Patent · US Expired

Surveillance radar scanning antenna requiring no rotary joint

US6556174B1 · kind B1 · utility

13Cited by
8References
20Claims
0Family size

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 5, 2001
Grant dateApr 29, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 5, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01Q19/10
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A wave-scanning antenna is disclosed that does not require a rotary joint. The antenna produces a collimated beam that can be scanned through 360 degrees. The beam is directed perpendicular to the antenna's axis of rotation to form a disc-like surveillance volume, or at an angle above or below the perpendicular to form a cone-shaped surveillance volume. The radar's structure contains a transmitter and receiver coupled to a horn protruding through open centers of the support bearing and driven gear into the antenna housing. Energy emitted by the horn proceeds upward until deflected through an angle of 90 degrees by an angled reflector located on the axis of rotation. The energy is collected by a dielectric lens and focused into a collimated beam. Reflected energy is collected by the lens and directed by the reflector to the horn, where it is fed to a waveguide coupled to the receiver.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.