US2939141A - Omnirange beacon antennas - Google Patents

Omnirange beacon antennas Download PDF

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Publication number
US2939141A
US2939141A US612913A US61291356A US2939141A US 2939141 A US2939141 A US 2939141A US 612913 A US612913 A US 612913A US 61291356 A US61291356 A US 61291356A US 2939141 A US2939141 A US 2939141A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
radiators
waveguide
energy
disposed
horn
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US612913A
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English (en)
Inventor
Anthony M Casabona
James S Engel
Lucanera Constantino
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
TDK Micronas GmbH
International Telephone and Telegraph Corp
Original Assignee
Deutsche ITT Industries GmbH
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority to BE561081D priority Critical patent/BE561081A/xx
Priority to DENDAT1070247D priority patent/DE1070247B/de
Application filed by Deutsche ITT Industries GmbH filed Critical Deutsche ITT Industries GmbH
Priority to US612913A priority patent/US2939141A/en
Priority to GB29630/57A priority patent/GB825993A/en
Priority to CH358842D priority patent/CH358842A/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US2939141A publication Critical patent/US2939141A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q25/00—Antennas or antenna systems providing at least two radiating patterns
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S1/00—Beacons or beacon systems transmitting signals having a characteristic or characteristics capable of being detected by non-directional receivers and defining directions, positions, or position lines fixed relatively to the beacon transmitters; Receivers co-operating therewith
    • G01S1/02—Beacons or beacon systems transmitting signals having a characteristic or characteristics capable of being detected by non-directional receivers and defining directions, positions, or position lines fixed relatively to the beacon transmitters; Receivers co-operating therewith using radio waves
    • 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

  • This invention relates to omnirange beacon antennas and more particularly to directive antenna systems for producing a multiple modulation radiation pattern having a fundamental modulation frequency and a harmonic of the fundamental frequencies for use with omnidirectional beacons.
  • Omnidirectional beacon systems having a high order of directional accuracy which is dependent upon the use of a directive antenna pattern rotated at a fundamental frequency, said pattern including a harmonic of this fundamental frequency so as to produce a generally multilobed rotating directive radiation pattern. Due to the rotation of the multilobed antenna pattern, a receiver located remotely from the transmitter receives energy which appears as an amplitude modulated wave having a fundamental modulation component and a harmonic modulation component. Reference signals related to the fundamental and harmonic frequency modulation respectively are transmitted omnidirectionally for comparison with the received components of the rotating pattern so that the receiver may determine its azimuth relative to the beacons antenna system. Such a radiation pattern is used in the navigational system known as TACAN and described in Electrical Communications, for March 1956, pp. 33-59.
  • An object of this invention is to provide an improved omnidirectional beacon antenna system especially suited for use in the radiation of a rotating multilobed directive radiating pattern.
  • Another objects of this invention are to provide an antenna system for producing a multilobed azimuthal directive pattern which does not utilize rotating radio frequency joints, which is reduced in complexity, which will have a reduced size and weight and which may be completely enclosed so as not to be affected by weather elements.
  • our antenna system comprises a plurality of horn radiators each having an entrance or input portion and an exit or output portion disposed circularly about a vertical axis and extending radially therefrom to position the exit portion of the radiator for outward radiation.
  • the entrance portion of each of the radiators are in juxtaposition to a common excitation means for cophasal excitation 'of the radiators to produce a multilobed radiation pattern.
  • the horn radiators and a given portion of the common excitation means are rotated about the vertical axis to produce a rotating multilobed directional radiation pattern.
  • Another feature of this invention includes a single antenna element centrally located of a plurality of circularly disposed horn radiators to excite a distributor for cophasally exciting each of the horn radiators. All of the elements of the system except the single antenna element are rotated to provide the desired radiation pattern of the TACAN type.
  • Still another feature of this invention includes a circular waveguide centrally excited disposed centrally of a pluarity of circularly disposed horn radiators and in coupling relationship with each of the radiators and arranged to feed different amounts of energy to the different horn radiators so as to produce a directional pattern.
  • a cylinder of dielectric material having a varying wall thickness and having a central opening therethrough disposed eccentrically with respect to the central axis of the circular Waveguide to cooperate in cophasal excitation of each of the horn radiators and which feeds different amounts of energy to the different horn radiators.
  • Fig. 1 is a perspective view with the top removed of an antenna system in accordance with this invention
  • Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1 with the top in place;
  • Fig. 3 illustrates radiation patterns useful in explaining the operation of this invention.
  • the improved antenna system of this invention comprises a plurality of horn radiators 1 radially disposed to provide a circular configuration about a central electromagnetic energy distributor 2 including a circular waveguide 3 closed at the top 3a and bottom 3b thereof and an excitation means 4 disposed along the central axis of circular waveguide 3 and the circular configuration of horn radiators 1.
  • the entrance portion 5 of radiators 1 are disposed adjacent to the central distributor so that the distributor 2 may couple energy to radiators 1 with cophasal energy.
  • the exit portion 6 of radiators 1 are disposed for outward radia- .tion therefrom of the energy cophasally distributed to each of the radiators 1.
  • the energy is coupled from distributor 2 through openings or irises 7 in the peripheral wall of waveguide 3 disposed to be in coupled relation with entrance portion 5 of radiators 1.
  • a signal is received at a remote point predominately from one source at a time and modulation is accomplished by the rapid interchange of sources and by virtue of their directivity.
  • -Fig. 3 illustrates patterns obtained when nine horn radiators 1 are arranged in a circle. Each radiator 1 independently radiates a single cophasal lobe of energy resulting in the pattern illustrated in curve B, Fig. 3. The lobes of energy radiated by each radiator 1 have negligible side lobes. In the embodiment disclosed herein the radiators 1 are placed symmetrically so that the lobes occupy positions 40 degrees apart. The horn aperture or exit portion 6 and the result beam width is chosen so that the patterns overlap slightly at points midway between two maximums resulting in the radiation pattern illustrated in curve A, Fig. 3.
  • the uptilt and gain of the antenna system of this invention are dependent upon the vertical dimensions of exit portion 6 of the horn radiators. Since range has offered little difiiculty to date, and with the utilization of high powered transmitters, it seems advisable to use less gain in the antenna, thereby permitting less height. It is estimated that the antenna of this invention could be limited to one foot in height for the rotating RF section. To produce uptilt, the horn radiators would be elevated slightly above the horizon so as to place the maximum part of the vertical lobe above the horizon. It should be noted that no serious theoretical limitations exist on the vertical dimension of exit portion 6 of the horn radiators and that additional gain and uptilt can be accomplished simply by permitting additional height. As an alternative, two or more layers of small vertical dimension horns for exit portion 6 can be stacked vertically to produce the desired result.
  • the low frequency modulation or 15 cycle modulation is accomplished in the system of this invention by proper distribution of energy to horn radiators 1. If the energy is varied sinusoidally in adjacent horns, the high frequency or 135 cycle modulation will become superimposed npon the fundamental rotation frequency. Electrically, this distribution of energy can be accomplished by various means including dampers, slots, or dielectric materials. The latter is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 by the ring of lossy dielectric material 9. The ring of lossy dielectric material of varying thickness has its opening eccentrically related to the central axis of waveguide 3, the axis upon which excitation means 4 is disposed. The excitation of each horn is then controlled by the amount of thickness of dielectric material between its feed point and the periphery of circular waveguide 3. This results in a radiation pattern substantially as illustrated in curve C, Fig. 3. The thickness of material 9 can be adjusted so that the variation in modulation level progresses sinusoidally among the nine radiators 1 when rotated. In
  • each horn radiator 1 must be controlled so that the energy is cophasal. This is accomplished in the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2 by the central probe excitation means 4 which excites circular waveguide 3. Waveguide 3 in turn distributes the electromagnetic energy to the plurality of horn radiators I placed about the periphery 1 of waveguide 3.
  • the central excitation means 4 comprises a simple dipole 10. This is made possible by disposing bearings (not shown) between the stationary dipole 10 and the rotating waveguide-horn radiator assembly. The rotation is accomplished by a device such as by motor 8. In order to avoid discontinuity and possible leakage, a choke joint (not shown) may be necessary between the stationary dipole and the rotating assembly. However, such joints are extremely simple in design and offer no problem.
  • An antenna system comprising a plurality of horn radiators having an entrance and exit portion, the entrance portion of each of said radiators being disposed radially about a central axis to form a central area, an electromagnetic energy distributor including a hollow dielectric body having varying wall thickness disposed coaxially of said central axis in said central area to distribute electromagnetic energy cophasally to each of said radiators to provide a multilobed radiation pattern, means disposed within said central area for exciting said distributor with electromagnetic energy, and means to rotate said radiators and said distributor about said central axis to provide a rotating multilobed directional radiation pattern.
  • An antenna system comprising a circular waveguide disposed coaxially of a vertical axis, a plurality of horn radiators disposed radially with respect to said axis about the peripheral surface of said waveguide, said peripheral surface having means in coupled relation with said radiators for coupling energy thereto, means including a hollow dielectric body having varying wall thickness disposed within said waveguide to excite each of said radiators cophasally with electromagnetic energy to provide a multilobed radiation pattern, and means to rotate said waveguide and said radiators about said axis to provide a rotating multilobed directional radiation pattern.
  • An antenna system comprising a circular waveguide disposed coaxially of a vertical axis, a dipole antenna disposed on said axis to excite said waveguide with electromagnetic energy, a plurality of horn radiators disposed radially with respect to said axis about the peripheral surface of said waveguide, said peripheral surface having irises therethrough in coupled relation with said radiators for coupling energy thereto, a dielectric body disposed to fill said waveguide having an opening therethrough eccentrically disposed with respect to said axis to distribute energy cophasally to each of said radiators to provide a multilobed raidation pattern, and means to rotate said waveguide and said radiators about said dipole antenna to provide a rotating multilobed directional radiation pattern.
  • An antenna system comprising a plurality of horn radiators, each of said radiators being disposed in a circular configuration radially of a vertical axis, means including a hollow dielectric body having a varying wall thickness disposed centrally of said configuration common to each of said radiators to feed energy to each of said radiators cophasally to provide a multilobed radiation pattern, and means to rotate said radiators about said axis to provide a rotating multilobed radiation pattern.
  • An energy translator comprising an input means disposed on a given axis, a circular waveguide disposed coaxially of said axis, a plurality of output means spaced about the periphery of said waveguide, and a dielectric cylinder disposed in said waveguide having a varying wall thickness between the waveguide and the input means to control the coupling of cophasal energy to said output means.
  • An energy translator comprising an energy input probe, a circular waveguiding structure closed at each end thereof disposed coaxially of said probe and rotatable thereabout, a plurality of output means spaced about the periphery of said waveguide, a dielectric ring of irregular wall thickness in said waveguide having its axis disposed parallel to said probe to modulate the cophasal energy coupled to said output means, and means to rotate said waveguiding structure and said dielectric ring about said probe.
  • An energy translator comprising a circular waveguide, means to energize said waveguide, a plurality of horn radiators spaced about the periphery of said waveguide, means electrically coupling each of said radiators to said waveguide for cophasal energy distribution to said radiators, a dielectric cylinder disposed in said waveguide having a wall of varying thickness between said energizing means and the wall of said waveguide to modulate the distributed energy.
  • An energy translator comprising a circular waveguide closed at each end thereof, a plurality of horn radiators spaced about the periphery of said waveguide, means energizing said waveguide, an energy coupling iris disposed in the wall of said waveguide in communication with each of said radiators for cophasal energy distribution to each of said radiators from said waveguide, a dielectric cylinder disposed in said waveguide having a wall of varying thickness between the waveguide and said energizing means to amplitude modulate the distributed energy and means to rotate said waveguide, said dielectric cylinder and said radiators relative to said means energizing.
  • An antenna system comprising a circular waveguide disposed coaxially of a vertical axis, means to excite said waveguide with electromagnetic energy, a plurality of horn radiators disposed radially with respect to said axis about the peripheral surface of said waveguide, said peripheral surface having means in coupled relation with said radiators for coupling energy thereto, a dielectric body disposed to fill said waveguide having an opening therethrough eccentrically disposed with respect to said axis to distribute energy cophasally to each of said radiators to provide a multilobed radiation pattern and means to rotate said waveguide and said radiators about said means to excite to provide a rotating multilobed directional radiation pattern.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Radar, Positioning & Navigation (AREA)
  • Remote Sensing (AREA)
  • Waveguide Aerials (AREA)
  • Variable-Direction Aerials And Aerial Arrays (AREA)
US612913A 1956-09-25 1956-09-25 Omnirange beacon antennas Expired - Lifetime US2939141A (en)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
BE561081D BE561081A (ja) 1956-09-25
DENDAT1070247D DE1070247B (ja) 1956-09-25
US612913A US2939141A (en) 1956-09-25 1956-09-25 Omnirange beacon antennas
GB29630/57A GB825993A (en) 1956-09-25 1957-09-20 Omnirange beacon antennae
CH358842D CH358842A (de) 1956-09-25 1957-09-25 Antennenanlage

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US612913A US2939141A (en) 1956-09-25 1956-09-25 Omnirange beacon antennas

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US2939141A true US2939141A (en) 1960-05-31

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US612913A Expired - Lifetime US2939141A (en) 1956-09-25 1956-09-25 Omnirange beacon antennas

Country Status (5)

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US (1) US2939141A (ja)
BE (1) BE561081A (ja)
CH (1) CH358842A (ja)
DE (1) DE1070247B (ja)
GB (1) GB825993A (ja)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3116485A (en) * 1960-06-27 1963-12-31 Ite Circuit Breaker Ltd Omnidirectional horn radiator for beacon antenna
US3173142A (en) * 1959-04-29 1965-03-09 Ite Circuit Breaker Ltd Rotating beacon antenna with strip line modulators
US3246332A (en) * 1960-04-29 1966-04-12 Sylvania Electric Prod Microscan antenna with electrically adjusted ferrite lens
US4861124A (en) * 1987-05-13 1989-08-29 Sanders Associates, Inc. Dual-section spatial modulation transmitter
US4947181A (en) * 1988-12-19 1990-08-07 Raytheon Company Asymmetrical biconical horn antenna

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2369808A (en) * 1940-06-08 1945-02-20 American Telephone & Telegraph Short-wave radio transmission
US2413085A (en) * 1945-01-29 1946-12-24 Philco Corp Antenna system
US2461005A (en) * 1940-04-05 1949-02-08 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Ultra high frequency transmission
US2549721A (en) * 1944-05-16 1951-04-17 Henry A Straus Antenna system of variable directivity and high resolution
US2567220A (en) * 1947-10-29 1951-09-11 Sperry Corp Scalloped limacon pattern antenna
US2599896A (en) * 1948-03-12 1952-06-10 Collins Radio Co Dielectrically wedged biconical antenna
US2677766A (en) * 1949-05-18 1954-05-04 Sperry Corp Scalloped limacon pattern antenna

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2461005A (en) * 1940-04-05 1949-02-08 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Ultra high frequency transmission
US2369808A (en) * 1940-06-08 1945-02-20 American Telephone & Telegraph Short-wave radio transmission
US2549721A (en) * 1944-05-16 1951-04-17 Henry A Straus Antenna system of variable directivity and high resolution
US2413085A (en) * 1945-01-29 1946-12-24 Philco Corp Antenna system
US2567220A (en) * 1947-10-29 1951-09-11 Sperry Corp Scalloped limacon pattern antenna
US2599896A (en) * 1948-03-12 1952-06-10 Collins Radio Co Dielectrically wedged biconical antenna
US2677766A (en) * 1949-05-18 1954-05-04 Sperry Corp Scalloped limacon pattern antenna

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3173142A (en) * 1959-04-29 1965-03-09 Ite Circuit Breaker Ltd Rotating beacon antenna with strip line modulators
US3246332A (en) * 1960-04-29 1966-04-12 Sylvania Electric Prod Microscan antenna with electrically adjusted ferrite lens
US3116485A (en) * 1960-06-27 1963-12-31 Ite Circuit Breaker Ltd Omnidirectional horn radiator for beacon antenna
US4861124A (en) * 1987-05-13 1989-08-29 Sanders Associates, Inc. Dual-section spatial modulation transmitter
US4947181A (en) * 1988-12-19 1990-08-07 Raytheon Company Asymmetrical biconical horn antenna

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CH358842A (de) 1961-12-15
BE561081A (ja)
GB825993A (en) 1959-12-23
DE1070247B (ja)

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