Patent ID: 7463207
Filing Date: 2008-12-09
Classification: H01Q

Abstract:
1. A multiple-beam antenna system, comprising: at least one reflector, a cluster of horns for feeding the at least one reflector, a horn of the cluster of horns configured for providing transmission and reception of signals over respective transmission and reception frequency bands, the horn including a substantially conical wall having an internal surface with a variable slope, the internal surface of the substantially conical wall including a plurality of slope discontinuities, at least one of the plurality of slope discontinuities having a diameter greater than 1.7 times the wavelength of the lowest frequency of the transmission frequency band, the diameter being greater than 1.7 times the wavelength of the highest frequency of the transmission frequency band, the diameter being greater than 1.7 times the wavelength of the lowest frequency of the reception frequency band, and the diameter being greater than 1.7 times the wavelength of the highest frequency of the reception frequency band to generate one or more higher order modes of a transverse electric (TE) mode over the transmission and reception frequency bands without generating a transverse magnetic (TM) mode.