GB2272578A - Antenna - Google Patents
Antenna Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2272578A GB2272578A GB9223889A GB9223889A GB2272578A GB 2272578 A GB2272578 A GB 2272578A GB 9223889 A GB9223889 A GB 9223889A GB 9223889 A GB9223889 A GB 9223889A GB 2272578 A GB2272578 A GB 2272578A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- antenna
- horn
- satellite antenna
- elongate member
- satellite
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- 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
- H01Q19/08—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 for modifying the radiation pattern of a radiating horn in which it is located
-
- 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
- H01Q13/24—Non-resonant leaky-waveguide or transmission-line antennas; Equivalent structures causing radiation along the transmission path of a guided wave constituted by a dielectric or ferromagnetic rod or pipe
Landscapes
- Waveguide Aerials (AREA)
- Aerials With Secondary Devices (AREA)
Abstract
An antenna 5, particularly suitable for reception of DBS television signals, comprises a rod 10 and a horn 15, a first end 60 of the rod 10 being rigidly retained at or near a narrow end 61 of the horn 15. End 60 also provides connection means 65 for connecting the antenna 5 to receiving means. A second end 70 of the rod 10 extends outwardly of a wide end 75 of the horn 15 and, in use, is pointed in the direction of the DBS satellite. A focusing element may be provided within the rod at or near the first end thereof. <IMAGE>
Description
Antennae
This invention relates to an electromagnetic wave antennae, and in particular to an antenna for receiving electromagnetic signals from a satellite orbiting the earth.
There has been an upsurge in the past few years in the availability of domestic and commercial satellite television channels. This is due to the launching of a number of DBS (Direct Broadcast Satellites). These are a breed of high-powered satellites which are specifically designed to beam television signals direct to domestic and business customers equipped with relatively small satellite antennae - otherwise known as satellite dishes.
These DBS are positioned within the Clarke belt in a geostationary orbit, i.e. they are approximately positioned 36000km above the equator and travel in the same direction as the earth's rotation in designated positions around the equator. The result of this is that the satellite effectively remains above the same point on the earth's surface.
A number of types of satellite antennae presently exist, e.g. the prime-focus type, the offset type and the flat plate type.
Although most local authorities allow a householder to erect one such dish up to 90cms in diameter without planning permission, they are aesthetically displeasing to the environment. Many householders are, therefore, unhappy regarding installing such a dish, but have no option if they wish to receive satellite television.
The dishes are also awkward to install and expensive to manufacture and consequently to purchase, and have in some cases become a danger due to highwind loading.
It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate at least some of the aforementioned problems in the prior art.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a satellite antenna comprising an elongate member and a horn, a first end of the elongate member being rigidly retained at or near a narrow end of the horn, which also provides connectior means for connecting the antenna to receiving means, a second end of the elongate member extending outwardly of a wide end of the horn, and wherein, in use, the second end of the elongate member is pointed substantially in the direction of the satellite.
The antenna may be adapted to operate in the Ru-band, and particularly between 10.7 and 11.96GHz or between 12.2GHz and 12.7GHz.
The elongate member may be a rod, which may be solid or hollow.
The rod may be made from a suitable dielectric material, for example a plastic such as solid polypropylene, P.V.C, polystyrene or the like.
The horn preferably comprises a frusto-conical portion having a first end of a base portion connected to a narrow end of the frusto-conical portion.
The base portion may be in the form of a cylindrical portion or alternatively may be in the form of a plurality of integrally connected cylindrical portions, each adjacent cylindrical portion being of reduced diameter with increasing distance from the narrow end of the frusto-conical portion.
The connection means may comprise a threaded or flanged portion provided at or near a second end of the base portion, the threaded portion allowing connection of the horn to a low noise block converter (LNB) or the like.
The horn may be made from aluminium or from any dicast metal, with magnetic reflectability.
Where the elongate member comprises a hollow rod, a focusing element may be provided within the rod at or near the first end thereof.
The focusing element may comprise a cylindrical portion having a conical aperture therein, the base of the aperture being substantially coincident with a first end of the cylindrical portion, the element further comprising a conical portion the base of which is integral with a second end of the cylindrical portion.
The focusing element may also be made from a suitable dielectric material, for example a plastic such as solid polypropylene, PVC polystyrene or the like.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided an elongate member for use in an antenna according to the first aspect.
According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a horn for use in an antenna according to the first aspect.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of receiving electromagnetic signals from a satellite comprising employing a satellite antenna, the antenna comprising an elongate member and a horn, a first end of the elongate member being rigidly retained at or near a narrow end of the horn, which also provides connection means for connecting the antenna to receiving means, a second end of the elongate member extending outwardly of a wide end of the horn, and pointing the second end of the elongate member substantially in the direction of the satellite.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are:
Fig 1 a schematic side view of a first
embodiment of an antenna
according to the present
invention;
Fig 2 a view along direction 'A' of
the antenna of Fig 1;
Fig 3 a graph of experimental results
showing output power versus
frequency of a low noise block
converter (LNB) fed by an antenna
according to the present
invention;
Fig 4 (a),(b)"(c) various horns for use in an
antenna according to the present
invention; and
Fig 5 a focusing element for use in an
antenna according to the present
invention.
Referring to Figs 1 and 2, there is illustrated a first embodiment of a satellite antenna according to the present invention, generally designated 5. The antenna 5 comprises an elongate member in the form of a hollow rod 10, and a horn 15. The horn 15 comprises a frontmost frusto-conical portion 20 and a rearmost portion 25 integrally connected thereto. In this embodiment the rearmost portion 25 comprises first, second and third cylindrical portions 30, 35, 40 of decreasing diameter, the first portion 30 being integrally connected to the frusto-conical portion 20 by a first annular lip 45.
The first and second cylindrical portions 30, 35 are likewise integrally connected by a second annular lip portion 50, and the second and third cylindrical portions 35, 40 by a third annular lip portion 55.
A first end 60 of the rod 10 is rigidly retained within a narrow end 61 of the horn 15 provided by the third cylindrical portion 40 the internal diameter of which is a close fit with the outer diameter of the rod 10.
Further, provided on an outer surface 62 of the third cylindrical portion 40 are connection means comprising a threaded portion 65, the threaded portion 65 allowing connection of the antenna 5 to a conventional low noise block converter (LNB) (not shown), as is known in the art.
As can be seen best from Fig 1, a second end 70 of the rod 10 extends outwardly of a frontmost wide end 75 of the horn 15.
Typically, for an antenna 5 operating between 10 and 13GHz the dimensions of the antenna are as follows: for the rod 10: length = 1000mm, outer diameter = 20mm, inner diameter = 17.5mm; for the horn 15: length = 215mm, diameter of wide end = lOOmm, half angle of imaginary apex of frusto-conical portion 20 = 200, outer diameter of first cylindrical portion 30 = 50mm, outer diameter of second cylindrical portion 35 = 40mm, outer diameter of third cylindrical portion 40 = 17.5mm.
The rod 10 may be made from any suitable dielectric material, for example, solid P.V.C having a dielectric constant, Er = 3.0 to 3.5 or solid polystyrene having Er = 2.4 to 2.6.
In use, the antenna 5 may be suitably mounted on a building by means of brackets or the like, the threaded portion 65 connected to an LNB and the orientation of the antenna 5 adjusted until the second end 70 of the rod 10 points substantially in the direction of the satellite.
The precise direction of orientation of the rod 10 may then be finely adjusted until a suitable level of signal is received by the antenna 5 and converted by the LNB.
Using such an antenna 5 it has been found that a gain of 29 dB or even higher may be achieved.
Referring now to Fig 3, there is illustrated the output from an LNB connected to an antenna 5 receiving signals from the Astra Satellite as viewed on a spectrum analyser. The LNB output range of 1.1GHz to 1.8GHz corresponds approximately to a detection bandwidth of the antenna 5 of 10.7GHz to 11.9GHz. Each peak in Fig 3 corresponds to a separate satellite television channel.
The centre detection frequency of the antenna 5, and the bandwidth thereof, may be chosen by suitable design of the rod 10 and horn 15. Therefore, the centre frequency and bandwidth may be influenced by any or all of: the rod 10 length, outer diameter and inner diameter and the horn 15 design.
The Applicant has found that the centre frequency may be chosen by suitable design of the rod 10, and the bandwidth by suitable design of the horn 15.
Referring to Figs 4(a), (b) and (c) there are illustrated various horn designs. Each of the horns 15a, 15b, 15c illustrated comprise a frust-conical portion 20a, 20b, 20c and a substantially cylindrical portion 25a, 25b, 25c. The design of these horns 15a, 15b, 15c are as follows:
I I Diameter of length of length of HornWide End frustoconical cylindrical (mm) portion (mm) portion (mm) 15a 100 130 100 15b 100 270 200 I 15c l 100 1 210 1 140 It should also be appreciated that suitable choice and control of the chemical properties of the materials used to make the antenna 5, and particularly the rod 10, may aid in obtaining desired operation of the antenna 5.
Referring to Fig 5 there is illustrated a focusing element 80 which is intended to be inserted within the first end 60 of the rod 10. The element 80 comprises a cylindrical portion 85 having first and second ends 90, 95. Within the cylindrical portion 85 there is provided a conical aperture 100, the base of which is substantially co-incident with the first end of the cylindrical portion 80. Integrally connected to the second end of the cylindrical portion 85 is the base of a conical portion 105. An apex 110 of the conical portion 105 is intended to be substantially level with the first end 60 of the rod 10, in use.
The embodiments of the present invention hereinbefore described are given by way of example only and are not meant to limit the scope of the invention in any way.
Particularly, it should be appreciated that although in the preferred embodiments disclosed herein the LNB is connected to the horn externally thereof, it may be envisaged that the LNB may well be suitably located within the horn.
Further, increased signal gain can be obtained by using a longer rod but become impracticle if too long a length is used.
Additional signal can also be achieved by providing a plurality of shorter rods inserted in a specially designed horn for this purpose.
The antenna can also be motorised to enable other satellites of suitable power and frequencies to be received.
Claims (19)
1. A satellite antenna comprising an elongate member and a horn, a first end of the elongate member being rigidly retained at or near a narrow end of the horn, which also provides connection means for connecting the antenna to receiving means, a second end of the elongate member extending outwardly of a wide end of the horn, and wherein, in use, the second end of the elongate member is pointed substantially in the direction of the satellite.
2. A satellite antenna as claimed in claim 1, wherein the antenna is adapted to operate in the Ku-band, and particularly between 10.7GHz and 11.96GHz or between 12.2GHz and 12.7GHz.
3. A satellite antenna as claimed in any preceeding claim, wherein, the elongate member is a rod.
4. A satellite antenna as claimed in claim 3, wherein the rod is solid
5. A satellite antenna as claimed in claim 3, wherein the rod is hollow
6. A satellite antenna as claimed in any of claims 3 to 5, wherein, the rod is made from a suitable dielectric material.
7. A satellite antenna as claimed in claim 6, wherein the rod is made from a plastic such as solid polypropylene, P.V.C, polystyrene or the like.
8. A satellite antenna as claimed in any preceeding claim, wherein the horn comprises a frusto-conical portion having a first end of a base portion connected to a narrow end of the frusto-conical portion.
9. A satellite antenna as claimed in claim 8, wherein the base portion is in the form of a cylindrical portion.
10. A satellite antenna as claimed in claim 8, wherein the base portion is in the form of a plurality of integrally connected cylindrical portions, each adjacent cylindrical portion being of reduced diameter with increasing distance from the narrow end of the frustoconical portion.
11. A satellite antenna as claimed in any preceeding claim, wherein the connection means comprise a threaded or flanged portion provided at or near a second end of the base portion, the threaded portion allowing connection of the horn to a low noise block converter (LNB) or the like.
12. A satellite antenna as claimed in any preceeding claim, wherein the horn is made from aluminium or from a dicast metal, with magnetic reflectability.
13. A satellite antenna as claimed in claim 5, or any of claims 6 to 10 when dependent on claim 5, wherein a focusing element is provided within the hollow rod at or near the first end thereof.
14. A satellite antenna as claimed in claim 12, wherein the focusing element comprises a cylindrical portion having a conical aperture therein, a base of the aperture being substantially coincident with a first end of the cylindrical portion, the element further comprising a conical portion the base of which is integral with a second end of the cylindrical portion.
15. A satellite antenna as claimed in either of claims 13 or 14 , wherein the focusing element is made from a suitable dielectric material
16. A satellite antenna as claimed in claim 14, wherein the focusing element is made from a plastic such as solid polypropylene, PVC polystyrene or the like.
17. An elongate member adapted for use in an antenna according to any of claims 1 to 16.
18. A horn adapted for use in an antenna according to any of claims 1 to 16.
19. A method of receiving electromagnetic signals from a satellite comprising employing a satellite antenna, the antenna comprising an elongate member and a horn, a first end of the elongate member being rigidly retained at or near a narrow end of the horn, which also provides connection means for connecting the antenna to receiving means, a second end of the elongate member extending outwardly of a wide end of the horn, and pointing the second end of the elongate member substantially in the direction of the satellite.
Priority Applications (6)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9223889A GB2272578A (en) | 1992-11-13 | 1992-11-13 | Antenna |
| DE69324488T DE69324488T2 (en) | 1992-11-13 | 1993-11-15 | ANTENNA |
| PCT/GB1993/002343 WO1994011921A1 (en) | 1992-11-13 | 1993-11-15 | Antenna |
| ES93924766T ES2133419T3 (en) | 1992-11-13 | 1993-11-15 | ANTENNA. |
| EP93924766A EP0643876B1 (en) | 1992-11-13 | 1993-11-15 | Antenna |
| DK93924766T DK0643876T3 (en) | 1992-11-13 | 1993-11-15 | Antenna |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9223889A GB2272578A (en) | 1992-11-13 | 1992-11-13 | Antenna |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB9223889D0 GB9223889D0 (en) | 1993-01-06 |
| GB2272578A true GB2272578A (en) | 1994-05-18 |
Family
ID=10725081
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9223889A Withdrawn GB2272578A (en) | 1992-11-13 | 1992-11-13 | Antenna |
Country Status (6)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0643876B1 (en) |
| DE (1) | DE69324488T2 (en) |
| DK (1) | DK0643876T3 (en) |
| ES (1) | ES2133419T3 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2272578A (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1994011921A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RU2695946C1 (en) * | 2018-10-01 | 2019-07-29 | Российская Федерация, от имени которой выступает Государственная корпорация по атомной энергии "Росатом" (Госкорпорация "Росатом") | Metallic waveguide feed with dielectric insert |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2003079491A1 (en) * | 2002-03-14 | 2003-09-25 | David Macfarlan Mitchell | Surface wave antenna |
Citations (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1353290A (en) * | 1971-12-14 | 1974-05-15 | Licentia Gmbh | Aerial arrangements |
| GB2109167A (en) * | 1981-10-28 | 1983-05-25 | Western Electric Co | Hybrid mode feed |
| GB2188784A (en) * | 1986-03-25 | 1987-10-07 | Marconi Co Ltd | Wideband horn antenna |
| US5038152A (en) * | 1990-05-17 | 1991-08-06 | Hughes Aircraft Company | Broad band omnidirectional monocone antenna |
Family Cites Families (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2727233A (en) * | 1945-12-11 | 1955-12-13 | Leonard J Eyges | Dielectric rod antenna |
| GB8804242D0 (en) * | 1988-02-24 | 1988-07-13 | Emi Plc Thorn | Improvements relating to aerials |
-
1992
- 1992-11-13 GB GB9223889A patent/GB2272578A/en not_active Withdrawn
-
1993
- 1993-11-15 DE DE69324488T patent/DE69324488T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1993-11-15 EP EP93924766A patent/EP0643876B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1993-11-15 DK DK93924766T patent/DK0643876T3/en active
- 1993-11-15 ES ES93924766T patent/ES2133419T3/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1993-11-15 WO PCT/GB1993/002343 patent/WO1994011921A1/en active IP Right Grant
Patent Citations (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1353290A (en) * | 1971-12-14 | 1974-05-15 | Licentia Gmbh | Aerial arrangements |
| GB2109167A (en) * | 1981-10-28 | 1983-05-25 | Western Electric Co | Hybrid mode feed |
| GB2188784A (en) * | 1986-03-25 | 1987-10-07 | Marconi Co Ltd | Wideband horn antenna |
| US5038152A (en) * | 1990-05-17 | 1991-08-06 | Hughes Aircraft Company | Broad band omnidirectional monocone antenna |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RU2695946C1 (en) * | 2018-10-01 | 2019-07-29 | Российская Федерация, от имени которой выступает Государственная корпорация по атомной энергии "Росатом" (Госкорпорация "Росатом") | Metallic waveguide feed with dielectric insert |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| DE69324488D1 (en) | 1999-05-20 |
| WO1994011921A1 (en) | 1994-05-26 |
| GB9223889D0 (en) | 1993-01-06 |
| EP0643876B1 (en) | 1999-04-14 |
| ES2133419T3 (en) | 1999-09-16 |
| EP0643876A1 (en) | 1995-03-22 |
| DE69324488T2 (en) | 1999-12-09 |
| DK0643876T3 (en) | 1999-11-01 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 732E | Amendments to the register in respect of changes of name or changes affecting rights (sect. 32/1977) | ||
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |