TEM (Magnetic Transverse Electric) mode, in which the electric field E and the magnetic field H evolve in directions perpendicular to the direction of propagation.
  • the wave fronts are curved in the XZ plane; in order to compensate for this curvature of the wave front, at least one lens is placed, which can be of straight profile or of curvilinear profile, introducing a continuous variable delay in the direction X.
  • the lens with straight profile comprises a protrusion 13 and insert 17.
  • the lens is said to have a straight profile because the protuberance and the insert have a straight and rectilinear profile in the XZ plane.
  • the height of the protrusion (along the y axis), greater in the center than on the sides therefore creates a greater delay in the center 14 of the protrusion than on the lateral edges 15, 16, the dimensions of the protrusion 13 being such that a plane wavefront thus leaves the formatter.
  • a straight profile lens allows the waves from a single central source 10 placed at the focal point of the lens to be correctly converted.
  • a lens with a straight profile can induce defocus aberrations due to the remoteness of the sources 10 vis-à-vis the focal point.
  • a lens called a curvilinear profile, for example parabolic or elliptical.
  • the lens is said to have a curvilinear profile because the protrusion 13 and the insert 17, in addition to having a variable height along the axis y (greater in the center than on the sides) have a curvilinear profile in the XZ plane, as illustrated by figures 1C and 1D .
  • the lens with a curvilinear profile by its geometry, is capable of correctly converting the cylindrical wave fronts emitted by a plurality of sources 10 also distributed curvilinearly in the XZ plane.
  • the use of lenses with a curvilinear profile makes it possible to benefit from a greater number of focal points, and therefore from a higher quality of beams over a given angular sector.
  • the degrees of freedom making it possible to provide a beam former with several focal points are in particular the contour of the sources 10 1 , 10 2 , ..., 10 M , and the contours of the protuberance input and output, which correspond respectively to the internal and external contours of the lens.
  • curvilinear lenses which have a variable input and output contour in the XZ plane, thus advantageously adds an additional degree of freedom compared to the straight profile lens.
  • the beams emitted by eccentric sources are better formed than with a straight profile lens.
  • the Figures 2A and 2B illustrate the operating principle of a pillbox trainer, used in a CTS antenna of the state of the art, described below.
  • the incident cylindrical waves, emitted by at least one source 10 are emitted in a waveguide with parallel parallel plates 21, then are reflected using a reflector, called pillbox junction 23, towards a waveguide upper 22.
  • the pillbox junction 23 is curved, for example of parabolic or elliptical shape.
  • the pillbox junction is a type of straight profile lens
  • the quasi-optical trainer with pillbox junction is equivalent to a quasi-optical trainer with straight profile lens.
  • the right profile lens and the pillbox junction have the same curvature because they must introduce the same delay to convert the cylindrical wave into a plane wave.
  • the only difference that may appear is that the trainer can have a straight elbow before and / or after the straight profile lens it contains whereas a pillbox trainer does not have any elbow other than the variable height of the junction.
  • a radiating opening for example a horn, then makes it possible to radiate the waves made plane by the beam former.
  • a horn coupled to a waveguide with parallel plates necessarily has a very elongated shape along the X axis, and therefore produces highly elliptical beams along the y axis.
  • the beams have different widths, in particular according to the main radiation planes E and H which is not satisfactory.
  • a measurement known to a person skilled in the art for obtaining identical beam widths along the two planes E and H therefore consists in networking longitudinal horns, dividing the waveguide with parallel plates from the beam former in several sub-guides.
  • the signals from the beam former are thus divided using a distributor, for example based on one or more “T” dividers with parallel plates, then radiated via a plurality of juxtaposed horns, thus generating a circular beam, much more suitable for satellite communications.
  • the distributor is thus used to divide the power at equal amplitude and phase for the different horns.
  • the arrangement of a distributor at the output of a quasi-optical beam former of the pillbox type is known by the name of CTS antenna (“Continuous Transverse Stub”).
  • the document “Continous Transverse Stub Array for Ka-Band Applications” (Ettore et al., IEEE Transactions on antennas and propagation, vol. 63, no. 11, November 2015 ) describes such an antenna.
  • the figure 3A represents a perspective view of a CTS antenna, and the figure 3B a section along the XZ plan.
  • the CTS antenna consists of a source 10, which can be an inlet horn, a parallel plate waveguide 20, a pillbox junction 23, a distributor 1, and horns of longitudinal radiation 5.
  • the width (dimension along the Y axis) of the longitudinal radiation cones 5 and of the distributor 1 is generally equal to that of the pillbox trainer along this same axis.
  • the waves emitted by the central source are in fact little or not reflected on the edges of the distributor 1, so few reflections occur on the edges of the distributor 1.
  • the figure 4 schematically illustrates, in an exploded view, the CTS antenna described in the document “Continous Transverse Stub Array for Ka-Band Applications” (Ettore et al., IEEE Transactions on antennas and propagation, vol. 63, no. 11, November 2015 ), and equipped with several sources 10 1 , 10 2 , ..., 10 M,
  • the use of several sources 10 makes it possible to generate as many distinct and simultaneous signals which propagate in different but coplanar directions, in the Xy plane inside the guide d 'parallel plate waves 20, then in the XZ plane in the distributor 1 and after transmission by the longitudinal radiation horns 5.
  • the plurality of sources 10 thus makes it possible to simultaneously cover separate zones from the earth's surface.
  • the use of a plurality of input sources 10 in the above-mentioned CTS antenna has limits.
  • the pillbox junction 23 comprises only one hearth.
  • the focusing is only perfect for a source placed at the focal point of the reflector, defocusing aberrations appear for sources 10 distant from the focal point of the reflector. These aberrations are the result of an imperfect conversion of cylindrical waves into plane waves by the pillbox trainer.
  • the wave emitted by an eccentric source 10 and reflected by the pillbox junction 23 in a very depointed direction propagates obliquely in the distributor 1.
  • This oversizing 4, of the distributor 1 which results in an oversizing of the longitudinal radiation cones 5 along this same axis, has a cost in terms of on-board mass, especially in a satellite. It also depends on the maximum aiming angle aimed and the propagation length in the distributor 1. It is all the more important that a cover is required over a large angular sector along the axis of the main dimension of the longitudinal radiation cones 5, and that the electrical length of the distributor 1 is important.
  • the invention therefore aims to avoid oversizing of the distributor and the radiating opening along the longitudinal axis of the radiating opening, due to the waves emitted by eccentric input sources vis-à-vis the focus of the beam former. quasi-optical.
  • the invention also aims, in certain embodiments, to avoid imperfect focusing of the spot beams.
  • An object of the invention is therefore a quasi-optical beam former comprising a power distributor composed of a succession of dividers with parallel plates according to a tree-like structure with stages extending along a YZ plane from a first stage to a last stage, the parallel plates of said dividers each having a main dimension along an axis X orthogonal to the plane YZ, each divider with parallel plates comprising, on each of the stages of the tree structure located under an upper stage, a first and a second parallel plate waveguide branch leading to respective parallel plate dividers of the next stage of the tree structure, the beam former further comprising a plurality of lenses extending longitudinally along the X axis on at minus one stage of the power distributor, so as to apply a variable continuous delay along the X axis, and arranged in each ne branches of the dividers of at least one stage of the power distributor.
  • the lenses are arranged on a plurality of stages of the power distributor and have respective heights such that the continuous variable delay is gradually applied to the stages of the power distributor.
  • the lenses are arranged on each stage of the power distributor.
  • the lenses are only arranged on the last stage of the power distributor.
  • each of the lenses on the same stage is a straight profile lens.
  • each of the lenses on the same stage is a lens with a curvilinear profile.
  • the power distributor includes only straight profile lenses, arranged on each stage of the power distributor.
  • the trainer is connected to a plurality of sources oriented in different directions along the XY plane, each of the sources being capable of injecting a wave into the distributor, the waves propagating respectively in said different directions along the XY plane, the lenses being adapted to collimate these waves.
  • the invention also relates to a multibeam antenna comprising at least one quasi-optical beam former as described above, and further comprising a plurality of radiation horns, each radiation horn being connected to a branch of the last stage of the distributor power.
  • the multibeam antenna comprises a polarizer configured to circularly polarize the waves emitted by the antenna according to a linear polarization.
  • the figure 5 schematically illustrates electrical paths traveled in the beam former of the prior art, also illustrated in Figures 3A and 3B .
  • the waves from the sources 10 travel an electrical length L 1 , then are converted into a plane wave by passing through the pillbox junction 23.
  • the central source 10 C must be placed at the focal length of the pillbox junction 23.
  • the pillbox formatter composed of the parallel plate waveguide 20 and the pillbox junction 23, thus defines an electrical length L1.
  • the electrical length L 2 then remaining to be traveled in the power distributor 1, which depends on the number of radiating elements and on the spacing between the radiating elements, is of the same order of magnitude as L 1 .
  • the inventors propose to carry out the conversion of cylindrical waves into plane waves within the distributor 1, and before the horns 5 (according to a first and a second embodiment) or gradually (according to a third mode of realization).
  • the figure 6A illustrates a first embodiment, in which the wave conversion is carried out on the last stage of the distributor 1.
  • the sources 10 emit waves, with cylindrical wave fronts, towards the power distributor 1.
  • the power distributor 1 is composed of a plurality of stages e 1 , ..., e N.
  • On the first stage e 1 directly connected to sources 10 possibly via a 90 ° straight elbow, there is a divider with parallel plates 3, composed of two branches B1 and B2. It should be noted that the right elbow does not add additional lengths in the formatter, this is why the straight elbows have no impact on the structure.
  • the parallel plate divider 3 is configured to distribute the electric field E coming from the sources 10.
  • the parallel plate dividers 3 can be unbalanced in order to modify the division of the power and thus control the distribution of the power at the level of the horns 5.
  • the straight profile lens 6 may include a protrusion 13 provided with an insert 17, for example metallic, disposed between the parallel plates of each of the branches B1 and B2, just before the horns 5.
  • the dimensions of the projection can be defined by varying the height of the insert along the y axis (see figure 1B ).
  • the height of the protrusion 13 can be zero or almost zero at the ends of the lens along the axis X, while it can be maximum at the center of the lens along this same axis.
  • the insert may in particular be in the form of an "I".
  • the distributor 1 divides at each stage e 1 , ..., e N the electric field E of the waves, the wave front of which remains cylindrical in the distributor.
  • This distribution of the cylindrical waves generates much less reflections on the edges of the distributor 1 for the waves coming from the most deputy sources, compared to the CTS antenna of the state of the art.
  • cylindrical waves (in the formatter) then planes (in the distributor) propagate over a large distance (length of the formator added to the length of the distributor), whereas according to the invention, the waves propagate in the distributor directly from the sources, only over a length corresponding to that of the beam former. The propagation distance of the waves is therefore shorter.
  • the straight profile lenses 6, which include only one protuberance, have a reduced dimension along the axis Z; thus, it has a low profile along this same axis.
  • This embodiment however imposes a certain spacing between the horns 5, along the axis y, due to the height of the straight profile lenses 6.
  • the figure 7A illustrates a second embodiment, in which the wave conversion is carried out on the last stage of the distributor 1.
  • the sources 10 emit cylindrical waves, in the power distributor 1.
  • the power distributor 1 is composed of a plurality of stages e 1 , ..., e N.
  • On the first stage e 1 directly connected to the sources 10 possibly via a 90 ° bend, there is a divider with parallel plates 3, composed of two branches B1 and B2.
  • the parallel plate divider 3 is configured to distribute the electric field E from the sources 10.
  • On the last stage of the distributor at the outlet of each divider of this stage, possibly connected via a 90 ° elbow, is a lens with a curvilinear profile 7.
  • the waves propagate in the distributor directly from the sources, only over a length corresponding to that of the beam former.
  • a gain in area is also obtained along the X axis, with respect to the CTS antenna of the state of the art. Furthermore, by adding a degree of freedom with respect to the first embodiment, it is thus possible to provide the beam former with a plurality of focal points.
  • the conversion of the cylindrical waves is done only on the last stage e N. Consequently, the height (along the y axis) of certain protuberances of the lens with a curvilinear profile imposes a spacing between the horns 5.
  • the spacing between the horns 5 is imposed by the height lenses, as for the first embodiment described above.
  • the Figures 7B and 7C illustrate two sections, along the YZ plane, of lenses with a curvilinear profile 7 arranged on the last stage of the distributor, at two different locations of the lens 7 along the axis X.
  • the lens with a curvilinear profile 7 is arranged between the parallel plates of each of the branches B1 and B2, just before the horns 5.
  • the curvilinear profile lens 7 may include a protrusion 13, folded back on itself, having a part p 1 extending along the axis Y, a part p 2 extending along the Z axis, and a part p 3 extending along the Y axis.
  • the distance d of spacing between the two folded parts p 1 and p 3 which extend along the Y axis increases from the ends of the lens along the X axis ( figure 7B ), to reach a maximum in the center of the lens ( figure 7C ).
  • the height of the protrusion along the y axis also varies; it can be zero or almost zero at the ends of the lens along the X axis, while it can be maximum at the center of the lens along this same axis.
  • the figure 8 illustrates such an antenna, in particular the power distributor 1, the lenses 7 as well as the horns 5. It appears that this antenna is much less compact, along the axis Z, than that of the first embodiment due to the dimensions of the lenses with curvilinear profile 7.
  • the figure 9 illustrates a third embodiment of the invention.
  • the sources 10 emit cylindrical waves towards the power distributor 1.
  • the power distributor 1 is composed of a plurality of stages e 1 , ..., e N.
  • On the first stage e 1 directly connected to the sources 10 possibly via a 90 ° bend, there is a divider with parallel plates 3, composed of two branches B1 and B2.
  • the parallel plate divider 3 is configured to distribute the electric field E from the sources 10.
  • the lenses used in the third embodiment can take the form of straight profile lenses comprising a protrusion (see figure 1B ), at the level of each of the branches B1, B2 of each divider.
  • a protrusion see figure 1B
  • Each of the branches of the stage e 1 leads to a divider on an upper stage e 2 .
  • a parallel plate divider 3 is connected to the first branch B1. It itself comprises two branches B1 and B2, each of the branches B1 and B2 of this divider with parallel plates 3 also comprising a straight profile lens 6.
  • the distributor 1 is thus defined by a tree structure, where the straight profile lenses are found on each stage of the distributor 1 on the branches B1 and B2.
  • the protuberance can be integrated at the junction of the branches B1 and B2; the contour of the junction is then no longer rectilinear, and must be modified so as to integrate the delay to be achieved by the protuberance.
  • the waves propagate in the distributor directly from the sources, only over a length corresponding to that of the beam former.
  • a gain in area is also obtained along the X axis, with respect to the CTS antenna of the state of the art.
  • Such an arrangement offers depointing performance similar to the second embodiment, and therefore much superior compared to beam formers of the state of the art.
  • the conversion into plane waves being done gradually, there are no reflections on the edges of the distributor 1, unlike the case where there are plane waves strongly inclined in the distributor 1.
  • the multiplicity of outgrowths allows distributing and dividing, between the different outgrowths, the delays to be achieved, and thus obtaining a delay gradient, namely a delay which is a function of the position of the wave along the Z axis.
  • this increase in the number of degrees of freedom compared to the first embodiment thus avoids the aberrations linked to the waves coming from strongly depointed sources, over a wide angular sector. It is thus possible to provide the beam former with a plurality of focal points.
  • the distribution of the lenses 6 makes it possible to reduce the amplitude of the delays to be achieved with each growth, and therefore to limit their size.
  • the third mode has been described with straight profile lenses 6.
  • This includes pillbox junctions, which are a certain type of lens. straight profile, as described above.
  • It can also be envisaged to distribute lenses with a curvilinear profile 7 (see figures 1C and 1D ) in the distributor according to the third embodiment, however taking into account the size of the lenses with a curvilinear profile 7.
  • Such an arrangement, progressively distributed, of lenses with a curvilinear profile 7 according to the third embodiment makes it possible to '' add additional degrees of freedom in case the use of straight profile lenses would not be enough to allow good performance.
  • each radiation horn 5 being connected to a branch (B1, B2) of the last stage of the power distributor e N.
  • Each radiation horn 5 is configured to radiate the same field.
  • the radiation horns 5 can have different power levels, in order to reduce the level of the lobes of the networks.
  • the beams thus generated are refined in the plane E, and can be circular, so as to be particularly suitable for space telecommunications.
  • the conversion being progressive, the delay to be applied to the last stage e N in this embodiment is less than that applied in the two previous modes.
  • the low height of the lenses 6 (along the y axis) on the last stage e N allows the radiation horns 5 to be close enough to each other along the y axis, and thus limit the problems caused by the lobes of networks.
  • the heights of each of the lenses of the branches B1, B2 of the same stage are identical, so that the delay is uniformly and equitably applied to each stage, and so that the different beams transmitted to the horns are well in phase, thus improving the quality of the beams on a given angular sector.
  • the antenna object of the invention advantageously comprises a polarizer configured to circularly polarize the waves emitted by the antenna according to a linear polarization.
  • a so-called septum polarizer can be integrated into the antenna; alternatively, a polarizing radome 18, shown schematically in the figure 9 , can cover the antenna according to the invention.

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Description

L'invention porte sur une antenne multifaisceaux, appliquée notamment aux communications spatiales, et destinée à être embarquée sur des satellites, ou dans des stations au sol. L'antenne peut indifféremment fonctionner en émission ou en réception, de façon réciproque. Dans la description qui suit, l'antenne multifaisceaux fonctionne en émission.The invention relates to a multibeam antenna, applied in particular to space communications, and intended to be carried on satellites, or in ground stations. The antenna can operate either in transmission or in reception, reciprocally. In the following description, the multibeam antenna operates in transmission.

Les antennes multifaisceaux sont couramment utilisées dans les communications spatiales, à bord d'un satellite (transmission de données de télémesure, télécommunications), ou au sol (terminal Satcom ou terminal utilisateur de système de télécommunications). Parmi les antennes multifaisceaux, les antennes à ouvertures linéaires rayonnantes continues utilisant un formateur de faisceaux en guide d'onde à plaques parallèles permettent de former plusieurs faisceaux sur un large secteur angulaire. Elles fonctionnent par ailleurs sur une très large bande, en raison de l'absence de modes de propagation résonants. Il est ainsi possible d'obtenir une antenne multifaisceaux à ouverture rayonnante linéaire continue fonctionnant simultanément à 20 et 30 GHz. Elles sont enfin capables de rayonner sur un très vaste secteur angulaire, et présentent des performances très supérieures par rapport à la mise en réseaux de plusieurs éléments rayonnants.Multibeam antennas are commonly used in space communications, on board a satellite (telemetry data transmission, telecommunications), or on the ground (Satcom terminal or telecommunications system user terminal). Among the multibeam antennas, the antennas with continuous radiating linear openings using a beam former in parallel plate waveguide make it possible to form several beams over a wide angular sector. They also operate over a very wide band, due to the absence of resonant propagation modes. It is thus possible to obtain a multibeam antenna with continuous linear radiating aperture operating simultaneously at 20 and 30 GHz. Finally, they are capable of radiating over a very wide angular sector, and have very superior performance compared to the networking of several radiating elements.

Il est connu d'utiliser un formateur de faisceaux quasi-optique à lentille, qui va réaliser la collimation des faisceaux. Les sources du formateur de faisceaux quasi-optique à lentille générant des ondes cylindriques, le formateur de faisceaux va permettre leur conversion en ondes planes. Les figures 1A et 1B illustrent un tel formateur de faisceaux quasi-optique. Un guide d'ondes à plaques parallèles 20 permet de guider les ondes en mode TEM (Transverse Electrique Magnétique), dans lequel le champ électrique E et le champ magnétique H évoluent dans des directions perpendiculaires à la direction de propagation. Les fronts d'onde sont incurvés dans le plan XZ ; afin de compenser cette courbure du front d'onde, on place au moins une lentille, qui peut être à profil droit ou à profil curviligne, introduisant un retard variable continu selon la direction X. La lentille à profil droit comprend une excroissance 13 et un insert 17. La lentille est dite à profil droit car l'excroissance et l'insert ont un profil droit et rectiligne dans le plan XZ. La hauteur de l'excroissance (selon l'axe y), plus importante au centre que sur les côtés crée donc un retard plus important au centre 14 de l'excroissance que sur les bords latéraux 15, 16, les dimensions de l'excroissance 13 étant telles qu'un front d'onde plan sorte ainsi du formateur. Une lentille à profil droit permet de convertir correctement les ondes issues d'une unique source centrale 10 placée au niveau du point focal de la lentille.It is known to use a near-optical beam beam former, which will collimate the beams. The sources of the quasi-optical beam former with lens generating cylindrical waves, the beam former will allow their conversion into plane waves. The Figures 1A and 1B illustrate such a quasi-optical beam former. A parallel plate waveguide 20 makes it possible to guide the waves in TEM (Magnetic Transverse Electric) mode, in which the electric field E and the magnetic field H evolve in directions perpendicular to the direction of propagation. The wave fronts are curved in the XZ plane; in order to compensate for this curvature of the wave front, at least one lens is placed, which can be of straight profile or of curvilinear profile, introducing a continuous variable delay in the direction X. The lens with straight profile comprises a protrusion 13 and insert 17. The lens is said to have a straight profile because the protuberance and the insert have a straight and rectilinear profile in the XZ plane. The height of the protrusion (along the y axis), greater in the center than on the sides therefore creates a greater delay in the center 14 of the protrusion than on the lateral edges 15, 16, the dimensions of the protrusion 13 being such that a plane wavefront thus leaves the formatter. A straight profile lens allows the waves from a single central source 10 placed at the focal point of the lens to be correctly converted.

En revanche, lorsque plusieurs sources 10 sont réparties autour d'une source centrale 10C, selon un profil curviligne, afin de générer une pluralité de faisceaux, une lentille à profil droit peut induire des aberrations de défocalisation dues à l'éloignement des sources 10 vis-à-vis du point focal. Pour résoudre ce problème, il est possible d'utiliser une lentille dite à profil curviligne, par exemple parabolique ou elliptique. La lentille est dite à profil curviligne car l'excroissance 13 et l'insert 17, en plus d'avoir une hauteur variable selon l'axe y (plus importante au centre que sur les côtés) ont un profil curviligne dans le plan XZ, comme l'illustrent les figures 1C et 1D. La lentille à profil curviligne, de par sa géométrie, est capable de convertir correctement les fronts d'ondes cylindriques émis par une pluralité de sources 10réparties également de façon curviligne dans le plan XZ. L'utilisation de lentilles à profil curviligne permet de bénéficier d'un plus grand nombre de points de focalisation, et donc d'une qualité de faisceaux supérieure sur un secteur angulaire donné. Les degrés de liberté permettant de doter un formateur de faisceaux de plusieurs points focaux sont notamment le contour des sources 101, 102, ..., 10M, et les contours d'entrée et de sortie de l'excroissance, qui correspondent respectivement aux contours interne et externe de la lentille. L'utilisation de lentilles dite à profil curviligne, qui disposent d'un contour d'entrée et de sortie variable dans le plan XZ, ajoute ainsi avantageusement un degré de liberté supplémentaire par rapport à la lentille à profil droit. Ainsi, les faisceaux émis par des sources excentrées sont mieux formés qu'avec une lentille à profil droit.On the other hand, when several sources 10 are distributed around a central source 10 C , according to a curvilinear profile, in order to generate a plurality of beams, a lens with a straight profile can induce defocus aberrations due to the remoteness of the sources 10 vis-à-vis the focal point. To solve this problem, it is possible to use a lens called a curvilinear profile, for example parabolic or elliptical. The lens is said to have a curvilinear profile because the protrusion 13 and the insert 17, in addition to having a variable height along the axis y (greater in the center than on the sides) have a curvilinear profile in the XZ plane, as illustrated by figures 1C and 1D . The lens with a curvilinear profile, by its geometry, is capable of correctly converting the cylindrical wave fronts emitted by a plurality of sources 10 also distributed curvilinearly in the XZ plane. The use of lenses with a curvilinear profile makes it possible to benefit from a greater number of focal points, and therefore from a higher quality of beams over a given angular sector. The degrees of freedom making it possible to provide a beam former with several focal points are in particular the contour of the sources 10 1 , 10 2 , ..., 10 M , and the contours of the protuberance input and output, which correspond respectively to the internal and external contours of the lens. The use of so-called curvilinear lenses, which have a variable input and output contour in the XZ plane, thus advantageously adds an additional degree of freedom compared to the straight profile lens. Thus, the beams emitted by eccentric sources are better formed than with a straight profile lens.

Les figures 2A et 2B illustrent le principe de fonctionnement d'un formateur pillbox, utilisé dans une antenne CTS de l'état de l'art, décrite ci-après. Les ondes cylindriques incidentes, émises par au moins une source 10, sont émises dans un guide d'ondes à plaques parallèles inférieur 21, puis sont réfléchies à l'aide d'un réflecteur, dit jonction pillbox 23, vers un guide d'onde supérieur 22. La jonction pillbox 23 est incurvée, par exemple de forme parabolique ou elliptique. Il est à noter que la jonction pillbox est un type de lentille à profil droit, et le formateur quasi-optique à jonction pillbox est équivalent à un formateur quasi-optique à lentille à profil droit. En effet, la lentille à profil droit et la jonction pillbox ont la même courbure car elles doivent introduire le même retard pour convertir l'onde cylindrique en onde plane. La seule différence qui peut apparaître est que le formateur peut présenter un coude droit avant et/ou après la lentille à profil droit qu'il contient alors qu'un formateur pillbox ne présente pas de coude autre que celui à hauteur variable de la jonction.The Figures 2A and 2B illustrate the operating principle of a pillbox trainer, used in a CTS antenna of the state of the art, described below. The incident cylindrical waves, emitted by at least one source 10, are emitted in a waveguide with parallel parallel plates 21, then are reflected using a reflector, called pillbox junction 23, towards a waveguide upper 22. The pillbox junction 23 is curved, for example of parabolic or elliptical shape. It should be noted that the pillbox junction is a type of straight profile lens, and the quasi-optical trainer with pillbox junction is equivalent to a quasi-optical trainer with straight profile lens. Indeed, the right profile lens and the pillbox junction have the same curvature because they must introduce the same delay to convert the cylindrical wave into a plane wave. The only difference that may appear is that the trainer can have a straight elbow before and / or after the straight profile lens it contains whereas a pillbox trainer does not have any elbow other than the variable height of the junction.

Le document " Beam-Scanning Continuous Transverse Stub Antenna Fed by a Ridged Waveguide Slot Array", (Lu et al., IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, Février 2017 ) et la demande de brevet US 2006/202899 A1 divulguent des formateurs quasi-optiques pour une antenne CTS. L'homme du métier pourra trouver dans la demande de brevet EP 3 113 286 A1 , plus de détails sur les formateurs de faisceaux quasi-optiques comprenant des lentilles à profil droit et/ou des lentilles à profil curviligne.The document " Beam-Scanning Continuous Transverse Stub Antenna Fed by a Ridged Waveguide Slot Array ", (Lu et al., IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, February 2017 ) and the patent application US 2006/202899 A1 disclose quasi-optical trainers for a CTS antenna. Those skilled in the art can find in the patent application EP 3 113 286 A1 , more details on the quasi-optical beam formers comprising lenses with straight profile and / or lenses with curvilinear profile.

Une ouverture rayonnante, par exemple un cornet, permet ensuite de faire rayonner les ondes rendues planes par le formateur de faisceaux. Toutefois, un cornet couplé à un guide d'onde à plaques parallèles a nécessairement une forme très allongée selon l'axe X, et réalise donc des faisceaux fortement elliptiques selon l'axe y. Ainsi les faisceaux ont des largeurs différentes, notamment selon les principaux plans de rayonnement E et H ce qui n'est pas satisfaisant. Une mesure connue de l'homme du métier pour obtenir des largeurs de faisceaux identiques selon les deux plans E et H consiste donc à mettre en réseau des cornets longitudinaux, en divisant le guide d'onde à plaques parallèles issu du formateur de faisceaux en plusieurs sous-guides. Les signaux issues du formateur de faisceaux sont ainsi divisés à l'aide d'un répartiteur, par exemple basé sur un ou plusieurs diviseurs en « T » à plaques parallèles, puis rayonnés via une pluralité de cornets juxtaposés, générant ainsi un faisceau circulaire, bien plus adapté aux communications par satellite. Le répartiteur est ainsi utilisé pour diviser la puissance à amplitude et phase égales pour les différents cornets.A radiating opening, for example a horn, then makes it possible to radiate the waves made plane by the beam former. However, a horn coupled to a waveguide with parallel plates necessarily has a very elongated shape along the X axis, and therefore produces highly elliptical beams along the y axis. Thus the beams have different widths, in particular according to the main radiation planes E and H which is not satisfactory. A measurement known to a person skilled in the art for obtaining identical beam widths along the two planes E and H therefore consists in networking longitudinal horns, dividing the waveguide with parallel plates from the beam former in several sub-guides. The signals from the beam former are thus divided using a distributor, for example based on one or more “T” dividers with parallel plates, then radiated via a plurality of juxtaposed horns, thus generating a circular beam, much more suitable for satellite communications. The distributor is thus used to divide the power at equal amplitude and phase for the different horns.

L'agencement d'un répartiteur en sortie d'un formateur de faisceau quasi-optique du type pillbox est connu sous la dénomination d'antenne CTS (« Continuous Transverse Stub »). Le document « Continous Transverse Stub Array for Ka-Band Applications » (Ettore et al., IEEE Transactions on antennas and propagation, vol. 63, no. 11, novembre 2015 ) décrit une telle antenne. La figure 3A représente une vue en perspective d'une antenne CTS, et la figure 3B une coupe selon le plan XZ. L'antenne CTS est constituée d'une source 10, qui peut être un cornet d'entrée, d'un guide d'ondes à plaques parallèles 20, d'une jonction pillbox 23, d'un répartiteur 1, et de cornets de rayonnements longitudinaux 5. Lorsque la source 10 est placé au centre du guide d'ondes à plaques parallèles 20, selon l'axe Y, la largeur (dimension selon l'axe Y) des cornets de rayonnements longitudinaux 5 et du répartiteur 1 est généralement égale à celle du formateur pillbox selon ce même axe. Les ondes émises par la source centrale sont en effet peu ou pas réfléchies sur les bords du répartiteur 1, ainsi peu de réflexions se produisent sur les bords du répartiteur 1.The arrangement of a distributor at the output of a quasi-optical beam former of the pillbox type is known by the name of CTS antenna (“Continuous Transverse Stub”). The document “Continous Transverse Stub Array for Ka-Band Applications” (Ettore et al., IEEE Transactions on antennas and propagation, vol. 63, no. 11, November 2015 ) describes such an antenna. The figure 3A represents a perspective view of a CTS antenna, and the figure 3B a section along the XZ plan. The CTS antenna consists of a source 10, which can be an inlet horn, a parallel plate waveguide 20, a pillbox junction 23, a distributor 1, and horns of longitudinal radiation 5. When the source 10 is placed in the center of the parallel plate waveguide 20, along the Y axis, the width (dimension along the Y axis) of the longitudinal radiation cones 5 and of the distributor 1 is generally equal to that of the pillbox trainer along this same axis. The waves emitted by the central source are in fact little or not reflected on the edges of the distributor 1, so few reflections occur on the edges of the distributor 1.

La figure 4 illustre schématiquement, selon une vue éclatée, l'antenne CTS décrite dans le document « Continous Transverse Stub Array for Ka-Band Applications » (Ettore et al., IEEE Transactions on antennas and propagation, vol. 63, no. 11, novembre 2015 ), et équipée de plusieurs sources 101, 102, ..., 10M, L'utilisation de plusieurs sources 10 permet de générer autant de signaux distincts et simultanés qui se propagent selon des directions différentes mais coplanaires, dans le plan Xy à l'intérieur du guide d'ondes à plaques parallèles 20, puis dans le plan XZ dans le répartiteur 1 et après émission par les cornets de rayonnements longitudinaux 5. Lorsque l'antenne est embarquée dans un satellite, la pluralité de sources 10 permet ainsi de couvrir simultanément des zones distinctes de la surface terrestre. L'utilisation d'une pluralité de sources d'entrée 10 dans l'antenne CTS précitée présente toutefois des limites.The figure 4 schematically illustrates, in an exploded view, the CTS antenna described in the document “Continous Transverse Stub Array for Ka-Band Applications” (Ettore et al., IEEE Transactions on antennas and propagation, vol. 63, no. 11, November 2015 ), and equipped with several sources 10 1 , 10 2 , ..., 10 M, The use of several sources 10 makes it possible to generate as many distinct and simultaneous signals which propagate in different but coplanar directions, in the Xy plane inside the guide d 'parallel plate waves 20, then in the XZ plane in the distributor 1 and after transmission by the longitudinal radiation horns 5. When the antenna is on board a satellite, the plurality of sources 10 thus makes it possible to simultaneously cover separate zones from the earth's surface. However, the use of a plurality of input sources 10 in the above-mentioned CTS antenna has limits.

Tout d'abord, la jonction pillbox 23 ne comprend qu'un seul foyer. La focalisation n'étant parfaite que pour une source placée au niveau du foyer du réflecteur, des aberrations de défocalisation apparaissent pour des sources 10 éloignées du foyer du réflecteur. Ces aberrations sont le résultat d'une conversion imparfaite des ondes cylindriques en ondes planes par le formateur pillbox.First of all, the pillbox junction 23 comprises only one hearth. As the focusing is only perfect for a source placed at the focal point of the reflector, defocusing aberrations appear for sources 10 distant from the focal point of the reflector. These aberrations are the result of an imperfect conversion of cylindrical waves into plane waves by the pillbox trainer.

Par ailleurs, comme l'illustre la figure 4, l'onde émise par une source excentrée 10 et réfléchie par la jonction pillbox 23 dans une direction très dépointée se propage de manière oblique dans le répartiteur 1. Pour éviter des réflexions (simples ou multiples, d'un bord à l'autre) des ondes sur les côtés du répartiteur 1, il est alors nécessaire de surdimensionner le répartiteur 1 selon l'axe X. Ce surdimensionnement 4, du répartiteur 1, qui entraîne un surdimensionnement des cornets de rayonnements longitudinaux 5 selon ce même axe, présente un coût en termes de masse embarquée, notamment dans un satellite. Il dépend par ailleurs de l'angle de pointage maximal visé et de la longueur de propagation dans le répartiteur 1. Il est d'autant plus important qu'une couverture est requise sur un vaste secteur angulaire selon l'axe de la dimension principale des cornets de rayonnements longitudinaux 5, et que la longueur électrique du répartiteur 1 est importante.Furthermore, as the figure 4 , the wave emitted by an eccentric source 10 and reflected by the pillbox junction 23 in a very depointed direction propagates obliquely in the distributor 1. To avoid reflections (single or multiple, from one edge to the other) waves on the sides of the distributor 1, it is then necessary to oversize the distributor 1 along the X axis. This oversizing 4, of the distributor 1, which results in an oversizing of the longitudinal radiation cones 5 along this same axis, has a cost in terms of on-board mass, especially in a satellite. It also depends on the maximum aiming angle aimed and the propagation length in the distributor 1. It is all the more important that a cover is required over a large angular sector along the axis of the main dimension of the longitudinal radiation cones 5, and that the electrical length of the distributor 1 is important.

L'invention vise donc à éviter un surdimensionnement du répartiteur et de l'ouverture rayonnante selon l'axe longitudinal de l'ouverture rayonnante, dû aux ondes émises par des sources d'entrée excentrés vis-à-vis du foyer du formateur de faisceau quasi-optique. L'invention vise aussi, dans certains modes de réalisation, à éviter une focalisation imparfaite des faisceaux dépointés.The invention therefore aims to avoid oversizing of the distributor and the radiating opening along the longitudinal axis of the radiating opening, due to the waves emitted by eccentric input sources vis-à-vis the focus of the beam former. quasi-optical. The invention also aims, in certain embodiments, to avoid imperfect focusing of the spot beams.

Un objet de l'invention est donc un formateur de faisceaux quasi-optique comprenant un répartiteur de puissance composé d'une succession de diviseurs à plaques parallèles selon une structure en arborescence à étages s'étendant selon un plan YZ d'un premier étage à un dernier étage, les plaques parallèles desdits diviseurs ayant chacune une dimension principale selon un axe X orthogonal au plan YZ, chaque diviseur à plaques parallèles comprenant, sur chacun des étages de la structure en arborescence situé sous un étage supérieur, une première et une seconde branche de guide d'ondes à plaques parallèles menant à des diviseurs à plaques parallèles respectifs de l'étage suivant de la structure en arborescence, le formateur de faisceaux comportant en outre une pluralité de lentilles s'étendant longitudinalement selon l'axe X sur au moins un étage du répartiteur de puissance, de façon à appliquer un retard variable continu selon l'axe X, et disposées dans chacune des branches des diviseurs d'au moins un étage du répartiteur de puissance.An object of the invention is therefore a quasi-optical beam former comprising a power distributor composed of a succession of dividers with parallel plates according to a tree-like structure with stages extending along a YZ plane from a first stage to a last stage, the parallel plates of said dividers each having a main dimension along an axis X orthogonal to the plane YZ, each divider with parallel plates comprising, on each of the stages of the tree structure located under an upper stage, a first and a second parallel plate waveguide branch leading to respective parallel plate dividers of the next stage of the tree structure, the beam former further comprising a plurality of lenses extending longitudinally along the X axis on at minus one stage of the power distributor, so as to apply a variable continuous delay along the X axis, and arranged in each ne branches of the dividers of at least one stage of the power distributor.

Avantageusement, les lentilles sont disposées sur une pluralité d'étages du répartiteur de puissance et ont des hauteurs respectives telles que le retard variable continu est appliqué progressivement aux étages du répartiteur de puissance.Advantageously, the lenses are arranged on a plurality of stages of the power distributor and have respective heights such that the continuous variable delay is gradually applied to the stages of the power distributor.

Avantageusement, les lentilles sont disposées à chaque étage du répartiteur de puissance.Advantageously, the lenses are arranged on each stage of the power distributor.

Selon une variante, les lentilles sont uniquement disposées au dernier étage du répartiteur de puissance.According to a variant, the lenses are only arranged on the last stage of the power distributor.

Avantageusement, chacune des lentilles d'un même étage est une lentille à profil droit.Advantageously, each of the lenses on the same stage is a straight profile lens.

Avantageusement, chacune des lentilles d'un même étage est une lentille à profil curviligne.Advantageously, each of the lenses on the same stage is a lens with a curvilinear profile.

Avantageusement, le répartiteur de puissance ne comprend que des lentilles à profil droit, disposées à chaque étage du répartiteur de puissance.Advantageously, the power distributor includes only straight profile lenses, arranged on each stage of the power distributor.

Avantageusement, le formateur est connecté à une pluralité de sources orientées selon des directions différentes selon le plan XY, chacune des sources étant apte à injecter une onde dans le répartiteur, les ondes se propageant respectivement selon lesdites différentes directions selon le plan XY, les lentilles étant adaptées pour collimater ces ondes.Advantageously, the trainer is connected to a plurality of sources oriented in different directions along the XY plane, each of the sources being capable of injecting a wave into the distributor, the waves propagating respectively in said different directions along the XY plane, the lenses being adapted to collimate these waves.

L'invention se rapporte également à une antenne multifaisceaux comprenant au moins un formateur de faisceaux quasi-optique tel que décrit précédemment, et comprenant en outre une pluralité de cornets de rayonnement, chaque cornet de rayonnement étant connecté à une branche du dernier étage du répartiteur de puissance.The invention also relates to a multibeam antenna comprising at least one quasi-optical beam former as described above, and further comprising a plurality of radiation horns, each radiation horn being connected to a branch of the last stage of the distributor power.

Avantageusement l'antenne multifaisceaux comprend un polariseur configuré pour polariser circulairement les ondes émises par l'antenne selon une polarisation linéaire.Advantageously, the multibeam antenna comprises a polarizer configured to circularly polarize the waves emitted by the antenna according to a linear polarization.

D'autres caractéristiques, détails et avantages de l'invention ressortiront à la lecture de la description faite en référence aux dessins annexés donnés à titre d'exemple et qui représentent, respectivement :

  • la figure 1A : un formateur de faisceaux quasi-optique à lentille de l'état de l'art ;
  • la figure 1B : une lentille à profil droit d'un formateur de faisceaux quasi-optique à lentille de l'état de l'art ;
  • les figure 1C et 1D : un formateur de faisceaux quasi-optique à lentille à profil curviligne de l'état de l'art ;
  • la figure 2A : un formateur pillbox de l'état de l'art ;
  • la figure 2B : une coupe selon le plan « A-A » du formateur pillbox illustré par la figure 2A ;
  • la figure 3A : vue en perspective d'une antenne CTS de l'état de l'art ;
  • la figure 3B : une vue selon le plan YZ de l'antenne CTS illustrée par la figure 3A ;
  • la figure 4 : une vue éclatée de l'antenne CTS des figures 3A et 3B ;
  • la figure 5 : une illustration schématique des chemins électriques parcourus dans le formateur de faisceaux des figures 3A et 3B;
  • la figure 6A : une illustration schématique d'un premier mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
  • la figure 6B : une coupe selon le plan YZ dernier étage du formateur de faisceau selon le premier mode de réalisation
  • la figure 7A : une illustration schématique d'un deuxième mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
  • la figure 7B : une coupe selon le plan YZ du dernier étage du formateur de faisceau selon le deuxième mode de réalisation ;
  • la figure 7C : une coupe selon le plan YZ du dernier étage du formateur de faisceau selon le deuxième mode de réalisation ;
  • la figure 8 : une illustration de l'antenne selon le deuxième mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
  • la figure 9 : une illustration schématique d'un troisième mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
Other characteristics, details and advantages of the invention will emerge on reading the description made with reference to the accompanying drawings given by way of example and which represent, respectively:
  • the figure 1A : a state-of-the-art near-optical lens beam former;
  • the figure 1B : a straight profile lens of a near-optical beam former of the state of the art;
  • the figure 1C and 1D : a quasi-optical beam former with curvilinear profile lens of the state of the art;
  • the figure 2A : a state-of-the-art pillbox trainer;
  • the figure 2B : a section along the "AA" plane of the pillbox trainer illustrated by figure 2A ;
  • the figure 3A : perspective view of a state-of-the-art CTS antenna;
  • the figure 3B : a view along the YZ plane of the CTS antenna illustrated by the figure 3A ;
  • the figure 4 : an exploded view of the CTS antenna Figures 3A and 3B ;
  • the figure 5 : a schematic illustration of the electrical paths traveled in the beam former of the Figures 3A and 3B ;
  • the figure 6A : a schematic illustration of a first embodiment of the invention;
  • the figure 6B : a section along the plane YZ last stage of the beam former according to the first embodiment
  • the figure 7A : a schematic illustration of a second embodiment of the invention;
  • the figure 7B : a section along the plane YZ of the last stage of the beam former according to the second embodiment;
  • the figure 7C : a section along the plane YZ of the last stage of the beam former according to the second embodiment;
  • the figure 8 : an illustration of the antenna according to the second embodiment of the invention;
  • the figure 9 : a schematic illustration of a third embodiment of the invention;

La figure 5 illustre schématiquement des chemins électriques parcourus dans le formateur de faisceaux de l'état de la technique, illustré également dans les figures 3A et 3B. Dans un formateur de faisceaux de l'état de la technique, les ondes issues des sources 10 parcourent une longueur électrique L1, puis sont converties en onde plane en passant par la jonction pillbox 23. La source centrale 10C doit être disposée à la focale de la jonction pillbox 23. Le formateur pillbox, composé du guide d'ondes à plaques parallèles 20 et de la jonction pillbox 23, définit ainsi une longueur électrique L1. La longueur électrique L2 restant à parcourir ensuite dans le répartiteur de puissance 1, qui dépend du nombre d'éléments rayonnants et de l'espacement entre les éléments rayonnants, est du même ordre de grandeur que L1. Partant de ce constat, les inventeurs proposent d'effectuer la conversion des ondes cylindriques en ondes planes au sein du répartiteur 1, et avant les cornets 5 (selon un premier et un deuxième mode de réalisation) ou de façon progressive (selon un troisième mode de réalisation).The figure 5 schematically illustrates electrical paths traveled in the beam former of the prior art, also illustrated in Figures 3A and 3B . In a beam former of the prior art, the waves from the sources 10 travel an electrical length L 1 , then are converted into a plane wave by passing through the pillbox junction 23. The central source 10 C must be placed at the focal length of the pillbox junction 23. The pillbox formatter, composed of the parallel plate waveguide 20 and the pillbox junction 23, thus defines an electrical length L1. The electrical length L 2 then remaining to be traveled in the power distributor 1, which depends on the number of radiating elements and on the spacing between the radiating elements, is of the same order of magnitude as L 1 . On the basis of this observation, the inventors propose to carry out the conversion of cylindrical waves into plane waves within the distributor 1, and before the horns 5 (according to a first and a second embodiment) or gradually (according to a third mode of realization).

La figure 6A illustre un premier mode de réalisation, dans lequel la conversion des ondes est réalisée au dernier étage du répartiteur 1. Les sources 10 émettent des ondes, à fronts d'ondes cylindriques, vers le répartiteur de puissance 1. Le répartiteur de puissance 1 est composé d'une pluralité d'étages e1, ..., eN. Au premier étage e1, directement raccordé sources 10 éventuellement via un coude droit à 90°, se trouve un diviseur à plaques parallèles 3, composé de deux branches B1 et B2. Il y a lieu de noter que le coude droit ne rajoute pas de longueurs supplémentaires dans le formateur, c'est pour cela que les coudes droits n'ont aucun impact sur la structure. Le diviseur à plaques parallèles 3 est configuré pour répartir le champ électrique E issu des sources 10. Les diviseurs à plaques parallèles 3 peuvent être déséquilibrés afin de modifier la division de la puissance et ainsi contrôler la distribution de la puissance au niveau des cornets 5.The figure 6A illustrates a first embodiment, in which the wave conversion is carried out on the last stage of the distributor 1. The sources 10 emit waves, with cylindrical wave fronts, towards the power distributor 1. The power distributor 1 is composed of a plurality of stages e 1 , ..., e N. On the first stage e 1 , directly connected to sources 10 possibly via a 90 ° straight elbow, there is a divider with parallel plates 3, composed of two branches B1 and B2. It should be noted that the right elbow does not add additional lengths in the formatter, this is why the straight elbows have no impact on the structure. The parallel plate divider 3 is configured to distribute the electric field E coming from the sources 10. The parallel plate dividers 3 can be unbalanced in order to modify the division of the power and thus control the distribution of the power at the level of the horns 5.

Comme l'illustre la figure 6B, au dernier étage du répartiteur, en sortie de chaque branche B1, B2 de chaque diviseur 3 de cet étage, éventuellement connecté via un coude à 90° 18, se trouve une lentille à profil droit 6. La lentille à profil droit 6 peut comprendre une excroissance 13 munie d'un insert 17, par exemple métallique, disposé entre les plaques parallèles de chacune des branches B1 et B2, juste avant les cornets 5. Les dimensions de l'excroissance peuvent être définies par une variation de hauteur de l'insert selon l'axe y (voir figure 1B). Typiquement, la hauteur de l'excroissance 13 peut être nulle ou quasiment nulle aux extrémités de la lentille selon l'axe X, alors qu'elle peut être maximale au centre de la lentille selon ce même axe. L'insert peut être notamment en forme de « I ».As the figure 6B , on the last stage of the distributor, at the outlet of each branch B1, B2 of each divider 3 of this stage, optionally connected via a 90 ° elbow 18, there is a straight profile lens 6. The straight profile lens 6 may include a protrusion 13 provided with an insert 17, for example metallic, disposed between the parallel plates of each of the branches B1 and B2, just before the horns 5. The dimensions of the projection can be defined by varying the height of the insert along the y axis (see figure 1B ). Typically, the height of the protrusion 13 can be zero or almost zero at the ends of the lens along the axis X, while it can be maximum at the center of the lens along this same axis. The insert may in particular be in the form of an "I".

Selon ce premier mode de réalisation, le répartiteur 1 divise à chaque étage e1, ..., eN le champ électrique E des ondes, dont le front d'onde reste cylindrique dans le répartiteur. Cette répartition des ondes cylindriques génère beaucoup moins de réflexions sur les bords du répartiteur 1 pour les ondes issus des sources les plus dépointées, par rapport à l'antenne CTS de l'état de l'art. En effet, dans l'antenne CTS de l'état de l'art, des ondes cylindriques (dans le formateur) puis planes (dans le répartiteur) se propagent sur une grande distance (longueur du formateur additionnée à la longueur du répartiteur), alors que selon l'invention, les ondes se propagent dans le répartiteur directement depuis les sources, uniquement sur une longueur correspondant à celle du formateur de faisceaux. La distance de propagation des ondes est donc plus courte. Ainsi, un surdimensionnement du répartiteur 1 et des cornets 5 selon l'axe X, visant dans l'état de l'art à empêcher les réflexions, n'est plus nécessaire avec l'antenne selon l'invention. On obtient ainsi, selon ce premier mode de réalisation, un gain en compacité selon l'axe X, vis-à-vis de l'antenne CTS de l'état de l'art.According to this first embodiment, the distributor 1 divides at each stage e 1 , ..., e N the electric field E of the waves, the wave front of which remains cylindrical in the distributor. This distribution of the cylindrical waves generates much less reflections on the edges of the distributor 1 for the waves coming from the most deputy sources, compared to the CTS antenna of the state of the art. In fact, in the CTS antenna of the state of the art, cylindrical waves (in the formatter) then planes (in the distributor) propagate over a large distance (length of the formator added to the length of the distributor), whereas according to the invention, the waves propagate in the distributor directly from the sources, only over a length corresponding to that of the beam former. The propagation distance of the waves is therefore shorter. Thus, an oversizing of the distributor 1 and the horns 5 along the X axis, aiming in the state of the art to prevent reflections, is no longer necessary with the antenna according to the invention. In this first embodiment, a gain in compactness is obtained along the X axis, with respect to the CTS antenna of the state of the art.

Par ailleurs, les lentilles à profil droit 6, qui ne comprennent qu'une seule excroissance, ont une dimension réduite selon l'axe Z ; ainsi, elle présente un faible profil selon ce même axe. Ce mode de réalisation impose toutefois un certain espacement entre les cornets 5, selon l'axe y, dû à la hauteur des lentilles à profil droit 6.Furthermore, the straight profile lenses 6, which include only one protuberance, have a reduced dimension along the axis Z; thus, it has a low profile along this same axis. This embodiment however imposes a certain spacing between the horns 5, along the axis y, due to the height of the straight profile lenses 6.

La figure 7A illustre un deuxième mode de réalisation, dans lequel la conversion des ondes est réalisée au dernier étage du répartiteur 1. Les sources 10 émettent des ondes cylindriques, dans le répartiteur de puissance 1. Le répartiteur de puissance 1 est composé d'une pluralité d'étages e1, ..., eN. Au premier étage e1, directement raccordé aux sources 10 éventuellement via un coude à 90°, se trouve un diviseur à plaques parallèles 3, composé de deux branches B1 et B2. Le diviseur à plaques parallèles 3 est configuré pour répartir le champ électrique E issu des sources 10. Au dernier étage du répartiteur, en sortie de chaque diviseur de cet étage, éventuellement connectée via un coude à 90°, se trouve une lentille à profil curviligne 7. Comme pour le premier mode de réalisation, les ondes se propagent dans le répartiteur directement depuis les sources, uniquement sur une longueur correspondant à celle du formateur de faisceaux. On obtient ainsi également, selon ce deuxième mode de réalisation, un gain en surface selon l'axe X, vis-à-vis de l'antenne CTS de l'état de l'art. Par ailleurs, en ajoutant un degré de liberté par rapport au premier mode de réalisation, il est ainsi possible de doter le formateur de faisceaux d'une pluralité de points focaux.The figure 7A illustrates a second embodiment, in which the wave conversion is carried out on the last stage of the distributor 1. The sources 10 emit cylindrical waves, in the power distributor 1. The power distributor 1 is composed of a plurality of stages e 1 , ..., e N. On the first stage e 1 , directly connected to the sources 10 possibly via a 90 ° bend, there is a divider with parallel plates 3, composed of two branches B1 and B2. The parallel plate divider 3 is configured to distribute the electric field E from the sources 10. On the last stage of the distributor, at the outlet of each divider of this stage, possibly connected via a 90 ° elbow, is a lens with a curvilinear profile 7. As for the first embodiment, the waves propagate in the distributor directly from the sources, only over a length corresponding to that of the beam former. Thus, according to this second embodiment, a gain in area is also obtained along the X axis, with respect to the CTS antenna of the state of the art. Furthermore, by adding a degree of freedom with respect to the first embodiment, it is thus possible to provide the beam former with a plurality of focal points.

Pour ce deuxième mode de réalisation, la conversion des ondes cylindriques se fait uniquement au dernier étage eN. Dès lors, la hauteur (selon l'axe y) de certaines excroissances de la lentille à profil curviligne impose un espacement entre les cornets 5. Ainsi, dans ce deuxième mode de réalisation, l'espacement entre les cornets 5 est imposé par la hauteur des lentilles, comme pour le premier mode de réalisation décrit précédemment.For this second embodiment, the conversion of the cylindrical waves is done only on the last stage e N. Consequently, the height (along the y axis) of certain protuberances of the lens with a curvilinear profile imposes a spacing between the horns 5. Thus, in this second embodiment, the spacing between the horns 5 is imposed by the height lenses, as for the first embodiment described above.

Les figures 7B et 7C illustrent deux coupes, selon le plan YZ, de lentilles à profil curviligne 7 disposées au dernier étage du répartiteur, à deux endroits différents de la lentille 7 selon l'axe X. La lentille à profil curviligne 7 est disposée entre les plaques parallèles de chacune des branches B1 et B2, juste avant les cornets 5. La lentille à profil curviligne 7 peut comprendre une excroissance 13, repliée sur elle-même, ayant une partie p1 s'étendant selon l'axe Y, une partie p2 s'étendant selon l'axe Z, et une partie p3 s'étendant selon l'axe Y. La distance d d'espacement entre les deux parties repliées p1 et p3 qui s'étendent selon l'axe Y croît depuis les extrémités de la lentille selon l'axe X (figure 7B), pour atteindre un maximum au centre de la lentille (figure 7C). La hauteur de l'excroissance selon l'axe y, varie également ; elle peut être nulle ou quasiment nulle aux extrémités de la lentille selon l'axe X, alors qu'elle peut être maximale au centre de la lentille selon ce même axe.The Figures 7B and 7C illustrate two sections, along the YZ plane, of lenses with a curvilinear profile 7 arranged on the last stage of the distributor, at two different locations of the lens 7 along the axis X. The lens with a curvilinear profile 7 is arranged between the parallel plates of each of the branches B1 and B2, just before the horns 5. The curvilinear profile lens 7 may include a protrusion 13, folded back on itself, having a part p 1 extending along the axis Y, a part p 2 extending along the Z axis, and a part p 3 extending along the Y axis. The distance d of spacing between the two folded parts p 1 and p 3 which extend along the Y axis increases from the ends of the lens along the X axis ( figure 7B ), to reach a maximum in the center of the lens ( figure 7C ). The height of the protrusion along the y axis also varies; it can be zero or almost zero at the ends of the lens along the X axis, while it can be maximum at the center of the lens along this same axis.

La figure 8 illustre une telle antenne, notamment le répartiteur de puissance 1, les lentilles 7 ainsi que les cornets 5. Il apparaît que cette antenne est beaucoup moins compacte, selon l'axe Z, que celle du premier mode de réalisation en raison des dimensions des lentilles à profil curviligne 7.The figure 8 illustrates such an antenna, in particular the power distributor 1, the lenses 7 as well as the horns 5. It appears that this antenna is much less compact, along the axis Z, than that of the first embodiment due to the dimensions of the lenses with curvilinear profile 7.

La figure 9 illustre un troisième mode de réalisation de l'invention. Les sources 10 émettent des ondes cylindriques vers le répartiteur de puissance 1. Le répartiteur de puissance 1 est composé d'une pluralité d'étages e1, ..., eN. Au premier étage e1, directement raccordé aux sources 10 éventuellement via un coude à 90°, se trouve un diviseur à plaques parallèles 3, composé de deux branches B1 et B2. Le diviseur à plaques parallèles 3 est configuré pour répartir le champ électrique E issu des sources 10.The figure 9 illustrates a third embodiment of the invention. The sources 10 emit cylindrical waves towards the power distributor 1. The power distributor 1 is composed of a plurality of stages e 1 , ..., e N. On the first stage e 1 , directly connected to the sources 10 possibly via a 90 ° bend, there is a divider with parallel plates 3, composed of two branches B1 and B2. The parallel plate divider 3 is configured to distribute the electric field E from the sources 10.

Les lentilles mises en œuvre dans le troisième mode de réalisation peuvent prendre la forme de lentilles à profil droit comprenant une excroissance (voir figure 1B), au niveau de chacune des branches B1, B2 de chaque diviseur. Chacune des branches de l'étage e1 mène à un diviseur à un étage supérieur e2. Ainsi, un diviseur à plaques parallèles 3 est connecté à la première branche B1. Il comprend lui-même deux branches B1 et B2, chacune des branches B1 et B2 de ce diviseur à plaques parallèles 3 comprenant aussi une lentille à profil droit 6. Le répartiteur 1 est ainsi défini par une structure en arborescence, où les lentilles à profil droit se retrouvent à chaque étage du répartiteur 1 sur les branches B1 et B2. En alternative, l'excroissance peut être intégrée à la jonction des branches B1 et B2 ; le contour de la jonction n'est alors plus rectiligne, et doit être modifié de sorte à intégrer le retard à réaliser par l'excroissance.The lenses used in the third embodiment can take the form of straight profile lenses comprising a protrusion (see figure 1B ), at the level of each of the branches B1, B2 of each divider. Each of the branches of the stage e 1 leads to a divider on an upper stage e 2 . Thus, a parallel plate divider 3 is connected to the first branch B1. It itself comprises two branches B1 and B2, each of the branches B1 and B2 of this divider with parallel plates 3 also comprising a straight profile lens 6. The distributor 1 is thus defined by a tree structure, where the straight profile lenses are found on each stage of the distributor 1 on the branches B1 and B2. Alternatively, the protuberance can be integrated at the junction of the branches B1 and B2; the contour of the junction is then no longer rectilinear, and must be modified so as to integrate the delay to be achieved by the protuberance.

Comme pour le premier et pour le deuxième mode de réalisation, les ondes se propagent dans le répartiteur directement depuis les sources, uniquement sur une longueur correspondant à celle du formateur de faisceaux. On obtient ainsi également, selon ce troisième mode de réalisation, un gain en surface selon l'axe X, vis-à-vis de l'antenne CTS de l'état de l'art.As for the first and for the second embodiment, the waves propagate in the distributor directly from the sources, only over a length corresponding to that of the beam former. Thus, according to this third embodiment, a gain in area is also obtained along the X axis, with respect to the CTS antenna of the state of the art.

Un tel agencement offre des performances en dépointage similaires au deuxième mode de réalisation, et donc bien supérieures par rapport aux formateurs de faisceaux de l'état de l'art. En effet, la conversion en ondes planes étant faite progressivement, il n'y a pas de réflexions sur les bords du répartiteur 1, contrairement au cas où il y a des ondes planes fortement inclinées dans le répartiteur 1. La multiplicité d'excroissances permet de répartir et de fractionner, entre les différentes excroissances, les retards à réaliser, et d'obtenir ainsi un gradient de retard, à savoir un retard fonction de la position de l'onde selon l'axe Z. Comme pour le deuxième mode de réalisation, cette augmentation du nombre de degrés de libertés par rapport au premier mode de réalisation évite ainsi les aberrations liées aux ondes issues de sources fortement dépointées, sur un large secteur angulaire. Il est ainsi possible de doter le formateur de faisceaux d'une pluralité de points focaux. Par ailleurs, la répartition des lentilles 6 permet de réduire l'amplitude des retards à réaliser à chaque excroissance, et donc d'en limiter la dimension.Such an arrangement offers depointing performance similar to the second embodiment, and therefore much superior compared to beam formers of the state of the art. Indeed, the conversion into plane waves being done gradually, there are no reflections on the edges of the distributor 1, unlike the case where there are plane waves strongly inclined in the distributor 1. The multiplicity of outgrowths allows distributing and dividing, between the different outgrowths, the delays to be achieved, and thus obtaining a delay gradient, namely a delay which is a function of the position of the wave along the Z axis. As for the second mode of embodiment, this increase in the number of degrees of freedom compared to the first embodiment thus avoids the aberrations linked to the waves coming from strongly depointed sources, over a wide angular sector. It is thus possible to provide the beam former with a plurality of focal points. Furthermore, the distribution of the lenses 6 makes it possible to reduce the amplitude of the delays to be achieved with each growth, and therefore to limit their size.

Le troisième mode a été décrit avec des lentilles à profil droit 6. Cela inclut ainsi les jonctions pillbox, qui sont un certain type de lentille à profil droit, comme cela a été décrit précédemment. Il peut également être envisagé de répartir des lentilles à profil curviligne 7 (voir figures 1C et 1D) dans le répartiteur selon le troisième mode de réalisation, en tenant compte toutefois de l'encombrement des lentilles à profil curviligne 7. Un tel agencement, réparti de façon progressive, de lentilles à profil curviligne 7 selon le troisième mode de réalisation, permet d'ajouter des degrés de liberté supplémentaires dans le cas où l'utilisation de lentilles à profil droit n'en aurait pas assez pour permettre de bonnes performances.The third mode has been described with straight profile lenses 6. This includes pillbox junctions, which are a certain type of lens. straight profile, as described above. It can also be envisaged to distribute lenses with a curvilinear profile 7 (see figures 1C and 1D ) in the distributor according to the third embodiment, however taking into account the size of the lenses with a curvilinear profile 7. Such an arrangement, progressively distributed, of lenses with a curvilinear profile 7 according to the third embodiment, makes it possible to '' add additional degrees of freedom in case the use of straight profile lenses would not be enough to allow good performance.

En sortie du répartiteur se trouvent une pluralité de cornets de rayonnement 5, chaque cornet de rayonnement 5 étant connecté à une branche (B1, B2) du dernier étage du répartiteur de puissance eN. Chaque cornet de rayonnement 5 est configuré pour rayonner le même champ. En alternative, les cornets de rayonnement 5 peuvent avoir des niveaux de puissance différents, afin de réduire le niveau des lobes de réseaux. Les faisceaux ainsi générés sont affinés dans le plan E, et peuvent être circulaires, de façon à être particulièrement adaptés aux télécommunications spatiales. La conversion étant progressive, le retard à appliquer au dernier étage eN dans ce mode de réalisation est inférieur à celui appliqué dans les deux précédents modes. Ainsi, contrairement aux deux premiers modes de réalisation, la faible hauteur des lentilles 6 (selon l'axe y) au dernier étage eN permet aux cornets de rayonnement 5 d'être suffisamment proches les uns les autres selon l'axe y, et de limiter ainsi les problèmes engendrés par les lobes de réseaux.At the outlet of the distributor are a plurality of radiation horns 5, each radiation horn 5 being connected to a branch (B1, B2) of the last stage of the power distributor e N. Each radiation horn 5 is configured to radiate the same field. Alternatively, the radiation horns 5 can have different power levels, in order to reduce the level of the lobes of the networks. The beams thus generated are refined in the plane E, and can be circular, so as to be particularly suitable for space telecommunications. The conversion being progressive, the delay to be applied to the last stage e N in this embodiment is less than that applied in the two previous modes. Thus, unlike the first two embodiments, the low height of the lenses 6 (along the y axis) on the last stage e N allows the radiation horns 5 to be close enough to each other along the y axis, and thus limit the problems caused by the lobes of networks.

De façon préférentielle, les hauteurs de chacune des lentilles des branches B1, B2 d'un même étage sont identiques, de sorte que le retard soit uniformément et équitablement appliqué à chaque étage, et que les différents faisceaux transmis aux cornets soient bien en phase, améliorant ainsi la qualité des faisceaux sur un secteur angulaire donné.Preferably, the heights of each of the lenses of the branches B1, B2 of the same stage are identical, so that the delay is uniformly and equitably applied to each stage, and so that the different beams transmitted to the horns are well in phase, thus improving the quality of the beams on a given angular sector.

D'autres modes de réalisation peuvent être envisagés, notamment en disposant, sur un étage, une ou plusieurs lentilles à profil curviligne 7 ainsi qu'une ou plusieurs lentilles à profil droit 6.Other embodiments can be envisaged, in particular by arranging, on one stage, one or more lenses with a curvilinear profile 7 as well as one or more lenses with a straight profile 6.

Une limitation des antennes réseaux d'ouvertures linéaires rayonnantes réside dans la polarisation de l'onde rayonnée. Celle-ci est linéaire, et orientée dans la direction orthogonale aux plaques parallèles. Or, de nombreuses applications, notamment dans les communications spatiales, requièrent le rayonnement en polarisation circulaire. Pour cela, l'antenne objet de l'invention comprend avantageusement un polariseur configuré pour polariser circulairement les ondes émises par l'antenne selon une polarisation linéaire. Un polariseur dit à septum peut être intégré dans l'antenne ; en alternative, un radome polarisant 18, représenté schématiquement à la figure 9, peut recouvrir l'antenne selon l'invention.A limitation of the array antennas of radiating linear apertures lies in the polarization of the radiated wave. This is linear, and oriented in the direction orthogonal to the parallel plates. However, many applications, particularly in space communications, require radiation in circular polarization. For this, the antenna object of the invention advantageously comprises a polarizer configured to circularly polarize the waves emitted by the antenna according to a linear polarization. A so-called septum polarizer can be integrated into the antenna; alternatively, a polarizing radome 18, shown schematically in the figure 9 , can cover the antenna according to the invention.

Claims (10)

  1. Quasi-optical beamformer comprising a power distributor (1) composed of a succession of parallel-plate dividers (3) according to a corporate structure made up of stages extending in a YZ-plane from a first stage (e1) to a last stage (eN), the parallel plates of said dividers each having a main dimension along an X-axis orthogonal to the YZ-plane, each parallel-plate divider (3) comprising, in each of the stages of the corporate structure located under a higher stage, first (B1) and second (B2) parallel-plate waveguide branches leading to respective parallel-plate dividers (3) of the following stage of the corporate structure,
    characterized in that it furthermore includes a plurality of lenses (6, 7) extending longitudinally along the X-axis in at least one stage of the power distributor (1), so as to apply a delay that is continuously variable along the X-axis, and being placed in each of the branches (B1, B2) of the dividers (3) of at least one stage in the power distributor (1).
  2. Quasi-optical beamformer according to Claim 1, the lenses (6, 7) being placed in a plurality of stages (e1, ..., eN) of the power distributor (1) and having respective heights such that the continuously variable delay is applied gradually in the stages of the power distributor (1).
  3. Quasi-optical beamformer according to either of the preceding claims, the lenses (6, 7) being placed in each stage (e1, ..., eN) of the power distributor (1).
  4. Quasi-optical beamformer according to Claim 1, the lenses (6, 7) being placed solely in the last stage (eN) of the power distributor (1).
  5. Quasi-optical beamformer according to one of the preceding claims, each of the lenses (6, 7) of a given stage being a straight-profile lens (6).
  6. Quasi-optical beamformer according to one of Claims 1 to 5, each of the lenses (6, 7) of a given stage being a curvilinear-profile lens (7).
  7. Quasi-optical beamformer according to Claim 5, the power distributor (1) comprising only straight-profile lenses (6) placed in each stage (e1, ..., eN) of the power distributor (1).
  8. Quasi-optical beamformer according to one of the preceding claims, said former being connected to a plurality of sources (10) that are oriented in different directions in the XY-plane, each of the sources (10) being able to inject a wave into the distributor (1), the waves propagating in said various directions in the XY-plane, respectively, the lenses (6, 7) being suitable for collimating these waves.
  9. Multibeam antenna comprising at least one quasi-optical beamformer according to any one of the preceding claims, and furthermore comprising a plurality of radiating horns (5), each radiating horn (5) being connected to a branch (B1, B2) of the last stage of the power distributor (eN).
  10. Multibeam antenna according to the preceding claim, comprising a polarizer (18) configured to circularly polarize the waves, which are emitted by the antenna with a linear polarization.
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FR3069713A1 (en) 2019-02-01
CA3012540A1 (en) 2019-01-27
DK3435480T3 (en) 2020-05-18
ES2787050T3 (en) 2020-10-14
FR3069713B1 (en) 2019-08-02
US10553957B2 (en) 2020-02-04
US20190036228A1 (en) 2019-01-31
EP3435480A1 (en) 2019-01-30

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