Patent ID: 7760129
Filing Date: 2010-07-20
Classification: G01S,Y02A

Abstract:
1. A weather radar system having a support pedestal, comprising: a. an energy pulse train generator for producing radio emissions adapted for weather radar use; b. a radio frequency power divider in electrical communication with said pulse train generator for splitting said radio emissions into simultaneous dual emission components; c. an antenna in electrical communication with said power divider for transmitting said simultaneous dual emission components into space in a controlled manner and for collecting reflected signals from objects of interest; d. an orthomode feed horn positioned on said antenna for altering one of said emission components to have a different phase relative to said other emission component during transmission and for collecting reflectivity signals of disparate phase relative to one another; e. a rotational coupling rotationally supporting said antenna, said rotational coupling including a hollow radio frequency waveguide channel portion for the transmission of radio waves therethrough; f. a receiver subsystem in electrical communication with said antenna for capturing reflectivity signals collected by said antenna; and g. a radar system processor in communication with said receiver subsystem for processing reflectivity signals collected by said antenna; and, h. an optical coupler centrally disposed within said rotational coupling for passing optical transmissions from said receiver subsystem to said system processor through said rotational coupling, wherein said optical coupler is disposed within said waveguide channel portion.