Granted Patent B2

US 9,105,981 · App. 13/448,995 · Granted Aug 11, 2015

Abstract

Claims (29)

1. A cone radiator sub-reflector assembly for a reflector antenna with a waveguide supported sub-reflector, comprising:

a unitary dielectric block;

a sub-reflector provided at a distal end of the dielectric block;

a waveguide transition portion of the dielectric block dimensioned for insertion coupling into an end of the waveguide;

a sub-reflector support portion of the dielectric block;

a dielectric radiator portion between the waveguide transition portion and the sub-reflector support portion; an outer diameter of the dielectric radiator portion provided with a plurality of radially inward grooves; and

a lens bore extending from a proximal end of the dielectric block towards the distal end of the dielectric block at least to the sub-reflector support portion;

the radially inward grooves extending radially inward to a diameter less than an inner diameter of the end of the waveguide;

a maximum material thickness of the unitary dielectric block occurs between a sidewall of one of the radially inward grooves and the sub-reflector.

2. The sub-reflector assembly of claim 1 , further including an inverted impedance transformer provided in the waveguide transition portion.

3. The sub-reflector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the bore and the radially inward grooves are tapered.

4. The sub-reflector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sub-reflector is a metal coating upon the distal end of the dielectric block.

5. The sub-reflector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sub-reflector is a separate metal disc seated upon the distal end of the dielectric block.

6. The sub-reflector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the lens bore extends through the dielectric block to the distal end.

7. The sub-reflector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of radially inward grooves is two.

8. The sub-reflector assembly of claim 1 , wherein an outer diameter of the dielectric radiator portion is provided parallel to a longitudinal axis of the waveguide and the sub-reflector support portion is provided angled outward to a periphery of the dielectric block.

9. A method for manufacturing a cone radiator sub-reflector assembly for a reflector antenna with a waveguide supported sub-reflector, according to claim 1 , comprising the steps of:

injection molding the dielectric block; and

coupling the sub-reflector to the distal end of the dielectric block.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the coupling of the sub-reflector is via metal disposition upon the distal end of the dielectric block.

11. The method of claim 9 , further including an inverted impedance transformer provided in the waveguide transition portion.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein a maximum material thickness of the unitary dielectric block occurs between a sidewall of one of the radially inward grooves and the sub-reflector.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the bore and the radially inward grooves are tapered.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the lens bore extends through the dielectric block to the distal end.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of radially inward grooves is two.

16. The method of claim 9 , wherein an outer diameter of the dielectric radiator portion is provided parallel to a longitudinal axis of the waveguide and the sub-reflector support portion is provided angled outward to a periphery of the dielectric block.

17. The method of claim 9 , wherein the coupling of the sub-reflector is via positioning a separate metallic sub-reflector upon the distal end of the dielectric block.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the coupling of the sub-reflector includes a key portion of the sub-reflector inserted into a distal end of the lens bore.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the distal end of the lens bore is tapered towards the distal end of the dielectric block and a proximal end of the lens bore is tapered towards the proximal end of the dielectric block.

Assignments (20)