Active reflectarray antenna for communication satellite frequency re-use

摘要

An antenna suited for a communications satellite includes two separately located, mutually orthogonally polarized feed antennas such as vertically and horizontally polarized linear horns. The horns feed an active reflector antenna array. The array includes a plurality of mutually orthogonally polarized antenna elements such as crossed dipoles or square patch antenna with cross feeds for two independent orthogonal polarizations. The feeds of the antenna elements are coupled to amplifier modules. Each module includes a circulator for each polarization, coupled to a processor including a low noise amplifier, controlled phase shifter, variable gain amplifier and power amplifier. The output of the power amplifier feeds the antenna element through the circulator. The large number of radiating elements allows high power using power amplifier with relatively modest capabilities. The phase shifters of each module independently control the reradiation phase of the vertical and horizontal signals, so that a collimated beam can be independently focused to the two feed points, one for each polarization.