Method and apparatus for improving pattern bandwidth of shaped beam reflectarrays

摘要

A method and apparatus for shaping reflected radio frequency signals includes geometrically shaping a reflector surface (14) of an antenna (12) to focus the beam, and reflectively shaping the reflector surface with phasing elements (38) that emulate geometric shaping to configure the beam (26) to a predetermined shape. In the preferred embodiment, the antenna (12) comprises a geosynchronous satellite antenna (12) conveying signals from a wave guide horn (73) to or from a predetermined geographic area (28) on earth. The use of a parabolic-approaching surface of reflectarray phasing elements for shaping the beam substantially improves the beam pattern bandwidth over the performance of previously known shaped beam reflectarrays. <IMAGE>