Small, thin aperture antenna with integrated diplexer

Abstract

To provide an efficient, low-profile, lightweight fixed-beam (constant angle of departure) aperture antenna.SOLUTION: An aperture antenna 10 includes an array of horn radiators 2 coupled to a waveguide diplexer 6 by means of a stripline distribution network. The stripline distribution network is embedded in a printed wiring board 18 sandwiched between a radiator plate 12 and a diplexer plate 14. The diplexer plate 14 and a backside cover plate 16 form the waveguide diplexer. Each horn radiator 2 has a respective circular opening at one end adjacent to the printed wiring board 18. The diplexer plate 14 includes an array of circular waveguide backshorts 24 which are congruent and respectively aligned with the circular openings of the horn radiators 2. The radiator plate 12 further includes a rectangular waveguide backshort 22 which is congruent and aligned with a rectangular port of the diplexer plate 14.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The technology disclosed in this specification generally relates to antenna systems, and more particularly to aperture antenna design.

Background Art

[0002] An essential component of any wireless communication system is an antenna for transmitting and / or receiving electromagnetic signals. There are generally two types of aperture antennas. The first type of aperture antenna is typically a horn antenna that includes a group or array of electromagnetic horn radiators (hereinafter referred to as "horn radiators") for directly transmitting and / or receiving radio frequency (RF) signals. The second type of aperture antenna is generally a reflector antenna that includes a parabolic reflector complemented by one or more feed horns for transmitting and / or receiving RF signals.

[0003] One antenna structure commonly used in communication satellites includes an array of horn radiators that are each electromagnetically coupled (hereinafter referred to as "coupled") to an array of microstrip patch elements or strip line diplexer feed probes. As used in this specification, the term "strip line" refers to a conductive transmission line used to carry high-frequency wireless signals, and this transmission line is embedded in a dielectric (insulator) substrate sandwiched between two ground planes. Some antennas further include a diplexer, and the diplexer may be implemented using a waveguide.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Many antenna designs utilize separate structural members to support the antenna. Such designs also employ individually manufactured, supplied horns or antenna elements assembled to form an array. This adds excessive weight, volume, and manufacturing costs. Weight and volume are particularly important constraints in spacecraft antenna design. For example, lower mass and volume antennas can allow spacecraft to be smaller and less expensive to launch. Furthermore, the installation of individual horns or antenna elements adds complexity to dimensional stacking and assembly flow time.

[0005] A typical off-the-shelf (COTS) solution uses antenna arrays, filters, diplexers, and electronics as separate components requiring connectors and adapters. One positive aspect of this approach is that individual components are replaceable. However, a disadvantage of such a structure is that the finished assembly tends to be large, heavy, and bulky. There is a need for an antenna system that is structurally efficient and has reduced mass and / or volume. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The subject matter disclosed below in detail relates to an efficient, thin, and lightweight fixed-beam (constant starting angle) aperture antenna. According to one embodiment, the aperture antenna includes an array of horn radiators coupled to a waveguide diplexer by a stripline distribution network. The stripline distribution network is embedded in a printed circuit board (PWB) sandwiched between a radiator plate (incorporating the horn radiators) and a diplexer plate. The aperture antenna may further include a metallic back contact surface attached to the bottom of the diplexer plate. The diplexer plate and back cover plate are configured to form a waveguide diplexer. As a result, an efficient high-gain antenna is obtained in a small, thin, and lightweight package.

[0007] According to one embodiment, the waveguide diplexer includes a T-junction, a transmit filter and a receive filter, and their respective bends (e.g., an E-plane bend and / or an H-plane bend). The bends align with their respective openings on the back-ground surface. Optionally, transmit and receive electronics (e.g., high-power amplifiers (HPAs), low-noise amplifiers (LNAs), limiters, etc.) may be mounted on the back-ground surface. Additional circuitry may be included to provide greater separation between transmit and receive, adaptive frequency nulling, and built-in testing.

[0008] Various embodiments of aperture antennas having integrated waveguide diplexers are described below in some detail, one or more of these embodiments may be characterized by one or more of the following aspects.

[0009] One aspect of the subject disclosed below in some detail is an aperture antenna comprising a diplexer plate, a printed circuit board mounted on the diplexer plate and comprising a stripline distribution network, a radiator plate mounted on the printed circuit board, and a back cover plate mounted on the diplexer plate. The stripline distribution network comprises a diplexer feed probe and an array of horn feed probes. The radiator plate comprises an array of horn radiators configured to each couple to an array of horn feed probes during antenna operation. The diplexer plate and the back cover plate are configured to form a waveguide diplexer which couples to the diplexer feed probes during antenna operation. The radiator plate further comprises a rectangular waveguide back short aligned to coincide with the rectangular port of the waveguide diplexer. The diplexer feed probe is positioned between the rectangular port and the rectangular waveguide back short. The diplexer plate further comprises an array of circular waveguide back shorts aligned to each coincide with the circular opening of the horn radiator. The horn supply probe is positioned between the circular waveguide back short of the diplexer plate and the circular opening of the horn radiator.

[0010] Another aspect of the subject disclosed below in some detail is an aperture antenna comprising a diplexer plate, a printed circuit board mounted on the diplexer plate and comprising a stripline distribution network, and a radiator plate mounted on the printed circuit board. The radiator plate comprises an array of horn radiators arranged adjacently on one side of the printed circuit board, each horn radiator having its own circular opening at one end. The diplexer plate comprises an array of circular waveguide back shorts arranged on the other side of the printed circuit board. The circular openings of the radiator plate and the circular waveguide back shorts of the diplexer plate are aligned to coincide with each other. The stripline distribution network comprises an array of horn feed probes, each positioned between the array of circular openings of the radiator plate and the array of circular waveguide back shorts of the diplexer plate.

[0011] Further aspects of the subject disclosed below are aperture antennas, the aperture antennas comprising: a printed circuit board having a stripline distribution network, the stripline distribution network comprising an array of diplexer supply probes and horn supply probes; a radiator plate disposed adjacent to one side of the printed circuit board, the radiator plate comprising an array of horn radiators, each horn radiator having its respective circular opening at one end; and a diplexer plate disposed adjacent to one side of the printed circuit board, the diplexer plate comprising The diplexer plate comprises an array of circular waveguide back shorts, each aligned with a circular opening in the radiator plate, and an array of horn supply probes, each positioned between the array of circular waveguide back shorts in the diplexer plate and the circular opening in the radiator plate. The diplexer plate also comprises a back cover plate positioned adjacent to the diplexer plate, and the diplexer plate and back cover plate are configured to form a waveguide diplexer having a first port formed in the diplexer plate and a second and third port formed in the back cover plate.

[0012] Other embodiments of aperture antennas having an integrated waveguide diplexer are disclosed below.

[0013] The forms, functions, and advantages described in the preceding section may be realized individually in various embodiments or incorporated into yet another embodiment. Various embodiments are described below with reference to the drawings in order to illustrate the above-described embodiments and other embodiments. None of the drawings are drawn to a fixed scale. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1] This is a three-dimensional (3D) diagram of a thin aperture antenna, including an array of horn radiators coupled to an integrated waveguide diplexer formed by a diplexer plate and a back cover plate. [Figure 2] This is a cross-sectional view of a thin aperture antenna, including a radiator plate, a printed circuit board (PWB), a diplexer plate, and a back cover plate, according to one embodiment. [Figure 3] Figure 2 is a top view of the RF strip line distribution network embedded in the PWB of the aperture antenna shown. [Figure 4] This is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a PWB according to one proposed embodiment. [Figure 5] Figure 4 is a top view of the contact surface of the PWB, partially depicted. [Figure 6] This figure shows a waveguide diplexer having a T-branch section, a transmit / receive filter, and an E-plane bend section according to one embodiment. [Figure 7] Figure 2 shows a bottom view of the rear cover plate of the aperture antenna according to the proposed alternative embodiment. The dashed lines represent the hidden waveguide diplexer. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0015] Below, we refer to drawings in which similar elements in different drawings are given the same reference number.

[0016] Exemplary embodiments of aperture antennas having integrated waveguide diplexers are described below in some detail. However, not all forms of actual embodiments are described herein. In developing such actual embodiments, many implementation-specific decisions are required to achieve the developer's specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that each such implementation is different. Furthermore, although the effort required for such development may be complex and time-consuming, it will be understood that this is not a special task for those skilled in the art who benefit from this disclosure.

[0017] Figure 1 is a three-dimensional (3D) view of a thin aperture antenna 10 comprising a stack of machined metal plates including a radiator plate 12, a diplexer plate 14, and a back cover plate 16. As seen in Figure 1, the diplexer plate 14 is positioned between the radiator plate 12 and the back cover plate 16. The aperture antenna 10 includes a printed circuit board (not shown) positioned between the radiator plate 12 and the diplexer plate 14.

[0018] The radiator plate 12 is machined to form an array of horn radiators 2. When in use, the openings of the horn radiators 2 may be covered with a plastic sheet (a plastic cover not shown in Figure 1) that allows radio frequencies to pass through and removes moisture. Although not shown in Figure 1, the aperture antenna 10 incorporates an integrated waveguide diplexer formed by a diplexer plate 14 and a back cover plate 16, as will be described later with reference to Figure 2.

[0019] In the example shown in Figure 1, the aperture antenna 10 includes a 4x4 array of horn radiators 2 for illustrative purposes. However, the innovative techniques proposed herein may be incorporated into aperture antennas having any number of horn radiators. It will be understood that the appended claims should not be construed as requiring a specific number of horn radiators.

[0020] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a thin aperture antenna 10 including a diplexer plate 14, a printed wiring board 18 (hereinafter referred to as "PWB 18") attached to the diplexer plate 14, a radiator plate 12 attached to the PWB 18, and a back cover plate 16 attached to the diplexer plate 14. The layers of the PWB 18 are not shown in FIG. 2 and will be described later with reference to FIG. 4. In particular, the PWB 18 includes a strip line distribution network (see the strip line distribution network 20 shown in FIG. 3) not shown in FIG. 2.

[0021] Referring again to FIG. 2, the PWB 18 is sandwiched between the radiator plate 12 and the diplexer plate 14. The radiator plate 12 includes an array of horn radiators 2 disposed on one side of the PWB 18. Each horn radiator 2 may be a respective axially symmetric surface machined into the radiator plate 12. The axially symmetric surface forms a void configured to form a flared waveguide having a conical portion. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the axially symmetric surface of each horn radiator 2 includes a first cylindrical surface 4a having a first diameter, a second cylindrical surface 4c having a second diameter larger than the first diameter, and a conical surface 4b connected to the first cylindrical surface and the second cylindrical surface. The conical surface 4b forms a boundary defining the conical portion of the flared waveguide. The circular opening at the end of the first cylindrical surface 4a abuts the PWB 18. The circular opening at the end of the second cylindrical surface 4c is the physical aperture (opening) of the horn radiator 2.

[0022] According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the diplexer plate 14 is machined to include an array of cylindrical voids 23 that function as waveguides. Each cylindrical void 23 has a circular portion in a plane perpendicular to the plane in which the cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 is taken. Each cylindrical void 23 is partially bounded by a lower surface that forms a respective circular waveguide backshort 24. According to one proposed embodiment, the circular waveguide backshort 24 is aligned and positioned to coincide with a circular opening at the end of the first cylindrical surface 4a of an array of horn radiators 2, respectively. The circular waveguide backshort 24 reflects the incident EM radiation back to the PWB 18.

[0023] FIG. 3 is a top view of a stripline distribution network 20 printed on a substrate made of a dielectric material (hereinafter referred to as "dielectric layer 44"), which dielectric layer is part of the laminated structure of the PWB 18 of the aperture antenna 10 shown in FIG. 2. For weight reduction, the stripline distribution network 20 is preferably disposed within a path-specified channel 54 formed in the dielectric layer 44.

[0024] The stripline distribution network 20 includes an array of dipole horn feed probes 26 (hereinafter referred to as "horn feed probes 26") that enable the transition from the horn waveguide to the stripline, and a diplexer feed probe 28 that enables the transition from the diplexer waveguide to the stripline. The aperture antenna 10 includes one horn feed probe 26 for each horn radiator 2. For example, in the aperture antenna 10 shown in FIG. 1, the stripline distribution network 20 includes a 4×4 array of horn feed probes 26. Each horn feed probe 26 is disposed between a respective cylindrical backshort void 23 of the diplexer plate 14 and a respective cylindrical portion of the horn waveguide formed by the first cylindrical surface 4a of a respective horn radiator 2.

[0025] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a PWB18 having a laminated structure 40 according to one proposed embodiment. The laminated structure includes an upper grounding surface 42, a first dielectric layer 44 on which the strip line distribution network 20 is printed, a prepreg (pre-impregnated) material layer 46, a second dielectric layer 48, and a lower grounding surface 50. The prepreg material layer 46 holds the dielectric layers 44 and 48 together. One suitable dielectric material is a ceramic-filled polytetrafluoroethylene composite material. The upper grounding surface 42 and the lower grounding surface 50 are electrically connected by a number of metal-plated vias 52, only one of which is shown in Figure 4. Many of the metal-plated vias 52 may be arranged to follow the lines on both sides of the strip line (excluding the transition region) to provide grounding mode suppression.

[0026] As shown in Figure 5, the ground surfaces 42 and 50 of the PWB18 have rectangular openings 58 aligned with the diplexer supply probe 28 and circular openings 56 of the 4x4 array aligned with the horn supply probe 26. EM radiation emitted from the supply probes propagates through the openings aligned with the supply probes.

[0027] Referring again to Figure 3, during transmission, the array of horn feed probes 26 receives divided power from the diplexer feed probes 28 by a plurality of power half-level splitters 36. As seen in Figure 3, the stripline distribution network 20 further includes an array of branch line couplers 38, each connected to the array of horn feed probes 26. The branch line couplers 38 are connected to the diplexer feed probes 28 via the power half-level splitters 36. In the example shown in Figure 3, the power supplied to each of the 4x4 array of horn feed probes 26 by the diplexer feed probes 28 is divided four times (by the four power half-level splitters 36) and then circularly polarized by the branch line couplers 38. Each branch line coupler 38 is an orthogonal coupler that splits the input into two signals separated by a phase of 90 degrees. The branch line couplers 38 are configured to emit left-circularly polarized EM radiation while the horn feed probes 26 are transmitting.

[0028] The diplexer supply probe 28 is configured to convert EM radiation from the waveguide diplexer into an alternating current that supplies power to the horn supply probe 26 to emit EM radiation during transmission. Referring to Figure 2, the diplexer plate 14 and the back cover plate 16 are machined to form a waveguide diplexer 6 having a rectangular cross-section. The waveguide diplexer 6 comprises a T-junction 8a having a first port 30, a first diplexer arm 8b connected to the T-junction 8a, a first E-plane bend 8c connected to the first diplexer arm 8b and having a second port 32, a second diplexer arm 8d connected to the T-junction 8a, and a second E-plane bend 8e connected to the second diplexer arm 8d and having a third port 34. Each portion of the waveguide diplexer 6 has a rectangular cross-section. More specifically, the three walls of the rectangular waveguide diplexer are machined into the diplexer plate 14, and the fourth wall of the waveguide diplexer is formed by the upper surface of the rear cover plate 16.

[0029] Furthermore, the first port 30 is machined into the diplexer plate 14, while the second port 32 and the third port 34 are machined into the back cover plate 16. Each of the first to third ports has a rectangular cross-section. The second port 32 is coupled to a transmitter (not shown). The third port 34 is coupled to a receiver (not shown). The first port 30 forms a rectangular diplexer supply input / output. During transmission, EM radiation propagates from the second port 32 of the first E-plane bend 8c to the first E-plane bend 8c, through the first diplexer arm 8b, and out of the first port 30 of the T-junction 8a. During reception, EM radiation first proceeds from the first port 30 of the T-junction 8a to the second diplexer arm 8d, propagates through the second E-plane bend 8e, and out of the third port 34 of the second E-plane bend 8e. The third port has a rectangular cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the plane into which the cross-sectional view in Figure 2 is incorporated.

[0030] The method of assembling the components that form the waveguide diplexer may vary depending on the type of filter used in each of the diplexer arms. Machining limits the angular bending radius in the stepped sections and pockets. Wire electrical discharge machining (EDM) or Synca EDM may also be used. Additive manufacturing is another potentially less expensive technique for manufacturing waveguide diplexers.

[0031] In addition to the horn radiator 2, the radiator plate 12 shown in Figure 2 may be machined to include a box-shaped (parallelope) void 21 having a rectangular cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the plane in which the cross-sectional view of Figure 2 is taken. The void 21 is partially bounded by an upper surface that forms a rectangular waveguide back short 22. The rectangular waveguide back short 22 reflects EM radiation emitted by the diplexer supply probe 28. According to one proposed embodiment, the rectangular waveguide back short 22 is aligned with the rectangular first port 30 of the waveguide diplexer 6. The rectangular waveguide back short 22 reflects the incident EM radiation back to the PWB 18. The diplexer supply probe 28 is positioned between the box-shaped void 21 of the radiator plate 12 and the first port 30 of the waveguide diplexer 6.

[0032] During transmission, EM radiation from the waveguide diplexer 6 is incident on the diplexer supply probe 28. The resulting electromagnetic coupling generates radio frequency AC power supplied to the horn supply probe 26 by the stripline distribution network 20, causing the horn supply probe 26 to emit EM radiation in the opposite direction. The EM radiation emitted toward the opening of each horn radiator 2 propagates through the continuous space bounded by the first cylindrical surface 4a, the conical surface 4b, and the second cylindrical surface 4c, and then exits the opening of the horn radiator 2. The EM radiation emitted in the opposite direction by each horn supply probe 26 is incident on the respective circular waveguide back short 24 and reflected therefrom. The EM radiation reflected by the back short propagates toward and exits the opening of the horn radiator 2.

[0033] During reception, EM radiation entering the horn radiator 2 is incident on the horn supply probe 26. The resulting electromagnetic coupling generates an alternating current in the strip line distribution network 20, causing the diplexer supply probe 28 to emit EM radiation in the opposite direction. The EM radiation is radiated toward the first port 30, propagates through the first diplexer arm 8b and the first E-plane bend 8c, and exits through the second port 32. The EM radiation radiated in the opposite direction by the diplexer supply probe 28 is incident on the rectangular waveguide back short 22, where it is reflected. The EM radiation reflected by the back short propagates toward the first port 30 of the T-junction 8a and enters there.

[0034] A diplexer is a passive component that performs frequency-domain multiplexing. Typically, a diplexer includes low-pass and high-pass filters with non-overlapping frequency bands to separate the transmitted signal from the received signal.

[0035] Figure 6 shows a waveguide diplexer 6 including a T-junction 8a, a first diplexer arm 8b and a second diplexer arm 8d, and a first E-plane bend 8c and a second E-plane bend 8e. The T-junction 8a has a first port 30. The first diplexer arm 8b is connected to the T-junction 8a and includes a transmit filter 60. The first E-plane bend 8c is connected to the first diplexer arm 8b and has a second port 32 which is coupled to a transmitter (not shown). The second diplexer arm 8d is connected to the T-junction 8a and includes a receive filter 62. The second E-plane bend 8e is connected to the second diplexer arm 8d and has a third port 34 which is coupled to a receiver (not shown).

[0036] The transmit filter 60 has a first passband, and the receive filter 62 has a second passband that does not overlap with the first passband. Therefore, the transmit filter 60 isolates the transmitter's second port 32 from the received signal, while the receive filter 62 isolates the third port 34 from the transmit signal.

[0037] According to the embodiment shown in Figure 6, the diplexer arms are collinear. According to an alternative embodiment, the waveguide diplexer 6 may have a meandering configuration. Figure 7 is a bottom view of the rear cover plate 16 of the aperture antenna 10 depicted in Figure 2, according to the proposed alternative embodiment. The dashed lines represent the hidden waveguide diplexer 6 having a meandering configuration. In this bottom view, the second port 32 and the third port 34 are visible and are therefore represented by solid rectangles with rounded corners. In contrast, the first port 30 is hidden on the other side of the diplexer plate behind the rear cover plate 16, and is therefore represented by a dashed rectangle with rounded corners.

[0038] The waveguide diplexer 6 shown in Figure 7 comprises a transmit filter 60 and a receive filter 62. The difference between the transmit and receive filters is shown only to highlight that the transmit and receive filters are at different operating frequencies, which translate to different shapes and dimensions to create the filters. The meandering is intended to add length, which allows for more filter sections, increasing the selectivity and isolation of the filters between the transmit and receive frequency bands. To ensure depth and reduce weight, an integrated meandering design may be used instead of a straight section, but this would involve more time and effort for manufacturing.

[0039] The presence of the second port 32 and the third port 34 makes the rear cover plate 16 an ideal location for a receive low-noise amplifier and a transmit high-power amplifier, which have the necessary up / down conversion, modulation / demodulation, and bias circuits (to complete the integrated transceiver). More specifically, a high-gain low-noise amplifier may be mounted on the rear cover plate 16 and coupled to the second port 32, and a high-power amplifier may be mounted on the rear cover plate 16 and coupled to the third port 34.

[0040] While aperture antennas having integrated waveguide diplexers have been described with reference to various embodiments, those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications can be made and elements can be replaced with equivalents without departing from the teachings herein. Furthermore, many modifications may be made to adapt the concepts and reductions for the embodiments disclosed herein to specific circumstances. Thus, the subject matter covered by the claims is not limited to the disclosed embodiments.

[0041] The method claims attached to this specification are intended solely to allow subsequent concise references to preceding steps in any alphabetical order, and are not intended to limit the claims to require that the method steps be performed in alphabetical order.

[0042] Further aspects of this disclosure will be described in the following paragraphs. A1. The aperture antenna (10) is A printed circuit board (18) comprising a strip line distribution network (20), wherein the strip line distribution network comprises an array of diplexer supply probes (28) and horn supply probes (26), A radiator plate (12) positioned on one side of a printed circuit board, wherein the radiator plate (12) comprises an array of horn radiators (2), and each horn radiator has its own circular opening at one end. A diplexer plate (14) is positioned adjacent to one side of a printed circuit board, the diplexer plate comprising an array of circular waveguide back shorts (24) that are aligned with the circular openings of the radiator plate, and an array of horn supply probes positioned between the array of circular waveguide back shorts of the diplexer plate and the circular openings of the radiator plate, respectively. The device comprises a diplexer plate and a rear cover plate (16) positioned adjacent to it, and the diplexer plate and the rear cover plate are configured to form a waveguide diplexer (6) having a first port (30) formed in the diplexer plate and a second port (32) and a third port (34) formed in the rear cover plate.

[0043] A2. In the aperture antenna described in paragraph A1, The radiator plate further comprises a rectangular waveguide back short (22) located on one side of the printed circuit board, The first port formed on the diplexer plate is rectangular and is located adjacent to the other side of the printed circuit board. The diplexer supply probe is positioned between the first port of the diplexer plate and the rectangular waveguide back short of the radiator plate.

[0044] A3. In the aperture antenna described in paragraph A2, The stripline distribution network is Multiple power half-level splitters (36) connected to the diplexer supply probe, The system comprises an array of branch line couplers (38) connected to an array of horn supply probes, The branch line coupler is connected to the diplexer supply probe via a power half-level splitter.

[0045] In the aperture antenna described in paragraph A1 of A4, Waveguide diplexer, A T-branch section (8a) having a first port (30), A first diplexer arm (8b) is connected to a T-junction and includes a transmit filter (60), A first bent portion (8c) connected to a first diplexer arm and having a second port (32), A second diplexer arm (8d) connected to the T-junction and equipped with a receiving filter (62), It comprises a second bend (8e) connected to a second diplexer arm and having a third port (34). [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] 2 Horn Radiators 4a First cylindrical surface 4b Conical surface 4c Second cylindrical surface 6 Waveguide Diplexer 8a T-branch 8b First Diplexer Arm 8c First E-plane bend 8d Second Diplexer Arm 8e Second E-plane bend 10 Aperture antenna 12. Radiator Plate 14 Diplexer Plate 16 Rear cover plate 18 Printed circuit board (PWB) 20 Stripline Distribution Network 21 Cavity 22 Rectangular waveguide back short 23 Cylindrical void 24 Circular waveguide back short 26 Horn supply probe 28 Diplexer supply probe 30 First port 32 Second port 34 Third Port 36. Power Half-Max Splitter 38 Branch Line Coupler 40 Laminated structure 42, 50 ground plane 44 First dielectric layer 46 Prepreg material layer 48 Second dielectric layer 52 Metal-plated vias 54 channels 56 Circular opening 58 Rectangular opening 60 Sending Filters 62 Receiving Filter

Claims

1. Diplexa plate and A printed circuit board mounted on the aforementioned diplexer plate and equipped with a strip line distribution network, A radiator plate attached to the aforementioned printed circuit board, The rear cover plate attached to the aforementioned diplexer plate and An aperture antenna equipped with, The strip line distribution network includes an array of diplexer supply probes and horn supply probes, The radiator plate comprises an array of horn radiators configured to be coupled to the array of the horn supply probes during antenna operation, The diplexer plate and the rear cover plate are configured to form a waveguide diplexer that is coupled to the diplexer supply probe during antenna operation. The waveguide diplexer, A T-branch section having a first port, A first diplexer arm connected to the T-branch section and equipped with a transmit filter, A first bent portion connected to the first diplexer arm and having a second port, A second diplexer arm connected to the aforementioned T-branch section and equipped with a receiving filter, A second bent portion connected to the second diplexer arm and having a third port Equipped with, The diplexer supply probe is configured to couple to the first port of the waveguide diplexer during antenna operation. An aperture antenna comprising a rectangular waveguide back short, wherein the first port is rectangular, and the radiator plate is aligned with the first port of the waveguide diplexer.

2. The aperture antenna according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting filter has a first passband and the receiving filter has a second passband that does not overlap with the first passband.

3. The aperture antenna according to claim 1, wherein the printed circuit board further comprises a pair of metal grounding surfaces, each grounding surface having an array of openings aligned with the array of the horn radiator, and an opening aligned with the first port.

4. The aperture antenna according to claim 1, wherein the diplexer supply probe is positioned between the first port and the rectangular waveguide back short.

5. The aperture antenna according to claim 1, wherein the second port and the third port of the waveguide diplexer are formed within the rear cover plate.

6. The aperture antenna according to claim 1, wherein the diplexer plate comprises an array of circular waveguide back shorts that are aligned to coincide with the array of the horn radiator.

7. The aforementioned stripline distribution network, Multiple power half-level splitters connected to the diplexer supply probe, The array of branch line couplers connected to the array of the horn supply probe and Equipped with, The aperture antenna according to claim 1, wherein the branch line coupler is connected to the diplexer supply probe via the power half-level splitter.

8. Diplexa plate and A printed circuit board mounted on the aforementioned diplexer plate and equipped with a strip line distribution network, A radiator plate attached to the aforementioned printed circuit board and An aperture antenna equipped with, The radiator plate comprises an array of horn radiators arranged adjacent to one side of the printed circuit board, and each horn radiator has a circular opening at one end. The diplexer plate comprises an array of circular waveguide back shorts located on the other side of the printed circuit board. The circular opening of the radiator plate and the circular waveguide back short of the diplexer plate are aligned and positioned to coincide with each other. The radiator plate further comprises a rectangular waveguide back short disposed on one side of the printed circuit board. The diplexer plate further comprises a rectangular port located adjacent to the other side of the printed circuit board, An aperture antenna in which the rectangular waveguide back short of the radiator plate and the rectangular port of the diplexer plate are aligned and match.

9. The aperture antenna according to claim 8, wherein the stripline distribution network comprises an array of horn feed probes positioned between the array of circular apertures of the radiator plate and the array of circular waveguide back shorts of the diplexer plate.

10. The aperture antenna according to claim 8, wherein the stripline distribution network further comprises a diplexer supply probe positioned between the rectangular waveguide back short of the radiator plate and the rectangular port of the diplexer plate.

11. The diplexer plate further comprises a rear cover plate attached to the diplexer plate, The aperture antenna according to claim 8, wherein the diplexer plate and the back cover plate are configured to form a waveguide diplexer.

12. The waveguide diplexer is A T-branch section having a first port, A first diplexer arm connected to the T-branch section and equipped with a transmit filter, A first bent portion connected to the first diplexer arm and having a second port, A second diplexer arm connected to the aforementioned T-branch section and equipped with a receiving filter, A second bent portion connected to the second diplexer arm and having a third port The aperture antenna according to claim 11, comprising:

13. A printed circuit board comprising a strip line distribution network, wherein the strip line distribution network includes an array of diplexer supply probes and horn supply probes, A radiator plate is disposed adjacent to one side of the printed circuit board, wherein the radiator plate comprises an array of horn radiators, and each horn radiator has a circular opening at one end of the radiator plate, A diplexer plate disposed on the other side of the printed circuit board, wherein the diplexer plate comprises an array of circular waveguide back shorts, the circular waveguide back shorts are aligned with the circular openings of the radiator plate, and the array of horn supply probes is disposed between the array of circular waveguide back shorts of the diplexer plate and the circular openings of the radiator plate, A rear cover plate disposed adjacent to the diplexer plate, wherein the diplexer plate and the rear cover plate are configured to form a waveguide diplexer having a first port formed in the diplexer plate and a second port and a third port formed in the rear cover plate, Equipped with, The radiator plate further comprises a rectangular waveguide back short disposed on one side of the printed circuit board, The first port formed within the diplexer plate is rectangular and is located adjacent to the other side of the printed circuit board. The diplexer supply probe is an aperture antenna positioned between the first port of the diplexer plate and the rectangular waveguide back short of the radiator plate.

14. The strip line distribution network is Multiple power half-level splitters connected to the diplexer supply probe, An array of branch line couplers connected to each of the horn supply probe arrays, Equipped with, The aperture antenna according to claim 13, wherein the branch line coupler is connected to the diplexer supply probe via the power half-level splitter.

15. The waveguide diplexer is A T-branch section having a first port, A first diplexer arm connected to the T-branch section and equipped with a transmit filter, A first bent portion connected to the first diplexer arm and having a second port, A second diplexer arm connected to the aforementioned T-branch section and equipped with a receiving filter, A second bent portion connected to the second diplexer arm and having a third port The aperture antenna according to claim 13, comprising:

16. A printed circuit board comprising a strip line distribution network, wherein the strip line distribution network includes an array of diplexer supply probes and horn supply probes, A radiator plate is disposed adjacent to one side of the printed circuit board, wherein the radiator plate comprises an array of horn radiators, and each horn radiator has a circular opening at one end of the radiator plate, A diplexer plate disposed on the other side of the printed circuit board, wherein the diplexer plate comprises an array of circular waveguide back shorts, the circular waveguide back shorts are aligned with the circular openings of the radiator plate, and the array of horn supply probes is disposed between the array of circular waveguide back shorts of the diplexer plate and the circular openings of the radiator plate, A rear cover plate disposed adjacent to the diplexer plate, wherein the diplexer plate and the rear cover plate are configured to form a waveguide diplexer having a first port formed in the diplexer plate and a second port and a third port formed in the rear cover plate, Equipped with, The radiator plate further comprises a waveguide back short disposed on one side of the printed circuit board, The first port formed within the diplexer plate is located adjacent to the other side of the printed circuit board. The diplexer supply probe is an aperture antenna positioned between the first port of the diplexer plate and the waveguide back short of the radiator plate.

17. The strip line distribution network is Multiple power half-level splitters connected to the diplexer supply probe, An array of branch line couplers connected to each of the horn supply probe arrays, Equipped with, The aperture antenna according to claim 16, wherein the branch line coupler is connected to the diplexer supply probe via the power half-level splitter.

18. The waveguide diplexer A T-branch section having a first port, A first diplexer arm connected to the T-branch section and equipped with a transmit filter, A first bent portion connected to the first diplexer arm and having a second port, A second diplexer arm connected to the aforementioned T-branch section and equipped with a receiving filter, A second bent portion connected to the second diplexer arm and having a third port The aperture antenna according to claim 16, comprising:

19. The aperture antenna according to claim 18, wherein the transmitting filter has a first passband and the receiving filter has a second passband that does not overlap with the first passband.

20. The aperture antenna according to claim 18, wherein the printed circuit board further comprises a pair of metal grounding surfaces, each grounding surface having an array of openings aligned with the array of the horn radiator and an opening aligned with the first port.

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