A scanning spherical tri-reflector antenna with a moving flat mirror

Spherical reflector systems can achieve pattern scanning without rotation of the main reflector through the use of multiple subreflectors that can move. Also, two subreflectors can be shaped to correct for spherical aberration and to control the aperture distribution on the spherical main reflector. In a previous paper (see ibid., vol.41, p.778, no.6, 1993) we introduced a method that offers both aperture phase and intensity control and scans the main beam without an accompanying movement of the illuminated area over main reflector. The method can overcome the poor aperture utilization problem common in spherical reflector antenna systems; however, it requires motion of the entire subreflector system, including the feed, during scan. In this paper we discuss a method that does not require motion of the subreflector system during scan. This method employs a flat mirror that creates a virtual image of the subreflector system. The motion of the subreflector system in the previous design is replaced by the motion of the virtual image that is controlled by the motion of the flat mirror. The new design offers simplified mechanical motion, while maintaining beam efficiency performance comparable to that of traditional spherical tri-reflector scanning antennas, but with some sacrifice in aperture efficiency and cross-polarization performance