Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
171 words
A microwave antenna comprising the combination of: a paraboloidal main reflector having an axis and a focal point F; a subreflector forming a surface of revolution about the axis of said main reflector and having a focal point between said main reflector and said subreflector and substantially coincident with the focal point of said main reflector; a feed horn extending along the axis of said main reflector for transmitting microwave radiation to, and receiving microwave radiation from, said subreflector along a feed horn beam; and a first shield extending from the periphery of said subreflector toward said main reflector, parallel to the axis of the main reflector, for reducing side lobe levels, said first shield terminating outside of the beam passing between the subreflector and the main reflector, a second shield extending from the periphery of said main reflector and parallel to the axis of the main reflector, said first shield intercepting that portion of the feed horn beam which is not intercepted by either said subreflector or said second shield.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
171 words
A microwave antenna comprising the combination of: a paraboloidal main reflector having an axis and a focal point F; a subreflector forming a surface of revolution about the axis of said main reflector and having a focal point between said main reflector and said subreflector and substantially coincident with the focal point of said main reflector; a feed horn extending along the axis of said main reflector for transmitting microwave radiation to, and receiving microwave radiation from, said subreflector along a feed horn beam; and a first shield extending from the periphery of said subreflector toward said main reflector, parallel to the axis of the main reflector, for reducing side lobe levels, said first shield terminating outside of the beam passing between the subreflector and the main reflector, a second shield extending from the periphery of said main reflector and parallel to the axis of the main reflector, said first shield intercepting that portion of the feed horn beam which is not intercepted by either said subreflector or said second shield.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A microwave antenna as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first shield has outer and inner surfaces which are substantially parallel to said axis, and said inner surface of said first shield is lined with radiation absorbing material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
87 words
A microwave antenna as set forth in claim 1 wherein the angle θ 3 , measured from said axis to a line from the center of the open end of the feed horn to the edge of said second shield farthest away from the main reflector, is less than or equal to the angle θ 2 , measured from said axis to a line from the center of the open end of the feed horn to the edge of said first shield closest to the main reflector.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
A microwave antenna as set forth in claim 1 wherein said subreflector and said first shield form a subreflector-shield assembly, and said first shield significantly reduces diffraction of radiation at the periphery of the subreflector-shield assembly.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
A microwave antenna as set forth in claim 1 wherein said feed horn has an inside diameter which is no greater than one wavelength at the midband frequency of the lowest frequency band of signals transmitted from or received by said antenna.