Patent ID: 6404404
Filing Date: 2002-06-11
Classification: H01Q

Abstract:
An antenna array system for a satellite communications system, said antenna array system comprising:a plurality of power amplifiers receiving a signal to be transmitted; and a plurality of antenna elements arranged in a spatial pattern, wherein the elements are arranged in the pattern in concentric rings of elements, each antenna element being connected to one of the power amplifiers and receiving a signal therefrom, said plurality of elements transmitting the signals from all of the elements as a combined signal in a predetermined direction, wherein the antenna elements are arranged in the pattern in a density type arrangement where the elements at a center portion of the pattern are spaced closer together than the elements at an outer portion of the pattern, said combined signal having suppressed side lobes, and wherein the spatial density of the elements is determined by: rn+1=rn+df&af;(rn)where d is an initial spacing between antenna elements, rn is the radius of the n-th ring of elements and f(rn) is a Taylor amplitude distribution at rn, and wherein the number of antenna elements in the n-th ring is equal to 6Ã—(nâˆ’1).