Multibeam antenna of high capacity with electronic scanning in transmission

摘要

The antenna (11) includes a network of primary radiating sources (31) in the focal region of a lens or reflector. The network is fed from a network of beamformers (BFN1-FNOn), with each comprising 64 adjustable attenuators and phase-shifters. Four 16-channel amplifying units (22) incorporating hybrid coupler matrix power dividers (25) and combiners (26) give quasi-uniform load distribution over all inputs of the amplifiers (24). Band-pass filters (32) connect the amplifying units to four groups (A-D) of 16 radiating elements distributed as widely as possible throughout the array. Each beam is generated solely by action on the phase and amplitude of excitation of its sources whose numbers are variable according to the desired beam characteristics.