• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
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    • 专利摘要:
    The beamformer includes a transmission line powered by at least one input power source (10), the transmission line (20) having two stacked metal plates extending in two longitudinal X and transverse Y directions. The transmission line (20) further comprises at least one protrusion (13) extending along the X, Y directions, and in a Z direction orthogonal to the XY plane, the protrusion (13) comprising a metal insert (21) extending in the X and Y directions and extending in the Z direction, the insert (21) having a base (21b) integral with one of the two metal plates and a free end (21a) and having a contour of variable length between the two lateral edges of the transmission line (20). In the protrusion (13), the transmission line (20) is contiguous to the insert (21) and forms, in the Z direction, a convolution around the insert (21).
    公开号:FR3038457A1
    申请号:FR1501415
    申请日:2015-07-03
    公开日:2017-01-06
    发明作者:Herve Legay；Segolene Tubau；Jean Philippe Fraysse；Etienne Girard；Mauro Ettorre；Ronan Sauleau；Nelson Fonseca
    申请人:Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique CNRS；Universite de Rennes 1；Thales SA；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    Lens-like quasi-optical beamformer and planar antenna having such a beamformer
    The present invention relates to a quasi-optical lens beamformer and a planar antenna having such a beamformer. It is applicable to any thin multibeam antenna and more particularly to the field of space applications such as satellite telecommunications, for antennas intended to be mounted on board satellites, or for antennas intended to be used on the ground on satellites. fixed or mobile terminals.
    To facilitate the description, the mode of operation of the beam formers is assumed in transmission, but a similar description could be formulated in reception, the beam trainers considered being passive elements therefore reciprocal.
    The beamformers are used in multibeam antennas to develop output beams from input radio frequency signals. In known manner, there are planar quasi-optical beamformers using electromagnetic propagation of radiofrequency waves between two parallel metal plates (in English: parallel plates), according to a propagation mode in general TEM (in English: Transverse Electric Magnetic) for which the electric and magnetic fields are orthogonal to the propagation direction of the radiofrequency waves. The TEM mode propagates in the parallel plate guide at the same speed as in vacuum, which renders said guide non-dispersive for this TEM mode. The focusing and collimation of the beams can be performed by a constrained lens, as described for example in the documents US 3170158 and US 5936588 which illustrate the case of a Rotman lens, or alternatively by a reflector as described for example in the documents FR 2944153 and FR 2 986377 for Pillbox beam formers, the constrained lens, or respectively the reflector, being inserted in the propagation path of the radiofrequency waves, between the two parallel metal plates. The constrained lens, or the reflector, serves essentially as a phase corrector and makes it possible, by transmission in the case of a lens, or after reflection in the case of a reflector, to convert cylindrical wave fronts into fronts. flat waves.
    A Pillbox beamformer may, at output, be connected to a linear array of several individual radiating elements aligned side by side. As an alternative to the use of several individual radiating elements, it is also possible to connect the linear output opening, located between the two parallel plates, to a single linear output horn which makes the transition between the parallel plates and the free space where beams are radiated. In the case of using a single linear horn, the radiating aperture at the output of the Pillbox beamformer is linear and extends continuously over the entire transverse width of the parallel plates. These linear radiating apertures, which are not spatially quantized, have a much higher performance compared to the linear arrays of several radiating elements, for the beams which are distorted with respect to the focal axis, because of the absence of quantification, and exhibit a much higher bandwidth due to the absence of resonant propagation modes. However, a Pillbox beamformer has the disadvantage of generating degraded beams when the excitation sources are away from the focus of the integrated reflector between the parallel plates.
    In constrained lens-type beamformers, such as Ruze or Rotman lenses, radio-frequency waves are constrained, i.e., guided, along a propagation path that does not correspond to a natural optical path, free space, as defined by the laws of Snell-Descartes. These beamformers can be synthesized to have three or four different foci, resulting in fewer aberrations and better beams. However, in order to control the delays of radiofrequency waves propagating towards the lateral edges of the lens relative to those propagating in an axial direction, towards the center of the lens, these beam formers need to take radiofrequency waves along the internal contour. of the lens by a network of different delay transmission lines. These delay transmission lines are distributed over said internal contour of the lens and connected to corresponding radiating elements whose ports define the outer contour of the lens. The problem is that the sampling of radiofrequency waves disturbs the electromagnetic field which is spatially sampled and induces losses. Moreover, in order for the constrained lens beam formatter to be planar and the lens to be completely integrated between the two parallel plates, it is necessary to add, on the path of the radio frequency waves, delay transmission lines, for example rectangular waveguides, which induce frequency dispersion and limit the bandwidth of the beamformer. In order to avoid frequency dispersion and to increase the bandwidth, in certain Rotman lenses, the transmission lines used are coaxial lines, but this necessitates a transition between the coaxial lines and the linear radiating opening, and the structure of the beamformer is then not completely integrated. Currently, there is no constrained lens-type beamformer solution to overcome radiofrequency wave sampling.
    The object of the invention is to provide a novel quasi-optical lens-beamformer for converting cylindrical wavefronts into plane wavefronts by applying differential delays between the center and the lateral edges of the beam. the lens, not having the disadvantages of known constraint lens beam formers, to overcome the spatial sampling of radio frequency waves, and allowing the use of a single output linear horn.
    For this, according to the invention, the quasi-optical lens beamformer comprises a radio frequency transmission line fed at a first end, by at least one input power source, the transmission line comprising two stacked metal plates. , spaced from each other and extending in two longitudinal directions X and transverse Y. The transmission line further comprises at least one protrusion extending along the directions X, Y, and in an orthogonal direction Z at the XY plane, the protuberance comprising a metal insert extending in the direction X, in the transverse direction Y between two lateral edges of the lens, and extending in height in the direction Z. The metal insert comprises a base integral with one of the two metal plates, at least one free end and has, in longitudinal section, a contour of variable length between the two lateral edges of e the transmission line. In the protrusion, the transmission line is contiguous to the metal insert and forms, in the Z direction, a convolution around the metal insert.
    Advantageously, the free end of the insert can be folded parallel to the XY plane.
    Advantageously, the free end of the insert can be doubly folded T-shaped, parallel to the XY plane.
    Advantageously, the protrusion and the metal insert may have a profile of curvilinear shape along the X and Y directions.
    Advantageously, the protrusion may have an input profile and an output profile of different shapes.
    Advantageously, the outgrowth may comprise adaptation stubs.
    Advantageously, in the protrusion, the metal plates of the transmission line may have an internal face having transitions in steps.
    Advantageously, in the case of a converging lens, the length of the contour of the metal insert can be progressively decreasing from the center towards the two lateral edges of the transmission line.
    Alternatively, in the case of a diverging lens, the length of the contour, in longitudinal section, of the metal insert can be progressively increasing from the center towards the two lateral edges of the transmission line.
    Advantageously, the metal insert may comprise a symmetrical profile with respect to the median longitudinal axis of the transmission line.
    Advantageously, the lens may comprise several input power sources distributed around an input edge, according to a focal curve.
    Advantageously, the beamformer may comprise a plurality of excrescences capable of producing progressive delays, the excrescences being successively distributed along the longitudinal axis X of the transmission line, at different distances from the input supply sources, each outgrowth comprising a metal insert whose length of the contour, in longitudinal section, varies between the two lateral edges of the transmission line.
    Advantageously, the length of the contour of the metal inserts, in the different successive excrescences, may vary progressively from one protrusion to another adjacent protuberance, along the longitudinal direction X of the transmission line.
    Advantageously, the transmission line can be folded on itself in the X direction, according to a fold of straight shape.
    Advantageously, the beamformer may further comprise at least one first reflector wall extending transversely in the transmission line, and orthogonal to the metal plates in the Z direction, the first reflector wall being able to fold the transmission line, on itself, according to the X direction, according to a curvilinear fold.
    Advantageously, the quasi-optical lens-beamformer may comprise two layers stacked and closed at one end by the first reflector wall and two opposite protuberances arranged around a metal insert extending in the two stacked layers, the first reflective wall. being integrated with the two opposite growths.
    Advantageously, the quasi-optical lens-beamformer may further comprise a third layer stacked on the second layer and a second reflective wall extending in the second and third layers.
    Advantageously, the quasi-optical lens-beamformer may further include at least one third protrusion arranged in the second layer downstream of the first reflector wall. The invention also relates to a planar antenna comprising at least one such beamformer and further comprising a linear radiating horn connected at the output of the beamformer. Finally, the invention relates to a planar antenna comprising such a beamformer, the transmission line being folded on itself and having a linear output opening connected to an array of several radiating horns. Other features and advantages of the invention will become clear in the following description given by way of purely illustrative and non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings which show: FIG. 1: a diagram illustrating the operating principle of FIG. a continuous and progressive delay lens beam formatter according to the invention; FIG. 2a: a perspective diagram of an example of a continuous and progressive-delay lens beamformer comprising a projection with planar profile, according to the invention; FIG. 2b: an exploded perspective diagram of the protuberance of FIG. 2a, according to the invention; FIG. 3a: an exploded diagram, in perspective, of an example of an outgrowth in which the insert has a variable height in the Z direction and a variable thickness in the X direction, according to a variant of the invention; FIG. 3b: two diagrams, in longitudinal section, respectively at the center of the lens and on the lateral edges of the lens, of the protrusion corresponding to the example of FIG. 3a, according to the invention; FIG. 3c: a perspective diagram of the beamformer corresponding to FIGS. 3a and 3b, according to the invention; FIGS. 4a, 4b, 4c: three diagrams, in longitudinal cross-sections, of an outgrowth comprising a metal insert whose section is respectively I-shaped, L-shaped, T-shaped, the inner wall of the outgrow comprising direction changes at right angles, according to first exemplary embodiments of the invention; Figure 4d: a top view of the protrusion in the case where the insert is doubly folded T-shaped, according to one embodiment of the invention; FIGS. 5a, 5b, 5c: three diagrams, in longitudinal sections, of an outgrowth comprising an I-shaped, L-shaped, T-shaped metal insert, the inner wall of the protuberance comprising changes of direction in stair steps, according to second exemplary embodiments of the invention; FIGS. 6a and 6b: two diagrams, respectively in perspective and in plan view, of an example of a multibeam antenna comprising a lens beam former provided with a protrusion with a curvilinear profile, according to the invention; FIG. 7 is a perspective diagram of an example of a multibeam antenna comprising a lens beam former provided with two protuberances, according to the invention; FIGS. 8a and 8b: two diagrams, respectively in perspective and in longitudinal section, of an example of a multibeam antenna comprising a progressive-delay lens beamformer, provided with several protrusions with a curvilinear profile and a gradient of delays, according to FIG. invention; FIG. 9 is a perspective diagram of an example of a multibeam antenna comprising a progressive-delay lens beam formatter provided with a folded transmission line on itself, according to the invention; FIG. 10 is a perspective diagram of an example of a multibeam antenna comprising a progressive-delay lens beam formatter provided with a reflecting wall according to the invention; , Figures 11 and 12: two diagrams, in longitudinal sections, of a trainer of progressive-delay lens beams, provided with a reflective wall, according to the invention; Figure 13 is a diagram, in longitudinal section, of a trainer of progressive delay lens beams, provided with two reflecting walls, according to the invention.
    According to the invention, the lens bundle former shown in the diagram of FIG. 1 and in the perspective view of FIG. 2a comprises a transmission line 20 with two metal plates and a lens with progressive and continuous delays between the center 14 of the lens and the two lateral edges 15, 16. The transmission line 20 consists of two stacked metal plates, respectively upper and lower, spaced from one another by a cavity, and extending in two directions. longitudinal direction X and transverse Y. The transmission line 20 is fed at a first end, by at least one input power source 10 and is provided with a protrusion 13, located on the path of the radio frequency waves. The input and output contours of the protrusion, which respectively correspond to the inner and outer contours of the lens, may have profiles of identical shapes and parallel to each other or may have different profiles. The protrusion 13 extends in thickness in the X direction, transversely in the width of the transmission line in the Y direction, and in height in a Z direction orthogonal to the XY plane of the metal plates, the length dL1, dL2, dL3 of the transmission line in the protrusion being variable from the center 14 to the two lateral edges 15, 16 of the lens, so as to apply a different delay to the radiofrequency waves propagating in the lens along paths 1, 2, 3 having different angular directions and respective lengths L1, L2, L3. When the internal and external contours of the lens have profiles of identical shapes, the delay achieved by the protrusion is proportional to the length of the transmission line, in the protrusion, on the path considered. In particular, when the inner and outer contours of the lens have profiles of identical shapes, to produce a convergent lens, the delay applied to the radio frequency waves propagating along the median longitudinal axis 3 of the lens, which corresponds to the most short, may be greater than the delays applied to all other paths while the delay applied to radiofrequency waves propagating towards the edges of the lens, which correspond to the longest paths, may be zero. In the case of a divergent lens, the law of delays is different. When the inner and outer contours of the lens have profiles of different shapes, the law of delays is more complex because it also depends on the respective shapes of said internal and external contours. The protrusion 13 comprises a metal insert 21 housed transversely in the cavity, between the two metal plates, the insert 21, of any shape, comprising a base 21b integral with one of the two metal plates, lower or upper, for example the lower metal plate, and at least one free end 21a. As shown in the exploded view of FIG. 2b, the metal insert 21 extends in width, in the transverse direction Y, between two lateral edges of the lens 15, 16, extends in thickness in the direction X, and extends in height, at least in part, in the direction Z. According to a longitudinal section of the transmission line, the insert 21 has an outer contour of progressively variable length between the two lateral edges of the transmission line. The variation of the length of the contour of the insert 21 can be obtained by varying the height of the insert in the Z direction, or by varying the thickness of the insert in the X direction, or by combination of a variation in height in the Z direction and a variation in thickness in the X direction as illustrated for example in Figures 3a, 3b, 3c. FIG. 3a is an exploded perspective diagram of an example of an outgrowth in which the insert has a variable height in the Z direction and a variable thickness in the X direction. FIG. 3b shows two diagrams, in longitudinal section, respectively in the center of the lens and on the lateral edges of the lens, the protrusion of Figure 3a. In this Figure 3b, the insert has an I-shaped wall on the median longitudinal axis, in the center of the lens, and has an increased thickness and a reduced height on the lateral edges of the lens. Figure 3c is a perspective diagram of the beamformer corresponding to Figures 3a and 3b. In this example, as the thickness of the insert varies in the direction Y, between the two lateral edges of the lens, the two input profiles 18 and 19 of the output protrusion 13, which respectively correspond to the internal contours and outer of the lens, are not parallel to each other.
    In the protrusion 13, the transmission line 20 is contiguous to the metal insert 21 and thus forms, in the Z direction, a convolution 22 around the metal insert 21, as represented for example in FIG. 4a for an insert having an I-shaped longitudinal section. The transmission line travels along the contour of the insert and therefore changes orientation several times but does not include any transmission discontinuity. Thus, the transmission line follows continuously the shape of the insert 21, along a first front surface, from the base 21b to the free end 21a of the insert, and then along a second rear surface, the free end 21a at the base 21a. In the protrusion 13, the propagation of the electromagnetic waves is always carried out between two metal plates and according to the propagation mode TEM, the insert 21, placed in the middle of the protrusion, ensuring the role of the metal plate, lower or upper , to which its base is solidarized. The direction of the electric field E in the transmission line rotates in the protrusion according to the orientation of the metal plates and remains, in all points of the transmission line, perpendicular to the metal plates, or almost perpendicular to the parallel plates when the metal plates are not exactly parallel. The insert 21 placed in the path of the electromagnetic waves TEM, constitutes an obstacle to circumvent which causes a propagation delay all the more important that the insert has a longer contour. The law of variation of the length of the contour of the insert, in a transverse direction of the lens, depends on the desired delay law for the formation of the beams.
    The length of the contour of the metal insert may progressively vary from the center of the lens, located on the median longitudinal axis, to the lateral edges of the lens, so as to compensate for the difference in travel time between the different paths. and obtaining propagation paths of identical lengths across the entire width of the aperture radiating output of the lens.
    In particular, when the inner and outer contours of the lens have profiles of the same shapes, the lens is convergent when the variation of the length of the contour of the insert is progressively decreasing from the center towards the two lateral edges of the transmission line. . In this case, the length of the contour of the insert is important in the center of the lens and may be zero on the lateral edges of the lens. Conversely, the lens is divergent when the variation of the length of the contour of the insert is progressively increasing from the center towards the two lateral edges of the transmission line. To achieve a transformation of a cylindrical wave into a plane wave, a convergent lens is required. However, the combination of a converging lens and a diverging lens can minimize phase aberrations over a wider angular sector, and thus form more beams.
    Moreover, in the case of unformed beams, the length of the contour of the insert, for example, may vary symmetrically on either side of the median longitudinal axis of the lens. The insert 21 can have different shapes. For example, when there is no thickness constraint for the beamformer, the insert can extend without limitation in the Z direction and have an I-shaped section across the entire width of the lens, as shown in Figure 4a. When it is necessary to reduce the dimension of the growths, in the direction Z, to maintain a small thickness of the lens, for the large delays requiring insert heights greater than the desired thickness, to reduce the height of the insert without changing the length of its contour, it is possible to fold a free end 21a, opposite the base 21b, of the insert parallel to the XY plane, the folding can be single or double as shown in the embodiments of the figures 4b and 4c, wherein the insert 21 may have an L-shaped section when there is a simple recess, or a T-shaped section when there is a double fold. It is also possible to combine these different I, L, and T shapes over the transverse width of the insert. In these three examples illustrated in FIGS. 4a, 4b, 4c, the metal insert 21 and the internal face 23 of the wall 22 of the protrusion 20 comprise transitions 24 at right angles corresponding, for the transmission line 20, to changes in the direction of propagation from the Z direction to the X direction or vice versa from the X direction to the Z direction. Of course, the folding may not be necessary locally, on certain parts of the insert, for example at the edges side of the lens, when local delays to achieve are low. For example, the length of the contour of the folded insert 21 may be greater on the median longitudinal axis 3 at the center 14 of the lens than on the other paths as shown in the top view of FIG. gradually and symmetrically decrease to the two side edges 15, 16 of the lens where the folding is no longer necessary.
    In addition, in the protrusion, it is also possible to vary gradually the thickness of the insert, in the X direction, between the center and the lateral edges of the lens as in Figures 4a, 4b, 4c. In this case, the input and output profiles of the protrusion, which correspond to the inner and outer contours of the lens, are of different shapes. This makes it possible to obtain an additional degree of freedom and thus to obtain fewer aberrations and beams of better quality.
    In order to reduce the size of the transmission line in thickness, along the Z direction, and to avoid the excitation of modes greater than the level of the protuberances, and especially when the insert is folded, the separation distance between the parallel plates must be reduced at the level of the excrescences, to be typically less than a quarter of the guided wavelength corresponding to the highest frequency. To reduce the losses of the transmission line, the separation distance must instead be maximum. It is thus possible to vary gradually the separation distance from the input supply sources 10 to the protuberances 13.
    Moreover, to improve the adaptation of the transmission line at the level of the protrusion and to increase the bandwidth, it is also possible to add adaptation stubs 25 to the protrusion 13, the adaptation stubs being consisting of portions of waveguides arranged symmetrically in the outer metal wall 22 of the protrusion 20, on either side of the metal insert 21. The stubs have a transversely variable profile, depending on the profile of the 13. Alternatively, instead of adding stubs, the adaptation of the transmission line at the level of the protrusion can also be improved by replacing the edges of the angles at 90 °, located at the base of the insert and at the upper end of the outgrowth and corresponding to changes in direction of the transmission line, bevel transitions or stepped steps transitions as shown in FIG. For example, FIGS. 5a, 5b, 5c. The protrusion 13 and the insert 21, placed on an exit edge of the lens, may have a planar shape profile in the X and Y directions, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, or comprise a curvilinear shape profile according to the X and Y directions, for example parabolic as shown in Figures 6a and 6b.
    Likewise, the transmission line may have a linear input profile as in FIG. 1 or a curvilinear input profile. In FIGS. 6a and 6b, the transmission line comprises several input supply sources 10 distributed periodically around an input edge 31 of the lens according to a focal curve, for example a focal arc, centered on an axis median longitudinal 3 of the lens. Curvilinear profiles at the entrance and exit of the lens make it possible to obtain several different focal points and to form beams over a wider angular sector.
    Unlike the constrained lens, the electromagnetic wave at the output of the beamformer is not spatially quantized, and unlike a Pillbox formatter, the folding of the transmission line is not essential. The lens beam former according to the invention applies to the incident wave a continuous and gradually modulated transverse delay. Thanks to this continuity of spatial transmission, to obtain a plane antenna, it is possible, at the output of the lens, to connect the beamformer to a linear horn 35 extending transversely over the entire width of the waveguide, as 6a and 6b or a network of linear openings extending transversely over the entire width of the waveguide as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. These continuous linear openings have the advantage of radiating the energy over the entire opening width of the beamformer, which makes it possible to realize an antenna with a large bandwidth of operation and with a large capacity of misalignment of the formed beam and makes it possible to overcome the lobes of networks. The shape of the walls of the linear horn can be curvilinear as in Figures 6a, 6b, 7 and 8a.
    To achieve the propagation delays for all the propagation paths, the lens bundle trainer may comprise a single protrusion provided with a metal insert capable of producing progressive delays or a plurality of excrescences distributed along the longitudinal axis X of the transmission line, at different distances from the input power sources 10 as shown for example in Figures 7 and 8a. Each protrusion 13a, 13b, 13c, 13i, 13n extends in height in the direction Z orthogonal to the XY plane of the metal plates and comprises a metal insert whose length of the contour, in longitudinal section, varies progressively from the center of the lens, located on the median longitudinal axis, to the lateral edges of the lens. The multiplicity of excrescences makes it possible to distribute, between the different excrescences, the delays to be achieved for each propagation path 1, 2, 3, each protrusion realizing a fraction of the different respective delays. This makes it possible to reduce the amplitude of the delays produced by each outgrowth, to reduce the length dL1, dL2, dL3 of the transmission line, in each outgrowth, along the Z direction, and to reduce the height of the beamformer in the Z direction. .
    The fraction of the delays produced by each outgrowth may be identical for all the outgrowths or may vary according to the respective distance between each outgrowth and the input supply sources so as to obtain a gradient of delays in the longitudinal direction X of the transmission line. Thus, as shown in the diagram, in longitudinal section, of Figure 8b, by splitting the delays on seven successive protrusions distributed longitudinally, it is possible to achieve a gradient of delays in the longitudinal direction X. In the example of Figure 8b, the height of the insert in the Z direction, in the different successive protuberances gradually varies along the longitudinal axis X of the transmission line. Thus, the length d.sub.L of the transmission line, around the insert, in each protrusion 13, increases between the first four protrusions closest to the input supply sources, then decreases over the last three protrusions. close to the linear output horn. Consequently, since the delay produced by each outgrowth is proportional to the length dL of the transmission line in the outgrowth, the fraction of the delays produced by each outgrowth varies in the same direction and increases between the first four outgrowths closest to the sources. 10 input power, then decreases on the last three outgrowths closest to the output linear horn.
    The lens thus produced, makes it possible, thanks to each protrusion, to obtain a delay varying progressively and continuously over the entire transverse width of the lens and, thanks to the fractionation of the delays on several successive excrescences, makes it possible to obtain a gradient of delays in the longitudinal direction. . In the longitudinal direction, the lens behaves like a graded index lens. The value of the index in each outgrowth in the longitudinal direction is equal to (L + dL) / L, where L is the length of the transmission line in the longitudinal direction X, and dL is the length of the line transmission around the insert 21, in the corresponding protrusion 13.
    By controlling the index gradient, or the delay gradient, it is thus possible to reduce the aberrations, for the depointed beams, over a wide angular sector. It also increases the number of degrees of freedom and focus points.
    By controlling the delay gradient transversely but also longitudinally, the beamformer can form beams without aberrations using transmission lines having a reduced length between the input power sources and the output radiating aperture.
    To improve the angular misalignment sector of the formed beam, it is also possible, in the same transmission line, to arrange several successive excrescences, corresponding alternately to convergent lenses and then to divergent lenses.
    In the diagrams of FIGS. 6a and 6b, a single linear radiating horn is connected at the output of the transverse protrusion of the continuous delay lens. The continuous-delay lens may also be used to power a network of several linear radiating horns, such as the antenna shown in the diagram of FIG. 9. For this, at the output of the protrusion 13, the parallel plate transmission line is folded back on itself, and comprises a linear output opening connected to the network of radiating horns 40 by means of power dividers 41. In this case, the folding of the transmission line is carried out in a straight line 42. The folding can be total 180 ° or partial and form an angle between 0 and 180 °.
    Alternatively, it is also possible to fold the transmission line with a fold of curvilinear shape, for example parabolic, by inserting, in the transmission line, a reflective wall 43, for example metallic, extending according to Z direction, as shown for example in the diagrams of Figures 10, 11, 12. In this case, the beam former consists of two layers 44, 45, stacked and closed at one end by the reflector wall 43 which extends transversely in the two layers of the beamformer over the entire width and over the entire height of the transmission line. The reflective wall can be of any shape, for example flat or parabolic. The beamformer includes at least one progressive delay lens input fed by one or more power sources 10 according to the invention, and has a linear output aperture 48. The progressive delay lens may be placed upstream or downstream of the reflector wall, or may be combined with the reflector wall to form an integrated assembly. In each protrusion, the metal insert may be of any shape and may extend in height in the Z direction and / or in thickness in the X direction. The outlet linear opening 48 may be connected to a horn linear radiator 35 or to a network of several linear horns 40.
    The one or more protrusions 13, 13a, 13b, 13c developing the progressive and continuous delays of the delay lenses may be arranged indifferently in the first or the second layer, or in the two layers of the beam former. In the perspective diagram of FIG. 10, a single transverse protrusion 13 is arranged in the first layer 44 of the beam former, upstream of the reflector wall 43. In the longitudinal sectional diagram of FIG. 11, two opposite protuberances 131, 132 are arranged around a metal insert 21 extending in the two layers 44, 45 of the beam former and the reflecting wall 43 is integrated with the two opposite protuberances 131, 132. In FIG. extends in the direction Z, parallel to the reflective wall 43, but of course, alternatively, it could extend in thickness in the direction X. Moreover, in the diagram of Figure 11, the shapes of the metal insert in the two layers are symmetrical, but it is not mandatory. The shapes of the metal insert in each protrusion and in each layer of the beamformer may be different from each other.
    In the longitudinal sectional diagram of FIG. 12, the beam former comprises two transverse protrusions 131, 132 combined with the reflector wall 43 and arranged around a metal insert 21 extending in the two layers of the beamformer and comprises in addition to at least one third transverse protrusion 133 arranged downstream of the reflector 43, in the second layer of the beam former, between the reflecting wall 43 and the linear opening 48 of output. The radiofrequency waves emitted in the first layer at the input of the transmission line are delayed in the different protuberances of the continuous delay lenses, and reflected by the reflecting wall, towards the second layer before being radiated by the linear output horn. or through the network of linear output horns. The combination of a continuous-delay lens bundle combiner with a reflective wall has the advantage of increasing the number of degrees of freedom, the number of focusing points and improving the performance of the lens. The number of reflective walls may of course be greater than one, the growths may be located upstream or downstream of or reflective walls, and the reflective walls may or may not be incorporated into growths.
    In the diagram of FIG. 13, the beam former comprises several protuberances 131, 132, 133, 134, 135 and two successive reflector walls 43, 50. The first reflector wall 43 is integrated in the two opposite protuberances 131, 132, third protrusion 133 is arranged downstream of the first reflector wall 43, between the first reflector wall 43 and the second reflector wall 50, the fourth protrusion 134 is arranged upstream of the first reflector wall 43, and finally the fifth protrusion 135 is arranged between the second reflector wall 50 and a linear output opening 48. The beam former then comprises three stacked layers 44, 45, 46. The first reflector wall 43 extends in the first and second layers while the second reflector wall 50 extends in the second and third layers. The transmission line is then folded twice on itself, through the first reflective wall 43, then through the second reflector wall 50.
    To reduce the vertical congestion, and to avoid the excitation of modes higher than the level of the growths, and especially when they are folded, the separation between the parallel plates must be reduced at the level of the growths, to be typically less than a quarter of the wavelength corresponding to the highest frequency among all the guided radio frequency waves, so that only the TEM mode can propagate. To reduce the losses of the transmission line, the separation distance must instead be maximum. It is thus possible to vary gradually the separation distance from the input supply sources 10 to the protuberances 13.
    The precisely described beamformer allows one beamline to be formed in a single XY plane since all power sources are located in the XY plane. Of course, it is possible to stack several identical beamformers, according to the invention, to form several different beamlines.
    Similarly, it is possible to form beams in two orthogonal planes by using two identical beamformers according to the invention, and orthogonally connected to each other by their respective input / output ports.
    It is also possible to form beams in two orthogonal planes, by combining the planar beamformer according to the invention, with different planar beam formers, able to form beams in a plane orthogonal to the XY plane, such as by example a Butler matrix.
    Although the invention has been described in connection with particular embodiments, it is obvious that it is not limited thereto and that it includes all the technical equivalents of the means described and their combinations if they are within the scope of the invention. In particular, the shape of the protuberance and the shape of the insert may be different from the forms explicitly described. To vary the delay between the two lateral edges of the lens, corresponding to a variation in the length of the transmission line, the dimensions of the insert may vary in height in the direction Z, or in thickness in the direction X, or vary in both height and thickness. Moreover, to reduce the thickness of the beamformer in the Z direction, the insert may comprise different types of folding and / or a number of folds greater than two, or a combination of several types of folds. Likewise, the number of protrusions may be greater than one, the shape of the reflector may be arbitrary and the number of reflectors used may be greater than one. The protuberances can be placed upstream or downstream of a reflective wall. The beamformer may also include a reflector wall integrated with two protuberances. When the beamformer has two reflective walls, one or more protuberances can be arranged between the two reflective walls.
    权利要求:
    Claims (20)
    [1" id="c-fr-0001]
    A quasi-optical lens beam combiner comprising a radio frequency transmission line (20) fed at a first end by at least one input power source (10), the transmission line (20) having two plates metal stacked, spaced from one another and extending in two longitudinal X and transverse directions Y, characterized in that the transmission line (20) further comprises at least one protrusion (13) extending according to the directions X, Y, and in a direction Z orthogonal to the XY plane, the protrusion (13) comprising a metal insert (21) extending in the direction X, in the transverse direction Y between two lateral edges (15, 16 ) of the transmission line, and extending in height in the direction Z, the metal insert (21) having a base (21b) integral with one of the two metal plates and at least one free end (21a) and having, in section lo ngitudinale, a contour of variable length between the two lateral edges of the transmission line (20), and in that in the protrusion (13), the transmission line (20) is contiguous to the metal insert (21) and forms, in the Z direction, a convolution (22) around the metal insert (21).
    [2" id="c-fr-0002]
    2. quasi-optical lens beam trainer according to claim 1, characterized in that the free end (21a) of the metal insert is folded parallel to the XY plane.
    [3" id="c-fr-0003]
    3. quasi-optical lens beam trainer according to claim 1, characterized in that the free end (21a) of the metal insert is doubly folded T-shaped, parallel to the XY plane.
    [4" id="c-fr-0004]
    4. quasi-optical lens beam trainer according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the protrusion (13) and the metal insert (21) have curvilinear shape profiles in the X and Y directions .
    [5" id="c-fr-0005]
    5. quasi-optical lens beam trainer according to claim 4, characterized in that the protrusion (13) has an input profile (18) and an output profile (19) of different shapes.
    [6" id="c-fr-0006]
    6. quasi-optical lens beam trainer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the protrusion (13) comprises adaptation stubs (25).
    [7" id="c-fr-0007]
    7. quasi-optical lens beam trainer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the protrusion (13), the metal plates of the transmission line (20) have an inner face (23) comprising transitions in stair steps (30).
    [8" id="c-fr-0008]
    8. quasi-optical lens beam trainer according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the length of the contour, in longitudinal section, of the metal insert (21) is progressively decreasing from the center (14) to the two lateral edges (15, 16) of the transmission line.
    [9" id="c-fr-0009]
    9. quasi-optical lens beam trainer according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the length of the contour, in longitudinal section, of the metal insert (21) is progressively increasing from the center (14) to the two lateral edges (15, 16) of the transmission line.
    [10" id="c-fr-0010]
    10. quasi-optical lens beam trainer according to one of claims 8 or 9, characterized in that the metal insert (21) comprises a profile symmetrical with respect to a median longitudinal axis (3) of the transmission line .
    [11" id="c-fr-0011]
    11. quasi-optical lens beam trainer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transmission line comprises several input supply sources (10) periodically distributed around an input edge ( 31), according to a focal curve.
    [12" id="c-fr-0012]
    12. quasi-optical lens beam trainer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises several excrescences (13a, 13b, 13c, .., 13i, 13j) capable of achieving progressive delays, excrescences being successively distributed along the longitudinal axis X of the transmission line, at different distances from the input supply sources (10), each outgrowth comprising a metal insert (21) whose length of the contour, in longitudinal section , varies between the two lateral edges of the transmission line (20).
    [13" id="c-fr-0013]
    13. quasi-optical lens beam trainer according to claim 12, characterized in that the length of the contour of the metal inserts (21), in the different successive protuberances, varies progressively from one protrusion to another adjacent protrusion, according to the longitudinal direction X of the transmission line.
    [14" id="c-fr-0014]
    14. quasi-optical lens beam trainer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transmission line (20) is folded back on itself in the X direction, in a fold of straight shape.
    [15" id="c-fr-0015]
    15. quasi-optical lens beam trainer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises at least a first reflective wall (43) extending transversely in the transmission line, and orthogonally to the plates metal in the direction Z, the first reflective wall (43) being adapted to fold the transmission line on itself, in the X direction, in a curvilinear fold.
    [16" id="c-fr-0016]
    16. quasi-optical lens-beam trainer according to claim 15, characterized in that it comprises at least two layers (44, 45), respectively first and second layers, stacked and closed at one end by the first reflector wall ( 43) and two opposite protuberances (131, 132) arranged around a metal insert (21) extending in the two stacked layers (44, 45), the first reflecting wall (43) being integrated with the two opposite protuberances (131). , 132).
    [17" id="c-fr-0017]
    17. quasi-optical lens beam trainer according to claim 16, characterized in that it further comprises a third layer (46) stacked on the second layer (45) and a second reflective wall (50) extending in the second and third layers (45, 46).
    [18" id="c-fr-0018]
    18. quasi-optical lens beam combiner according to one of claims 16 or 17, characterized in that it further comprises at least a third protrusion (133) provided in the second layer downstream of the first reflector wall (43). ).
    [19" id="c-fr-0019]
    19. Antenna flat, characterized in that it comprises at least one beamformer according to one of the preceding claims and in that it further comprises a linear radiating horn (35) connected at the output of the beamformer.
    [20" id="c-fr-0020]
    20. Antenna flat, characterized in that it comprises at least one beamformer according to one of claims 1 to 18 and in that the transmission line (20) is folded, on itself, in the direction X and further comprises a linear output opening (48) connected to an array of a plurality of radiating horns (40).
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    同族专利:
    公开号 | 公开日
    CA2934754A1|2017-01-03|
    FR3038457B1|2017-07-28|
    US20170005407A1|2017-01-05|
    EP3113286A1|2017-01-04|
    ES2669523T3|2018-05-28|
    EP3113286B1|2018-03-14|
    DK3113286T3|2018-06-06|
    US10135150B2|2018-11-20|
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    US5926134A|1995-09-19|1999-07-20|Dassault Electronique|Electronic scanning antenna|
    US6160520A|1998-01-08|2000-12-12|E★Star, Inc.|Distributed bifocal abbe-sine for wide-angle multi-beam and scanning antenna system|FR3076088A1|2017-12-26|2019-06-28|Thales|QUASI-OPTICAL BEAM FORMER, ELEMENTARY ANTENNA, ANTENNA SYSTEM, PLATFORM AND METHOD OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS THEREFOR|
    US11171396B2|2019-04-18|2021-11-09|Thales|Broadband polarizing screen with one or more radiofrequency polarizing cells|BE504193A|1950-06-23|
    US3170158A|1963-05-08|1965-02-16|Rotman Walter|Multiple beam radar antenna system|
    US5936588A|1998-06-05|1999-08-10|Rao; Sudhakar K.|Reconfigurable multiple beam satellite phased array antenna|
    FR2944153B1|2009-04-02|2013-04-19|Univ Rennes|PILLBOX TYPE PARALLEL PLATE MULTILAYER ANTENNA AND CORRESPONDING ANTENNA SYSTEM|
    FR2986377B1|2012-01-27|2014-03-28|Thales Sa|TWO-DIMENSION MULTI-BEAM TRAINER, ANTENNA COMPRISING SUCH A MULTI-BEAM TRAINER, AND A SATELLITE TELECOMMUNICATION SYSTEM COMPRISING SUCH ANTENNA|
    US10263310B2|2014-05-14|2019-04-16|Gapwaves Ab|Waveguides and transmission lines in gaps between parallel conducting surfaces|FR3069713B1|2017-07-27|2019-08-02|Thales|ANTENNA INTEGRATING DELAY LENSES WITHIN A DISTRIBUTOR BASED ON PARALLEL PLATE WAVEGUIDE DIVIDERS|
    CN108767475B|2018-04-28|2021-09-28|安徽四创电子股份有限公司|Antenna directional diagram shaping structure based on step transformation|
    CN109638408B|2018-12-05|2021-06-04|上海无线电设备研究所|V-band antenna applied to quasi-dynamic scaling test|
    法律状态:
    2016-06-28| PLFP| Fee payment|Year of fee payment: 2 |
    2017-01-06| PLSC| Search report ready|Effective date: 20170106 |
    2017-06-28| PLFP| Fee payment|Year of fee payment: 3 |
    2018-06-28| PLFP| Fee payment|Year of fee payment: 4 |
    2020-06-25| PLFP| Fee payment|Year of fee payment: 6 |
    2021-06-24| PLFP| Fee payment|Year of fee payment: 7 |
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    FR1501415A|FR3038457B1|2015-07-03|2015-07-03|QUASI-OPTICAL BEAM TRAINER WITH LENS AND FLAT ANTENNA COMPRISING SUCH A BEAM FORMER|FR1501415A| FR3038457B1|2015-07-03|2015-07-03|QUASI-OPTICAL BEAM TRAINER WITH LENS AND FLAT ANTENNA COMPRISING SUCH A BEAM FORMER|
    EP16176732.2A| EP3113286B1|2015-07-03|2016-06-28|Quasi-optical lens beam former and planar antenna comprising such a beam former|
    US15/194,993| US10135150B2|2015-07-03|2016-06-28|Quasi-optical beamformer with lens and plane antenna comprising such a beamformer|
    DK16176732.2T| DK3113286T3|2015-07-03|2016-06-28|QUASIOPTIC LENS RADIATOR AND PLAN ANTENNA, INCLUDING SUCH A RADIATOR|
    ES16176732.2T| ES2669523T3|2015-07-03|2016-06-28|Nearly optical beamformer with lens and flat antenna consisting of such beamformer|
    CA2934754A| CA2934754A1|2015-07-03|2016-06-30|Quasi-optical beamformer with lens and plane antenna comprising such a beamformer|
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