Multisat Shaped Reflector Antenna for Equal Gain
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 'fringe' areas of the U.S. market, such as Puerto Rico or Alaska, larger satellite antennas are required due to poor satellite coverage, leading to increased installation costs and aesthetic issues, and existing solutions like low-noise block feedhorns suffer from scan losses when displaced from the reflector's focal point, affecting signal quality.
Innovation Solution
A specially shaped satellite reflector antenna that reflects signals to multiple focal points, allowing multiple low-noise block feedhorns (LNBFs) to be fixed in an array, maintaining equal antenna gain and beamwidth for each LNBF, thus eliminating scan losses and the need for multiple antenna installations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a standard parabolic reflector antenna is used, then the antenna structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but scan losses occur when the feed horn is moved away from the focal point, resulting in antenna gain drop and beamwidth widening
Solution Approach 1:
The reflector surface is divided into multiple zones, each with a different curvature radius, where each zone is optimized to reflect signals from a specific satellite focal point. This local differentiation allows the antenna to maintain optimal signal quality for multiple satellites simultaneously without requiring multiple separate antennas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the reflector surface by varying the curvature radius across different zones. By adjusting this physical parameter locally, the antenna achieves different focal points for different satellite positions, enabling multi-satellite reception while maintaining signal quality.
2Reliability
If larger size antennas are installed to cover fringe areas, then satellite coverage is improved, but installation costs increase and aesthetic issues arise
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna design enables a single antenna structure to perform multiple functions by receiving signals from multiple satellites simultaneously. The multi-zone reflector configuration allows one antenna to replace what would traditionally require multiple separate antennas, reducing overall system complexity and improving aesthetics while maintaining coverage.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple low-noise block feedhorns are used with the same antenna, then coverage of multiple satellites is achieved, but scan losses occur due to LNBF displacement from the reflector's main focal point
Solution Approach 1:
The reflector surface is segmented into distinct zones, each optimized for a specific satellite focal point. This local optimization ensures that signals from each satellite are reflected with minimal loss to their respective feedhorns, eliminating the scan losses that would occur with a uniform parabolic surface.
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 shaped reflector antenna provides equal electrical performance across a wide geostationary arc span, reducing installation costs and improving signal quality by allowing a single satellite antenna to replace multiple installations, while maintaining equal treatment for each satellite service provider.
Implementation Method 1
A reflector antenna is shaped to reflect radiated signals off a first side of the reflector antenna
Data Source
AI summary
According to an aspect, a satellite antenna reflector includes a first surface area encompassing a first surface, where the first surface is formed to reflect a first radiated signal towards a first focal point. The reflector also includes a second surface area, encompassing a second surface, where the second surface area is formed to reflect a second radiated signal towards a second focal point. The first and second surfaces reflect the first and second radiated signals such that a first antenna gain and/or beamwidth of the reflected first radiated signal that would be received at the first focal point is the same as a second antenna gain and/or beamwidth of the reflected second radiated signal that would be received at the second focal point.