Patent ID: 12261362

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

FIG.1shows a waveguide radiator12awith a waveguide14aand with an internal conductor device10a. The waveguide radiator12ais designed for a synthetic aperture radar system, in particular for a high-resolution synthetic aperture radar system. The waveguide radiator12aforms part of a synthetic aperture radar system. The waveguide14ais implemented by a slotted waveguide14a. The waveguide14ais implemented by a rectangular profile having a plurality of slots30aalong its main extension direction. The waveguide14acomprises at least one surface having a plurality of slots30a. The slots30aare preferably arranged in a regular distribution. By way of example, the waveguide14ahas transversal slots30aextending completely over an upper side and partially over two sides of the waveguide14a. If the waveguide14ahas transversal slots30a, the direction of the radiated polarization of the waveguide14acorresponds to the longitudinal direction of the waveguide14a. If alternatively the waveguide14ahas longitudinal slots, the direction of the radiated polarization of the waveguide14acorresponds to the transversal direction of the waveguide14a. Thus either horizontally polarized waves or vertically polarized waves can be radiated, depending on an orientation of the slots30a.

The waveguide14ais configured for receiving the internal conductor device10a. The internal conductor device10ais arranged in the waveguide14a. The internal conductor device10ais arranged in the waveguide14ain a positionally fixed manner. The internal conductor device10ais arranged in the waveguide14ain a positionally fixed manner via projections36a, in particular via projections36aon an underside of a support rail16aof the internal conductor device10a(not shown in detail). The projections36aof the internal conductor device10ain particular engage into recesses of the waveguide14a(not shown in detail).

The internal conductor device10acomprises a support rail16a. The support rail16ais realized by an aluminum rail. However, principally a different implementation of the support rail16a, deemed expedient by someone skilled in the art, would also be conceivable. The support rail16aforms a base body of the internal conductor device10a, which is configured for an accommodation and/or orientation of a dielectric unit18aand/or of an internal conductor22a. The support rail16aextends along a main extension direction38aof the internal conductor device10aover an entire extent of the internal conductor device10a. The support rail16ahas an at least approximately rectangular cross section, wherein the support rail16acomprises, on two sides that face away from each other, respectively one latch edge40aextending along the main extension direction38aof the internal conductor device10a. The latch edges40ain each case run along an entire extent of the support rail16a. The support rail16afurther comprises on an underside a plurality of projections36a, which are configured for a connection and positioning of the internal conductor device10ato and in the waveguide14a.

Beyond this the internal conductor device10acomprises a dielectric unit18a, which is arranged on the support rail16a. The dielectric unit18aextends along the main extension direction38aof the internal conductor device10aover a substantial portion of an extent of the support rail16a. The dielectric unit18ais recessed in a middle region of the support rail16a. The height, respectively thickness, of the dielectric layer formed by the dielectric unit18aalong the support rail16ais not regular but has an individually shaped height progression. It is possible to selectively influence the amplitude and phase of the electric field strength in the slots30aby the height progression and by a shape of an internal conductor22a, such that any required aperture assignments can be realized, for example in order to suppress sidelobes in the antenna diagram below a given value. In the same way homogeneous amplitude and phase assignments can be obtained, for example for a maximization of antenna gain and for a minimization of half-power bandwidth.

The dielectric unit18acomprises at least one dielectric element20a,20a′,20a″. The dielectric unit18acomprises a plurality of dielectric elements20a,20a′,20a″. The dielectric unit18acomprises at least four, preferably at least eight, preferentially at least twelve and particularly preferentially at least sixteen dielectric elements20a,20a′,20a″. The dielectric elements20a,20a′,20a″ are arranged on the support rail16ain a form-fit manner in a row. The dielectric elements20a,20a′,20a″ are plugged on the support rail16abehind one another. It would, however, also be conceivable that the dielectric elements20a,20a′,20a″ are arranged on the support rail16ain several rows. The dielectric unit18acomprises two groups of dielectric elements20a,20a′,20a″, which are in each case arranged on opposite-situated sides of the support rail16a. The dielectric elements20a,20a′,20a″ are arranged in an alignment. By way of example, the height of the dielectric elements20a,20a′,20a″ increases from the middle region of the support rail16atoward the two end regions of the support rail16a. The dielectric elements20a,20a′,20a″ of a group are implemented respectively differently from one another, the groups of dielectric elements20a,20a′,20a″ comprising dielectric elements20a,20a′,20a″ which respectively correspond to each other. The dielectric elements20a,20a′,20a″ of the dielectric unit18aat least partly have different heights and/or different material thicknesses. The dielectric elements20a,20a′,20a″ of a group of the dielectric unit18ahave different heights. Preferentially the dielectric unit18acomprises dielectric elements20a,20a′,20a″ having different heights, wherein respectively two dielectric elements20a,20a′,20a″ have the same height. The groups of the dielectric unit18ain each case comprise a first dielectric element20a, which is arranged closest to a middle of the support rail16a. The two first dielectric elements20ain particular have a smallest height of the dielectric elements20a,20a′,20a″. The groups of the dielectric unit18afurthermore in each case comprise a last dielectric element20a″, which is respectively arranged closest to one of the end regions of the support rail16a. The two last dielectric elements20a″ in particular have a greatest height of the dielectric elements20a,20a′,20a″. Furthermore the groups of the dielectric unit18ain each case comprise several further dielectric elements20a′, which are respectively arranged between the first dielectric element20aand the last dielectric element20a″.

The dielectric elements20a,20a′,20a″ of the dielectric unit18aare in each case realized as an open or closed hollow body. The dielectric elements20a,20a′,20a″ respectively delimit a hollow space. The hollow space is in each case implemented open towards an environment. The hollow space of the dielectric elements20a,20a′,20a″ of the dielectric unit18ais in each case realized by a rectangular volume. The dielectric elements20a,20a′,20a″ of the dielectric unit18ain each case have an approximately U-shaped cross section. The dielectric elements20a,20a′,20a″ of the dielectric unit18ain each case have an approximately U-shaped cross section in a sectional plane perpendicular to a main extension direction of the respective dielectric element20a,20a′,20a″. However, principally a different shaping of the dielectric elements20a,20a′,20a″, deemed expedient by someone skilled in the art, would also be conceivable.

The dielectric elements20a,20a′,20a″ are fixed at least substantially mechanically on the support rail16a. The dielectric elements20a,20a′,20a″ are latched onto the support rail16a. The dielectric elements20a,20a′,20a″ are configured to latch with the latch edges40aof the support rail16a. The dielectric elements20a,20a′,20a″ have latch recesses42acorresponding to the latch edges40a. The latch recesses42aare in each case arranged on the inner face of the free ends of the U-shaped cross section of the dielectric elements20a,20a′,20a″. The dielectric elements20a,20a′,20a″ are fixed via the latch connection transversally to the main extension direction38aof the internal conductor device10a.

The support rail16afurthermore comprises at least one fixing element27a, which is configured for fixing at least one dielectric element20a,20a″ of the dielectric unit18aat least partially relative to the support rail16a. The support rail16acomprises several, in particular four, fixing elements27a, which are configured for partially fixing the first and last dielectric elements20a,20a″ of the dielectric unit18arelative to the support rail16a. The fixing elements27aare configured for fixing the first and last dielectric elements20a,20a″ along a longitudinal direction of the support rail16afree of tolerance. The fixing elements27aare in each case implemented by a pin configured to engage into a recess26aof the respective dielectric element20a,20a″. Principally, however, a different implementation of the fixing elements27a, deemed expedient by someone skilled in the art, would also be conceivable. It would alternatively also be conceivable that the fixing elements27afix only the first or the last dielectric elements20a,20a″ of the dielectric unit18a. The fixing elements27aare also configured for positioning and fixing the first and last dielectric elements20a,20a″ of the dielectric unit18aon the support rail16ain a defined position relative to the support rail16a. The fixing elements27aare releasably connected to a base body44aof the support rail16a. The fixing elements27aare screwed into the base body44aof the support rail16ain a region of one of the latch edges40a. However, principally it would also be conceivable that the fixing elements27aare connected to the base body44aintegrally.

The internal conductor device10afurther comprises a positioning unit28a, which is configured for positioning at least one of the dielectric elements20a′ of the dielectric unit18afloating relative to the support rail16a. The positioning unit28ais configured for positioning the further dielectric elements20a′ of the dielectric unit18afloating relative to the support rail16a. The positioning unit28acomprises several first positioning members which are implemented fixedly, in particular integrally, with the support rail16a. The positioning unit28afurther comprises several second positioning members46awhich are implemented fixedly, in particular integrally, with respectively one of the further dielectric elements20a′. Respectively two of the second positioning members46aare implemented integrally with respectively one of the further dielectric elements20a′. The positioning members46aare in each case arranged, on opposite-situated sides, in the latch recesses42aof the respective further dielectric element20a′. In a mounted state of the further dielectric elements20a′ on the support rail16a, the first positioning member and the second positioning members46ainteract for a positioning of the further dielectric elements20a′ of the dielectric unit18arelative to the support rail16a. The first positioning member and the second positioning members46ainteract in such a way that the respective further dielectric element20a′ is fixed on the support rail16awith a defined tolerance. The fixing elements27aof the support rail16aare configured to fix the first and last dielectric elements20a,20a″ rigidly on the support rail16a, whereas the further dielectric elements20a′ are positioned by means of the positioning unit28ain such a way that they are floating relative to the support rail16abetween the first and last dielectric elements20a,20a″. The first positioning members of the positioning unit28aare exemplarily implemented by deepenings in the latch edges40aof the support rail16a. The second positioning members46aof the positioning unit28aare exemplarily implemented by elevations in the latch recesses42aof the further dielectric elements20a′. Preferably the second positioning members46aare produced by the section-wise interruption of the latch recesses42a.

Beyond this the internal conductor device10acomprises an internal conductor22a, which is arranged on the dielectric unit18a. The internal conductor22ais realized by a copper conductor. The internal conductor22amounted in the waveguide14ais arranged facing toward the slots30aof the waveguide14a. Depending on the orientation of the slots30a, the internal conductor22ais shaped so as to enable a feeding according to the traveling-wave principle, wherein all the slots30aof the waveguide14acan be excited in phase. The internal conductor22ais specifically shaped depending on a polarization, so as to be capable of exciting either longitudinal or horizontal slots30a. In a middle region of the support rail16a, the internal conductor10ais connected to the support rail16avia a feed line48a. The internal conductor22ais actuated via the feed line48a. The feed line48aserves for feeding and is electrically connected to the internal conductor22a. The feed line48ais mechanically load-free. The internal conductor22ais furthermore fixed mechanically on the dielectric elements20a,20a′,20a″. The internal conductor device10acomprises several form-fitting and/or force-fitting elements24a, which are configured to fix the internal conductor22amechanically on the dielectric elements20a,20a′,20a″. The form-fitting and/or force-fitting elements24aare implemented by separate elements configured for a direct connection to the internal conductor22aand/or to the dielectric elements20a,20a′,20a″. The form-fitting and/or force-fitting elements24arespectively comprise a molded-on latch member. The dielectric elements20a,20a′,20a″ in each case have a recess26a. The recesses26aare in each case arranged on an upper side of the respective dielectric element20a,20a′,20a″. The recesses26aare in each case implemented by a through bore. The form-fitting and/or force-fitting elements24aare configured to latch in the recesses26aof the dielectric elements20a,20a′,20a″. The dielectric elements20a,20a′,20a″ respectively form a latch connection with the form-fitting and/or force-fitting elements24awherein, during a fastening process, the form-fitting and/or force-fitting elements24aare in each case partly deflected elastically and then latch in behind a corresponding latch element of the recess26aof the respective dielectric element20a,20a′,20a″ due to their internal resiliency. The recesses26aof the dielectric elements20a,20a′,20a″ are realized by a latch recess. The dielectric elements20a,20a′,20a″ have a circumferential latch collar at a surface delimiting the recess26aof the respective dielectric element20a,20a′,20a″. The form-fitting and/or force-fitting elements24aare in each case implemented by a fixing pin. The form-fitting and/or force-fitting elements24aare in each case implemented by a pin. The form-fitting and/or force-fitting elements24ain each case have a plate-shaped head and a latch pin that is molded to the head. However, a different implementation of the form-fitting and/or force-fitting elements24a, deemed expedient by someone skilled in the art, would also be conceivable. The form-fitting and/or force-fitting elements24aare in each case configured to extend into the recess26aof one of the dielectric elements20a,20a′,20a″ through a recess in the internal conductor22a. The internal conductor22ahas a plurality of recesses that correspond to the recesses26aof the dielectric elements20a,20a′,20a″. By way of example, the recesses of the internal conductor22aare implemented by long holes, in particular by punched long holes. Due to an implementation of the recesses of the internal conductor22aas long holes, in particular a slight movement of the dielectric elements20a,20a′,20a″ relative to the internal conductor22a, which is in particular for example due to temperature expansion of the dielectric elements20a,20a′,20a″, may be enabled.

FIG.5shows a flow chart of a method for producing the internal conductor device10a. The internal conductor device10ais in particular produced free of glue connections. In the method, in a first coupling step32athe dielectric elements20a,20a′,20a″ of the dielectric unit18aare mounted mechanically onto the support rail16ain a row in a defined sequence. For this in particular the two first dielectric elements20aare slid, plugged and/or clipped onto the support rail16aand are fixed by means of the fixing elements27a. After that in particular the further dielectric elements20a′ are plugged onto the support rail16aand are positioned by means of the positioning unit28a. Then the last dielectric elements20a″ are slid, plugged and/or clipped onto the support rail16aand are fixed by means of the fixing elements27a. Furthermore, in a further coupling step34athe internal conductor22ais positioned on the dielectric unit18aand is fixed mechanically on the dielectric unit18aby means of the form-fitting and/or force-fitting elements24a. The form-fitting and/or force-fitting elements24aare plugged through the recesses in the internal conductor22ainto the recesses26aof the dielectric elements20a,20a′,20a″ and are latched with the dielectric elements20a,20a′,20a″. Introducing the form-fitting and/or force-fitting elements24amay be brought about, for example, via a loading machine.

InFIG.6a further exemplary embodiment of the invention is illustrated. The following description is essentially limited to the differences between the exemplary embodiments, wherein regarding components, features and functions that remain the same the description of the exemplary embodiment ofFIGS.1to5may be referred to. In order to distinguish between the exemplary embodiments, the letter a of the reference numerals of the exemplary embodiment inFIGS.1to5has been substituted by the letter b in the reference numerals ofFIG.6. Regarding components having the same denomination, in particular components having the same reference numerals, principally the drawings and/or the description of the exemplary embodiment ofFIGS.1to5may be referred to.

FIG.6shows an alternative internal conductor device10bwith a support rail16b, with a dielectric unit18band with an internal conductor22b. The dielectric unit18bcomprises a plurality of dielectric elements20b″. Furthermore, the internal conductor22bis fixed mechanically on the dielectric elements20b. The internal conductor device10bcomprises several form-fitting and/or force-fitting elements24b, which are configured for fixing the internal conductor22bmechanically on the dielectric elements20b. The form-fitting and/or force-fitting elements24bare implemented by separate elements, which are configured for a direct connection to the internal conductor22band/or to the dielectric elements20b. The form-fitting and/or force-fitting elements24bin each case comprise molded-on latch members. The dielectric elements20bin each case have two recesses26b. The recesses26bare in each case arranged next to each other on an upper side of the respective dielectric element20b. The recesses26bare implemented in each case by blind holes. The form-fitting and/or force-fitting elements24bare configured for latching in the recesses26aof the dielectric elements20b. The dielectric elements20bin each case form a latch connection with the form-fitting and/or force-fitting elements24b, wherein during a fastening process the form-fitting and/or force-fitting elements24bare respectively partly deflected elastically and then latch in behind a corresponding latch element of the recess26bof the respective dielectric element20bdue to their internal resiliency. The form-fitting and/or force-fitting elements24bare in each case embodied by a fixing clamp. The form-fitting and/or force-fitting elements24bhave a U-shape. The form-fitting and/or force-fitting elements24bare in each case configured to engage over the internal conductor22band to engage on both sides of the internal conductor22binto the recesses26bof one of the dielectric elements20b.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

10internal conductor device12waveguide radiator14waveguide16support rail18dielectric unit20dielectric element22internal conductor24form-fitting and/or force-fitting element26recess27fixing element28positioning unit30slot32coupling step34coupling step36projection38main extension direction40latch edge42latch recess44base body46positioning member48feed line