Not applicable.
The present application generally relates to waveguides and more particularly to a linear multiband waveguide feed network.
Typically, antenna waveguide feed networks which cover wide bandwidths such as the extended c-band, are composed of many parts, have a high level of complexity and a very high mass. Lower frequency bands, such as extended c-band, are desirable due to the premium insertion loss offered by the waveguides however the aforementioned high mass and complexity are often intolerable to budgets. Here we present a novel, low-complexity and low-cost alternative that lends itself to low-risk manufacturing with low mass even at c-band.
According to various aspects of the subject technology, methods and configuration are disclosed for a linear multiband waveguide feed network. The disclosed feed networks include a multipart, multiport, direct-machined, extended C-band waveguide feed with mitigated manufacturing risk via loaded split-block magic tees. Additionally, the linear multiband waveguide feed network is composed of novel inverse ridge harmonic lowpass filters which offer isolation of higher order modes including TE20 in broad receive bands while being able to split on the zero-current region of the waveguide.
In one or more aspects, a linear multiband waveguide feed network device includes a first section, a second section, a third section and an inverse-ridge receive (Rx)-reject filter. The second section is coupled to the first section via a first split-plane. The third section is coupled to the second section via a second split-plane. The inverse-ridge Rx-reject filter is implemented as a first half-portion and a second half-portion. The first half-portion and the second half-portion are implemented in the second section and the third section, respectively. The first split-plane and the second split-plane are on the zero-current region of the device.
In other aspects, a waveguide feed apparatus includes an RX portion and a Tx portion. The Rx portion includes an Rx orthomode transducer (OMT), a Tx reject filter and a main manifold. The Tx portion consists of a front Tx portion and a second Tx portion. The first Tx portion includes a plurality of inverse-ridge Rx-reject filters and a Tx magic tee, and the second Tx portion includes a Tx V-Pol magic tee and a pair of Tx V-Pol waveguide H-bends that are coupled to a Tx V-Pol port. The Tx V-Pol port is implemented in a first section of the apparatus, the Tx reject filter is implemented in a second section of the apparatus, and the inverse-ridge Rx-reject filters and the Tx magic tee are common between the second section and a third section of the apparatus. A first split plane between the first section and the second section and a second split plane between the second section and the third section are on a zero-current region of the apparatus.
In yet other aspects, a satellite communication system includes a satellite antenna and a feed network device, which includes a first section, a second section and a third section. The second section is coupled to the first section via a first split-plane, and a third section is coupled to the second section via a second split-plane. An inverse-ridge Rx-reject filter is implemented as a first half-portion in the second section and a second half-portion in the third section. The first split-plane and the second split-plane are on a zero-current region of the feed network device, and the feed network device is a linear and multiband waveguide.
The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features of the present disclosure so that the following detailed description can be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the disclosure, which form the subject of the claims, will be described hereinafter.
For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions to be taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings describing specific aspects of the disclosure, wherein:
The detailed description set forth below is intended as a description of various configurations of the subject technology and is not intended to represent the only configurations in which the subject technology can be practiced. The appended drawings are incorporated herein and constitute a part of the detailed description. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of the subject technology. However, it will be clear and apparent to those skilled in the art that the subject technology is not limited to the specific details set forth herein and can be practiced using one or more implementations. In one or more instances, well-known structures and components are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the concepts of the subject technology.
In some aspects of the present technology, methods and configuration are disclosed for a linear multiband waveguide feed network. The disclosed feed network is a multipart, multiport, direct-machined, extended C-band waveguide feed with mitigated risk via loaded split-block power splitters and inverse-ridge harmonic filters. Prior approaches include using traditional harmonic filters that cannot be split on the zero-current region of the waveguide. The topology nearly always uses electroforms or has a significant number of parts (e.g., at least eight parts) as a split block that becomes much more complex with significantly higher risk. The subject technology includes significant advantages over prior approaches including, but not limited to, cost savings, schedule savings and the lowest complexity solution that is readily manufactured.
The linear multiband waveguide feed network of the subject technology consists of three direct-machined sections including advantageously positioned components and inverse-ridge harmonic filters of the subject technology. The subject disclosure includes a waveguide feed that is composed of three sectional parts with all split-planes in the low-risk zero-current regions of the waveguides. The subject technology avoids electroforming and mitigates risk by incorporating power splitters. For example, the broadband split-block power splitters have been developed to mitigate risk in path length mismatch for recombination networks in transmitters (Tx).
The subject technology provides for a broadband linearly polarized waveguide solution that is a three-part assembly covering extended C-band based on the positioning of the components within the split-planes as well as the split-plane selection. It is this positioning and selection that leads to significant mass and complexity reductions as well as manufacturing risk mitigation.
Also shown in
The waveguide feed 100 is a high-performance, low-mass and low-cost waveguide-feed solution for extended multi-bands, including C-band (defined as Tx: 3.400 GHz to 4.200 GHz and Rx: 5.725 GHz to 6.725 GHz). The waveguide feed 100 can be readily scaled to any frequency band beyond the C-band, which requires linear operation. For example, the waveguide feed 100 can be scaled for Ka band or other frequency bands as well. Furthermore, the waveguide feed 100 can readily be altered to also handle circularly polarized applications by adding a polarizer to the circular antenna port.
The Rx OMT 210 separates and combines orthogonal V-Pol and H-Pol Rx signals. The matching ring 216 matches Rx signals into the main manifold 230. The antenna port 240 mates to a radio-frequency (RF) antenna (not shown for simplicity) to propagate and receive Tx and Rx signals, both of which propagate in the transverse-electric (TE)11 dominant mode. The Tx reject filter 220 is a circular waveguide that is selected such that it can reject Tx signals but passes Rx signals, both of which propagate in the TE11 dominant mode. The step to Tx reject filter 218 steps down to the circular waveguide of the Tx reject filter 220, which is in cutoff at Tx frequencies. The Rx V-Pol port 212 and the H-Pol port 214 are rectangular waveguide ports used to receive V-Pol and H-Pol signals, respectively. It is noted that the solid bodies shown in
The chart 1020 includes a plot 1025 depicting a typical specification limit at about −55 dB and plots 1022, 1024, 1026 and 1028 depicting Rx to Tx isolation for Rx V-Pol to Tx H-Pol, Rx H-pol to Tx H-Pol, Rx H-Pol to Tx V-Pol and Rx V-Pol to Tx V-Pol, respectively. The isolation for the Tx-Rx are greater than 85 dB for the frequency range of 3.4 GHz to 4.2 GHz.
The chart 1030 includes a plot 1035 depicting a typical specification limit at about −18 dB and plots 1032 and 1034 depicting return loss for an antenna V-Pol and an antenna H-Pol, respectively. The return loss for the Rx V-Pol and Rx H-Pol are greater than 27 dB for the frequency range of 5.7 GHz to 6.75 GHz.
The chart 1040 includes a plot 1045 depicting a typical specification limit at about −55 dB and plots 1042, 1044, 1046 and 1048 depicting Rx to Tx isolation for Rx V-Pol to Tx H-Pol, Rx H-pol to Tx H-Pol, Rx H-Pol to Tx V-Pol and Rx V-Pol to Tx V-Pol, respectively. The isolation for the TE10, TE20 and TE30 modes are greater than 67 dB for the frequency range of 5.7 GHz to 6.75 GHz.
In summary, the linear multiband waveguide feed of the subject technology provides a compact and lightweight solution to applications requiring the capability of both linear and circular polarization. The disclosed linear multiband waveguide feed is a high-performance, low-mass and low-cost waveguide-feed solution for extended multibands, including C-band. For example, the advantageous positioning of components results in a significant mass reduction. The loaded magic tees absorb path-length mismatch and mitigate manufacturing risk.
Those of skill in the art would appreciate that the various illustrative blocks, modules, elements, components, methods and algorithms described herein may be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software or combinations of both. To illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software, various illustrative blocks, modules, elements, components, methods and algorithms have been described above generally in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application. Various components and blocks may be arranged differently (e.g., arranged in a different order or partitioned in a different way), all without departing from the scope of the subject technology.
It is understood that any specific order or hierarchy of blocks in the processes disclosed is an illustration of example approaches. Based upon design preferences, it is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of blocks in the processes may be rearranged, or that all illustrated blocks may be performed. Any of the blocks may be performed simultaneously. In one or more implementations, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Moreover, the separation of various system components in the embodiments described above should not be understood as requiring such separation in all embodiments, and it should be understood that the described program components and systems can generally be integrated together in a single hardware and software product or packaged into multiple hardware and software products.
The description of the subject technology is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the various aspects described herein. While the subject technology has been particularly described with reference to the various figures and aspects, it should be understood that these are for illustration purposes only and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the subject technology.
A reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specifically stated, but rather “one or more.” The term “some” refers to one or more. All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various aspects described throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and intended to be encompassed by the subject technology. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public, regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the above description.
Although the invention has been described with reference to the disclosed aspects, one having ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that these aspects are only illustrative of the invention. It should be understood that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The particular aspects disclosed above are illustrative only, as the present invention may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein. Furthermore, no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown, other than as described in the claims below. It is therefore evident that the particular illustrative aspects disclosed above may be altered, combined or modified, and all such variations are considered within the scope and spirit of the present invention. While compositions and methods are described in terms of “comprising,” “containing” or “including” various components or steps, the compositions and methods can also “consist essentially of,” or “consist of,” the various components and operations. All numbers and ranges disclosed above can vary by some amount. Whenever a numerical range with a lower limit and an upper limit is disclosed, any number and any subrange falling within the broader range are specifically disclosed. Also, the terms in the claims have their plain, ordinary meanings unless otherwise explicitly and clearly defined by the patentee. If there is any conflict in the usage of a word or term in this specification and one or more patent or other documents that may be incorporated herein by reference, the definition that is consistent with this specification should be adopted.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/756,510, entitled “EXTENDED MULTI-BAND LINEAR WAVEGUIDE FEED NETWORK WITH INVERSE RIDGE FILTERS,” filed Nov. 6, 2018, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
5907309 | Anderson | May 1999 | A |
7408427 | Lee-Yow | Aug 2008 | B1 |
9748623 | Lee-Yow | Aug 2017 | B1 |
10297920 | Wrigley | May 2019 | B2 |
10763593 | Wrigley | Sep 2020 | B1 |
20200313296 | Mitchelson | Oct 2020 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20200144731 A1 | May 2020 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
62756510 | Nov 2018 | US |