Antenna feed system
A microwave system comprises an antenna, antenna feed, a radio transceiver, and appropriate cabling among the aforementioned. Cost, performance and reliability improvements are achieved with further integration of these elements and with design improvements in the antenna feed. One improvement is the integration of the radio transceiver with the antenna feed. This improvement has many benefits including the to elimination of RF cables and connectors. Another improvement, is the incorporation of parasitic radiators and sub-reflectors as part to of the antenna feed. The entire antenna, including the feed design is optimized with 3D finite element method (FEM) software and numerical optimization software. Another improvement is the utilization of the digital cable to power the integrated radio transceiver and a center fed parabolic reflector.
1. A method of transmitting a radio frequency (RF) signal comprising:
receiving a digital signal at a radio transceiver, wherein the radio transceiver is located on a printed circuit board, the printed circuit board is positioned along an axis of symmetry of a parabolic reflector, said circuit board having a distal portion positioned towards a focal point of the parabolic reflector, said circuit board having a proximal portion positioned away from the focal point of the parabolic reflector;
generating an RF signal from the radio transceiver, wherein the RF signal is coupled to an antenna feed conductor which in turn is coupled to an active antenna element located on the distal portion of the printed circuit board;
radiating radio waves from the active antenna element;
reflecting focused radio waves off a sub-reflector toward the parabolic reflector;
receiving the digital signal at a digital connector, said digital connector located on a surface of the printed circuit board;
directing the digital signal from the digital connector to the radio transceiver, and
powering the radio transceiver from the digital connector;
wherein the radio transceiver includes a client controller that supports OSI layers.