Modular feed network
A modular feed network is provided with a segment base provided with a feed aperture, a corner cavity at each corner and a tap cavity at a mid-section of each of two opposite sides. A segment top is provided with a plurality of output ports. The segment top is dimensioned to seat upon the segment base to form a segment pair. the segment base provided with a plurality of waveguides between cavities of the segment base. The modular feed network is configurable via a range of feed, bypass and/or power divider taps seated in the apertures and/or cavities to form a waveguide network of varied numbers of output ports by routing across one or more of the segment tops. For example, the modular feed network may comprise 1, 4 or 16 of the segment bases retained side to side.
1. A modular feed network, comprising:
a generally rectangular segment base provided with a feed aperture; a corner cavity at each corner and a tap cavity at a mid-section of each of two opposite sides; and a segment top provided with a plurality of output ports; the segment top provided seated upon a first side of the segment base to form a segment pair;
the segment base provided with a central waveguide, on the first side, between the feed aperture and the tap cavities;
the segment base provided with a peripheral waveguide, on the first side, between each of the corner cavities that are adjacent to one another;
the segment base provided with a feed waveguide between the feed aperture and the output ports.
2. The modular feed network of claim 1 , wherein a path between the feed aperture and each of the output ports has a generally equivalent length.
3. The modular feed network of claim 1 , further including retention features provided on a periphery of the segment pair; the retention features dimensioned for mechanical coupling of the segment pair to additional segment pairs, side to side.
4. The modular feed network of claim 1 , wherein the segment top is provided with a mirror image waveguide network; the mirror image waveguide network providing a second half of each of the central waveguide, the peripheral waveguide and the feed waveguide of the segment base.
5. The modular feed network of claim 1 , wherein the segment top is a first intermediate layer of a flat panel array antenna.
6. The modular feed network of claim 1 , wherein the segment top is an output layer of a flat panel array antenna.
7. The modular feed network of claim 1 , wherein there are four segment pairs arranged side-to-side to form a generally planar 2×2 modular segment.
8. The modular feed network of claim 7 , wherein the corner cavities of each of the segment pairs at a center of the 2×2 modular segment combine to form a 2×2 feed aperture;
the tap cavities of each of the segment pairs adjacent to one another together forming a 2×2 power divider cavity;
a peripheral feed tap provided in the 2×2 feed aperture; the peripheral feed tap provided with an input feed coupled to a feed power divider tap provided in each of the 2×2 power divider cavities via at least one of the peripheral waveguides therebetween;
the feed power divider taps coupled to a central power divider tap provided in each of the feed apertures of each segment pair via the central waveguide therebetween;
the central power divider taps coupled to the output ports of each segment pair via the feed waveguide.
9. The modular feed network of claim 7 , wherein there are four 2×2 modular segments arranged side by side to form a generally planar 4×4 modular segment.
10. The modular feed network of claim 9 , wherein the corner cavities of each of the segment pairs at a center of the 4×4 modular segment combine to form a 4×4 feed aperture;
the tap cavities of the segment pairs adjacent the center of the 4×4 modular segment combine to form bypass cavities;
the corner cavities of the segment pairs adjacent the bypass cavities and in-line with the 4×4 feed aperture, forming 4×4 power divider cavities;
the corner cavities of each of the segment pairs at a center of each of the 2×2 modular segments combine to form a 2×2 feed aperture;
the tap cavities of each of the segment pairs adjacent to one another in each 2×2 modular segment together forming a 2×2 power divider cavity;
a peripheral feed tap provided in the 4×4 feed aperture; the peripheral feed tap provided with an input feed coupled to a bypass tap provided in each of the bypass cavities via at least one of the peripheral waveguides therebetween;
a peripheral power divider tap provided in each of the 4×4 power divider cavities and the 2×2 power divider cavities;
the peripheral power divider tap of the 4×4 power divider cavities coupled to the bypass taps via at least one of the peripheral waveguides therebetween;
the peripheral power divider taps of the 4×4 power divider cavities coupled to the peripheral power divider taps of the 2×2 feed aperture via at least one of the periphery waveguides therebetween;
the peripheral power divider tap of the 2×2 feed aperture tap coupled to a central power tap provided in each of the 2×2 power divider cavities via the peripheral waveguides therebetween;
the central power divider taps coupled to a feed power divider tap provided in each of the feed apertures of each of the segment pairs via the central waveguide therebetween;
the central feed taps coupled to the output ports of each segment pair via the feed waveguide therebetween.
11. A method for manufacture of a modular feed network, comprising:
forming a generally rectangular segment base provided with a feed aperture; a corner cavity at each corner of the segment base and a tap cavity of the segment base provided at a mid-section of each of two opposite sides of the segment base; and
forming a segment top provided with a plurality of output ports; and
seating the segment top upon a first side of the segment base to form a segment pair;
the segment base provided with a central waveguide, on the first side, between the feed aperture and the tap cavities;
the segment base provided with a peripheral waveguide, on the first side, between each of the corner cavities that are adjacent to one another;
the segment base provided with a feed waveguide between the feed aperture and the output ports.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein a waveguide path between the feed aperture and each of the output ports has a generally equivalent length.
13. The method of claim 11 , further including providing retention features on a periphery of the segment pair; the retention features dimensioned for mechanical coupling of the segment pair to additional segment pairs, side to side.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the segment top is provided with a mirror image waveguide network; the mirror image waveguide network providing a second half of each of the central waveguide, the peripheral waveguide and the feed waveguide of the segment base.
15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the segment top is a first intermediate layer of a flat panel array antenna.
16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the segment top is an output layer of a flat panel array antenna.
17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the segment base is formed via injection molding.
18. The method of claim 11 wherein the segment base is formed via die casting.
19. The method of claim 11 , further including the step of arranging four segment pairs side-to-side to form a generally planar 2×2 modular segment.
20. The method of claim 19 , further including the step of arranging four of the 2×2 modular segments side by side to form a generally planar 4×4 modular segment.