Multiple tuned Fresnel zone plate reflector antenna
The invention is a dual and stagger-tuned 8-step FZP antenna for use in VSAT operations. The preferred embodiment achieves the desired antenna gain at the RX band (centered at 11.95 GHz) and the TX band (centered at 14.25 GHz). The flexible antenna is 1-meter diameter and less than 1-inch thick, allowing it to be folded to the size of a tissue box for easy storage and transportability.
1. A dual tuned, portable, storable, Ku-band very small aperture terminal antenna for transmitting to and receiving from a satellite comprising:
a flat antenna reflector that includes a plurality of discrete physical subsections comprising a first set of discrete physical subsections and a second set of discrete physical subsections; and
a feed horn, wherein
the flat antenna reflector is able to be disassembled into a disassembled flat antenna reflector, wherein the discrete physical subsections disassemble and stack to reduce storage volume, and
the flat antenna reflector is assembled into an assembled flat antenna reflector, the assembled flat antenna reflector comprising a first Fresnel zoneplate pattern (FZP) formed by the first set of discrete physical subsections centered at a first frequency and a second FZP centered formed by the second set of discrete physical subsections at a second frequency different from the first frequency.
2. The antenna of claim 1 , wherein the first FZP and the second FZP comprise a number of pie-shaped zones.
3. The antenna of claim 2 , wherein
a center of the pie-shaped zones is disposed at a center of the assembled flat antenna reflector, and
the feed horn is centered relative to the assembled flat antenna reflector no matter the rotational orientation of the assembled flat antenna reflector.
4. The antenna of claim 3 , wherein:
the number of pie-shaped zones is 8,
each of the 8 pie-shaped zones is 45 degrees, and
the pie-shaped zones alternate in a radial pattern between the first FZP and the second FZP.
5. The antenna of claim 2 , wherein
a center of the pie-shaped zones is disposed offset from a center of the assembled flat antenna reflector, and
the feed horn is offset from the center of the assembled flat antenna reflector.
6. The antenna of claim 1 , wherein the first FZP and the second FZP comprise a number of hexagonal sections.
7. The antenna of claim 6 , wherein
a center of the hexagonal sections is disposed at a center of the assembled flat antenna reflector, and
the feed horn is centered relative to the assembled flat antenna reflector no matter the rotational orientation of the assembled flat antenna reflector.
8. The antenna of claim 7 , wherein
the number of hexagonal sections is 37, and
the hexagonal sections alternate in a radial pattern between the first FZP and the second FZP.
9. The antenna of claim 1 , wherein the feed horn is centered relative to the assembled flat antenna reflector no matter the rotational orientation of the assembled flat antenna reflector.
10. The antenna of claim 1 , wherein the feed horn is offset from the center of the assembled flat antenna reflector.
11. The antenna of claim 1 , wherein a total area of the assembled flat antenna reflector is divided equally between the first FZP and the second FZP.
12. The antenna of claim 1 , wherein a total area of the assembled flat antenna reflector is divided unequally between the first FZP and the second FZP.
13. The antenna of claim 12 , wherein
58% of the total area is the first FZP, and
42% of the total area is the second FZP.
14. The antenna of claim 1 , wherein
the first frequency is one frequency from the group consisting of 11.95 GHz and 14.25 GHz, and
the second frequency is another, different frequency from the group consisting of 11.95 GHz and 14.25 GHz.