Patent US3665481A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3665481A
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Multi-purpose antenna employing dish reflector with plural coaxial horn feeds
Assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
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Filing: 1970-05-12
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Granted: 1972-05-23
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Expires: 1990-05-12
Abstract
Abstract A microwave antenna useful on a spacecraft, which utilizes a single dish reflector and single coaxial horn structure to transmit at two frequencies, and to receive signals at a third frequency that allow tracking. The horn structure includes a coaxial wave-guide with an inner pipe for transmitting X-band waves, an intermediate pipe, surrounding the inner pipe for transmitting S-band waves through the space between it and the inner pipe, and an outer pipe surrounding the intermediate pipe for receiving S-band tracking signals. An outer horn flares from the outer pipe and an inner horn flares from the inner pipe, to efficiently illuminate the dish reflector at both X and S bands.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth E Woo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:42
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01P; H01P1/00; H01P1/16; H01Q; H01Q25/00; H01Q25/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
Apparatus for indicating the pointing error of an antenna from a source of circularly polarized waves comprising: a signal detecting structure including a circular coaxial waveguide with inner and outer coaxial pipes, and a plurality of conductive plates extending radially between said pipes; a plurality of probes spaced about said waveguide for detecting transverse electric and magnetic waves therein; first means coupled to said probes for deriving the TE11 compoNent and deriving the TM01 component in said waveguide; and second means coupled to said first means for generating signals indicating the relative magnitudes and relative phases of said TE11 and TM01 components.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
102 words
Apparatus for indicating the pointing error of an antenna from a source of circularly polarized waves comprising: a signal detecting structure including a circular coaxial waveguide with inner and outer coaxial pipes, and a plurality of conductive plates extending radially between said pipes; a plurality of probes spaced about said waveguide for detecting transverse electric and magnetic waves therein; first means coupled to said probes for deriving the TE11 compoNent and deriving the TM01 component in said waveguide; and second means coupled to said first means for generating signals indicating the relative magnitudes and relative phases of said TE11 and TM01 components.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus described in claim 1 including: antenna orienting means responsive to the presence of a predetermined ratio of the TM01 component to the TE11 component, for rotating said signal detecting structure in a direction dependent upon the phase difference between the TM01 and TE11 components.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
133 words
Apparatus for indicating the pointing error of an antenna from a source of circularly polarized waves comprising: a circular coaxial waveguide with inner, intermediate, and outer coaxial pipes; a first circular horn extending from said outer pipe of said waveguide; a second horn smaller than said first horn extending from said inner pipe; a reflector of larger diameter than said first horn positioned opposite said first horn, said second horn extending from said inner pipe towards said reflector; a plurality of probes spaced about said waveguide for detecting transverse electric and magnetic waves therein; first means coupled to said probes for deriving TE11 and TM01 components in said waveguide; and second means coupled to said first means for generating signals indicating the relative magnitudes and relative phases of said TE11 and TM01 components.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
133 words
Apparatus for indicating the pointing error of an antenna from a source of circularly polarized waves comprising: a circular coaxial waveguide with inner, intermediate, and outer coaxial pipes; a first circular horn extending from said outer pipe of said waveguide; a second horn smaller than said first horn extending from said inner pipe; a reflector of larger diameter than said first horn positioned opposite said first horn, said second horn extending from said inner pipe towards said reflector; a plurality of probes spaced about said waveguide for detecting transverse electric and magnetic waves therein; first means coupled to said probes for deriving TE11 and TM01 components in said waveguide; and second means coupled to said first means for generating signals indicating the relative magnitudes and relative phases of said TE11 and TM01 components.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
85 words
An antenna comprising: a reflector dish; a coaxial waveguide extending toward said dish, said waveguide having inner, intermediate, and outer guides, said inner guide less than about one-half the diameter of said outer guide; a first horn flaring out from said outer guide toward said dish; a second horn flaring out from said inner guide toward said dish; and a plurality of probes disposed about the annular space between said outer and intermediate guides, for enabling the detection of the TE11 and TM01 modes therein.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
85 words
An antenna comprising: a reflector dish; a coaxial waveguide extending toward said dish, said waveguide having inner, intermediate, and outer guides, said inner guide less than about one-half the diameter of said outer guide; a first horn flaring out from said outer guide toward said dish; a second horn flaring out from said inner guide toward said dish; and a plurality of probes disposed about the annular space between said outer and intermediate guides, for enabling the detection of the TE11 and TM01 modes therein.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
103 words
A microwave antenna structure comprising: a coaxial waveguide having inner, intermediate, and outer coaxial pipes, and having a radiating end; first means for generating microwaves of a first frequency coupled to said outer pipe; second means for generating microwaves of a second frequency higher than said first frequency coupled to said inner pipe; a common dish reflector located opposite said radiating end of said coaxial waveguide; and a plurality of conductive plates extending radially between two of said pipes and parallel to the axis of said coaxial waveguide, for dividing the coaxial area between the two pipes into a plurality of quasi-rectangular waveguides.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
103 words
A microwave antenna structure comprising: a coaxial waveguide having inner, intermediate, and outer coaxial pipes, and having a radiating end; first means for generating microwaves of a first frequency coupled to said outer pipe; second means for generating microwaves of a second frequency higher than said first frequency coupled to said inner pipe; a common dish reflector located opposite said radiating end of said coaxial waveguide; and a plurality of conductive plates extending radially between two of said pipes and parallel to the axis of said coaxial waveguide, for dividing the coaxial area between the two pipes into a plurality of quasi-rectangular waveguides.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
119 words
A microwave structure comprising: an antenna structure including a coaxial waveguide having inner and outer coaxial pipes, and a circular horn flaring outwardly from an end of said outer pipe; four conductive plates extending radially between the inner and outer pipes and parallel to the axis of said coaxial waveguide, for dividing the coaxial area into four quasi-rectangular waveguides that each subtend an angle of approximately 90* about the axis of said waveguide; four probe means, each disposed in said quasi-rectangular waveguides for detecting microwaves therein; and means coupled to said probe means for deriving first and second signals respectively representing the relative amplitude and relative phase of TE11 and TM01 waves in the coaxial region between said pipes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
119 words
A microwave structure comprising: an antenna structure including a coaxial waveguide having inner and outer coaxial pipes, and a circular horn flaring outwardly from an end of said outer pipe; four conductive plates extending radially between the inner and outer pipes and parallel to the axis of said coaxial waveguide, for dividing the coaxial area into four quasi-rectangular waveguides that each subtend an angle of approximately 90* about the axis of said waveguide; four probe means, each disposed in said quasi-rectangular waveguides for detecting microwaves therein; and means coupled to said probe means for deriving first and second signals respectively representing the relative amplitude and relative phase of TE11 and TM01 waves in the coaxial region between said pipes.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
The structure described in claim 6 including: antenna orienting means responsive to said first and second signals, for reorienting said antenna structure upon the detection of a predetermined ratio of said TM01 and TE11 waves, in directions dependent upon the phase difference between said TE11 and TM01 waves.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-23 | 1975-11-22 | 1976-05-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-23 | 1979-11-22 | 1980-05-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-23 | 1983-11-22 | 1984-05-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |