JPH10500261A

JPH10500261A - Microwave antenna

Info

Publication number: JPH10500261A
Application number: JP7522212A
Authority: JP
Inventors: ジョンルイスフレデリックチャールズコリンズ
Original assignee: フォーテルテクノロジーリミテッド
Priority date: 1994-02-26
Filing date: 1995-02-24
Publication date: 1998-01-06
Also published as: DK0746880T3; CN1144019A; EP0746880A1; PT746880E; EP0746880B1; ES2160698T3; ATE202658T1; GR3036740T3; CN1075253C; KR970701435A; DE69521497T2; KR100342111B1; AU1715595A; CA2184080A1; DE69521497D1; WO1995023440A1

Abstract

A microwave antenna (10) is formed from a stack of generally planar elements (14-22) forming an array of horns (12) communicating with waveguides (38). The generally planar elements (14-22) are of metallised plastics. Each of these elements (14-22) has a given overall thickness which is constituted by a membrane of relatively small thickness formed (typically by vacuum forming) into a corrugated shape.

Description

【発明の詳細な説明】マイクロ波アンテナ本発明はアンテナ、特に（しかし限定するものではない）、衛星(DBS)信号によるダイレクト放送のようなマイクロ波を受信する平面アンテナに関する。一つもしくはそれ以上のウェイブガイドシステムと連結するホーン列を含む平面アンテナが知られている。それにおいて、ホーンとウェイブガイドはモールドされた平面部材に挟まれて形成される。平面部材は金属処理により形成された伝導性の平面を有するプラスチック成形品でよい。例えば、本出願人による、国際特許出願WO89/09501とWO91/20109を参照。上記のタイプのアンテナは優れた性能を有するのだが、大量生産と生産におけるコスト削減の観点から、さらなる改良を要する。したがって、本発明は、共に向かい合わせに接合されて空洞とウェイブガイドシステムの列を形成する複数のおおよそ平面的な部材を含むアンテナを提供する。各空洞は最低一つのウェイブガイドチャンネルと連通し、各平面部材は所与の全体的に基準面を横切る厚さをもち、上記厚さはおおよそしわが寄ったような形状に３次元的に形成された比較的薄肉厚の薄膜によって構成されている。各平面部材は真空成形された部材であることが望ましい。各平面部材はプラスチック素材を真空成形し、その後に真空成形された部材の少なくとも一つの面を金属処理することにより形成されることが望ましい。他の観点から、本発明はアンテナの生産方法を提供する。当該アンテナの生産方法は、複数のおおよそ平面的な部材を、各平面部材が所与の全体的に基準面を横切る厚さをもち、上記厚さはおおよそしわが寄ったような形状に３次元的に形成された比較的薄肉厚の薄膜によって構成されるように形成することと、空洞とウェイブガイドシステムが列をなすように、各空洞は最低一つのウェイブガイドチャンネルと連通するように平面部材を向かい合わせに配置することと、平面部材を互いに接合することを含む。発明の望ましい態様においては、平面部材は互いに超音波溶接により溶接される。このため、超音波溶接の間に溶けて溶接のビードとなるリブやその類が、平面部材の接合面に生ずる。ここに、本発明の実施例を以下に示す。図面を参照しながら、単なる例として説明する。図面において、図１は本発明によるアンテナ要素の実物大の横断面に沿った断面図である。図２は図１をより詳細に示す部分拡大図である。図３は図１と図２に示すアセンブリ部品同士を接合する際に用いられる望ましい手段を示す。図４はウェイブガイドチャンネルの修正された形状の構造を示す平面図である。図５は図４の切断線5-5に沿った拡大部分断面図である。特に図１、図２を参照する。通例10を付されたアンテナ素子は受信ホーン 12の４×４の配列をなしている。実際には、素子10は似たような素子と組み合わされ、一つのアンテナの、より大きな配列を提供する。アンテナ素子10は５つのおおよそ平面的な部材14-22を含む。第１の平面部材14はホーン 12を与えるように形成される。そのホーンの各々はテーパのかかった正方形の部分で、底面壁24と円形の開口部26で終端をなす。第２、第３の平面部材16,18は共に、円形の開口部26が一列に並んだ円筒形の空洞28の画成する。そして、アンテナ要素10の長手方向に延びる第１の閉じた長方形部分チャンネル30の境界を定める。空洞28はＤ字型スロット34の画成する平面部分終端壁32で終端をなす。第４、第５の平面部材20,22は共に、ホーンの空洞の底部36を画成する。そして、第２の閉じた長方形部分経路38を画成する。各底部36はＤ字型スロット34に対応する上方部分39と、第２の経路38の一つと連通する上端開口チャンネルをなす下方部分40を含む。第１のチャンネル30は、図２に示されるように、経路40により空洞26と連通する。各平面部材14-22は適切なプラスチック素材の真空成形により別々に形成される。真空成形の技術と素材はそれ自体よく知られている。よって、ここに詳しくは記述しない。ホーンの壁、空洞、チャンネルは各部材にしわを付ける効果を与え、よって５つの部材が互いに接合されるとき適度な程度の剛性が与えられる。真空成形の後、適当なように、各部材の一つの面が任意の好適な方法で金属化される。よって、各部が互いに接合されたとき、受信するマイタロ波の放射にさらされたホーン、空洞およびチャンネルの表面は伝導性を有する金属化された表面となる。チャンネル30と38はよって、それ自体知られているように、空洞26の配置により分離された、互いに異なるように分極されたマイクロ波信号のためのウェイブガイドとして働く。５つの部材は任意の適当な方法で互いに接合してよい。例えば、粘着材で互いに接合してよい。しかし、本発明の好ましい特徴は超音波溶接により互いに平面部材を接合することである。この目的のために、図３に示すように、第１の部材14 の下方部分50と第２の部材16の上方部分52とのような接合面は、超音波溶接の間、溶けて連続溶接ビードを形成するリブ54が付加される。図４と図５を参照すると、代案として、部分的にウェイブガイドの境界を定めるモールドされた要素60の構造が示されている。例えば、上記実施の形態の要素22 の代替となる。図４は12×12の配列を示す。しかし、その配置はどの所望の大きさの配列にも合わせることができることがわかる。要素60は、前と同様、真空成形され、ウェイブガイドチャンネル66の境界を定める、側方ウェブ65により結合された上面62と下面64を与えるように１つの薄膜が形成される。しかし、本実施の形態では上面62はウェイブガイドチャンネル66の近くのフランジとしてのみ定義される。そして、どこでも素材は空白部68を形成するために除去される。この構成は特に効果的で、およそ30％の重量が軽減された。加えて、上記の特定の設計により金属化せねばならない領域が最小となった。DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Microwave antenna The present invention relates to antennas, particularly (but not limited to), satellite (DBS) signals. The present invention relates to a planar antenna for receiving microwaves such as direct broadcasting. A plane containing a row of horns that connects to one or more waveguide systems Antennas are known. In that, the horn and wave guide are molded Formed between the flat members. Plane members are conductive formed by metal processing A plastic molded product having a flat surface may be used. For example, the applicant See patent applications WO 89/09501 and WO 91/20109. While the above types of antennas have excellent performance, Further improvement is required from the viewpoint of cost reduction. Thus, the present invention provides a method for joining a cavity and a waveguide An antenna is provided that includes a plurality of generally planar members forming a row of stems. Each cavity communicates with at least one waveguide channel and each planar member is It has a thickness that physically crosses the reference plane, and the above thickness is roughly wrinkled And a relatively thin thin film formed three-dimensionally. Each planar member is desirably a member formed by vacuum forming. Each flat member is formed by vacuum forming a plastic material, and then a small number of members are vacuum formed. It is desirable that at least one surface be formed by metallizing. In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for producing an antenna. How to produce the antenna The method is based on a method in which a plurality of approximately planar members are traversed, each planar member traversing a given global reference plane. It has a thickness to cut, and the above thickness is three-dimensionally formed into a roughly wrinkled shape Formed by a relatively thin film having a relatively small thickness. Each cavity should have at least one waveguide guide so that the waveguide systems line up. Arranging the planar members face to face with the channel; and Bonding to each other. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the planar members are welded together by ultrasonic welding . For this reason, ribs and the like that melt during ultrasonic welding and become weld beads are Occurs at the joint surface of the member. Here, examples of the present invention will be described below. By way of example only, referring to the drawings, I will tell. In the drawing, FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an antenna element according to the present invention along a full-scale cross section. You. FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view showing FIG. 1 in more detail. FIG. 3 is used when joining the assembly parts shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 together. Here are the preferred measures: FIG. 4 shows the structure of the modified shape of the wave guide channel. FIG. FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken along section line 5-5 in FIG. With particular reference to FIGS. The antenna element usually labeled 10 is the receiving horn 12 It has a 4 × 4 array. In practice, element 10 is combined with similar elements To provide a larger array of single antennas. The antenna element 10 has five Including a generally planar member 14-22. First planar member 14 is formed to provide horn 12. Each of the horns The tapered square section terminates at a bottom wall 24 and a circular opening 26. Both the second and third planar members 16 and 18 are cylindrical hollow members having circular openings 26 arranged in a line. Cave 28 is defined. And a first closed rectangle extending in the longitudinal direction of the antenna element 10. The boundary of the shaped part channel 30 is defined. The cavity 28 is the plane defined by the D-shaped slot 34 The terminal ends at the partial terminal wall 32. The fourth and fifth planar members 20,22 together define the bottom 36 of the horn cavity. And , A second closed rectangular sub-path 38. Each bottom 36 corresponds to a D-shaped slot 34 A corresponding upper portion 39 and an upper open channel communicating with one of the second passages 38. Includes lower portion 40. The first channel 30 communicates with the cavity 26 by a path 40, as shown in FIG. . Each planar member 14-22 is formed separately by vacuum forming of a suitable plastic material . Vacuum forming techniques and materials are well known per se. Therefore, here Do not write. The horn walls, cavities, and channels have the effect of wrinkling each part. Thus, a moderate degree of rigidity is provided when the five members are joined together. After vacuum forming, one surface of each member is metallized in any suitable manner, as appropriate. It is. Therefore, when the parts are joined together, they are exposed to the received mitaro wave radiation. Horns, cavities and channels have conductive metallized surfaces Becomes Channels 30 and 38 are thus, as known per se, the arrangement of cavity 26. For differently polarized microwave signals separated by Work as a wave guide. The five members may be joined together in any suitable manner. For example, each other with adhesive May be joined. However, a preferred feature of the present invention is that Joining materials. For this purpose, as shown in FIG. The interface between the lower portion 50 of the second member 16 and the upper portion 52 of the second member 16 is A rib 54 is added which melts to form a continuous weld bead. Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, as an alternative, partially delimit the waveguide. The structure of the molded element 60 is shown. For example, the element 22 of the above embodiment Is an alternative to FIG. 4 shows a 12 × 12 array. But its arrangement is any desired size It can be seen that it can be matched to the arrangement of Element 60 is vacuum formed as before and bounds waveguide channel 66 One membrane to provide an upper surface 62 and a lower surface 64 joined by side webs 65 It is formed. However, in the present embodiment, the upper surface 62 is Defined only as a nearby flange. And anywhere the material forms a blank 68 To be removed. This configuration is particularly effective, reducing weight by approximately 30%. In addition, the above specific The design has minimized the area that must be metallized.

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Claims

[Claims] 1. A plurality of approximately planar members, each planar member facing each other Cavities and an array of cavities and a wave guide system, each cavity having at least one Communicates with a waveguide channel, each planar member crosses a given overall reference plane The thickness is approximately three-dimensionally formed in a wrinkled shape. Characterized in that it includes the flat member formed of a relatively thin thin film that has been thinned. And antenna. 2. The antenna according to claim 1, wherein each flat member is vacuum formed. Tena. 3. Each flat member is formed by vacuum forming a plastic material, and then the vacuum forming is performed. Characterized in that the member is formed by metallizing at least one surface of the member. The antenna according to claim 2. 4. Wherein each membrane continuously crosses the hole portion of the antenna. Item 4. The antenna according to item 1, 2 or 3. 5. Wave guide channel partially, soon to wave guide channel Defined by a thin film that has been removed to make the untouched thin film blank The antenna according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein: 6. A plurality of approximately planar members, each planar member defining a given overall reference plane. It has a thickness that crosses, and the above thickness is roughly wrinkled To be composed of a relatively thin thin film formed three-dimensionally in various shapes. Each cavity should be at least as long as the cavity and wave guide system are in line. Face-to-face member to communicate with one waveguide channel And bonding the planar members to each other. Antenna production method. 5. The flat members are welded to each other by ultrasonic welding. Item 5. The method according to Item 4. 6. Ribs that melt during ultrasonic welding to form a weld bead on the joining surface of each planar member 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the method is provided.