PHASE-ONLY RECONFIGURABLE MULTI-FEED REFLECTOR ANTENNA FOR SHAPED BEAMS

摘要

A method and apparatus for reconfigurably transmitting shaped beam satellite signals via reflector array antennas are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a reflector (406) for reflecting signals having a reflector focal plane (104) and a feed array (402) comprising a plurality of feed elements (414) wherein said feed array (402) is defocused from said reflector focal plane (104), yet produces an wavefront (312) substantially similar to a wavefront that would be produced by a feed array located at the reflector focal plane (104). The method of transmitting a signal in accordance with the present invention comprises forming a wavefront (312) with a feed array (402), wherein said feed array (402) is defocused from a reflector focal plane (104), yet produces a wavefront (312) substantially similar to a wavefront that would be produced by a feed array located at the reflector focal plane (104) and reflecting said wavefront (312) to a coverage area (408).