MULTIPLE PORT HIGH POWER HORN ANTENNA
An antenna includes N antenna input ports, N delay lines, each delay line of the N delay lines having an input for inputting a signal and an output for outputting a signal, each delay line of the N delay lines creates a phase progression among the N output signals when the N inputs signals are in phase and a waveguide mode converter having N input ports and an output port having 2 modes, N being an integer greater than 2. The waveguide mode converter converts a signal received at the input ports into the two modes of the waveguide mode converter output port. Each delay line input is communicatively coupled to a respective antenna input port, and each delay line output is communicatively coupled to a respective waveguide mode converter input port. A horn radiator is communicatively coupled to the waveguide mode converter output port.
1 . An antenna, comprising:
N antenna input ports;
N delay lines, each delay line of the N delay lines having an input for inputting a signal and an output for outputting a signal, each delay line of the N delay lines configured to create a phase progression among the N output signals when the N inputs signals are in phase;
a waveguide mode converter having N input ports and an output port having 2 modes, N being an integer greater than or equal to 3, the waveguide mode converter configured to convert a signal received at the N input ports into the two modes of the waveguide mode converter output port;
wherein each input of the N delay lines is communicatively coupled to a respective one of the N antenna input ports, and each output of the N delay lines is communicatively coupled to a respective one of the N waveguide mode converter input ports; and
a horn radiator communicatively coupled to the waveguide mode converter output port.
2 . The antenna according to claim 1 , wherein the output port of the waveguide mode converter comprises a circular waveguide, and signals provided to the N input ports of the waveguide mode converter are converted to signals in the two orthogonal TE 11 modes of the circular waveguide.
3 . The antenna according to claim 1 , wherein the N delay lines are configured to produce a phase progression of 0, 1*(360/N), 2*(360/N) . . . (N−1)*360/N.
4 . The antenna according to claim 1 , wherein N=3.
5 . The antenna according to claim 1 , wherein the N antenna input ports comprise signal mode waveguide ports.
6 . The antenna according to claim 1 , wherein the N antenna input ports comprise coaxial ports.
7 . The antenna according to claim 6 , further comprising N coaxial-to-signal-mode waveguide transitions, each of the N coaxial-to-signal-mode waveguide transitions communicatively coupled to respective ones of the N coaxial ports.
8 . The antenna according to claim 1 , wherein each N delay line comprises double E-bend.
9 . The antenna according to any one of claim 1 , wherein the horn radiator comprises one of a conical or pyramidal horn radiator.
10 . An antenna, comprising:
a plurality of rectangular waveguides;
a circular waveguide;
a plurality of delay lines, each delay line having a first port for receiving a signal and a second port for outputting a signal, wherein the first port of each delay line is communicatively coupled to a respective one of the plurality of rectangular waveguides, and the second port of each delay line is communicatively coupled to the circular waveguide; and
a horn radiator communicatively coupled to the circular waveguide.
11 . The antenna according to claim 10 , wherein each rectangular waveguide includes a coaxial port for receiving a signal.
12 . The antenna according to claim 10 , wherein each rectangular waveguide includes a coax-to-waveguide transition.
13 . The antenna according to claim 10 , wherein the plurality of delays lines comprise a first delay line, a second delay line, and a third delay line.
14 . The antenna according to claim 10 , wherein the plurality of delay lines each comprise double E-bends.
15 . The antenna according to claim 10 , wherein the first delay line is configured to provide 0 degree phasing, the second delay line is configured to provide 120 degree phasing, and the third delay line is configured to provide 240 degree phasing.
16 . The antenna according to claim 10 , wherein the first delay line is configured to provide a reference phase, the second delay line is configured to provide 120 degree phasing relative to the reference phase, and the third delay line is configured to provide 240 degree phasing relative to the reference phase.
17 . An antenna system, comprising:
a reflector antenna; and
the antenna according to claim 1 configured as a feed horn for the reflector antenna.