US3633208A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Shaped-beam antenna for earth coverage from a stabilized satellite
Assignee: Raytheon Co
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Filing: 1968-10-28
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Granted: 1972-01-04
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Expires: 1988-10-28
Abstract
Abstract The apparatus of the present invention provides an antenna having a beam shaped for optimum earth coverage from a synchronous satellite. Due to the difference in range and atmospheric attenuation from a synchronous satellite to various points on earth, a conventional beam with maximum gain toward the center of the earth, is inefficient because it has the highest gain where the least gain is required. Since the paths tangential to the earth are longest and since they traverse through more atmosphere, the gain of the disclosed antenna is highest in this region and decreases to a minimum for the path normal to the earth. In addition, the beam pattern of the antenna has ''''flat portions'''' at the edge to allow for stabilization errors of the satellite whereby equal effective signal is provided over the entire portion of the earth covered by the antenna beam. The antenna generates a beam pattern that is rotationally symmetrical and has the capability of dual orthogonal polarization.
Inventors
- 👤 James S Ajioka
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 08:32
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01Q; H01Q19/00; H01Q19/10; H01Q19/12; H01Q19/17
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
An antenna system comprising a conductive center horn of predetermined size, said center horn having an input at one extremity and an aperture at the remaining extremity thereof; a plurality of no less than four and an integral power of two peripheral horns, each having an input at one extremity and an aperture at the remaining extremity thereof, each being symmetrical about a longitudinal axis and each being of a uniform size smaller than said predetermined size, said plurality of horns being disposed at uniform intervals about and at the same point along said center horn and aligned in the same direction as said center horn; means coupled to said input at said one extremity of said cenTer horn for launching a first signal of predetermined frequency, phase, and power from said center horn; and means coupled to said respective inputs of said plurality of horns for simultaneously launching a second signal therefrom, said second signal having a frequency equal to said predetermined frequency, a power that is only a fraction of said predetermined power and a phase that is nominally 180* relative to said predetermined phase.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
187 words
An antenna system comprising a conductive center horn of predetermined size, said center horn having an input at one extremity and an aperture at the remaining extremity thereof; a plurality of no less than four and an integral power of two peripheral horns, each having an input at one extremity and an aperture at the remaining extremity thereof, each being symmetrical about a longitudinal axis and each being of a uniform size smaller than said predetermined size, said plurality of horns being disposed at uniform intervals about and at the same point along said center horn and aligned in the same direction as said center horn; means coupled to said input at said one extremity of said cenTer horn for launching a first signal of predetermined frequency, phase, and power from said center horn; and means coupled to said respective inputs of said plurality of horns for simultaneously launching a second signal therefrom, said second signal having a frequency equal to said predetermined frequency, a power that is only a fraction of said predetermined power and a phase that is nominally 180* relative to said predetermined phase.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The antenna system as defined in claim 1 wherein the total area of said apertures of said plurality of horns is substantially three times the area of said aperture of said center horn.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The antenna system as defined in claim 1 wherein said aperture of said center horn and said apertures of said plurality of horns are in a common plane.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The antenna system as defined in claim 1 additionally including means disposed in said center horn for multimoding said center horn.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
180 words
An antenna system for generating a predetermined antenna pattern in response to an applied signal, said system comprising a conductive conical center horn of predetermined size, said conical center horn having an input at one extremity and an aperture at the remaining extremity thereof; eight conductive conical peripheral horns, each having an input at one extremity and an aperture at the remaining extremity thereof and each being of a uniform size smaller than said predetermined size, said eight peripheral horns being disposed at uniform intervals about said center horn; and means coupled to said input of said conical center horn and to said respective inputs of said eight conical peripheral horns and responsive to said applied signal for launching a major portion of the power of said signal from said conical center horn as a wave in a TE11 dominant mode with a predetermined phase and for launching the remaining portion of the power of said signal equally from said eight peripheral horns as respective waves in TE11 dominant modes with a phase nominally 180* relative to said predetermined phase.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
180 words
An antenna system for generating a predetermined antenna pattern in response to an applied signal, said system comprising a conductive conical center horn of predetermined size, said conical center horn having an input at one extremity and an aperture at the remaining extremity thereof; eight conductive conical peripheral horns, each having an input at one extremity and an aperture at the remaining extremity thereof and each being of a uniform size smaller than said predetermined size, said eight peripheral horns being disposed at uniform intervals about said center horn; and means coupled to said input of said conical center horn and to said respective inputs of said eight conical peripheral horns and responsive to said applied signal for launching a major portion of the power of said signal from said conical center horn as a wave in a TE11 dominant mode with a predetermined phase and for launching the remaining portion of the power of said signal equally from said eight peripheral horns as respective waves in TE11 dominant modes with a phase nominally 180* relative to said predetermined phase.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The antenna system as defined in claim 5 wherein the respective diameters of said eight peripheral conical horns equal 0.618 times the diameter of said aperture of said conical center horn.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The antenna system as defined in claim 5 additionally including means in said conical center horn for multimoding said conical center horn.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
288 words
An antenna system for generating a predetermined antenna pattern in response to an applied signal, said system comprising a conductive conical center horn of predetermined size, said conical center horn having an input at one extremity and an aperture at the remaining extremity thereof; eight conductive conical peripheral horns, each having an input at one extremity and an aperture at the remaining extremity thereof and each being of a uniform size smaller than said predetermined size, said eight peripheral horns being aligned in the same direction as said center horn and disposed at uniform intervals thereabout with the apertures thereof in a plane common with said aperture of said center horn; first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh magic tees, each of said magic tees having a shunt input arm and first and second output arms, said first and second output arms of said first, second, third and fourth magic tees being connected, respectively, to said inputs of said eight conical peripheral horns to launch signals of predetermined polarity therein, said first and second output arms of said fifth and sixth magic tees being connected to said shunt arms of said first, second, third, and fourth magic tees, and said first and second output arms of said seventh magic tee connected to said shunt arms of said fifth and sixth magic tees; and means including a power divider responsive to said signal and having outputs connected to said input of said conical center horn and said shunt arm of said seventh magic tee for directing a major portion of the power of said signal to saId center horn and the remaining portion of the power of said signal to said shunt arm of said seventh magic tee.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
288 words
An antenna system for generating a predetermined antenna pattern in response to an applied signal, said system comprising a conductive conical center horn of predetermined size, said conical center horn having an input at one extremity and an aperture at the remaining extremity thereof; eight conductive conical peripheral horns, each having an input at one extremity and an aperture at the remaining extremity thereof and each being of a uniform size smaller than said predetermined size, said eight peripheral horns being aligned in the same direction as said center horn and disposed at uniform intervals thereabout with the apertures thereof in a plane common with said aperture of said center horn; first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh magic tees, each of said magic tees having a shunt input arm and first and second output arms, said first and second output arms of said first, second, third and fourth magic tees being connected, respectively, to said inputs of said eight conical peripheral horns to launch signals of predetermined polarity therein, said first and second output arms of said fifth and sixth magic tees being connected to said shunt arms of said first, second, third, and fourth magic tees, and said first and second output arms of said seventh magic tee connected to said shunt arms of said fifth and sixth magic tees; and means including a power divider responsive to said signal and having outputs connected to said input of said conical center horn and said shunt arm of said seventh magic tee for directing a major portion of the power of said signal to saId center horn and the remaining portion of the power of said signal to said shunt arm of said seventh magic tee.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
The antenna system as defined in claim 8 wherein said power divider directs 95 percent of the power of said signal to said center horn and the remaining 5 percent thereof to said shunt arm of said seventh magic tee.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3295134A
Cited
US3482251A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-01-03 | 1975-07-05 | 1976-01-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-03 | 1979-07-05 | 1980-01-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-03 | 1983-07-05 | 1984-01-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |