JPH05291823A - Antenna choke - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide an antenna choke which can reduce an electric current coupling adjacent array areas with each other while the constitution of the choke is simplified and the manufacture of the choke is made easier. CONSTITUTION: An antenna choke can be used for reducing an electric current coupling adjacent array areas with each other. In order to simplify the manufacture of the choke, a single channel 6 is mechanically formed between each row of array areas 2 and 4. The channel 6 effectively reduces the ground plane currents among various areas. The antenna choke is contrived so that the choke can be manufactured through a relatively easy manufacturing process and, in the manufacturing process, the arrays are assembled by continuously arranging a conductive sealing member between adjacent areas and fixing the member with bolts or fixing each area at the arranging location of the member. Each array area contains many radiation elements having a certain form, such as the form of a rectangular waveguide or bipolar radiator.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to antenna chokes suitable for use in the field of radar antenna arrays.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Radar antenna arrays consist of a number of radiating elements connected together. And the problem with such an array is that the current couples each adjacent radiating element together. Therefore, it is desirable to reduce this current so that array performance is increased.

Antenna array chokes are known and one such example is M Amitay, V Galindo and V. Galindo.
Willie Interscience (W by C PWu)
It is discussed in a book entitled "Phase Array Antenna Logic and Analysis" published by iley Interscience. On page 308 of the above referenced book, a planar array of composite elements is shown. The array is shown in FIG. 1 and comprises a plurality of circular waveguides 1. Each circular waveguide then has an associated rectangular waveguide 3 that makes up a unit cell. The effect of such rectangular waveguides is to block the passage of ground plane currents flowing between each circular waveguide. Therefore, these rectangular waveguides mainly act as chokes. Also, although small rectangular waveguides have been found to be effective in suppressing ground plane currents, their manufacture has proven to be quite difficult.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an antenna choke that is easily manufactured and that reduces the current that couples adjacent sections of a radar array together.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, an antenna choke for an antenna array is provided. The antenna array comprises a plurality of linear array sections containing a plurality of separate radiating elements, each array section having a channel of predetermined depth formed at its ends over its length. When the array areas are stacked so that the channels are oriented in the same direction to form the antenna array, the channels between the adjacent array areas are arranged so that the adjacent array areas are mutually adjacent. Acts as a choke to reduce the coupled current.

The invention thus has the benefit of structural simplicity and is therefore much easier to manufacture.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the antenna array has a plurality of linear array areas 2, 4. Each array area is of rectangular cross section and has a plurality of rectangular radiating elements 10 arranged along its length. Also, each array area has a rectangular channel 6,
This channel 6 is cut at the end of each radiating element which extends along the entire length of the array area. Also, channel 6 is
Each array area is machined prior to assembly of the antenna array. Therefore, the manufacture of such an antenna array is much easier than the arrays discussed in the prior art.

Channel 6 has a depth equal to one quarter wavelength of the operating frequency of the array. Providing this depth effectively suppresses or reduces the ground plane current that exists between adjacent sections of the antenna array.

The antenna array consists of a number of linear array areas, such as each array area 2, 4, so that the array arranges the areas sequentially on the top surface of the other areas and conducts between each area. By arranging the mold sealing member 8,
Can be assembled. The sections are then all channeled in the same direction, secured together, for example by suitable bolts, to provide the assembled array.

Thus, the array inherently has each of the required chokes incorporated into it by each channel.

4 and 5 show another antenna array in which each radiating element is made in a different form than that shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The antenna array is composed of a number of linear array sections 2, 4 similar to those shown in Figures 2 and 3, the array being connected with a sealing member 8 between each adjacent array section. .. Each array area is
It has a channel 6, which is cut into each section along its length with a depth equal to one quarter wavelength of the operating frequency of the array. The radiating element 10 also includes a pair of dipoles 12 printed on the base layer 14, respectively. Each radiating element 10 is then connected to each array area 2 and 4 as shown in FIGS.
From the same direction.

It will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that radiating elements of different configurations than those described above may be used.

While the above has been made for an antenna array consisting of each array section having a rectangular cross section, it will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that different forms of cross section may be used. Will. Also, each array area can be bent over its respective length so that a dish-shaped antenna array is produced.

It will also be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that any radiating element combined in the form of a linear array could be used provided that a body of rectangular cross section could be formed. Let's do it. Furthermore, it can be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that grids, rectangles, triangles or radiating elements of any shape can be used provided they can be formed from a linear array in a horizontal or vertical configuration. Will.

Antenna chokes can be used to reduce the current coupling between adjacent array areas. For ease of manufacture, a single channel 6 is machined between each row of array areas 2,4. This channel 6 then effectively reduces the ground plane current between the various array areas. In addition, the antenna choke allows for a relatively easy manufacturing process, in which the array has bolts or bolts with conductive-type sealing members continuously disposed between adjacent areas. It is assembled by fixing each area at its location. Each array area also includes a number of radiating elements in any form, for example in the form of rectangular waveguides or dipole radiators.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a conventional antenna array.

FIG. 2 is a partial front view of an antenna array according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial side view of an antenna array according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial side view of an antenna array incorporating different types of radiating elements.

FIG. 5 is a partial plan view of the array shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2,4 array area 6 channel 8 sealing member 10 radiating element

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An antenna array having a plurality of linear array sections including a plurality of separate radiating elements, each array section having a channel of predetermined depth formed at its ends over its length. When the array areas are stacked so that the channels are oriented in the same direction to form the antenna array, the channels between the adjacent array areas are adjacent to each other. An antenna choke for an antenna array adapted to act as a choke that reduces the coupled current. 2. An antenna choke according to claim 1, wherein each array section has a rectangular cross section and the channels are cut at the edges of the array section and are substantially rectangular in configuration. .. 3. The antenna choke according to claim 1, wherein the respective array areas are stacked with a conductive sealing member interposed therebetween. 4. The antenna choke according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the depth of the channel is a quarter of the operating wavelength of the antenna array. 5. An antenna choke according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein each radiating element has a rectangular cross section. 6. The antenna choke according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein each radiating element is a dipole.