US4231042A — Hybrid mode waveguide and feedhorn antennas

Claim 1

Independent Claim 214 words

A hybrid mode feedhorn antenna comprising: a hollow waveguide body including an inner surface and comprises a first section (12) of uniform cross-section which converts into a second section (14) that flares outward from one end of the first section to form a mouth of the feedhorn antenna characterized in that the feedhorn antenna further comprises: a spiro-helical projection (18, FIGS. 1-3; 38, FIG. 4) comprising a helically wound dielectrically coated wire bonded to the waveguide body with a dielectric layer, said wire being helically wound in closely spaced turns which abut one another starting at the end of the first section further from the second section and covering a first portion (II-IV, FIG. 2; 30, FIG. 4) of the inner surface of the first section in a manner capable of providing a smooth transition for a TE 11 mode signal propagating therethrough, the helical windings continuing in a second portion (V, FIG. 2; 32, FIG. 4) of the first section adjacent said first portion with turns which gradually have the spacing therebetween increased in a linear manner which is capable of converting the TE 11 mode of a signal propagating therethrough into a HE 11 mode, and the helical windings continuing in the remaining portion of the feedhorn antenna with a uniform pitch.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 214 words

A hybrid mode feedhorn antenna comprising: a hollow waveguide body including an inner surface and comprises a first section (12) of uniform cross-section which converts into a second section (14) that flares outward from one end of the first section to form a mouth of the feedhorn antenna characterized in that the feedhorn antenna further comprises: a spiro-helical projection (18, FIGS. 1-3; 38, FIG. 4) comprising a helically wound dielectrically coated wire bonded to the waveguide body with a dielectric layer, said wire being helically wound in closely spaced turns which abut one another starting at the end of the first section further from the second section and covering a first portion (II-IV, FIG. 2; 30, FIG. 4) of the inner surface of the first section in a manner capable of providing a smooth transition for a TE 11 mode signal propagating therethrough, the helical windings continuing in a second portion (V, FIG. 2; 32, FIG. 4) of the first section adjacent said first portion with turns which gradually have the spacing therebetween increased in a linear manner which is capable of converting the TE 11 mode of a signal propagating therethrough into a HE 11 mode, and the helical windings continuing in the remaining portion of the feedhorn antenna with a uniform pitch.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 68 words

A hybrid mode feedhorn antenna according to claim 1 characterized in that the spiro-helical projection (18) in said first portion (II-IV, FIG. 2) of the first section is formed from a dielectrically coated wire which is initially flattened on two opposing surfaces and edge wound in abutting helical turns, the wire gradually changing to a rounded cross-section as the helix approaches said second portion of the first section.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 117 words

A hybrid mode feedhorn antenna according to claim 1 characterized in that the spiro-helical projection (18) in said first portion (30, FIG. 4) further includes multiple abutting layers of helically wound dielectrically coated wires (40, FIG. 4) disposed on the surface of said first helically wound wire nearest the inner surface of the first section of the waveguide body, the successive layers of helically wound dielectrically coated wires forming said multiple layers having lengths, which progress inwards from the end of the first section furthest from the conical section, to effect an edge on said multiple layers which slopes inward to said first helically wound wire in the direction of said second portion of the first section.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 38 words

A hybrid mode feedhorn antenna according to claim 1, 2 or 3 characterized in that the thickness of the wire and the dielectric layer being an approximate quarter wavelength at the lowest operating frequency of the feedhorn antenna.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 160 words

A hybrid mode waveguide comprising: a hollow waveguide body including an inner surface characterized in that the hybrid mode waveguide further comprises: a helical projection (18, FIG. 5) comprising a helically wound dielectrically coated wire bonded to the waveguide body with a dielectric layer, said wire being helically wound in closely spaced turn which abut one another starting at one end of the waveguide body and covering a first portion of the inner surface of the waveguide body in a manner capable of providing a smooth transition for a TE 11 mode signal propagating therethrough, the helical windings continuing in a second portion of the waveguide body adjacent said first portion with turns which gradually have the spacing therebetween increased in a linear manner which is capable of converting the TE 11 mode of a signal propagating therethrough into a HE 11 mode, and the helical windings continuing in the remaining portion of the waveguide body with a uniform pitch.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 160 words

A hybrid mode waveguide comprising: a hollow waveguide body including an inner surface characterized in that the hybrid mode waveguide further comprises: a helical projection (18, FIG. 5) comprising a helically wound dielectrically coated wire bonded to the waveguide body with a dielectric layer, said wire being helically wound in closely spaced turn which abut one another starting at one end of the waveguide body and covering a first portion of the inner surface of the waveguide body in a manner capable of providing a smooth transition for a TE 11 mode signal propagating therethrough, the helical windings continuing in a second portion of the waveguide body adjacent said first portion with turns which gradually have the spacing therebetween increased in a linear manner which is capable of converting the TE 11 mode of a signal propagating therethrough into a HE 11 mode, and the helical windings continuing in the remaining portion of the waveguide body with a uniform pitch.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 64 words

A hybrid mode waveguide according to claim 5 characterized in that the helical projection (18) in said first portion of the waveguide body is formed from a dielectrically coated wire which is initially flattened on two opposing surfaces and edge wound in abutting helical turns, the wire gradually changing to a rounded cross-section as the helix approaches said second portion of the waveguide body.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 103 words

A hybrid mode waveguide according to claim 5 characterized in that the helical projection (18) in said first portion of the waveguide body further includes multiple abutting layers of helically wound dielectrically coated wires disposed on the surface of said first helically wound wire nearest the inner surface of the waveguide body, the successive layers of helically wound wires forming said multiple layers having lengths, which progress inwards from said one end of the waveguide, to effect an edge on said multiple layers which slopes inward to said first helically wound wire in the direction of said second portion of the waveguide body.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 36 words

A hybrid mode waveguide according to claim 5, 6 or 7 characterized in that the thickness of the wire and the dielectric layer being an approximate quarter wavelength at the lowest operating frequency of the waveguide.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 153 words

A waveguide for converting a TE 11 mode signal into a HE 11 mode signal comprising: a hollow waveguide section comprising an inner surface characterized in that the waveguide further comprises: a mode conversion means (III-V, FIG. 2; 72, FIG. 5) comprising a helically wound dielectrically coated wire bonded to the inner surface of the waveguide section with a dielectric layer, said wire being wound in closely spaced turns which abut one another starting at one end of the waveguide section and covering a first portion of the inner surface of the waveguide section in a manner capable of providing a smooth transition for the TE 11 mode signal propagating therethrough, the helical windings continuing in a second portion of the waveguide section adjacent said first portion with turns which gradually have the spacing therebetween increased in a linear manner to convert the TE 11 mode signal to the HE 11 mode signal.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 153 words

A waveguide for converting a TE 11 mode signal into a HE 11 mode signal comprising: a hollow waveguide section comprising an inner surface characterized in that the waveguide further comprises: a mode conversion means (III-V, FIG. 2; 72, FIG. 5) comprising a helically wound dielectrically coated wire bonded to the inner surface of the waveguide section with a dielectric layer, said wire being wound in closely spaced turns which abut one another starting at one end of the waveguide section and covering a first portion of the inner surface of the waveguide section in a manner capable of providing a smooth transition for the TE 11 mode signal propagating therethrough, the helical windings continuing in a second portion of the waveguide section adjacent said first portion with turns which gradually have the spacing therebetween increased in a linear manner to convert the TE 11 mode signal to the HE 11 mode signal.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 62 words

A waveguide according to claim 9 characterized in that the helical projection (18) in said first portion of the waveguide section is formed from a dielectrically coated wire which is initially flattened on two opposing surfaces and edge wound in abutting helical turns, the wire gradually changing to a rounded cross-section as the helix approaches said second portion of the waveguide section.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 102 words

A waveguide according to claim 9 characterized in that the helical projection (18) in said first portion of the waveguide section further includes multiple abutting layers of helically wound dielectrically coated wires disposed on the surface of said first helically wound wire nearest the inner surface of the waveguide section, the successive layers of helically wound wires forming said multiple layers having lengths, which progress inwards from said one end of the waveguide section, to effect an edge on said multiple layers which slopes inward to said first helically wound wire in the direction of said second portion of the waveguide section.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 35 words

A waveguide in accordance with claim 9, 10 or 11 characterized in that the thickness of the wire and the dielectric layer being an approximate quarter wavelength at the lowest operating frequency of the waveguide.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1983-10-28	1984-04-28	1984-10-28	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1987-10-28	1988-04-28	1988-10-28	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1991-10-28	1992-04-28	1992-10-28	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Hybrid mode waveguide and feedhorn antennas

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