Dual frequency antenna feed with apertured channel

Claim 2

A microwave coupling arrangement, comprising: a coaxial waveguide section having an outer conductor and an inner conductor for propagating first and second microwave signals, respectively, wherein the outer and inner conductors define a common region therebetween; junction means, disposed between a microwave element and the coaxial waveguide, including a channelled section defined by at least one side wall and two ends, one of said two ends having a narrow aperture-defining perimeter coupled to the inner conductor, the other of said two ends having a wide aperture-defining perimeter coupled to the outer conductor and to the microwave element, and the side wall, which is coupled between the inner conductor and the microwave element, including a plurality of irises therethrough, wherein the first microwave signal propagates through the irises between the microwave element and the common region of the coaxial waveguide section and the second microwave signal propagates through the narrow aperture-defining perimeter.

Claim 3

A microwave coupling arrangement, according to claim 1, wherein the microwave element includes a horn antenna coupled to the channelled section so as to propagate the first and second microwave signals therethrough.

Claim 4

A microwave coupling arrangement, according to claim 2, wherein the microwave element further includes a dielectric rod surrounded, at least in part, by the horn antenna.

Claim 5

A microwave coupling arrangement, according to claim 3, wherein the junction means includes means supporting the dielectric rod which is arranged to couple signals between the dielectric rod and the inner conductor of the coaxial waveguide section.

Claim 6

A microwave coupling arrangement, according to claim 1, wherein the junction means includes a ring section coupled to the narrow aperture-defining perimeter of the channelled section.

Claim 7

A microwave coupling arrangement, according to claim 1, wherein the channelled section is conically shaped.

Claim 8

A coupling arrangement for coupling microwave signals between a coaxial waveguide section and a horn antenna, wherein the coaxial waveguide section includes a common region between inner and outer conductors for propagating a first signal in a first frequency band and the inner conductor acts as a circular waveguide for propagating at least a second signal in a second frequency band, the coupling arrangement comprising: a conically shaped section defined at least in part by a narrow aperture-defining perimeter and a wide aperture-defining perimeter with a channel therethrough, and a side wall, between the wide and narrow aperture-defining perimeters, with a plurality of irises therethrough, wherein the wide aperture-defining perimeter is coupled to the outer conductor of the coaxial waveguide section and to the horn antenna and the narrow aperture-defining perimeter is coupled to the inner conductor of the coaxial waveguide section; a dielectric rod situated through the conically shaped section and into the horn antenna for propagating the second signal between the inner conductor of the coaxial waveguide section and an atmosphere adjacent the horn antenna; wherein the propagation path for the first signal is defined by the common region of the coaxial waveguide section, the irises, the channel and the wide aperture-defining perimeter of the conically shaped section and the horn antenna, and the propagation path for the second signal is defined by the inner conductor of the coaxial waveguide section, and the dielectric rod through the channel of the conically shaped section and into the horn antenna.

Claim 9

A coupling arrangement for coupling microwave signals between a coaxial waveguide section and a horn antenna, wherein the coaxial waveguide section includes a common region between inner and outer conductors for propagating a first signal in a first frequency band and the inner conductor acts as a circular waveguide for propagating at least a second signal in a second frequency band, the coupling arrangement comprising: a conically shaped section defined at least in part by a narrow aperture-defining perimeter and a wide aperture-defining perimeter with a channel therethrough, and a side wall, between the wide and narrow aperture-defining perimeters, with a plurality of irises therethrough, wherein the wide aperture-defining perimeter is coupled to the outer conductor of the coaxial waveguide section and to the horn antenna and the narrow aperture-defining perimeter is coupled to the inner conductor of the coaxial waveguide section; a dielectric rod situated through the conically shaped section and into the horn antenna for propagating the second signal between the inner conductor of the coaxial waveguide section and an atmosphere adjacent the horn antenna; wherein the propagation path for the first signal is defined by the common region of the coaxial waveguide section, the irises, the channel and the wide aperture-defining perimeter of the conically shaped section and the horn antenna, and the propagation path for the second signal is defined by the inner conductor of the coaxial waveguide section, and the dielectric rod through the channel of the conically shaped section and into the horn antenna.

Claim 10

A coupling arrangement, according to claim 7, wherein the irises are located at about 90 degree intervals about the side wall of the conically shaped section.

Claim 11

A coupling arrangement, according to claim 8, wherein the irises are elongated slots having lengths that are situated along a direction in which the first signal propagates.

Claim 12

A coupling arrangement, according to claim 7, further including a ring section, coupled to and located between the inner conductor of the coaxial waveguide section and the narrow aperture-defining perimeter of the conically shaped section, through which the dielectric rod is located and the second signal propagates.

Claim 13

A coupling arrangement, according to claim 10, wherein the dielectric rod includes a first end and second end, both of which are tapered.

Claim 14

A coupling arrangement, according to claim 7, wherein the dielectric rod includes quartz.

Claim 15

A coupling arrangement, according to claim 7, wherein the first signal propagates within the coaxial waveguide section in the TE 11 coaxial waveguide mode, the second signal propagates in the inner conductor of the coaxial waveguide section in the TE 11 circular mode, and the antenna horn propagates both the first signal and the second signal in the HE 11 mode.

Claim 16

A coupling arrangement, according to claim 13, wherein the conically shaped section includes an inner surface of the side wall which provides a substantially continuous transformation of the TE 11 circular to HE 11 waveguide modes for the second signal.

Claim 17

A waveguide coupling arrangement for propagating a first signal in a first frequency band and at least one second signal in a second frequency band, comprising: a waveguide section including propagation means for propagating the first signal in a TE 11 coaxial mode in a common region therein and for propagating the second signal in a TE 11 circular waveguide mode in another region therein; a microwave element for providing HE 11 waveguide mode operation for the first and second signals; and junction means, coupled to and disposed between the microwave element and the waveguide section, including elongated channel means for providing a substantially continuous transformation between the TE 11 circular and HE 11 waveguide modes for the second signal and wherein the elongated channel means has a side wall with a plurality of irises therethrough for providing a propagation path for the first signal between the common region and the microwave element and for transforming the first signal between the TE 11 coaxial and HE 11 waveguide modes.

Claim 18

A waveguide coupling arrangement for propagating a first signal in a first frequency band and at least one second signal in a second frequency band, comprising: a waveguide section including propagation means for propagating the first signal in a TE 11 coaxial mode in a common region therein and for propagating the second signal in a TE 11 circular waveguide mode in another region therein; a microwave element for providing HE 11 waveguide mode operation for the first and second signals; and junction means, coupled to and disposed between the microwave element and the waveguide section, including elongated channel means for providing a substantially continuous transformation between the TE 11 circular and HE 11 waveguide modes for the second signal and wherein the elongated channel means has a side wall with a plurality of irises therethrough for providing a propagation path for the first signal between the common region and the microwave element and for transforming the first signal between the TE 11 coaxial and HE 11 waveguide modes.

Claim 19

A waveguide coupling arrangement, according to claim 15, wherein the waveguide section is a coaxial waveguide section having inner and outer conductors and the elongated channel means includes a tapered channelled section, formed at least in part by the side wall, having a narrow aperture-defining perimeter coupled to the inner conductor, and a wide aperture-defining perimeter coupled to the outer conductor and to the microwave element.

Claim 20

A microwave coupling arrangement, according to claim 16, wherein the junction means includes a dielectric rod extending from at least the inner conductor into the microwave element for propagating the second signal.

Claim 21

A waveguide coupling arrangement for propagating a first signal in a first frequency band and at least one second signal in a second frequency band, comprising: a waveguide section including propagation means for propagating the first signal in a common region therein the TE 11 coaxial mode and for propagating the second signal in the TE 11 circular waveguide mode in another region therein; a microwave element for providing TE 11 circular waveguide mode operation for the first and second signal; and junction means, coupled to and disposed between the microwave element and the waveguide section, including a conically shaped section having a side wall with a plurality of irises therethrough for providing a propagation path for the first signal between the common region and the microwave element and for providing a transformation between the TE 11 coaxial and TE 11 circular waveguide modes for the first signal.

Claim 22

A waveguide coupling arrangement for propagating a first signal in a first frequency band and at least one second signal in a second frequency band, comprising: a waveguide section including propagation means for propagating the first signal in a common region therein the TE 11 coaxial mode and for propagating the second signal in the TE 11 circular waveguide mode in another region therein; a microwave element for providing TE 11 circular waveguide mode operation for the first and second signal; and junction means, coupled to and disposed between the microwave element and the waveguide section, including a conically shaped section having a side wall with a plurality of irises therethrough for providing a propagation path for the first signal between the common region and the microwave element and for providing a transformation between the TE 11 coaxial and TE 11 circular waveguide modes for the first signal.

Claim 23

A waveguide coupling arrangement, according to claim 18, wherein the irises in the conically shaped section are located at about 90 degree intervals about the side wall.

Claim 24

A dual band feed system for a microwave antenna comprising: a coaxial waveguide section having an inner and an outer conductor and including a first port for providing a propagation path for a first signal in a first frequency band, a second port for providing a propagation path for second and third signals in a second frequency band, wherein the first signal propagates in a common region between the outer and inner conductors in a TE 11 coaxial mode and the second and third signals each propagate in the inner conductor in a TE 11 circular waveguide mode; a combining junction comprising: a conically shaped section having a narrow aperture-defining perimeter and a wide aperture-defining perimeter and with a channel therethrough, and a side wall, at least partly defining the conical shape, with a plurality of irises therethrough to provide a path for the first signal from the common region to the microwave antenna and to provide a transformation between the TE 11 coaxial mode and HE 11 waveguide mode for the first signal, wherein the conical shape provides a continual transformation of the TE 11 circular waveguide mode to HE 11 waveguide mode for the second signal, a ring section, coupled between the inner conductor of the coaxial waveguide section and the narrow aperture-defining perimeter of the conically shaped section, through which the second signal propagates; wherein the wide aperture-defining perimeter is coupled to the outer conductor of the coaxial waveguide section and to the antenna; and a dielectric rod extending from within the inner conductor, through the ring and the conically shaped sections of the combining junction and into the horn antenna for propagating the second signal.

Claim 25

A dual band feed system for a microwave antenna comprising: a coaxial waveguide section having an inner and an outer conductor and including a first port for providing a propagation path for a first signal in a first frequency band, a second port for providing a propagation path for second and third signals in a second frequency band, wherein the first signal propagates in a common region between the outer and inner conductors in a TE 11 coaxial mode and the second and third signals each propagate in the inner conductor in a TE 11 circular waveguide mode; a combining junction comprising: a conically shaped section having a narrow aperture-defining perimeter and a wide aperture-defining perimeter and with a channel therethrough, and a side wall, at least partly defining the conical shape, with a plurality of irises therethrough to provide a path for the first signal from the common region to the microwave antenna and to provide a transformation between the TE 11 coaxial mode and HE 11 waveguide mode for the first signal, wherein the conical shape provides a continual transformation of the TE 11 circular waveguide mode to HE 11 waveguide mode for the second signal, a ring section, coupled between the inner conductor of the coaxial waveguide section and the narrow aperture-defining perimeter of the conically shaped section, through which the second signal propagates; wherein the wide aperture-defining perimeter is coupled to the outer conductor of the coaxial waveguide section and to the antenna; and a dielectric rod extending from within the inner conductor, through the ring and the conically shaped sections of the combining junction and into the horn antenna for propagating the second signal.

Claim 26

A dual band feed system, according to claim 20, wherein the first band is in the C-band spectrum and the second band is in the Ku-band spectrum.

Claim 27

A dual band feed system, according to claim 21, wherein the second band has a bandwidth which is substantially narrower than a bandwidth of the first band.

Claim 28

A dual band feed system, according to claim 20, wherein the first band is used for receiving signals in the C-band and the second band is used for transmitting and receiving signals in the Ku-band.