US3611392A - Primary feed for dish reflector having dielectric lens to reduce side lobes - Google Patents

Primary feed for dish reflector having dielectric lens to reduce side lobes Download PDF

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US3611392A
US3611392A US809795A US3611392DA US3611392A US 3611392 A US3611392 A US 3611392A US 809795 A US809795 A US 809795A US 3611392D A US3611392D A US 3611392DA US 3611392 A US3611392 A US 3611392A
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lens
waveguide
face
dielectric
assembly
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Dennis Murdoch Knox
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    • 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

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  • Cutler Sherman Petrich FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Primary Examiner-Eli Lieberman An0meyHall & Houghton ABSTRACT A primary feed for a front-fed aerial system, the feed comprising a mushroom-shaped fitment of dielectric material.
  • the stalk of the mushroom enables the fitment to be coupled to a waveguide feed while the head forms a lens which projects energy towards the aerial system.
  • Aerials for satellite communication earth stations are required to have high efiiciency and low noise characteristics.
  • the radiation patterns of the aerial must have lowlevel side lobes to minimize interference to or from neighboring terrestrial satellite systems.
  • One of the factors atfecting the radiation patterns of the aerial is the radiation pattern of the primary feed to the aerial.
  • the primary feed is an openended waveguide
  • radiation from the waveguide has a single-lobed pattern with maximum gain along the axis of the feed, the gain reducing towards the periphery of the aerial reflector.
  • Such a single-lobed pattern inevitably produces some spillover at the periphery of the aerial and this gives rise to undesirable side lobes.
  • a dielectric lens assembly comprising in combination a coupling portion for coupling the assembly to a waveguide, and a lens portion of dielectric material having a domed face of a thickness measured along the axis of the waveguide of not less than 2dlhe where d is the diameter of the waveguide and he is the wavelength in the dielectric.
  • the radiation pattern may, for example, have a gain function which is substantially constant within the angular limits of the reflector of the aerial.
  • the pattern may have a gain function which gives maximum efficiency.
  • the predetermined pattern is such that undesirable side lobes in the radiation pattern of theaerial are minimized.
  • the face of the lens portion is coated with a layer of dielectric of thickness equal to one quarter of the wavelength at the frequency for which the lens is designed and of a dielectric constant-V; where e is the dielectric constant of the remainder of the assembly.
  • a layer operates to minimize internal reflection at the face of the lens.
  • Internal reflection at the front face may also be reduced by drilling or otherwise forming a large number of holes in the front face, each hole being a quarter wavelength deep.
  • the assembly is mushroom-shaped, the stalk constituting the coupling portion and the head of the mushroom being the lens portion.
  • the rear face of the head may be of frustoconical form with an apex angle approximately equal to the angle subtended by the reflector with which the lens is used.
  • This lens assembly may also have the dielectric coating referred to above.
  • Unwanted radiation caused by internal reflections at the lens face may be reduced by fitting a flange to the exterior of the waveguide adjacent the rear face of the lens.
  • FIG. I is a section of a first embodiment and part of feed waveguide
  • FIGS. 2 and 3 are similar cross sections of second and third embodiments.
  • the lens itssemhlysliuwn In FIG. l is of polythene and is of generally mushroom shape, the stalk I constituting a portion for coupling the assembly to a feeder waveguide 2.
  • Portion l is cylindrical because waveguide 2 is a circular waveguide and is tapered to facilitate matching.
  • the head 3 forms the lens portion of the assembly and its thickness on the axis should be not less than ZJIM (where d is the diameter of the waveguide) so that the front face of the lens lies in the far'field of the waveguide aperture.
  • the contour of the face 4 controls the radiation pattern of the feed and is detennined by ray geometry.
  • a typical ray emerging from the phase center of the assembly at an angle b, to the axis of the assembly is refracted at face 4 and emerges therefrom at an angle 45.
  • the power radiation in a cone of half-angle b, before reshaping is equal to that radiated in a cone of half-angle b, after reshaping.
  • r is the length of the on-axis path in the dielectric.
  • A0 is the free space wavelength. 7 v
  • FIG. 1 also shows the dimensions of a lens for use at a frequency of 4 GHz.
  • a reduction in spillover can also be effected by imparting to the rear face 7 of the head 3, the frustoconical configuration shown in FIG. 3.
  • the apex angle of the cone is approximately equal to the angle subtended by the reflector.
  • the lens shown in FIG. 3 has the dimensions given in FIG. 1 except that the rear face 7 runs back to the stalk l. 1
  • Unwanted radiation from the lens portion caused by internal reflection at the front face may be reduced by fitting a flange to the exterior of the waveguide adjacent the rear face of the lens.
  • a flange to the exterior of the waveguide adjacent the rear face of the lens.
  • Such a circular disc or flange is shown diagrammuticully only by the dotted rectangle in FIG. I.
  • the disc may have a diameter of about 12 inches.
  • FIG. 3 could be made in two parts as indicated by junction line 8.
  • the lens assembly is not necessarily a solid of revolution as are the embodiments described above. If the aerial reflector is noncircular, different corrections might be required in different planes.
  • Dielectric lens assemblies embodying the invention can also be used with rectangular waveguides.
  • the design principles of such lens follow the method outlined above ln practice, differing corrections might be required in the E and H planes so that the assembly would not then be a solid of revolution.
  • a dielectric lens assembly for the primary feed of a frontted aerial system, the assembly comprising in combination a waveguide coupling portion consisting of a cylindrical part which fits closely in the waveguide anda tapered part, a lens portion attached to the coupling portion, the lens portion having a substantially domed face and being of a thickness. measured in a direction along the axis of said cylindrical part. not less than 2a"/)te where d is the diameter of the waveguide and he is the wavelength in the dielectric, the thickness of the lens

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  • Aerials With Secondary Devices (AREA)

Abstract

A primary feed for a front-fed aerial system, the feed comprising a mushroom-shaped fitment of dielectric material. The stalk of the mushroom enables the fitment to be coupled to a waveguide feed while the head forms a lens which projects energy towards the aerial system.

Description

United States Patent Inventor Dennis Murdoch Knox High Wycombe, England Appl. No. 809,795 Filed Mar. 24, 1969 Patented Oct. 5, 1971 Assignee Her Majesty's Postmaster General London, England Priority Mar. 25, 1968 Great Britain 14357/68 PRIMARY FEED FOR DISH REFLECTOR HAVING DIELECTRIC LENS TO REDUCE SIDE LOBES 1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figs.
u.s. Cl 343 755,
343/781, 343/783 Int. Cl H0lq 19/10 Field of Search. 343/753,
References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Willoughby Bartlett et al. Iams Pippard Plummet et al..
Cutler Sherman Petrich FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Primary Examiner-Eli Lieberman An0meyHall & Houghton ABSTRACT: A primary feed for a front-fed aerial system, the feed comprising a mushroom-shaped fitment of dielectric material. The stalk of the mushroom enables the fitment to be coupled to a waveguide feed while the head forms a lens which projects energy towards the aerial system.
PATENTEUHBI awn SHEET 1 [IF 2 DEN/YA) M. lflvax INVENTOR BY fiat/6 4% ATTORNEY PRIMARY FEED FOR DISI-I REFLECTOR HAVING DIELECTRIC EENS TO REDUCE SIDE LOBES B QBQVN 9? THE INYP T QN This invention relates to front-fed aerial systems and has particular although not exclusive reference to front-fed aerials for satellite communication earth stations.
Aerials for satellite communication earth stations are required to have high efiiciency and low noise characteristics. In addition, the radiation patterns of the aerial must have lowlevel side lobes to minimize interference to or from neighboring terrestrial satellite systems. One of the factors atfecting the radiation patterns of the aerial is the radiation pattern of the primary feed to the aerial. Where the primary feed is an openended waveguide, it can be stated that, in general, radiation from the waveguide has a single-lobed pattern with maximum gain along the axis of the feed, the gain reducing towards the periphery of the aerial reflector. Such a single-lobed pattern inevitably produces some spillover at the periphery of the aerial and this gives rise to undesirable side lobes.
It is an object of the present invention to improve the radiation pattern of the primary feed and thereby to reduce the level of side lobes in the radiation pattern of the aerial.
According to the present invention, there is provided for the primary feed of a front-fed aerial system a dielectric lens assembly comprising in combination a coupling portion for coupling the assembly to a waveguide, and a lens portion of dielectric material having a domed face of a thickness measured along the axis of the waveguide of not less than 2dlhe where d is the diameter of the waveguide and he is the wavelength in the dielectric.
The radiation pattern may, for example, have a gain function which is substantially constant within the angular limits of the reflector of the aerial. Alternatively, the pattern may have a gain function which gives maximum efficiency.
The predetermined pattern is such that undesirable side lobes in the radiation pattern of theaerial are minimized.
In one embodiment of the invention the face of the lens portion is coated with a layer of dielectric of thickness equal to one quarter of the wavelength at the frequency for which the lens is designed and of a dielectric constant-V; where e is the dielectric constant of the remainder of the assembly. Such a layer operates to minimize internal reflection at the face of the lens.
Internal reflection at the front face may also be reduced by drilling or otherwise forming a large number of holes in the front face, each hole being a quarter wavelength deep.
The assembly is mushroom-shaped, the stalk constituting the coupling portion and the head of the mushroom being the lens portion. The rear face of the head may be of frustoconical form with an apex angle approximately equal to the angle subtended by the reflector with which the lens is used. This lens assembly may also have the dielectric coating referred to above.
Unwanted radiation caused by internal reflections at the lens face may be reduced by fitting a flange to the exterior of the waveguide adjacent the rear face of the lens.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a section of a first embodiment and part of feed waveguide, and
FIGS. 2 and 3 are similar cross sections of second and third embodiments.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The lens itssemhlysliuwn In FIG. l is of polythene and is of generally mushroom shape, the stalk I constituting a portion for coupling the assembly to a feeder waveguide 2. Portion l is cylindrical because waveguide 2 is a circular waveguide and is tapered to facilitate matching.
The head 3 forms the lens portion of the assembly and its thickness on the axis should be not less than ZJIM (where d is the diameter of the waveguide) so that the front face of the lens lies in the far'field of the waveguide aperture. The contour of the face 4 controls the radiation pattern of the feed and is detennined by ray geometry.
A typical ray emerging from the phase center of the assembly at an angle b, to the axis of the assembly is refracted at face 4 and emerges therefrom at an angle 45. The total power (p) radiated in the solid angle 24 (assuming circular symmetry) is P p= L /(q Sm d where P= total power transmitted from the assembly and G,= the gain function.
The power radiation in a cone of half-angle b, before reshaping is equal to that radiated in a cone of half-angle b, after reshaping.
Therefore, I 0 (4)) sin dd1= I l (I ur sin rIulr/i where G is an average value of gain function.
In practice, it is convenient to evaluate graphically the equation just given. Thus, with a knowledge of the radiation pattern of the waveguide feed without the lens assembly it is possible to create a table of values for I and 0,. The surface .coordinates of the face 4 can then be determined using the normal laws of refraction which may be expressed as M241 and sin 6/sin 7=n= where y and 8 are the angles of incidence and refraction at the face 4 n is the refractive index of polythene and e is the dielectric constant of polythene. The phase characteristic of the primary feed is modified by the presence of the dielectric and is given by radians approximately where r is thelength alori'g any ray from the phase center to the face 4,
r is the length of the on-axis path in the dielectric.
he is wavelength in the dielectric,
A0 is the free space wavelength. 7 v
The edge of the head 3 is chamfered at 5 to minimize spillover, total internal reflection occurring over the chamfer 5. FIG. 1 also shows the dimensions of a lens for use at a frequency of 4 GHz.
Internal reflection at face 4 can be reduced if the face is covered with a layer 6 as shown in FIG. 2. The layer is, in effect, the equivalent of the well-known quarter wave transformer. The inclusion of such a layer will affect the ray geometry to some extent, but this can be allowed for. if desired, when determining the contour of the face 4. V
A reduction in spillover can also be effected by imparting to the rear face 7 of the head 3, the frustoconical configuration shown in FIG. 3. The apex angle of the cone is approximately equal to the angle subtended by the reflector. For use .at a frequency of 4 GI-Iz., the lens shown in FIG. 3 has the dimensions given in FIG. 1 except that the rear face 7 runs back to the stalk l. 1
It will be understood that the face of the embodiment of FIG. 3 can also be coated in the manner described above with reference to FIG. 2.
Unwanted radiation from the lens portion caused by internal reflection at the front face may be reduced by fitting a flange to the exterior of the waveguide adjacent the rear face of the lens. Such a circular disc or flange is shown diagrammuticully only by the dotted rectangle in FIG. I. For use with the lens assembly shown in FIG. I, the disc may have a diameter of about 12 inches.
While it is normally convenient to mould the lens assembly in one piece, this is not essential provided no voids are left. For example, the embodiment of FIG. 3 could be made in two parts as indicated by junction line 8.
path
The lens assembly is not necessarily a solid of revolution as are the embodiments described above. If the aerial reflector is noncircular, different corrections might be required in different planes.
Dielectric lens assemblies embodying the invention can also be used with rectangular waveguides. The design principles of such lens follow the method outlined above ln practice, differing corrections might be required in the E and H planes so that the assembly would not then be a solid of revolution.
1 claim:
1. A dielectric lens assembly for the primary feed of a frontted aerial system, the assembly comprising in combination a waveguide coupling portion consisting of a cylindrical part which fits closely in the waveguide anda tapered part, a lens portion attached to the coupling portion, the lens portion having a substantially domed face and being of a thickness. measured in a direction along the axis of said cylindrical part. not less than 2a"/)te where d is the diameter of the waveguide and he is the wavelength in the dielectric, the thickness of the lens

Claims (1)

1. A dielectric lens assembly for the primary feed of a frontfed aerial system, the assembly comprising in combination a waveguide coupling portion consisting of a cylindrical part which fits closely in the waveguide and a tapered part, a lens portion attached to the coupling portion, the lens portion having a substantially domed face and being of a thickness, measured in a direction along the axis of said cylindrical part, not less than 2d2/ lambda e where d is the diameter of the waveguide and lambda e is the wavelength in the dielectric, the thickness of the lens portion in a direction parallel to said axis being less over the center of the face and at the edges thereof than elsewhere, and a rear face chambered at an angle to minimize spillover with respect to the reflector of the aerial system with which the lens assembly is to be used.
US809795A 1968-03-25 1969-03-24 Primary feed for dish reflector having dielectric lens to reduce side lobes Expired - Lifetime US3611392A (en)

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GB04357/68A GB1267802A (en) 1968-03-25 1968-03-25 Improvements in or relating to front-fed aerial systems

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Cited By (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0030272A1 (en) * 1979-11-19 1981-06-17 Siemens-Albis Aktiengesellschaft Cassegrain antenna
US4338609A (en) * 1980-12-15 1982-07-06 Rca Corporation Short horn radiator assembly
US4447811A (en) * 1981-10-26 1984-05-08 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Dielectric loaded horn antennas having improved radiation characteristics
FR2548466A1 (en) * 1983-07-01 1985-01-04 Radiotechnique Compelec EMISSION-RECEPTION DEVICE FOR PRESENCE DETECTION RADAR, AND METHOD FOR REALIZING SAME
FR2582158A1 (en) * 1983-08-19 1986-11-21 Yas Inc TRANSMIT / RECEIVE ANTENNA
US4636798A (en) * 1984-05-29 1987-01-13 Seavey Engineering Associates, Inc. Microwave lens for beam broadening with antenna feeds
US4673945A (en) * 1984-09-24 1987-06-16 Alpha Industries, Inc. Backfire antenna feeding
EP0310414A2 (en) * 1987-10-02 1989-04-05 Raytheon Company Lens/polarizer/radome
US5757323A (en) * 1995-07-17 1998-05-26 Plessey Semiconductors Limited Antenna arrangements
EP1253668A1 (en) * 2001-04-23 2002-10-30 Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Dielectric lens using a plurality of dielectric sheets on top of each other and injection molding manufacturing method of the same
US6480164B2 (en) 2000-08-03 2002-11-12 Ronald S. Posner Corrective dielectric lens feed system
EP1296405A2 (en) * 2001-09-21 2003-03-26 Alps Electric Co., Ltd. Satellite broadcast reception converter suitable for miniaturization
US20030179148A1 (en) * 2002-03-18 2003-09-25 Magnus Ohlsson Horn antenna
EP1734348A1 (en) * 2005-06-13 2006-12-20 Siemens Milltronics Process Instruments Inc. Horn antenna with composite material emitter
US11387547B2 (en) * 2017-06-05 2022-07-12 Hitachi Astemo, Ltd. Antenna, array antenna, radar apparatus, and in-vehicle system

Cited By (22)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0030272A1 (en) * 1979-11-19 1981-06-17 Siemens-Albis Aktiengesellschaft Cassegrain antenna
US4338609A (en) * 1980-12-15 1982-07-06 Rca Corporation Short horn radiator assembly
US4447811A (en) * 1981-10-26 1984-05-08 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Dielectric loaded horn antennas having improved radiation characteristics
FR2548466A1 (en) * 1983-07-01 1985-01-04 Radiotechnique Compelec EMISSION-RECEPTION DEVICE FOR PRESENCE DETECTION RADAR, AND METHOD FOR REALIZING SAME
EP0131328A1 (en) * 1983-07-01 1985-01-16 Rtc-Compelec Transmit-receive device for a presence-detecting radar, and method of making it
FR2582158A1 (en) * 1983-08-19 1986-11-21 Yas Inc TRANSMIT / RECEIVE ANTENNA
US4636798A (en) * 1984-05-29 1987-01-13 Seavey Engineering Associates, Inc. Microwave lens for beam broadening with antenna feeds
US4673945A (en) * 1984-09-24 1987-06-16 Alpha Industries, Inc. Backfire antenna feeding
EP0310414A2 (en) * 1987-10-02 1989-04-05 Raytheon Company Lens/polarizer/radome
EP0310414A3 (en) * 1987-10-02 1990-04-25 Raytheon Company Lens/polarizer/radome
US5757323A (en) * 1995-07-17 1998-05-26 Plessey Semiconductors Limited Antenna arrangements
US6480164B2 (en) 2000-08-03 2002-11-12 Ronald S. Posner Corrective dielectric lens feed system
EP1253668A1 (en) * 2001-04-23 2002-10-30 Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Dielectric lens using a plurality of dielectric sheets on top of each other and injection molding manufacturing method of the same
EP1296405A2 (en) * 2001-09-21 2003-03-26 Alps Electric Co., Ltd. Satellite broadcast reception converter suitable for miniaturization
EP1296405A3 (en) * 2001-09-21 2004-07-28 Alps Electric Co., Ltd. Satellite broadcast reception converter suitable for miniaturization
US20030179148A1 (en) * 2002-03-18 2003-09-25 Magnus Ohlsson Horn antenna
WO2003078936A1 (en) * 2002-03-18 2003-09-25 Saab Marine Electronics Ab Horn antenna
US6859187B2 (en) 2002-03-18 2005-02-22 Saab Rosemount Tank Radar Ab Horn antenna
EP1734348A1 (en) * 2005-06-13 2006-12-20 Siemens Milltronics Process Instruments Inc. Horn antenna with composite material emitter
US20070008212A1 (en) * 2005-06-13 2007-01-11 Gabriel Serban Horn antenna with a composite emitter for a radar-based level measurement system
US7602330B2 (en) 2005-06-13 2009-10-13 Siemens Milltronics Process Instruments, Inc. Horn antenna with a composite emitter for a radar-based level measurement system
US11387547B2 (en) * 2017-06-05 2022-07-12 Hitachi Astemo, Ltd. Antenna, array antenna, radar apparatus, and in-vehicle system

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