EP3446362A1 - System for deflecting and pointing a microwave beam - Google Patents
System for deflecting and pointing a microwave beamInfo
- Publication number
- EP3446362A1 EP3446362A1 EP17720058.1A EP17720058A EP3446362A1 EP 3446362 A1 EP3446362 A1 EP 3446362A1 EP 17720058 A EP17720058 A EP 17720058A EP 3446362 A1 EP3446362 A1 EP 3446362A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- deflection
- deflection device
- controllable
- rotation mechanism
- axis
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
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- 238000007493 shaping process Methods 0.000 description 12
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 6
- 239000003989 dielectric material Substances 0.000 description 5
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Classifications
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- 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
- H01Q3/12—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system using mechanical relative movement between primary active elements and secondary devices of antennas or antenna systems
-
- 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
-
- 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
- H01Q15/23—Combinations of reflecting surfaces with refracting or diffracting devices
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
- H01Q19/00—Combinations of primary active antenna elements and units with secondary devices, e.g. with quasi-optical devices, for giving the antenna a desired directional characteristic
- H01Q19/06—Combinations of primary active antenna elements and units with secondary devices, e.g. with quasi-optical devices, for giving the antenna a desired directional characteristic using refracting or diffracting devices, e.g. lens
-
- 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
- H01Q3/12—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system using mechanical relative movement between primary active elements and secondary devices of antennas or antenna systems
- H01Q3/14—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system using mechanical relative movement between primary active elements and secondary devices of antennas or antenna systems for varying the relative position of primary active element and a refracting or diffracting device
Definitions
- the field of the invention is that of the deflection and pointing systems of a microwave beam.
- the invention applies to the treatment of a microwave beam, corresponding to frequencies between 300 MHz and 300 GHz, typical wavelength of 1 mm to 1 m. Such frequencies are used in particular in the field:
- Such systems need to be able to control the direction in which the beam is emitted or received. This property is referred to as the score.
- Such systems include, for example, on-board radars, missile seekers, "sense and avoid” systems, communication systems, jammers and periscope radar systems.
- the antenna For pointing, the antenna must be configured to transmit and receive a wave in one direction of the given space. For example today, in the field of telecommunications, it is increasingly necessary to redirect an antenna, following the update of the coverage of the territory. It is important to have intelligent and remote controlled antennas, intelligent for their ability to orient themselves to cover different areas in space and remotely controlled for their ability to be remotely controllable from a central office.
- the antenna For “tracking” or tracking, the antenna must be configured to follow a target such as a satellite or an airplane.
- steerable beam antennas compact, compact and compact, easy to use and integrate into a platform, and low cost.
- Various known techniques make it possible to produce a steerable beam antenna, but have certain drawbacks.
- the Cassegrain dish antenna is handicapped by shading effects due to the position of the source (more specifically by the secondary reflector) in front of the reflector. Also to maintain good efficiency, a large diameter-to-wavelength ratio is required. At low frequency, this antenna can not be integrated in a small volume.
- This type of antenna also suffers from its range of travel generally limited to 60 °.
- One solution to realize an RF deflection system is to use two diffractive components that can rotate about the same axis, combined with a lens and an RF source.
- Such a system is described in patent FR 3,002,697.
- These diffractive components and the lens each have a plurality of periodic subwavelength MS microstructures formed in a dielectric material in a Risley scan configuration; these microstructures are arranged to form an artificial material having a periodic variation effective refractive index, this arrangement for performing the diffractive function.
- the structure of the diffractive component C1 may be fabricated on one side of the component, the structure of the lens L being formed on its other face.
- the pointing of the beam emitted by the source S is ensured by independent rotations (symbolized by the arrows) of the L + C1 diffractive diffractive lens-lens component and the diffractive component C2 around an ⁇ axis as illustrated in FIG. 1; the components L + C1 and C2 are arranged in a plane normal to the axis of rotation ⁇ and the axis of symmetry of the beam emitted by the source S and which passes through its center coincides with this axis ⁇ .
- the advantage of such a deflection system is to be compact, with a fixed S power source and mechanical orientation capabilities while ensuring high efficiency.
- the thickness of the diffractive component is about 30 mm.
- the total thickness of the deflection system is therefore about 100 mm.
- the total thickness of the agile antenna is about 300 mm. But this thickness can still be too important for some applications embedded on mobile platforms.
- the deflection system according to the invention implements two deflection devices, at least one of which comprises a diffractive dielectric component structured at a scale smaller than the wavelength. Combined with a simple mechanics based on rotations, this approach makes it possible to obtain angular deflections of up to 120 ° at a lower cost with a microwave source (s), or a solid angle coverage of 3 ⁇ sr. that is to say, triple what is accessible with an electronic scanning antenna, without singular servo point and without mobile active microwave part.
- s microwave source
- the invention relates to a controllable deflection system of a microwave beam having a wavelength of between 1 mm and 1 m, which comprises:
- a training device configured to collimate said beam in transmission mode or to focus said beam in reception mode
- a first device for deflecting an incident microwave beam comprising a first diffractive dielectric component with sub-wavelength microstructures arranged so as to form an artificial material having a periodic variation of effective refractive index, designated first diffractive component, this first diffractive dielectric component being associated with a first rotation mechanism around a first controllable axis.
- a second deflection device configured to deflect an incident microwave beam towards the first transmission mode deflection device, or from the first reception mode deflection device, this second deflection device being associated with a second rotation mechanism around a second deflection device; a second controllable axis,
- the angle formed by the first and second axes of rotation is greater than 0 ° and less than or equal to 90 °, and in that the first rotation mechanism is integral with the second rotation mechanism so that a rotation of the second rotation mechanism around its controllable axis causes a rotation of the first rotation mechanism around this same axis.
- the first deflection device comprises another diffractive dielectric component with subwavelength microstructures, arranged parallel to the first diffractive dielectric component (designated third diffractive dielectric component), this third diffractive dielectric component being associated a third rotation mechanism around the first controllable axis, independent of the first rotation mechanism but integral with the second rotation mechanism.
- the second deflection device may comprise a second diffractive dielectric component with subwavelength microstructures (designated second diffractive dielectric component) and the beam forming device emitted by the transmitting means or received by the receiving means may comprise a lens. It optionally comprises a fourth diffractive dielectric component with subwavelength microstructures (designated fourth diffractive dielectric component) arranged parallel to the first diffractive dielectric component.
- Each diffractive dielectric component can typically be a prism or a network.
- the beam forming device lens and the second diffractive dielectric component are advantageously combined to form a non-resonant, two-sided, subwavelength microstructure holographic component formed on a single face in a non-periodic arrangement determined by a calculation. interference on said face between an incident beam and a predetermined output beam; the holographic component is associated with the second rotation mechanism.
- the microstructures of the holographic component can be formed on a predetermined 3D surface. According to an alternative, they are formed in a predetermined volume which is based on said face of the holographic component, and implanted according to a non-periodic three-dimensional arrangement.
- the beam forming device and the second deflection device are combined to form a system of Cassegrain type mirrors.
- the second deflection device is configured to deflect the beam on the first deflection device with normal incidence.
- the first deflection device deflects the beam with a first deflection angle with respect to the first axis
- the second deflection device deflects the beam with a second deflection angle with respect to the second axis.
- the first deflection angle is advantageously greater than or equal to the second deflection angle.
- the invention also relates to a steerable beam antenna which comprises means for transmitting / receiving a microwave beam having a wavelength of between 1 mm and 1 m and a beam deflection system as described.
- the transmitting / receiving means, the shaping device and the second deflection device may be combined to form an assembly capable of forming an incident beam on the first transmission mode deflection device or of receiving a beam originating from the first deflection device in reception mode; this set is associated with the second rotation mechanism.
- This set is for example a network antenna.
- FIG. 1 schematically represents an orientable antenna according to the state of the art
- FIG. 2 are diagrammatic views in section of a steerable antenna equipped with a first embodiment of a deflection system according to the invention, with two prisms and with a shaping lens of the beam emitted by the source (FIG. ), to a prism and with a holographic component combining the second prism and the shaping lens (fig 2b),
- FIG. 3 schematically shows in section a steerable antenna equipped with a second embodiment of a deflection system according to the invention, with three prisms,
- FIG. 4 schematically shows in section a steerable antenna equipped with a third exemplary embodiment of a deflection system according to the invention, with four prisms,
- FIG. 5a is a diagrammatic view from above of a first example of implementation of sub-wavelength microstructures of a holographic component, with constant sections on their height according to a detailed Cartesian grid square to a larger scale FIG. 5b, and seen in perspective (fig 5c),
- FIG. 6a is a diagrammatic view from above of another example of the implementation of sub-wavelength microstructures of a holographic component, according to a mesh with iso-phase lines and phase gradient lines, detailed on a larger scale FIG. 6b,
- FIGS. 7 are a diagrammatic sectional view of an orientable antenna equipped with a fourth embodiment of a deflection system according to the invention, the second deflection device comprising a Cassegrain configuration with two mirrors, with a primary mirror. concave (FIG. 7a) and a primary mirror with reflectors (FIG. 7b),
- FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic sectional view of an orientable antenna comprising a patched array antenna (FIG. 8a) and a blazed array antenna (FIG. 8b).
- the terms “front” and “rear” are used with reference to the orientation of the figures described.
- the "upstream-downstream” meaning is that of the beam; in the figures, the direction of the beam indicated by arrows is that of the transmission mode. Since the device can be positioned in other orientations, the directional terminology is illustrative and not limiting.
- a source is shown in the figures to illustrate the deflections of the beam. The description is made considering that the antenna is in transmission mode; but of course the invention applies to the receiving mode.
- diffractive component is of course used with the same meaning as that indicated in the preamble with reference to patent FR 3 002 697, that is to say a component with subwavelength microstructures arranged in such a way that forming an artificial material having a periodic variation of effective refractive index to thereby perform the diffractive function.
- FIG. 2a an example of a deflection system according to the invention is described.
- the deflection system of a microwave beam having a wavelength of between 1 mm and 1 m intended to be associated with S-reception transmitting means comprises:
- a shaping device (or forming device) of the incident beam configured to collimate in transmission mode (the wavefront emitted by the source which is quasi-spherical in the case of a point source S, is shaped of a plane wave), or to focus in reception mode.
- a first device for deflecting the microwave beam which comprises a first dielectric prism C1 microstructure sublength wave.
- This prism C1 is associated with a first mechanism R1 of rotation (indicated by the arrow) around a first axis ⁇ 1 normal to the plane of the prism C1.
- This first deflection device is thus configured to deflect the incident beam of a first angle ⁇ 1 fixed non-zero with respect to the axis of rotation ⁇ 1.
- the rotation of C1 around the axis ⁇ 1 provided by the first controllable rotation mechanism R1 allows the beam to describe a circle around ⁇ 1. By construction this angle ⁇ 1 can be set between 0 and 60 °.
- a second deflection device associated with a second rotation mechanism R2 around a second axis ⁇ 2 (indicated by the arrow) controllable. It is configured, in transmission mode, to deflect to the first deflection device of a non-zero fixed angle ⁇ 2 with respect to the axis of rotation ⁇ 2, the incident microwave beam coming from the source, and for receiving mode, to deflect to the device for forming an angle ⁇ 2 fixed non-zero with respect to the axis of rotation ⁇ 2, the incident microwave beam from the first deflection device.
- the angle ( ⁇ 1, ⁇ 2) formed by the first and second axes of rotation is greater than 0 ° and less than or equal to 90 °: 0 ° ⁇ ( ⁇ 1 . ⁇ 2) ⁇ 90 °; otherwise says the prism C1 of the first deflection device is inclined with respect to ⁇ 2.
- the first rotation mechanism R1 is mounted on the second rotation mechanism R2.
- the first rotation mechanism R1 is integral with the second rotation mechanism R2: the rotation of the second deflection device around the axis ⁇ 2 drives the first deflection device in a rotation around ⁇ 2.
- the rotation of the first deflection device around the axis ⁇ 1 is independent of the rotation around the axis ⁇ 2: it does not cause the rotation of the second deflection device.
- the prism C1 and the second deflection device deflect the beam with ⁇ 1 ⁇ 2.
- the rotation of C1 around the axis ⁇ 1 provided by the first rotation mechanism R1 allows the beam to describe a circle around ⁇ 1, which combined with a rotation of the second deflection device around the roll axis ⁇ 2 provided by the second rotation mechanism R2, makes it possible to place the beam in a solid angle cone with a value of 2 ⁇ (1 -cos (2 ⁇ 1)).
- the second deflection device may itself comprise one or more dielectric prisms with microstructures sub-wavelengths, as shown in Figures 2a, 2b, 3 and 4.
- the second deflection device comprises a single dielectric prism C2 with subwavelength microstructures, designated second prism, just as the first deflection device comprises only a single prism C1. This improves the compactness of the antenna.
- This second prism makes it possible to pre-deflect the beam upstream of the first deflection device in transmission mode, with a non-zero fixed angle ⁇ 2 with respect to the axis ⁇ 2 normal to the plane of the prism C2.
- the angle between the axes ⁇ 1 and ⁇ 2 can also be equal to ⁇ 2 as shown in the figures; in this case the beam deflected by this second prism C2 advantageously has a normal impact on the prism C1 in transmission mode.
- this angle ⁇ 2 can be set between 0 and 60 °. Combined with the first prism C1, this achieves a maximum deflection ⁇ 1 + ⁇ 2 of 120 °.
- the second deflection device comprises a single prism designated second prism C2, and the first deflection device comprises in addition to the first prism C1, another prism designated third prism C3.
- This dielectric C3 prism with subwavelength microstructures is arranged parallel to the first prism C1 (it is therefore normal to the axis ⁇ 1) and on it; it is able to deflect the incident beam by a non-zero fixed angle ⁇ 3 with respect to the axis ⁇ 1.
- this angle ⁇ 3 can be set between 0 and 60 °.
- It is associated with a third mechanism R3 of rotation about the axis ⁇ 1 (indicated by the arrow) controllable, independent of the first rotation mechanism R1 associated with C1.
- this third rotation mechanism R3 is mounted on the second rotation mechanism R2.
- the first and third rotation mechanisms R1 and R3 are integral with the second rotation mechanism R2.
- 013max can reach 60 ° to 70 ° depending on the desired level of performance.
- the directions of rotation of the first and third rotation mechanisms R1, R3 may optionally be opposite; we then speak of contra-rotating prisms C1 and C3.
- the rotation mechanisms R1, R2 and R3 are controllable for example manually or preferably by a motor controlled by a servomechanism.
- the second deflection device comprises, in addition to the prism C2, a second prism with subwavelength microstructures designated fourth prism C4.
- This prism is associated with the rotation mechanism R2 of the second deflection device, around the axis ⁇ 2.
- this angle 04 can be set between 0 and 60 °.
- the deflection angle of the second deflection device is then equal to 02 + 04 with respect to the axis ⁇ 2.
- the angle formed by the axes ⁇ 1 and ⁇ 2 is also equal to 02 + 04: thus the beam coming from C4 has a normal incidence on C1.
- the device for forming the beam from the source comprises a lens at the focus of which are placed in the transmission means S.
- This lens makes it possible to shape the quasi-spherical wavefront emitted by a point source S.
- the shaping lens L can be fixed and independent of the second prism C2 and its rotation mechanism as shown in FIGS. 2a, 3, 4. In this case, the source assembly S and the shaping lens L is fixed relative to the rotations around ⁇ 1 and ⁇ 2 and allows easy interconnection with the microwave transmission and / or reception circuits.
- This shaping lens L can be a dielectric lens: - massive diffractive with a hyperbolic profile, or
- microstructures as described in patents FR 2,980,648 or FR 3,002,697, and can be diffractive or refractive.
- the beamforming lens L emitted by the emission means S (or to the reception means) is combined with the second prism C2 into a holographic component CH , to obtain a single component that provides a dual function of shaping and deflecting the beam emitted by the source S, as shown in Figure 2b.
- the subwavelength microstructures are implanted on a single face of the component CH in a non-periodic arrangement determined by a calculation of interference on said face, between the beam emitted by the source incident on this face and the output beam (of this component CH) desired, in this case a plane wave deflected with an angle ⁇ 2. It is recalled that the microstructures are described as subwavelength when the following condition for the cells (or meshes) where they are implanted is fulfilled:
- this holographic component has a flat face (2D surface) as shown in FIG. 2b, it is a calculation of interference on this plane face between the incident beam emitted by the source and the output beam.
- which in the case of a steerable beam antenna, is a plane wave with an exit angle (in transmit mode) corresponding to the angle of orientation of the beam.
- the height and the size of each microstructure MS of CH (which can also be seen in FIG. 5c) are determined experimentally or calculated so as to correspond the modulo 2 ⁇ phase delay introduced locally by each microstructure, to the conjugate of the phase of the hologram in this same point.
- the sub-wavelength implementation of the microstructures MS is carried out from a geometric mesh M generally based on Cartesian, that is to say with a rectangular or square base, as shown in Figures 5a, 5b and 5c.
- a hexagonal or even circular mesh can also be envisaged.
- the base of a microstructure can not of course exceed one mesh (or cell) of the mesh, but may occupy it only partially. Some meshes may be empty, others fully occupied by the base of the microstructure and for others finally, the base of the microstructure occupies only partially the corresponding mesh, according to the determined implementation.
- a sublanged wave geometrical structure is produced from a mesh M which coincides with isophase lines in a direction and with phase gradient lines in directions respectively perpendicular to the iso-phase lines as illustrated in FIGS. 6a and 6b.
- the microstructures of the holographic component may be formed on a non-planar surface, i.e. on a predetermined 3D surface, such as a symmetrical surface of revolution like a cone, a sphere or any arbitrary 3D surface.
- the microstructures are all formed in a dielectric material according to predetermined shapes, either protruding in the form of pillars, or hollow in the form of holes. A combination of holes and pillars is also possible.
- the microstructures are of any shape, preferably with axes of symmetry. They have a square, hexagonal or circular section, or a combination of different geometries, or a section conforming to iso-phase lines and phase gradient lines. They can be of constant section on their height or variable as in the case of a pyramidal structure, conical, etc.
- the height of the microstructures MS is generally identical (as illustrated in FIG. 5c), but not necessarily. They may be perpendicular to the surface of the component or inclined, for example at 30 °. One can also have a variable inclination on the same component. The inclination is determined experimentally, typically according to the direction of inflection or incidence of the beam.
- the holographic component CH comprises superimpositions of microstructure layers MS sub-length wave, formed in the volume thereof, and implanted in a non-periodic three-dimensional arrangement determined by a calculation of interference on said volume, between the beam emitted by the incident source in this volume and the desired output beam.
- This volume is of course based on the face of the CH component on which the microstructures are formed; this volume is defined in particular by this face.
- the computation of the volume interference can be carried out experimentally by successive adjustments or by calculation, for example by transforming the volume of CH into a stack of K 2D or 3D surfaces parallel to each other (with K an integer typically between 2 and 100) on each of which a surface interference pattern is calculated.
- the stack of layers of microstructures is obtained for example by matching for each calculation point of the volume, a microstructure of height reduced by a factor K and whose section makes it possible to generate a local phase delay corresponding to the conjugate of the phase of the hologram at the same point reduced by a factor K.
- Another way to obtain the distribution of 3D microstructures consists of calculating interference obtained on the face of the component CH between the incident beam emitted by the source and the output beam, to project the section of each of the microstructures into the volume. of the component following the curves resulting from the intersection between the planes isophase of the volume hologram and the planes containing the phase gradients.
- This component CH is hosted by the second deflection device and is thus rotated about the axis ⁇ 2 by the second rotation mechanism.
- This holographic component CH allows weight gain and efficiency.
- FIG. 2b An example configuration with a holographic component CH is shown in FIG. 2b: a single prism C1 deflecting the beam by a fixed angle ⁇ 1 with respect to its axis of rotation ⁇ 1 is used in the opening of the antenna. As already indicated, in order to ensure complete angular coverage, it is then necessary for the prism C1 and the holographic component CH to deflect the beam with ⁇ 1 ⁇ 2.
- the rotation of C1 around the axis ⁇ 1 provided by the first rotation mechanism allows the beam to describe a circle around ⁇ 1, which combined with a rotation of the assembly C1 and CH around the roll axis ⁇ 2 ensured by the second rotation mechanism, makes it possible to place the beam in a solid angle cone with a value of 2 ⁇ (1 -cos (2 ⁇ 1)).
- a mechanism of translation of the means. transmission S / reception in the plane normal to the axis ⁇ 2. This is particularly useful for generating small angles of deflection and this avoids performing a complete roll revolution ( a complete revolution of the second rotation mechanism) especially around singular points such as those in the direction of ⁇ 2 for example. This allows easy and total control of the beam (position and opening).
- the second deflection device included one or more prisms, but it may not include a prism.
- This alternative to the previously described space-saving embodiments is based on a combination of the beam shaping device emitted by the source and the second deflection device, using reflector antenna type configurations; this combination remains associated with the second rotation mechanism R2 around the axis ⁇ 2.
- the beam emitted by the source is for example deflected and distributed on the first deflection device by:
- the concave secondary mirror M2 can be replaced by any other type of reflector in order to achieve Gregorian type configurations, ADE (Axially Displaced Ellipse) or Dielguide (configuration also known as Splashplate's Anglosaxon).
- the invention also relates to a steerable antenna comprising a deflection system as described, and transmission means S / microwave reception point arranged at the focus of the shaping device as shown in the figures already described.
- the source S can be monopulse, connected or not to a magic T 'allowing the direct extraction of monopulse signals (sum and differences along the two axes of the horn). These signals make it possible to know the angle difference between the target and the aiming angle of the sum beam, which is known by the addition of encoders on the three axes of rotation of the device. This makes it possible to measure the deviation of a target in the main radiation lobe of the radiation pattern of the source.
- Non-point source or more generally non-point transmission / reception means
- its shaping device and the second deflection device.
- This set is for example itself a network antenna A (plate ("antenna patches" as shown in Figure 8a, slot, Vivaldi, ...), without phase shifters or fixed phase shifters. Indeed, this network antenna does not have to be provided with phase shifters since the corner misalignment ⁇ 2 + ⁇ 13 is performed by the deflection system.
- the array antenna may be placed perpendicular to the ⁇ 2 axis as shown in Figures 8a and 8b, but this is not necessary. It can also be placed directly against the C1 prism. Whatever its configuration, this network antenna A is associated with the second rotation mechanism R2 around the axis ⁇ 2.
- the blaze angle ⁇ 2 makes it possible not to lose the performance of the plates ("patches" in English) in the fixed pointing direction of the antenna.
- This set configured to emit a plane wave deflected to the first transmission mode deflection device (or to receive a plane wave deflected by the first deflection device in reception mode), may also be a reflector antenna, a large gain horn, Or other.
- a first deflection device comprising only one C1 prism.
- each prism (C1 and possibly C3) of the first deflection device is associated with a rotation mechanism around ⁇ 1 (R1 and possibly R3), whereas a single rotation mechanism around ⁇ 2 (R2) is associated with the second deflection device which comprises one or more prisms (C2 or CH and possibly C4), or a Cassegrain-type configuration, or a network antenna.
- R1 and possibly R3 a rotation mechanism around ⁇ 1
- R2 a single rotation mechanism around ⁇ 2
- the second deflection device which comprises one or more prisms (C2 or CH and possibly C4), or a Cassegrain-type configuration, or a network antenna.
- a fairing is advantageously used to encompass the source and possibly the shaping device or even the first deflection device.
- This fairing is either covered on the outside, or lined inside absorbent for absorbing the waves emitted by the source S but not intercepted by the lens L, and parasitic reflections in the device. This helps to improve the radiation pattern of the antenna and reduce its radar cross section.
- This absorbent may be made of dielectric and / or magnetic (or composite) material, structured on a sub-wavelength scale to reduce the level of reflections at the air / absorbent interfaces.
- This structuring can be done in two ways: - Either using a layer with sublung wave microstructures so that the structure is locally adapted in height and thickness to present the equivalent effective index (as presented in patent FR 2 980 648) which makes it possible to produce an antireflection layer adapted locally to the incidence and frequency of the incident wave.
- the size of the microstructures is different.
- the realization of these structured surfaces can be done by machining, by additive manufacturing, or by chemical etching.
- the angular range accessible by the system in transmission / reception is 3 ⁇ sr (deflection max 120 °) against less than ⁇ sr (deflection max 60 °) for the other systems.
- a central transmitter makes it possible to reduce costs by using a centralized power transmitter (eg: progressive wave tube - TOP) for high frequencies; there is no need to use rotating joints to pass the microwave signal.
- a centralized power transmitter eg: progressive wave tube - TOP
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- Aerials With Secondary Devices (AREA)
- Variable-Direction Aerials And Aerial Arrays (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
FR1600670A FR3050577B1 (en) | 2016-04-22 | 2016-04-22 | DEFLECTION AND POINTING SYSTEM OF A HYPERFREQUENCY BEAM |
PCT/EP2017/059481 WO2017182612A1 (en) | 2016-04-22 | 2017-04-21 | System for deflecting and pointing a microwave beam |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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EP3446362A1 true EP3446362A1 (en) | 2019-02-27 |
EP3446362B1 EP3446362B1 (en) | 2020-10-14 |
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Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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EP17720058.1A Active EP3446362B1 (en) | 2016-04-22 | 2017-04-21 | System for deflecting and pointing a microwave beam |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
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EP (1) | EP3446362B1 (en) |
ES (1) | ES2834448T3 (en) |
FR (1) | FR3050577B1 (en) |
SA (1) | SA518400273B1 (en) |
SG (1) | SG11201809271RA (en) |
WO (1) | WO2017182612A1 (en) |
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AU2021227766A1 (en) * | 2020-02-25 | 2022-09-01 | All.Space Networks Limited | Prism for repointing reflector antenna main beam |
CN113904721B (en) * | 2021-10-19 | 2022-11-11 | 中国电子科技集团公司第五十四研究所 | Microwave-assisted wireless optical link acquisition tracking alignment system and method |
CN114267956B (en) * | 2021-12-21 | 2023-06-30 | 中国科学院光电技术研究所 | Sub-wavelength structure transparent reflection super-surface device, beam scanning antenna and scanning method |
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US3242496A (en) * | 1948-08-06 | 1966-03-22 | Sperry Rand Corp | Scanning antenna system |
FR2570886B1 (en) * | 1984-09-21 | 1987-11-20 | Thomson Csf | ROTARY PRISM SCANNING MICROWAVE ANTENNA |
FR2980648B1 (en) | 2011-09-26 | 2014-05-09 | Thales Sa | LENS ANTENNA COMPRISING A DIFERACTIVE DIELECTRIC COMPONENT CAPABLE OF SHAPING A MICROWAVE SURFACE FRONT |
JP5961087B2 (en) * | 2011-10-17 | 2016-08-02 | マクドナルド,デットワイラー アンド アソシエイツ コーポレーション | Wide scan operability without keyhole antenna |
FR3002697B1 (en) * | 2013-02-22 | 2015-03-06 | Thales Sa | CONFIGURABLE HYPERFREQUENCY DEFLECTION SYSTEM |
-
2016
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2017
- 2017-04-21 WO PCT/EP2017/059481 patent/WO2017182612A1/en active Application Filing
- 2017-04-21 ES ES17720058T patent/ES2834448T3/en active Active
- 2017-04-21 EP EP17720058.1A patent/EP3446362B1/en active Active
- 2017-04-21 SG SG11201809271RA patent/SG11201809271RA/en unknown
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WO2017182612A1 (en) | 2017-10-26 |
ES2834448T3 (en) | 2021-06-17 |
SG11201809271RA (en) | 2018-11-29 |
FR3050577B1 (en) | 2020-08-14 |
SA518400273B1 (en) | 2022-08-03 |
EP3446362B1 (en) | 2020-10-14 |
FR3050577A1 (en) | 2017-10-27 |
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