Antenna assembly with adjustable gain lens
An adjustable gain antenna including an RF emitter configured to emit an RF signal along an emitter axis. A first refractive lens having an optical axis collinear with the emitter axis and a second refractive lens having an optical axis collinear with the emitter axis with the first refractive lens located between the RF emitter and the second refractive lens. A drive mechanism mechanically linked to the first refractive lens and the second refractive lens, wherein the drive mechanism is configured to move the first refractive lens and the second refractive lens longitudinally along the emitter axis to vary a gain of the RF emitter.
1 . An antenna assembly with adjustable gain, comprising:
a radio frequency (RF) emitter configured to emit an RF beam along an emitter axis;
a first refractive lens having an optical axis collinear with the emitter axis;
a second refractive lens having an optical axis collinear with the emitter axis, wherein the first refractive lens is located between the RF emitter and the second refractive lens;
a third refractive lens having an optical axis collinear with the emitter axis, wherein the first refractive lens and the second refractive lens are located between the RF emitter and the third refractive lens;
a drive mechanism, comprising:
a first set of linear actuators mechanically linked to the first refractive lens,
a second set of linear actuators mechanically linked to the second refractive lens, and
a third set of linear actuators mechanically linked to the third refractive lens,
wherein the drive mechanism is configured to independently position the first refractive lens, the second refractive lens, and the third refractive lens relative to the RF emitter longitudinally along the emitter axis to vary a gain of the RF emitter based on varying a focal length of the antenna assembly; and
a controller in electrical communication with the drive mechanism and configured to change one or more of a first position of the first refractive lens, a second position of the second refractive lens, or a third position of the third refractive lens to adjust the antenna assembly from a low gain configuration to a high gain configuration.
2 . The antenna assembly of claim 1 ,
wherein the first refractive lens, the second refractive lens, and the third refractive lens are comprised of at least one of PLA (polylactic acid) or ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene).
3 . The antenna assembly of claim 1 ,
wherein the first refractive lens, the second refractive lens, and the third refractive lens are each coated in an RF-transparent material.
4 . The antenna assembly of claim 3 ,
wherein the RF-transparent material protects the first refractive lens, the second refractive lens, and the third refractive lens from environmental conditions while allowing for transmission of the RF beam.
5 . The antenna assembly of claim 1 ,
wherein the RF emitter is a single aperture RF emitter.
6 . The antenna assembly of claim 5 ,
wherein the RF emitter is configured to generate one or more of:
a circular polarization,
a linear polarization, or
an elliptical polarization.
7 . The antenna assembly of claim 1 ,
wherein the first refractive lens, the second refractive lens, and the third refractive lens are injection molded.
8 . The antenna assembly of claim 1 ,
wherein the first refractive lens, the second refractive lens, and the third refractive lens are 3D printed.
9 . The antenna assembly of claim 1 ,
wherein the RF emitter is a circular horn antenna.
10 . The antenna assembly of claim 1 ,
wherein the RF beam includes a frequency range of 26.5-40 gigahertz (GHz).
11 . The antenna assembly of claim 1 , including a mounting assembly for selecting a field of view of the RF beam.
12 . The antenna assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the low gain configuration is associated with a broad target search and the high gain configuration is associated with precise tracking of an object in an adaptive radar configuration,
the low gain configuration is associated with obtaining imagery over a first area and the high gain configuration is associated with creating a zoomed image of a second area smaller than the first area in a synthetic aperture radar imagery configuration, or
the low gain configuration is associated with radar pose detection and the high gain configuration is associated with high-speed communications in a crosslink communications configuration.
13 . A method of operating an antenna assembly, the method comprising:
determining a first gain for the antenna assembly, wherein the antenna assembly comprises:
a first refractive lens,
a second refractive lens,
a third refractive lens,
a first set of linear actuators mechanically linked to the first refractive lens,
a second set of linear actuators mechanically linked to the second refractive lens, and
a third set of linear actuators mechanically linked to the third refractive lens;
positioning the first refractive lens, independently of the second refractive lens and the third refractive lens, in a first longitudinal position along an emitter axis of a radio frequency (RF) emitter to generate the determined first gain in a low gain configuration based on a first focal length of the antenna assembly;
emitting, by the RF emitter, a first RF beam along the emitter axis;
determining a second gain for the antenna assembly;
positioning the first refractive lens, independently of the second refractive lens and the third refractive lens, in a second longitudinal position along the emitter axis of the RF emitter to generate the determined second gain in a high gain configuration based on a second focal length of the antenna assembly; and
emitting, by the RF emitter, a second RF beam along the emitter axis.
14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
positioning the second refractive lens and the third refractive lens along the emitter axis to generate the determined first gain.
15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising
rotating the antenna assembly about a point to vary a field of view of the RF beam in an azimuth angle and an elevation angle.
16 . The method of claim 14 ,
wherein the RF emitter is a single aperture RF emitter.
17 . The method of claim 13 , wherein:
the low gain configuration is associated with a broad target search and the high gain configuration is associated with precise tracking of an object in an adaptive radar configuration,
the low gain configuration is associated with obtaining imagery over a first area and the high gain configuration is associated with creating a zoomed image of a second area smaller than the first area in a synthetic aperture radar imagery configuration, or
the low gain configuration is associated with radar pose detection and the high gain configuration is associated with high-speed communications in a crosslink communications configuration.
18 . An antenna assembly comprising:
a radio frequency (RF) emitter configured to emit an RF beam along an emitter axis;
a first refractive lens having an optical axis collinear with the emitter axis;
a second refractive lens having an optical axis collinear with the emitter axis, wherein the first refractive lens is located between the RF emitter and the second refractive lens;
a third refractive lens having an optical axis collinear with the emitter axis, wherein the first refractive lens and the second refractive lens are located between the RF emitter and the third refractive lens;
a drive mechanism, comprising:
a first set of linear actuators mechanically linked to the first refractive lens,
a second set of linear actuators mechanically linked to the second refractive lens, and
a third set of linear actuators mechanically linked to the third refractive lens,
wherein the drive mechanism is configured to independently position the first refractive lens, the second refractive lens, and the third refractive lens relative to the RF emitter longitudinally along the emitter axis to vary a gain of the RF emitter based on varying a focal length of the antenna assembly;
a mounting assembly for selecting a field of view of the RF beam; and
a controller configured to:
determine a first gain for the antenna assembly;
position the first refractive lens, independently of the second refractive lens and the third refractive lens, in a first longitudinal position along the emitter axis of the RF emitter to generate the determined first gain in a low gain configuration based on a first focal length of the antenna assembly;
direct a first RF beam along the emitter axis with the RF emitter;
determine a second gain for the antenna assembly;
position the first refractive lens, independently of the second refractive lens and the third refractive lens, in a second longitudinal position along the emitter axis of the RF emitter to generate the determined second gain in a high gain configuration based on a second focal length of the antenna assembly; and
direct a second RF beam along the emitter axis.
19 . The antenna assembly of claim 18 ,
wherein the RF emitter is a single aperture RF emitter.
20 . The antenna assembly of claim 18 , wherein:
the low gain configuration is associated with a broad target search and the high gain configuration is associated with precise tracking of an object in an adaptive radar configuration,
the low gain configuration is associated with obtaining imagery over a first area and the high gain configuration is associated with creating a zoomed image of a second area smaller than the first area in a synthetic aperture radar imagery configuration, or
the low gain configuration is associated with radar pose detection and the high gain configuration is associated with high-speed communications in a crosslink communications configuration.