US3553707A - Wide-beam horn feed for parabolic antennas - Google Patents

Wide-beam horn feed for parabolic antennas Download PDF

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Publication number
US3553707A
US3553707A US641348A US3553707DA US3553707A US 3553707 A US3553707 A US 3553707A US 641348 A US641348 A US 641348A US 3553707D A US3553707D A US 3553707DA US 3553707 A US3553707 A US 3553707A
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United States
Prior art keywords
horn
reflector
radiation
choke
frequency
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Ceased
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US641348A
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English (en)
Inventor
Richard F H Yang
Laurence H Hansen
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Commscope Technologies LLC
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Andrew LLC
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Publication date
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Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3553707A publication Critical patent/US3553707A/en
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    • 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
    • H01Q13/06—Waveguide mouths
    • H01Q13/065—Waveguide mouths provided with a flange or a choke

Definitions

  • This invention relates to horn feeds for parabolic antennas and like uses, and more particularly to feeds for high-efiiciency uniform illumination.
  • an ideal feed for a parabolic reflector would have a radiation pattern providing completely uniform illumination over the solid langle subtended by the reflector, with no radiation outside this solid angle.
  • Terms herein used such as feed, illumination, etc., although having an apparent implication of use in transmission, will be understood to refer equally to the reciprocal function of reception, as is conventional in the art.
  • Such an ideal pattern would be required for 100% gain efficiency. Feed patterns practically achievable fall considerably short of this ideal, particularly in the case of feeds for large-aperture reflectors employed in high-gain directional antennas.
  • Horns may be designed with numerous patterns, both broad-beam and narrow-beam, and much effort has been devoted in the prior art to horn designs and appurtenances for concentrating the energy transmission and reception pattern in beams of varying angular width. Early efforts were primarily for the purpose of mere increase of directional gain, i.e., minimizing of the angle of energy dispersion.
  • beamwidth of course defines a region of the feed pattern which can lbe assigned a specific angular value only in terms of specied maximum ratios of field intensity.
  • the 3 db beamwidth for example, is of course smaller than the l0 db beamwidth, the angular difference being more or less indicative of the rate of fall-olf of intensity outside the 3 db beam.
  • the present invention flows from a finding that the full shielding of the external surfaces of the horn in the manner heretofore practiced to reduce back radiation eliminates a component which is useful in broadening the useful beamwidth (i.e., the included angle of the pattern which is a to any particular ratio) and that the central portion of a horn pattern can be greatly fiattened by suppressing radiation from, and current-flow in, only the portion of the outer surface rearward of a region at the end, radiation from this region making a substantial addition to the regions of the central portion of the pattern at which the fall-off is otherwise the limiting factor of useful beamwidth,
  • the suppression of current flow in the outer surface of the horn rearward of the front zone left active in the patternformation is accomplished by a tubular conductor surrounding the outer surface of the horn and shorted thereto to form a yquarter-wave coaxial choke confining currents of the frequency of operation to the front zone of the horn thus dened.
  • This zone preferably extends about one-quarter wavelength
  • the useful beamwidth is even more greatly increased with the addition of a reflector surrounding the horn but withdrawn from the end, preferably at a distance of from approximately one-quarter Wavelength to approximately three-quarters wavelength, and desirably about one-half wavelength for most uses, isolated from the external surface of the horn for direct conductive current flow therebetween at the operating frequency by high-frequency insulating means, such as the coaxial choke just mentioned.
  • the reector so disposed, desirably of transverse dimensions of approximately one to tive wavelengths, is in the path of radiation from the end of the horn, including radiation diffracted by the choke where these aspects of the in- Vention are combined.
  • the invention may be employed with a variety of the basic radiating horn forms which are known, and indeed with certain of the modified horn forms already specially devised for Widening the beamwidth, such as those employing particular structures for this purpose within the end of the horn. From an economic standpoint, however, the invention has greatest advantage with the simplest and most easily fabricated types of horn, such as mere openended waveguide, with or without a radiation-transparent window.
  • FIG. 1 is a view in orthogonal perspective of a widebeam feed embodying the invention
  • FIG. 2 is a view in longitudinal section of the feed of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a radiation pattern, in polar coordinate representation, of the feed of FIGS. 1 and 2 at a typical frequency within its operating band, taken in the E plane;
  • FIG. 4 is a pattern similar to that of FIG. 3 but taken in the H plane;
  • FIG. 5 is a graph or chart showing the beamwidth characteristics as a function of frequency of the feed of FIGS. 1 and 2, and of the basic form of horn therein employed, i.e., with and without the improved construction of the invention;
  • FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a modied form of the feed of FIGS. 1 and 2;
  • FIG. 7 is a view in front elevation illustrating the application of the invention to a rectangular waveguide feed.
  • FIG. S is a sectional view showing a further modified form of the invention.
  • FIGS. l and 2 the invention is shown as applied to the structurally simplest form of radiating horn, an open-ended circular waveguide tube 10, provided with a ange coupling 12. It will be understood that the form of coupling to the horn is irrelevant to the invention, the ilange 12, for connection to a feed guide or transition section, being only one of many known types of horn couplings.
  • a sleeve 16 of larger diameter than the horn mounted on a support ring 18 fitted over the outer surface of the horn, and secured in longitudinal position by radial screws 20 engaging the horn.
  • An annular reliector plate 22 surrounds the outer surface of tube 16, being axed to a second support ring 24 locked in longitudinal position by screws 26.
  • the annular region between the sleeve 16 and the horn 10 extends back a quarter-wavelength at the frequency of operation, thus forming a coaxial shorted quarter-wave choke, isolating the protruding front end of the outer surface of the horn from the balance thereof as regards current flow and re-radiation at the operating frequency.
  • FIGS. l and 2 The feed of FIGS. l and 2 was constructed and tested for performance in the frequency band between 5.925 and 6.425 gHz. (5,925 to 6,425 megacycles), patterns being taken at these frequencies and at the 6.175 gHz. center frequency.
  • FIGS. 3 and 4 show typical patterns obtained in the E and H planes, respectively. These patterns are shown in polar coordinates with a logarithmic r scale of l db per marked division, only the outermost being shown in the drawing. As shown in FIG. 3, the maximum or reference points were at 28 and 30, substantially angularly displaced from the usual central location, which was, as seen at 32, approximately -2 db. The beamwidth angle defined by radial lines 36 drawn through the -3 db points 34 is greater than 90 degrees.
  • FIG. 4 there is shown the -H-plane pattern, with reference characters the same as those used in FIG. 3, with the addition of the letter a.
  • the 3 db beamwidth angle is still wider, and the central portion is atter, there being a region of approximately 60 degrees with less than 1/2 db variation.
  • FIG. 5 shows comparative data, taken in another series of experiments, of angular beamwidth as a function of frequency. As therein shown, not only were both the 3 db and l0 db beamwidth angles greatly widened by the addition of the structure of the invention, but the frequency-dependence was greatly reduced in each case. Further, the ratio of the 3 db lbeamwidth to the 10 db beamwidth was substantially higher with the construction of the invention.
  • FIG. 6 A variant form of construction s shown in FIG. 6.
  • the guide 40 terminates in a radiation-transparent window 42, the edges of which are clamped between a ange y44 and a clamping ring 46.
  • a choke sleeve 48 forms a quarter-wave annular cavity at 50,
  • the sleeve 48 and the shorting member are shown in the drawing as integral with the reflector plate 52, but it will be understood that this and following figures of the dra-wing omit assembly details which are of no relevance to the invention.
  • FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of the invention employed with a rectangular waveguide horn 56.
  • the choke sleeve 58 conforms in shape to that of the guide and the reflector '60 is here shown as square, although a round reflector plate may be used if so desired, correspondence to the shape of the horn mouth being of no substantial significance.
  • a series of vanes 62 at the edge of the plate, perpendicular to the electric field orientation of the fundamental mode in the rectangular guide.
  • vanes preferably extend parallel with each other from the reflector about a quarter-wavelength, thus defiining, in essence, a series of shorted chokes confining current flow and re-radiation to the portion Of the plate bounded thereby (this non-radiating portion being excluded in determining the dimensions of the reflecting plate earlier described).
  • a series of shorted chokes confining current flow and re-radiation to the portion Of the plate bounded thereby (this non-radiating portion being excluded in determining the dimensions of the reflecting plate earlier described).
  • the patterns produced by flared horns are well-known to be normally narrower than in the case of omission of flare.
  • flaring is desired for purposes such as impedancematching.
  • the pattern alteration, particularly as regards flattening the central portion of the forward characteristic, provided ⁇ by the present invention is not limited in its advantages to mere open-ended waveguide horns.
  • FIG. '8 there is accordingly illustrated a typical manner in which the present invention may be used with a flared horn 6'4.
  • the choke sleeve 66 is similarly flared to make the choke of uniform annular width.
  • FIG. 8 uses a reflector plate 68 and choke vanes 70 generally similar to those previously described.
  • a wide-beam directive radiator for feeding parabolic reflectors and like uses comprising:
  • the high-frequency insulating means comprises a shorted quarter-wave choke.
  • the radiator of claim 2 wherein the choke comprises a tubular conductor surrounding the outer surface of the horn and conductively shorted thereto at the rearward end.
  • the radiator of claim 1 including a conducting member having its outer edge approximately radially aligned with, and between, the peripheral portion of the horn and the edge of the reflector.
  • a primary radiator for feeding of large-aperture parabolic reflectors and like uses having an open-ended high-frequency conductive radiating horn and coupling means therefor adapted for operation at a preselcted frequency,
  • the improved construction for wide-beam radiation comprising a quarter-wave radiation choke for such frequency on the outside wall of the horn, spaced rearwardly from the open end thereof by a distance greater than about one-eighth wavelength but less than a wavelength, the portion of the horn wall between the choke and the open end being exposed for re-radiation.
  • the improved primary radiator of claim 9 having a conductive reflector extending transversely outward at a distance of from approximately one-quarter wavelength to approximately three-quarters wavelength rearwardly of the end of the horn and isolated from the end of the horn by the choke with respect to conductive current flow at the operating frequency, the reflector reflecting forwardly a portion of the back radiation from the end of the horn.
  • the improved primary radiator of claim 10 wherein the reflector is of transverse dimensions of approxi- 7 8 tending planar conductor approximately a halfdwavelength 2,742,640 4/ 1956 Cronin 343-772 from the end of the horn. 3,212,096 10/1965 Schuster et a1.

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  • Aerials With Secondary Devices (AREA)
  • Waveguide Aerials (AREA)
US641348A 1967-05-25 1967-05-25 Wide-beam horn feed for parabolic antennas Ceased US3553707A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US64134867A 1967-05-25 1967-05-25

Publications (1)

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US3553707A true US3553707A (en) 1971-01-05

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US641348A Ceased US3553707A (en) 1967-05-25 1967-05-25 Wide-beam horn feed for parabolic antennas

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US (1) US3553707A (de)
DE (1) DE1766436C3 (de)
GB (1) GB1199226A (de)

Cited By (18)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3680138A (en) * 1970-09-21 1972-07-25 Us Army Cross-mode reflector for the front element of an array antenna
US4309709A (en) * 1979-08-23 1982-01-05 The Marconi Company Limited Dual frequency aerial feed arrangements
US4343003A (en) * 1979-09-29 1982-08-03 Kabel-Und Metallwerke Gutehoffnungshutte Aktiengesellschaft Directional antenna for microwave transmissions
US4516129A (en) * 1982-06-04 1985-05-07 Canadian Patents & Dev. Ltd. Waveguide with dielectric coated flange antenna feed
US4578681A (en) * 1983-06-21 1986-03-25 Chaparral Communications, Inc. Method and apparatus for optimizing feedhorn performance
US4622559A (en) * 1984-04-12 1986-11-11 Canadian Patents & Development Limited Paraboloid reflector antenna feed having a flange with tapered corrugations
US4755828A (en) * 1984-06-15 1988-07-05 Fay Grim Polarized signal receiver waveguides and probe
US4801946A (en) * 1983-01-26 1989-01-31 Mark Antenna Products, Inc. Grid antenna
US4929962A (en) * 1986-12-09 1990-05-29 Societe Anonyme Dite: Alcatel Thomson Faisceaux Hertiziens Feed horn for a telecommunications antenna
US5003321A (en) * 1985-09-09 1991-03-26 Sts Enterprises, Inc. Dual frequency feed
EP0421757A2 (de) * 1989-10-04 1991-04-10 Gec-Marconi Limited Mikrowellenantenne
US5434585A (en) * 1992-11-20 1995-07-18 Gardiner Communications, Inc. Microwave antenna having a ground isolated feedhorn
USD379818S (en) * 1996-04-25 1997-06-10 Algira Primo Inc. Antenna system
USD379992S (en) * 1996-04-25 1997-06-17 Algira Primo Inc. Antenna system
US6388633B1 (en) * 1996-11-15 2002-05-14 Yagi Antenna Co., Ltd. Multibeam antenna
US20050162329A1 (en) * 2003-05-12 2005-07-28 Mccandless Jay Method and apparatus for forming symmetrical energy patterns in beam forming antennas
US20070159406A1 (en) * 2006-01-12 2007-07-12 Lockheed Martin Corporation Pick-up horn for high power thermal vacuum testing of spacecraft payloads
US20080191949A1 (en) * 2006-01-12 2008-08-14 Lockheed Martin Corporation Generic pick-up horn for high power thermal vacuum testing of satellite payloads at multiple frequency bands and at multiple polarizations

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
HU193099B (en) * 1985-05-21 1987-08-28 Peter Hancs Method for making waveguide section forming continuous and smooth transition between cross-sections of different size and/or shape and ariel with waveguide section made thereby
DE3540900A1 (de) * 1985-11-18 1987-05-21 Rudolf Dr Ing Wohlleben Hornstrahler
CN105244624A (zh) * 2015-09-11 2016-01-13 北京大学 一种利用聚焦离子束与MEMS工艺制备0.1THz的加脊喇叭天线方法

Cited By (26)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3680138A (en) * 1970-09-21 1972-07-25 Us Army Cross-mode reflector for the front element of an array antenna
US4309709A (en) * 1979-08-23 1982-01-05 The Marconi Company Limited Dual frequency aerial feed arrangements
US4343003A (en) * 1979-09-29 1982-08-03 Kabel-Und Metallwerke Gutehoffnungshutte Aktiengesellschaft Directional antenna for microwave transmissions
US4516129A (en) * 1982-06-04 1985-05-07 Canadian Patents & Dev. Ltd. Waveguide with dielectric coated flange antenna feed
US4801946A (en) * 1983-01-26 1989-01-31 Mark Antenna Products, Inc. Grid antenna
US4578681A (en) * 1983-06-21 1986-03-25 Chaparral Communications, Inc. Method and apparatus for optimizing feedhorn performance
US4622559A (en) * 1984-04-12 1986-11-11 Canadian Patents & Development Limited Paraboloid reflector antenna feed having a flange with tapered corrugations
US4755828A (en) * 1984-06-15 1988-07-05 Fay Grim Polarized signal receiver waveguides and probe
US5003321A (en) * 1985-09-09 1991-03-26 Sts Enterprises, Inc. Dual frequency feed
US4929962A (en) * 1986-12-09 1990-05-29 Societe Anonyme Dite: Alcatel Thomson Faisceaux Hertiziens Feed horn for a telecommunications antenna
EP0421757A2 (de) * 1989-10-04 1991-04-10 Gec-Marconi Limited Mikrowellenantenne
EP0421757A3 (en) * 1989-10-04 1991-11-21 Gec-Marconi Limited Microwave antenna
US5434585A (en) * 1992-11-20 1995-07-18 Gardiner Communications, Inc. Microwave antenna having a ground isolated feedhorn
USD379818S (en) * 1996-04-25 1997-06-10 Algira Primo Inc. Antenna system
USD379992S (en) * 1996-04-25 1997-06-17 Algira Primo Inc. Antenna system
US6388633B1 (en) * 1996-11-15 2002-05-14 Yagi Antenna Co., Ltd. Multibeam antenna
US6864850B2 (en) 1996-11-15 2005-03-08 Yagi Antenna Co., Ltd. Multibeam antenna
US20050162329A1 (en) * 2003-05-12 2005-07-28 Mccandless Jay Method and apparatus for forming symmetrical energy patterns in beam forming antennas
US20080191949A1 (en) * 2006-01-12 2008-08-14 Lockheed Martin Corporation Generic pick-up horn for high power thermal vacuum testing of satellite payloads at multiple frequency bands and at multiple polarizations
US20070159406A1 (en) * 2006-01-12 2007-07-12 Lockheed Martin Corporation Pick-up horn for high power thermal vacuum testing of spacecraft payloads
WO2007081485A3 (en) * 2006-01-12 2008-08-28 Lockheed Corp Pick-up horn for high power thermal vacuum testing of spacecraft payloads
US20090140906A1 (en) * 2006-01-12 2009-06-04 Lockheed Martin Corporation Generic pick-up horn for high power thermal vacuum testing of satellite payloads at multiple frequency bands and at multiple polarizations
US7598919B2 (en) * 2006-01-12 2009-10-06 Lockheed Martin Corporation Pick-up horn for high power thermal vacuum testing of spacecraft payloads
US7692593B2 (en) 2006-01-12 2010-04-06 Lockheed Martin Corporation Generic pick-up horn for high power thermal vacuum testing of satellite payloads at multiple frequency bands and at multiple polarizations
US7750859B2 (en) 2006-01-12 2010-07-06 Lockheed Martin Corporation Generic pick-up horn for high power thermal vacuum testing of satellite payloads at multiple frequency bands and at multiple polarizations
WO2008154061A3 (en) * 2007-04-03 2009-02-26 Lockheed Corp Generic pick-up horn for high power thermal vacuum testing of satellite payloads at multiple frequency bands and at multiple polarizations

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE1766436A1 (de) 1972-03-09
DE1766436C3 (de) 1974-03-07
DE1766436B2 (de) 1973-08-02
GB1199226A (en) 1970-07-15

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