Feed polarizer step twist switch

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10615472-B2
Application number	US-201815915377-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 8, 2018
Priority date	Mar 8, 2018
Publication date	Apr 7, 2020
Grant date	Apr 7, 2020

Abstract

A polarizer apparatus for RF communications including an in-line waveguide switch having a first port with a rectangular waveguide shape, and a second port having a circular waveguide shape. The waveguide switch includes a plurality of rotatable disks coupled and arranged between the input and output of said waveguide switch, each of the disks having an opening provided therein which defines at least a portion of a signal path configured to allow RF signals to propagate therethrough. The waveguide switch includes an actuating mechanism arranged to rotate the disks to positions relative to each other which modify the polarization of RF signals propagating through the openings. The polarizer apparatus includes a feed coupled to the output of the waveguide switch, the feed including a vane polarizer arranged to circularly polarize signals provided thereto from the output of the waveguide switch.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A polarizer apparatus for RF communications comprising:
a waveguide step twist switch having a first port with a rectangular waveguide shape, and a second port having a circular waveguide shape, said waveguide switch comprising:
a plurality of rotatable disks coupled and arranged between the input and output of said waveguide switch, each of the disks having an opening provided therein which defines at least a portion of a signal path configured to allow RF signals to propagate therethrough;
an actuating mechanism arranged to rotate the disks to positions relative to each other which modify the polarization of RF signals propagating through the openings; and
a feed coupled to the output of the step twist switch, the feed comprising a vane polarizer arranged to provide an output polarization of signals provided thereto from the output of the waveguide switch;

wherein different arrangements of the disks create different polarizations for different bands of RF frequencies.

2. The polarizer apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the disks further comprise RF chokes arranged about the openings.

3. The polarizer apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the actuating mechanism engages a series of coupled gears, wherein in response to a movement of said actuating mechanism, each of the gears rotates a corresponding disk at a different degree of rotation.

4. A polarizer apparatus for RF communications comprising:
a waveguide step twist switch having a first port with a rectangular waveguide shape, and a second port having a circular waveguide shape, said waveguide switch comprising:
a plurality of rotatable disks coupled and arranged between the input and output of said waveguide switch, each of the disks having an opening provided therein which defines at least a portion of a signal path configured to allow RF signals to propagate therethrough;
an actuating mechanism arranged to rotate the disks to positions relative to each other which modify the polarization of RF signals propagating through the openings; and
a feed coupled to the output of the step twist switch, the feed comprising a vane polarizer arranged to provide an output polarization of signals provided thereto from the output of the waveguide switch;

wherein the output polarization of signals is at least one of left hand circular polarization or right hand circular polarization.

5. The polarizer apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the actuating mechanism engages a series of coupled gears, wherein in response to a movement of said actuating mechanism, each of the gears rotates a corresponding disk at a different degree of rotation.

6. The polarizer apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the disks further comprise RF chokes arranged about the openings.

7. A polarizer apparatus for RF communications comprising:
a waveguide step twist switch having a first port with a rectangular waveguide shape, and a second port having a circular waveguide shape, said waveguide switch comprising:
a plurality of rotatable disks coupled and arranged between the input and output of said waveguide switch, each of the disks having an opening provided therein which defines at least a portion of a signal path configured to allow RF signals to propagate therethrough;
an actuating mechanism arranged to rotate the disks to positions relative to each other which modify the polarization of RF signals propagating through the openings; and
a feed coupled to the output of the step twist switch, the feed comprising a vane polarizer arranged to provide an output polarization of signals provided thereto from the output of the waveguide switch;

wherein the disk openings are provided having a rectangular shape.

8. The polarizer apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the disks further comprise RF chokes arranged about the openings.

9. The polarizer apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the actuating mechanism engages a series of coupled gears, wherein in response to a movement of said actuating mechanism, each of the gears rotates a corresponding disk at a different degree of rotation.

10. A polarizer apparatus for RF communications comprising:
a waveguide step twist switch having a first port with a rectangular waveguide shape, and a second port having a circular waveguide shape, said waveguide switch comprising:
a plurality of rotatable disks coupled and arranged between the input and output of said waveguide switch, each of the disks having an opening provided therein which defines at least a portion of a signal path configured to allow RF signals to propagate therethrough;
an actuating mechanism arranged to rotate the disks to positions relative to each other which modify the polarization of RF signals propagating through the openings; and
a feed coupled to the output of the step twist switch, the feed comprising a vane polarizer arranged to provide an output polarization of signals provided thereto from the output of the waveguide switch;

wherein one of the rotating disks comprises a transition section that transitions substantially smoothly along its length from a rectangular input to a circular output.

11. The polarizer apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the disks further comprise RF chokes arranged about the openings.

12. The polarizer apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the actuating mechanism engages a series of coupled gears, wherein in response to a movement of said actuating mechanism, each of the gears rotates a corresponding disk at a different degree of rotation.

13. A polarizer apparatus for RF communications comprising:
a waveguide step twist switch having a first port with a rectangular waveguide shape, and a second port having a circular waveguide shape, said waveguide switch comprising:
a plurality of rotatable disks coupled and arranged between the input and output of said waveguide switch, each of the disks having an opening provided therein which defines at least a portion of a signal path configured to allow RF signals to propagate therethrough;
an actuating mechanism arranged to rotate the disks to positions relative to each other which modify the polarization of RF signals propagating through the openings; and
a feed coupled to the output of the step twist switch, the feed comprising a vane polarizer arranged to provide an output polarization of signals provided thereto from the output of the waveguide switch;

wherein the disk openings can be rotated to gradually transition by about ninety degrees between a proximate disk opening and a distal disk opening.

14. The polarizer apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the disks further comprise RF chokes arranged about the openings.

15. The polarizer apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the actuating mechanism engages a series of coupled gears, wherein in response to a movement of said actuating mechanism, each of the gears rotates a corresponding disk at a different degree of rotation.

16. A rotating step twist waveguide, the rotating step twist waveguide comprising:
a first stationary rectangular waveguide section having a first end corresponding to an input port of the rotating step twist waveguide and a second end;
a first twist rectangular waveguide section having a first end coupled to the second end of said first stationary rectangular waveguide section and having a second end;
an intermediate twist rectangular waveguide section having a first end coupled to the second end of said first twist rectangular waveguide section and having a second end;
a distal twist rectangular to circular waveguide transition having a first end coupled to the second end of said intermediate twist rectangular waveguide section and

Assignees

• Raytheon Co

Inventors

• Hauff John W

Classifications

• H01P5/024

  between hollow waveguides · CPC title

• H01P1/165 Primary

  for rotating the plane of polarisation · CPC title

• H01P1/17

  for producing a continuously rotating polarisation, e.g. circular polarisation · CPC title

• H01P1/022

  in waveguides of polygonal cross-section (H01P1/065 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01P1/065 Primary

  the axis of rotation being parallel to the transmission path, e.g. stepped twist · CPC title