MSU Technologies

Virtual Quasi-Optical Systems in Parallel Plate Waveguide Technology

VAlue proposition

In important applications antennas or arrays will steer their beam in different directions. In particular there are structures in which a mechanical steering is required between different parts of the antenna or where vertical metallic walls are not possible within the structure. There is a need for an antenna or array that can steer its main beam by properly tailoring in amplitude and phase its radiating aperture. Steering the main beam of antenna is a major requirement for all applications involving mobile users or a wide field of view. As an example, next generation wireless networks require antennas connecting and tracking mobile users. The main approach to provide such an agility is to design a phased array in which the elements of the antenna are controlled in phase and amplitude by a beam forming network made by integrated electronic technology. The drawback of such an approach are losses at higher frequency, bandwidth and power limitation. In addition, the pointing direction can be affected by frequency dispersion of the electronics resulting in a squint of the main beam. Quasi-optical systems are used to feed in phase and amplitude radiating systems and arrays. Generally, they are based on integrated lenses or vertical metallic walls between the metallic plates of a guiding waveguide structure. This invention achieves this functionality by virtual magnetic walls. Such walls do not require any physical contact between parallel metallic plates in the structure with a clear advantage for systems requiring mechanical movements.

Description of Technology

This technology provides a quasi-optical system for antennas based on virtual magnetic walls. Classical quasi-optical systems use vertical metallic walls to reflect and phase the Transverse Electromagnetic Mode (TEM) propagation. In legacy systems the metallic wall cancels the electric field. However, in this technology a magnetic conductor is introduced on the top and bottom plate of the structure to cancel the magnetic field and thus reflecting the TEM. The magnetic conductor is shaped to provide the required phase profile. Alternatively, a magnetic conductor can be introduced in the middle layer instead of the top and bottom layers without affecting the operation of the structure. The magnetic walls do not require any physical connection between parallel plate waveguides. The steering of the main beam can be achieved by rotating or moving the equivalent parabolic reflector instead of the feeding horn without affecting the operation of the system.

Benefits