Minimum protrusion mechanically beam steered aircraft array antenna systems
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United States of America Patent
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-
Jul 10, 2001
Issued Date -
N/A
app pub date -
Jul 9, 1999
filing date -
Jun 3, 1996
priority date (Note) -
In Force
status (Latency Note)
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Abstract
Low-protrusion array antennas enable reception of satellite signals by airliners in flight. Prior systems using a beam normal to an array face required a 70.degree. array tilt for reception from a satellite at 20.degree. elevation (i.e., tilt angle is complementary angle (90.degree.-.beta.) of satellite angle (.beta.) of elevation). Compared to that 70.degree. array tilt for reception from a satellite at 20.degree. elevation, disclosed antennas require an array tilt of only 25.degree. (90.degree.-.beta.-.alpha.=25.degree.). This is accomplished by providing a beam at a fixed acute angle (.alpha.) to the array face (e.g. 45 degrees). A side-by-side linear array 16 of slotted waveguide radiator columns 18 provides a pencil beam at a fixed acute angle of 45.degree. to array aperture, for example. By action of tilting motor 42 to mechanically tilt the array of slotted waveguides over a range of .+-.25.degree. from horizontal, the beam can be scanned from 20.degree. elevation to 70.degree. elevation. Azimuth rotator motor 30 provides 360.degree. beam pointing in azimuth. A television satellite can thus be tracked by an aircraft mounted antenna with only about a 5 inch above-fuselage protrusion.
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