Scanning antenna having a circular lens with peripherally spaced linear arrays

Claim 2

An antenna array for propagating electromagnetic radiation comprising: a lens of the class characterized by having a rim disposed about an axis and defining a substantially circular periphery, the lens being further characterized by being capable of being rim fed so as to propagate fan-beam, electromagnetic radiation containing linear phase fronts from the lens diametrically opposite the feed point in a direction parallel to the diameter containing the feed point and normal to said axis; a plurality of connection means each having an end mounted to said lens adjacent said rim, said plurality of connection means being mounted in circular array for receiving electromagnetic radiation from said lens; a plurality of first waveguides mounted to respective ones of said connection means; a plurality of second waveguides each having an end mounted to a respective first waveguide for propagating electromagnetic radiation received by the respective first waveguide from said connection means; and feed means for coupling electromagnetic radiation to said lens adjacent said rim.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said lens is selected from the group consisting of Luneberg lenses and geodesic lenses.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said feed means comprises a plurality of feed inputs mounted to said lens adjacent the periphery thereof and adjacent said rim, said feed inputs being adapted to be individually connected to a signal source.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said feed means includes a directional antenna for propagating electromagnetic radiation substantially diametrically across said lens.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said directional antenna is a Yagi antenna.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 1 further including phase-shift means for simultaneously varying the degree of phase-shift between each radiating waveguide on a respective first waveguide by an incremental amount.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said phase shift means comprises a ferrite core disposed in each of said second waveguides and a coil disposed about each of said cores, whereby when a direct current of a preselected magnitude is passed through selected coils, the phase velocity of the respective second waveguide is altered, thereby altering the phase of the electromagnetic radiation propagated by the selected second waveguide.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first and second waveguides are filled with a dielectric material.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 1 further including phase-shift means for simultaneously varying the degree of phase-shift between each radiating antenna on a respective array by an incremental amount.

Claim 11

An antenna array for receiving electromagnetic radiation from a remote source and for determining the direction from which such radiation is received, said array comprising: a lens of the class characterized by having a rim disposed about an axis and defining a substantially circular periphery, the lens being further characterized by being capable of being rim fed so as to propagate fan-beam, electromagnetic radiation containing linear phase fronts from said lens diametrically opposite the feed point in a direction parallel to the diameter containing the feed point and normal to said axis; a plurality of connection means each having an end mounted to said lens adjacent said rim, said plurality of connection means being mounted in a circular array for propagating electromagnetic radiation into said lens; a plurality of linear antenna arrays wherein each of said antenna arrays comprises a first waveguide mounted to said lens and a plurality of second radiating waveguides having an end mounted to a respective first waveguide each of said arrays being mounted to a respective one of said connection means for receiving electromagnetic radiation from said remote source and for propagating the radiation into the respective connection means; and a plurality of output means connected to the rim of said lens and each adapted to be connected to a electrical load device, said output means delivering an electric signal to said load device upon receipt of co-phasal electromagnetic radiation from said plurality of connecting means.

Claim 12

An antenna array for receiving electromagnetic radiation from a remote source and for determining the direction from which such radiation is received, said array comprising: a lens of the class characterized by having a rim disposed about an axis and defining a substantially circular periphery, the lens being further characterized by being capable of being rim fed so as to propagate fan-beam, electromagnetic radiation containing linear phase fronts from said lens diametrically opposite the feed point in a direction parallel to the diameter containing the feed point and normal to said axis; a plurality of connection means each having an end mounted to said lens adjacent said rim, said plurality of connection means being mounted in a circular array for propagating electromagnetic radiation into said lens; a plurality of linear antenna arrays wherein each of said antenna arrays comprises a first waveguide mounted to said lens and a plurality of second radiating waveguides having an end mounted to a respective first waveguide each of said arrays being mounted to a respective one of said connection means for receiving electromagnetic radiation from said remote source and for propagating the radiation into the respective connection means; and a plurality of output means connected to the rim of said lens and each adapted to be connected to a electrical load device, said output means delivering an electric signal to said load device upon receipt of co-phasal electromagnetic radiation from said plurality of connecting means.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said lens is selected from the group consisting of Luneberg lenses and geodesic lenses.

Claim 14

Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said first and second waveguides are filled with a dielectric material.

Claim 15

Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said connecting means includes coupling means coupling the output from each of said first waveguides into said lens, each of said coupling means including a directional antenna mounted in said lens adjacent the end of a respective first waveguide, each of said directional antennas being adapted to propagate electromagnetic radiation substantially diametrically across said lens.

Claim 16

Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein each of said directional antennas is a Yagi antenna.

Claim 17

An antenna array for propagating electromagnetic radiation comprising: a lens of the class characterized by having a rim disposed about an axis and defining a substantially circular periphery, the lens being further characterized by being capable of being rim fed so as to propagate fan-beam, electromagnetic radiation containing linear phase fronts from the lens diametrically opposite the feed point in a direction parallel to the diameter containing the feed point and normal to said axis; a plurality of connection means each having an end mounted to said lens adjacent said rim, said plurality of connection means being mounted in a circular array for receiving electromagnetic radiation from said lens; a plurality of linear antenna arrays mounted to respective ones of said connection means for propagating the electromagnetic radiation received from said connection means, each of said arrays including a plurality of radiating antenna means; and feed means for coupling electromagnetic radiation to said lens adjacent said rim, said feed means comprising a plurality of feed inputs mounted to said lens adjacent the periphery thereof and adjacent said rim, said feed inputs being adapted to be individually connected to a signal source, and a plurality of Yagi antennas individually connected to said feed inputs for propagating electromagnetic radiation substantially diametrically across said lens.

Claim 18

An antenna array for propagating electromagnetic radiation comprising: a lens of the class characterized by having a rim disposed about an axis and defining a substantially circular periphery, the lens being further characterized by being capable of being rim fed so as to propagate fan-beam, electromagnetic radiation containing linear phase fronts from the lens diametrically opposite the feed point in a direction parallel to the diameter containing the feed point and normal to said axis; a plurality of connection means each having an end mounted to said lens adjacent said rim, said plurality of connection means being mounted in a circular array for receiving electromagnetic radiation from said lens; a plurality of linear antenna arrays mounted to respective ones of said connection means for propagating the electromagnetic radiation received from said connection means, each of said arrays including a plurality of radiating antenna means; and feed means for coupling electromagnetic radiation to said lens adjacent said rim, said feed means comprising a plurality of feed inputs mounted to said lens adjacent the periphery thereof and adjacent said rim, said feed inputs being adapted to be individually connected to a signal source, and a plurality of Yagi antennas individually connected to said feed inputs for propagating electromagnetic radiation substantially diametrically across said lens.