Luneberg lens antenna with multiple gimbaled RF feeds

摘要

A Luneberg lens has a plurality of feeds arranged to send and receive signals to and from a plurality of satellites. The lens is spherical and is fixedly supported on a support mount. Also supported on this mount are a plurality of arcuate positioner tracks which form arcs parallel to the surface of the lens. Each of the feeds is mounted on a separate one of these tracks. The tracks are supported on the mount for separate pivotal motion along separate paths equidistant from the surface of the lens about a “y” axis relative to the lens. A motor is coupled to the drive of each of the tracks to pivotally drive its associated track in response to control signals. The feeds are mounted on the tracks for motion in paths about an “x” axis relative to the lens, such paths being equidistant from the surface of such lens. A motor drives each of the feeds in response to control signals along separate paths parallel to the lens surface. The feeds thus can be separately positioned about the lens surface along mutually orthogonal paths in response to control signals over a wide range. This facilitates continuous communication as the direction of a satellite from the site changes by utilizing two satellites simultaneously so that when one goes out of sight, the other can be used to continue communications.