Coaxial Feedhorn Antenna Choke-Ring Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-power satellite communication systems face signal loss due to large axial ratios and back-lobe radiation, which are not adequately addressed by existing feedhorn antenna designs that often experience arcing during high-power transmissions.
Innovation Solution
A dual-frequency coaxial feedhorn antenna with a conductive choke-ring structure that provides equal E-plane and H-plane radiation patterns and reduced back-lobes, suppressing induced current flow and preventing arcing, allowing for efficient high-power transmission and reception of circularly polarized signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If feedhorn antennas include iris pins or corrugated inner surfaces to reduce back-lobe and axial ratio, then radiation pattern performance is improved, but the antennas experience arcing during high-power transmissions
Solution Approach 1:
A conductive choke ring is introduced as an intermediary component between the feedhorn antenna elements. The choke ring provides a controlled impedance discontinuity that suppresses surface waves and reduces back-lobe radiation without creating the sharp edges or gaps that cause arcing in iris pins and corrugated structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the choke ring (radius, width, position relative to the feedhorn aperture) to optimize the suppression of back-lobes while maintaining high-power performance. By carefully selecting these parameters, the structure achieves low axial ratio without creating high-electric-field regions that would cause arcing.
2Weight of moving object
If satellite systems use the same antenna system for both uplink and downlink to reduce weight and space, then weight and space requirements are reduced, but signal loss increases due to large axial ratios
Solution Approach 1:
The feedhorn antenna design with the conductive choke ring enables a single antenna system to perform both uplink reception and downlink transmission functions effectively. The choke ring ensures that the antenna maintains low axial ratio and reduced back-lobes across both frequency bands, allowing the same physical structure to achieve circular polarization performance for both transmit and receive operations without requiring separate antenna systems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The coaxial feedhorn antenna design significantly reduces signal loss by maintaining equal E-plane and H-plane radiation patterns and minimizing back-lobes, enabling reliable high-power communication without arcing, thus enhancing communication link power and reducing satellite weight and space requirements.
Implementation Method 1
Uplink signals received at the coaxial feedhorn antenna and downlink signals transmitted from the coaxial feedhorn antenna may induce a current flow on the exterior of the outer feedhorn antenna. The induced current-flow results in back-lobes as well as a large axial ratio
Implementation Method 2
The inner conductive wall and the outer conductive wall define an outer coaxial horn portion for propagation of first signals therebetween, and the inner conductive wall defines an inner horn portion for propagation of second signals within the inner conductive wall
Data Source
AI summary
Systems are disclosed for providing substantially equal E-plane and H-plane radiation patterns in a high power and dual band coaxial feedhorn antenna for a satellite communication system. One embodiment may include a coaxial feedhorn antenna comprising an outer coaxial horn portion for propagation of first signals and an inner horn portion for propagation of second signals. The coaxial feedhorn antenna may also comprise a conductive choke-ring coupled to the outer conductive wall, the conductive choke-ring being coaxial with the outer coaxial horn portion and the inner horn portion. The conductive choke-ring provides substantially equal E-plane and H-plane radiation patterns of the first signals and substantially reduced back-lobes.