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US4122446A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Dual mode feed horn

Assignee: Commscope Technologies LLC
•
Filing: 1977-04-28
•
Granted: 1978-10-24
•
Expires: 1997-04-28
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Abstract

Abstract A dual-mode feed horn for microwave antennas includes a multi-step microwave transformer having a series of abrupt steps with progressively increasing radial dimensions. At least certain of the steps have dimensions sufficiently large to convert TE 11 mode energy passing therethrough to TM 11 mode energy. The transformer is preferably a binomial transformer, and the axial length of the transformer is preferably about equal to the number of steps therein multiplied by 1/4 of the average wavelength of the microwave energy to be passed therethrough. A pair of waveguides are connected to opposite ends of the transformer for transmitting microwaves through the transformer, and the waveguide connected to the larger-diameter end of the transformer has an inside diameter at least as large as the maximum inside diameter of the transformer and a length sufficient to produce a predetermined phase relationship between the TE 11 mode energy and the TM 11 mode energy.

Inventors

  • 👤 Laurence H. Hansen

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-27 15:26
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01Q; H01Q13/00; H01Q13/02; H01Q13/025

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim 136 words
A dual-mode feed horn for microwave antennas, said horn comprising a multi-step microwave transformer having a series of at least three serially connected abrupt steps with progressively increasing radial dimensions, said transformer being selected from the group consisting of binomial transformers, Tchebyscheff transformers, cosine transformers, and exponential transformers, a plurality of said steps having dimensions sufficiently large to convert TE 11 mode energy passing therethrough to TM 11 mode energy, and a pair of waveguides connected to opposite ends of said transformer for transmitting microwaves through said transformer, the waveguide connected to the larger-diameter end of said transformer having an inside diameter at least as large as the maximum inside diameter of said transformer and a length sufficient to produce a predetermined phase relationship between the TE 11 mode energy and the TM 11 mode energy.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 136 words
A dual-mode feed horn for microwave antennas, said horn comprising a multi-step microwave transformer having a series of at least three serially connected abrupt steps with progressively increasing radial dimensions, said transformer being selected from the group consisting of binomial transformers, Tchebyscheff transformers, cosine transformers, and exponential transformers, a plurality of said steps having dimensions sufficiently large to convert TE 11 mode energy passing therethrough to TM 11 mode energy, and a pair of waveguides connected to opposite ends of said transformer for transmitting microwaves through said transformer, the waveguide connected to the larger-diameter end of said transformer having an inside diameter at least as large as the maximum inside diameter of said transformer and a length sufficient to produce a predetermined phase relationship between the TE 11 mode energy and the TM 11 mode energy.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 39 words
A dual-mode feed horn as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least certain of said steps have a diameter of at least 3.83 λ/π where λ is the wavelength of the microwave energy passing through the feed horn.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 41 words
A dual-mode feed horn as set forth in claim 1 wherein the axial length of said transformer is about equal to the number of steps therein multiplied by 1/4 of the average wavelength of the microwave energy to be passed therethrough.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 39 words
A dual-mode feed horn as set forth in claim 3 wherein the axial length of each step in said transformer is between about 1/8 and 3/8 of the wavelength of the microwave energy to be passed through that step.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 44 words
A dual mode feed horn as set forth in claim 1 wherein the waveguide connected to the larger diameter end of said transformer is of such length as to produce in-phase radiation of the TE 11 and TM 11 modes at its radiating aperture.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3413642A Cited
US3413641A Cited
US3482252A Cited
US3530481A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1981-10-23 1982-04-24 1982-10-24 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1985-10-23 1986-04-24 1986-10-24 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1989-10-23 1990-04-24 1990-10-24 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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