Optimized reflector antenna

Claim 2

A reflector antenna with optimized directivity being comprised of a common reflector having a predetermined area and perimeter, a feed radiator arranged in the center of said area at a spacing of approximately one-quarter to one-half of a wavelength from said common reflector, a rim surrounding said perimeter, said rim having a width and an edge, both said feed radiator and said edge being arranged in front of said common reflector, means to energize said feed radiator while also simultaneously exciting the perimeter rim to permit the edge thereof to act as a secondary radiator, both said feed radiator and said secondary radiator having unidirectional patterns with the directivity maximum of their combination being in the axis normal to the common reflector, and means to adjust said width of said rim to position said edge so that the amplitude-optimized farfield contributions of said combination are exactly in phase to provide substantially increased directivity, the parameters of said reflector and said edge being arranged to permit said edge to operate exclusively as a secondary radiator.

Claim 3

A reflector antenna as described in claim 1 wherein the diameter of said edge is equal to (n + 0.35) lambda , with n 1, 2, 3 .... and lambda equal to the wavelength.

Claim 4

A reflector antenna as described in claim 2 wherein said reflector is curved.

Claim 5

A reflector antenna as described in claim 2 wherein said reflector is circular.

Claim 6

A reflector antenna as described in claim 1 wherein said means for adjusting said width of said rim is comprised of said rim pressure fitted on said reflector thereby permitting movement of said rim toward the direction of radiation by exerting a pressure on said rim.

Claim 7

A reflector antenna as described in claim 1 wherein said means to adjust the width of said rim is comprised of telescoping cylinders.

Claim 8

A reflector antenna as described in claim 1 wherein said feed radiatOr is comprised of a dipole.

Claim 9

A reflector antenna as described in claim 1 wherein said feed radiator is comprised of an array of radiators.

Claim 10

A reflector antenna as described in claim 1 wherein said feed radiator is comprised of a combination of dipole and a secondary reflector, the sequence being said reflector, said dipole and said secondary reflector.

Claim 11

A reflector antenna as described in claim 1 wherein said feed radiator is comprised of a multiplicity of combinations, each combination consisting of a dipole and a secondary reflector, the sequence being said reflector, said dipole, and said secondary reflector.

Claim 12

A reflector antenna including a combination of first and second radiators to increase substantially the effective aperture of the antenna comprising a primary reflector having a predetermined area in accordance with the operating wavelength thereof, said primary reflector having a predetermined perimeter, a rim surrounding said perimeter, said rim having width and and edge, a feed radiator arranged in the center of said primary reflector and spaced from 1/4 to 1/2 lambda therefrom, means to energize said feed radiator to simultaneously provide a first unidirectional pattern from said feed radiator and primary reflector, said feed radiator and said reflector acting as said first radiator, and a second unidirectional pattern resulting from excitation of said rim edge by way of said feed radiator and said primary reflector, said feed radiator, said primary reflector and said rim edge acting as said second radiator, and means to adjust the distance of said edge from said primary reflector such that the farfield unidirectional patterns of said first and second radiators are in phase coincidence in the direction normal to the plane of said primary reflector thus operating to provide a substantially increased effective aperture and an equivalent increased gain, the parameters of said primary reflector and said edge being arranged to permit said edge to operate exclusively as a second radiator.

Claim 13

A reflector antenna including a combination of first and second radiators to increase substantially the effective aperture of the antenna comprising a primary reflector having a predetermined area in accordance with the operating wavelength thereof, said primary reflector having a predetermined perimeter, a rim surrounding said perimeter, said rim having width and and edge, a feed radiator arranged in the center of said primary reflector and spaced from 1/4 to 1/2 lambda therefrom, means to energize said feed radiator to simultaneously provide a first unidirectional pattern from said feed radiator and primary reflector, said feed radiator and said reflector acting as said first radiator, and a second unidirectional pattern resulting from excitation of said rim edge by way of said feed radiator and said primary reflector, said feed radiator, said primary reflector and said rim edge acting as said second radiator, and means to adjust the distance of said edge from said primary reflector such that the farfield unidirectional patterns of said first and second radiators are in phase coincidence in the direction normal to the plane of said primary reflector thus operating to provide a substantially increased effective aperture and an equivalent increased gain, the parameters of said primary reflector and said edge being arranged to permit said edge to operate exclusively as a second radiator.

Claim 14

A reflector antenna as described in claim 11 wherein said primary reflector is curved.

Claim 15

A reflector antenna as described in claim 11 wherein said reflector is circular.

Claim 16

A reflector antenna as described in claim 11 wherein said feed radiator is comprised of a combination of a dipole and a secondary reflector in the sequence of said primary reflector, said dipole, and said secondary reflector.

Claim 17

A reflector antenna as described in claim 14 including a multiplicity of said combinations.

Claim 18

A reflector antenna as described in claim 11 wherein the diameter of said edge is equal to (n + 0.35) lambda where n equals 1, 2, 3, ... and lambda equals operating wavelength.

Claim 19

An optimized reflector antenna including a combination of first and second radiators comprising a common reflector having a predetermined area in accordance with the operating wavelength thereof, said commond reflector having a predetermined perimeter and diameter, a feed raidator arranged in front of and approximately in the center of said common reflector and spaced 1/4 to 1/2 lambda therefrom, said feed radiator and common reflector forming said first radiator, a multiplicity of spaced rings in a parallel arrangement approximately of the same diameter as said common reflector, the first of said multiplicity of rings positioned at said perimeter and extending therefrom in front of said common reflector to the last of said multiplicity of spaced rings, said last ring operating in conjunction with said common reflector to form said second radiator, said last ring being at a predetermined distance from said common reflector such that the farfield unidirectional patterns of said first and second radiators are in phase coincidence in the direction normal to the plane of said common reflector thus operating to provide a substantially increased effective aperture and an equivalent increased gain.

Claim 20

An optimized reflector antenna including a combination of first and second radiators comprising a common reflector having a predetermined area in accordance with the operating wavelength thereof, said commond reflector having a predetermined perimeter and diameter, a feed raidator arranged in front of and approximately in the center of said common reflector and spaced 1/4 to 1/2 lambda therefrom, said feed radiator and common reflector forming said first radiator, a multiplicity of spaced rings in a parallel arrangement approximately of the same diameter as said common reflector, the first of said multiplicity of rings positioned at said perimeter and extending therefrom in front of said common reflector to the last of said multiplicity of spaced rings, said last ring operating in conjunction with said common reflector to form said second radiator, said last ring being at a predetermined distance from said common reflector such that the farfield unidirectional patterns of said first and second radiators are in phase coincidence in the direction normal to the plane of said common reflector thus operating to provide a substantially increased effective aperture and an equivalent increased gain.