Lens antenna system
An antenna system that includes a plurality of lens sets. Each lens set includes a lens and at least one feed element. At least one feed element is aligned with the lens and configured to direct a signal through the lens at a desired direction.
1 . A satellite communication terminal, comprising:
a housing;
a plurality of lenses contained within the housing and arranged in a two-dimensional array;
a respective, planar, two-dimensional arrangement of individually controllable feeds for at least three lenses of the plurality of the lenses, wherein each planar, two-dimensional arrangement of individually controllable feeds is in a fixed relation to its respective lens; and
control circuitry contained within the housing and coupled to the respective, planar, two-dimensional arrangements of individually controllable feeds for the at least three lenses of the plurality of lenses, the control circuitry configured to simultaneously create a first combined beam from the plurality of lenses and directed at a first satellite by selecting corresponding individual feeds of the respective, planar, two-dimensional arrangements of individually controllable feeds and a second combined beam from the plurality of lenses and directed at a second satellite by selecting corresponding individual feeds of the respective, planar, two-dimensional arrangements of individually controllable feeds, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to control the first combined beam independently of the second combined beam,
wherein at least some lenses of the plurality of lenses have geometric centers that differ from their phase centers.
2 . The satellite communication terminal of claim 1 , wherein each of the respective, planar, two-dimensional arrangements of individually controllable feeds is disposed on a substantially flat printed circuit board.
3 . The satellite communication terminal of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a substantially planar or slightly curved top surface adjacent the plurality of lenses.
4 . The satellite communication terminal of claim 3 , wherein the top surface of the housing is substantially planar.
5 . The satellite communication terminal of claim 1 , wherein each lens of the plurality of lenses has a geometric center that differs from its phase center.
6 . The satellite communication terminal of claim 1 , wherein phase centers of the plurality of lenses define a random arrangement.
7 . The satellite communication terminal of claim 1 , wherein phase centers of the plurality of lenses define a non-uniform arrangement.
8 . The satellite communication terminal of claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to not activate at least some feeds of each respective, planar, two-dimensional arrangement of individually controllable feeds when creating the first combined beam and the second combined beam.
9 . The satellite communication terminal of claim 8 , wherein the at least some feeds not activated are positioned between activated feeds.
10 . The satellite communication terminal of claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to create the first combined beam with a wavelength that is less than half a dimension of each of the at least three lenses.
11 . The satellite communication terminal of claim 1 , wherein at least some feeds of the respective, planar, two-dimensional arrangements of individually controllable feeds are offset from a focal point of their respective lens.
12 . A satellite communication terminal configured to produce or receive multiple beams simultaneously, comprising:
a housing;
a two-dimensional array of plano-convex lenses disposed within the housing;
a feed array comprising multiple feed clusters, wherein each feed cluster contains individually addressable feeds arranged across two dimensions underneath and in fixed relation to a respective plano-convex lens of the two-dimensional array of plano-convex lenses, wherein the feed clusters occupy a smaller footprint than the respective plano-convex lens; and
control circuitry disposed within the housing and coupled to the feed array and configured to individually address the individually addressable feeds of the feed clusters to coherently operate correspondingly positioned feed elements in the multiple feed clusters arranged underneath the respective plano-convex lenses,
wherein at least some lenses of the two-dimensional array of plano-convex lenses have geometric centers that differ from their phase centers.
13 . The satellite communication terminal of claim 12 , wherein each of the feed clusters is disposed on a substantially flat printed circuit board arranged substantially parallel to a flat surface of the respective plano-convex lens.
14 . The satellite communication terminal of claim 12 , wherein the housing comprises a substantially planar or slightly curved top surface adjacent the two-dimensional array of plano-convex lenses.
15 . The satellite communication terminal of claim 14 , wherein the top surface of the housing is substantially planar.
16 . The satellite communication terminal of claim 12 , wherein phase centers of the plano-convex lenses define a random arrangement.
17 . The satellite communication terminal of claim 12 , wherein phase centers of the plano-convex lenses define a non-uniform arrangement.
18 . The satellite communication terminal of claim 12 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to create a first combined beam from correspondingly positioned feed elements in the multiple feed clusters with a wavelength that is less than half a dimension of each of the plano-convex lenses.
19 . The satellite communication terminal of claim 12 , wherein at least some feeds of the multiple feed clusters are offset from a focal point of their respective plano-convex lens.