An improved electronic scan tracking antenna for S-band telemetry and remote sensing applications

Author

Cook, James H., Jr. ; Munoz, Rodolfo

Author_Institution

Scientific-Atlanta Inc., GA, USA

fYear

1991

fDate

26-27 Mar 1991

Firstpage

291

Lastpage

296

Abstract

A novel electronic scanning concept is presented for producing a dual-polarized, dual-beam reflector antenna. The two beams correspond to an on-axis, transmit-receive beam and an off-axis, time-sequenced, sequentially scanned beam which is used to produce azimuth and elevation error signals for autotracking. The ESCAN beamforming technique produces low sidelobes in each of the beams while maximizing the G/T in the unmodulated data channel. The sidelobe and autotracking requirements of the 8 m, transportable antenna system for NASA were met with the ESCAN processing antenna. The antenna avoids the expense of a three-channel monopulse system

Keywords

antenna feeders; reflector antennas; remote sensing by radar; scanning antennas; telemetering equipment; tracking systems; ESCAN beamforming technique; NASA; S-band telemetry; autotracking; electronic scan tracking antenna; error signals; planar array feed; reflector antenna; remote sensing; sequentially scanned beam; sidelobes; transmit-receive beam; transportable antenna; unmodulated data channel; Azimuth; Feeds; Frequency; Planar arrays; Polarization; Reflector antennas; Remote sensing; Target tracking; Telemetry; Vehicles;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Telesystems Conference, 1991. Proceedings. Vol.1., NTC '91., National

Conference_Location

Atlanta, GA

Print_ISBN

0-7803-0062-9

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/NTC.1991.148033

Filename

148033