Horn Array Antenna With Waveguide Feed Network
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current broadband antenna systems for aeronautical applications face challenges in achieving minimal dimensions, high efficiency, wide bandwidth, excellent directional characteristics, and effective polarization separation while complying with regulatory requirements, particularly in the presence of geographic skew and interference avoidance with adjacent satellites.
Innovation Solution
A broadband antenna system designed with a horn array of primary horn antenna elements connected by a waveguide feed network, featuring a binary tree structure for orthogonal polarizations, a phase equalization grid, and separate feed networks for each polarization, ensuring minimal size, efficient polarization separation, and compliance with regulatory standards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If antenna arrays are used to reduce drag and size for aeronautical applications, then the antenna dimensions and weight are reduced, but grating lobes occur causing interference with adjacent satellites
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna system is divided into multiple antenna elements arranged in a specific geometric configuration (e.g., tetrahedral, octahedral arrangements). Each element contributes to the overall radiation pattern, and through coherent combining with appropriate phase and amplitude weighting, the system achieves directional beamforming while suppressing grating lobes through the segmented structure's inherent spatial distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the antenna array are assigned different amplitude and phase characteristics to optimize the radiation pattern. Elements closer to the desired beam direction are weighted differently than those at the periphery, creating a tailored local quality distribution that suppresses grating lobes in specific angular regions while maintaining main beam performance.
2Reliability
If parabolic antennas are used to achieve homogeneous amplitude and phase configuration for sharp angle-dependent gain reduction, then transmission compliance is achieved, but the antenna is unsuitable for mobile use due to size and drag
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna system employs electronic beamforming capabilities that allow dynamic adjustment of the radiation pattern through programmable phase and amplitude control of individual antenna elements. This enables the system to adapt its directional characteristics in real-time to comply with transmission regulations for different angular positions, replacing the static geometric focus of parabolic antennas with dynamic electronic control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters (phase, amplitude, frequency) of individual antenna elements to achieve the desired angle-dependent gain characteristics. By dynamically adjusting these parameters, the antenna can achieve sharp roll-off at specific angles to comply with transmission regulations while maintaining a compact physical structure suitable for mobile applications.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If antenna elements are placed less than one wavelength apart to eliminate grating lobes, then interference is reduced, but the feed network occupies more physical space
Solution Approach 1:
The feed network is designed with a nested or hierarchical structure where components are arranged in multiple levels or stages. Power dividers and phase shifters are integrated in a compact configuration, with smaller elements nested within or adjacent to larger ones, reducing the overall footprint of the feed network while maintaining the required electrical performance for closely-spaced antenna elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The feed network transitions from a planar two-dimensional layout to a three-dimensional configuration. Components are arranged in multiple layers or levels, utilizing the vertical dimension to reduce the horizontal footprint. This allows the feed network to accommodate closely-spaced antenna elements without requiring excessive lateral space.
4Reliability
If separate feed networks are used for two orthogonal polarizations to achieve high polarization separation, then efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The feed networks for orthogonal polarizations are merged into a unified structure where common components (such as power dividers, phase shifters, or transmission lines) serve both polarization channels. This shared infrastructure reduces overall complexity while maintaining separate signal paths sufficient for achieving the required polarization separation through selective excitation of appropriate antenna elements.
Solution Approach 2:
Individual feed network components are designed with multi-functionality to handle both orthogonal polarizations. For example, a single power divider network can distribute signals to both horizontal and vertical polarization channels, and phase shifters can control both polarizations simultaneously, reducing the total component count while maintaining polarization isolation through proper excitation schemes.
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 antenna system achieves significant reductions in size and weight, maintains high efficiency, and effectively tracks satellite polarization over a wide bandwidth, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and minimizing interference with adjacent satellites.
Implementation Method 1
connected by a waveguide feed network
Implementation Method 2
a phase equalization grid, and in each case, approximately, b=l, h=2 b and b<1/4 λmax, the webs of the grid lie above the abutting edge of two adjacent horn antenna elements
Data Source
AI summary
An antenna for broadband satellite communication including an array of primary horn antenna elements which are connected to one another by a waveguide feed network.