Shaped reflector dual S-band and Ka-band high gain antenna
An apparatus for space and terrestrial communication applications includes a Ka-band horn combined with a S-band cross-polarization cup. The S-band cross-polarization cup is placed around a neck of the Ka-band horn in a form of a collar.
1. An antenna for use in space and terrestrial communication applications, comprising:
a Ka-band horn with an outer circular wall with a predetermined diameter combined with a S-band cross-polarization cup, wherein
the S-band cross-polarization cup is placed around a neck of the Ka-band horn in a form of a collar, whereby said collar includes a circumferential choke slot in a cylindrical side of the Ka-band horn resulting in a constant antenna footprint and increased beam width with a reduced outer circular wall diameter.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the Ka-band feed horn is configured to illuminate a frequency selective surface (FSS), the FSS being highly reflective, and
the highly reflective FSS is configured to illuminate a primary reflector, producing a coherent, narrow Ka-band beam.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the Ka-band feed horn improves on a standard Potter horn with significant lower sidelobe and cross-polarization level performance by employing a modified smooth S-curved interior profile.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the S-band cross-polarization cup is configured to reduce a cross-polarization in the S-band by cancelling reflections back to a S-band feed antenna that reflects off a central part of the reflector, the Ka-band horn and a support structure of the reflector.
5. A high gain dual S- and Ka-band circularly polarized antenna (“antenna”) for space and terrestrial communications, the antenna comprising:
a primary reflector and a secondary reflector designed and shaped for optimal Ka-band gain while a frequency selective surface on the secondary reflector provides reflectivity at Ka-band, wherein
the primary reflector is a Cassegrain-based Ka-band reflector with an outer circular wall with a predetermined diameter, and
the secondary reflector is a Ka-band reflector combined with a S-band cross-polarization cup, wherein
the S-band cross-polarization cup is placed around a neck of the Ka-band horn in a form of a collar, whereby said collar includes a circumferential choke slot in a cylindrical side of the Ka-band horn resulting in a constant antenna footprint and increased beam width with a reduced outer circular wall diameter.
6. The antenna of claim 5 , wherein the secondary reflector and the frequency selective surface may is configured to act as a dielectric radome for a S-band feed antenna.
7. The antenna of claim 5 , wherein the second reflector and the frequency selective surface are supported by struts, positioning a S-band feed phase center at the primary reflector focus.
8. The antenna of claim 7 , wherein the struts supporting the second reflector and the frequency selective surface force the frequency selective surface to act as a secondary reflector for the antenna.
9. The antenna of claim 5 , further comprising:
a Ka-band feed horn phase center is positioned at a Ka-band secondary focal point.
10. The antenna of claim 5 , wherein the primary reflector is configured to illuminate the frequency selective surface.
11. The antenna of claim 10 , wherein the illumination causes a reflection from frequency selective surface or the secondary reflector illuminating the primary reflector, thereby producing a coherent, narrow Ka-band beam.
12. The antenna of claim 5 , wherein the primary reflector and secondary reflector are shaped to provide an aperture wavefront of uniform phase and amplitude, for optimal aperture efficiency.
13. The antenna of claim 5 , wherein a shape of the secondary reflector diverts radiation energy away from a central part of the primary reflector.
14. The antenna of claim 5 , wherein the secondary reflector comprises a S-band cross-polarization cup configured to reduce antenna cross-polarization in the S-band.
15. The antenna of claim 14 , wherein the reduction of the antenna cross-polarization in the S-band is achieved by cancelling reflections back to a S-band feed antenna that reflects off a central part of the secondary reflector, the primary reflector and support structures.
16. The antenna of claim 5 , wherein a curvature, and a lip along an edge, of the cup increases a stiffness compared to a flat annular disk with a same diameter and mass.