The present invention provides an improved single antenna system that allows reception of RF energy at multiple frequencies. In one embodiment, the antenna is implemented as a multi-beam, multi-feed antenna having a primary reflector fitted with a dual mode feed tube and a switchable LNB that supports both Ka band and Ku band reception. In another embodiment, the antenna is implemented as a multi-beam, multi-feed antenna having a primary reflector fitted with a feed horn and a LNB that is capable of providing movement such that the feed horn with the LNB is at a focal point with the primary reflector for both Ka and Ku band reception. In another embodiment, the antennae is implemented as a multi-beam, multi-feed antenna having a primary reflected fitted with a feed horn assembly and a switchable LNB that supports both Ka band and Ku band reception.

Multi-band antenna system for satellite communications

A compact, agile polarization diversity, multiple frequency band antenna with integrated electronics for terrestrial terminal use in satellite communications systems includes an antenna feed having highly integrated microwave electronics that are mechanically and electromagnetically coupled thereto in a distributed arrangement so that diverse polarization senses having a low axial ratio and electronic switching control of the polarization senses is provided. The arrangement of the integrated distributed transceiver configuration enables the mechanical rotation of the orientation of a first transceiver for skew alignment while a second transceiver remains stationary relative to the antenna feed assembly. The first transceiver can be a high-band transmitter and receiver pair that supports linear polarization senses, and the second transceiver can be a low-band transmitter and receiver pair that supports circular polarization senses. The antenna system presented is highly compact and offers improved polarization performance previously achievable by only larger devices.

Agile diverse polarization multi-frequency band antenna feed with rotatable integrated distributed transceivers

A compact, agile polarization diversity, multiband antenna with integrated electronics for satellite communications antenna systems is disclosed. The antenna includes a feed assembly having integrated microwave electronics that are mechanically and electromagnetically coupled thereto in a distributed arrangement so that diverse polarization senses having a low axial ratio and electronic switching control is provided. The microwave electronics include a distributed transmitter that can include high-band and low-band transceivers. The high-band and low-band transceivers can include high-band and low-band transmitter and receiver pairs, respectively. The antenna presented enables the mechanical rotation of the orientation of the high-band transceiver for skew alignment while the low-band transceiver remains stationary relative to the antenna assembly. The low-band transmitter and receiver pair can include planar interfaces electromagnetically coupled to the feed assembly between a main reflector and subreflector via OMTs. The highly compact antenna system presented offers polarization performance previously achievable by only larger devices.

High efficiency agile polarization diversity compact miniaturized multi-frequency band antenna system with integrated distributed transceivers

In this paper, a Ka/K-band antenna-feeding network in dual-circular polarization is reported. The design of the system was carried out in view of its monolithic manufacturing through selective laser melting in AlSi10Mg alloy. As a proof-of-concept for satellite telecommunication multi-beam applications, the feeding network operates in the K band (19.25, 20.75) GHz and in the Ka band (27.0, 29.0) GHz. The system provides four rectangular-waveguide ports and a common dual-polarized circular-waveguide port to be connected to the feed horn. The prototype exhibits measured values of in-band return loss better than 28 dB and a port-to-port isolation better than 19 dB (in polarization) and 50 dB (in frequency). The cross-polar discrimination is higher than 20 dB. In this regard, an elliptical-waveguide line was specifically designed and manufactured to recover a value higher than 30 dB in both frequency bands. The line can be easily integrated in the feed horn to be connected to the feeding-network thanks the ease of customization provided by 3D printing. The insertion losses are lower than 0.5 and 0.2 dB in the K and Ka bands, respectively. The weight of the prototype is approximately 130 g.

/pdf/3d-printing-of-a-monolithic-k-ka-band-dual-circular-1i6k177j50.pdf

3D Printing of a Monolithic K/Ka-Band Dual-Circular Polarization Antenna-Feeding Network

The present invention is an orthomode transducer (OMT) device that allows for dual polarized dual frequency band antenna feed systems. The OMT device includes a waveguide structure having a first end and a second end such that the first end defines a port for receiving signals. The waveguide structure includes an outer wall defining a waveguide chamber therein and the outer wall includes a first cylindrical section proximate the first end. The waveguide structure also includes a second cylindrical section proximate the second end and a region therebetween. At least one longitudinal groove is introduced proximate the second end and extends towards the first end of the waveguide structure. The OMT device further includes at least one waveguide coupled to the outer wall of the waveguide chamber which is in signal communication with the waveguide chamber through an opening in the region of the outer wall.

Orthomode transducer device

There is an increasing demand for multiple frequency band capability in satellite Earth station antenna systems. This paper describes an 18.3 m shaped Cassegrain antenna with a single aperture, tri-band, six-port receive-only, feed system. The frequencies of operation are 3.4-4.2 GHz, 7.25-7.75 GHz, and 10.9-12.75 GHz. The C- and X-band feed ports offer dual circular polarization, and the Ku-band ports offer dual linear polarization with an internal polarization vector angle adjustment mechanism. Frequency and polarization multiplexing is performed by a novel OMJ structure.

http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/iel5/6373/17066/00789232.pdf

S. Casey

Papers

A C/X/Ku-band dual polarized Cassegrain antenna system