Internal conductor device for a waveguide radiator

Abstract

An internal conductor device for a waveguide radiator, in particular for a waveguide radiator has at least one slotted waveguide, at least one support rail, at least one dielectric unit that is arranged on the at least one support rail and comprises at least one dielectric element, and has at least one internal conductor that is arranged on the at least one dielectric unit, wherein the at least one internal conductor is fixed at least substantially mechanically on the at least one dielectric element and/or that the at least one dielectric element is fixed at least substantially mechanically on the at least one support rail.

Claims

1. An internal conductor device for a waveguide radiator, in particular for a waveguide radiator with at least one slotted waveguide, with at least one support rail, with at least one dielectric unit that is arranged on the at least one support rail and comprises at least one dielectric element, and with at least one internal conductor that is arranged on the at least one dielectric unit, wherein the at least one internal conductor is fixed at least substantially mechanically on the at least one dielectric element and/or that the at least one dielectric element is fixed at least substantially mechanically on the at least one support rail, the internal conductor device further comprising at least one form-fitting and/or force-fitting element, which is configured for fixing the at least one internal conductor mechanically on the at least one dielectric element, wherein the at least one dielectric element has at least one recess and the at least one form-fitting and/or force-fitting element is configured to latch in the at least one recess of the dielectric element.

2. The internal conductor device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one form-fitting and/or force-fitting element is embodied by a fixing pin.

3. The internal conductor device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one support rail comprises at least one fixing element, which is configured to fix at least a part of the at least one dielectric element of the dielectric unit relative to the support rail.

4. The internal conductor device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one dielectric unit comprises at least three dielectric elements.

5. The internal conductor device according to claim 4, wherein the at least three dielectric elements are arranged in a form-fit manner in at least one row on the at least one support rail.

6. The internal conductor device according to claim 4, wherein the at least three dielectric elements of the at least one dielectric unit have at least partly different heights and/or different material thicknesses.

7. The internal conductor device according to claim 4, comprising a positioning unit, which is configured for a positioning of at least one of the at least three dielectric elements of the at least one dielectric unit floating relative to the at least one support rail.

8. A method for producing an internal conductor device according to claim 4, wherein in at least one coupling step the at least three dielectric elements of the at least one dielectric unit are mounted mechanically on the at least one support rail in at least one row in a defined sequence.

9. The internal conductor device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one dielectric element of the at least one dielectric unit is implemented as an open or closed hollow body.

10. A waveguide radiator with at least one slotted waveguide comprising at least one surface having a plurality of slots, and with an internal conductor device according to claim 1 which is arranged in the at least one slotted waveguide.

11. A synthetic aperture radar system, wherein the synthetic aperture radar system is a high-resolution synthetic aperture radar system, with at least one waveguide radiator according to claim 10.

12. A method for producing an internal conductor device according to claim 1.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein in at least one coupling step the at least one internal conductor is positioned on the at least one dielectric unit and is mechanically fixed on the at least one dielectric unit by means of at least one form-fitting and/or force-fitting element.

Description

DRAWINGS

(1) Further advantages will become apparent from the following description of the drawings. In the drawings two exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated. The drawings, the description and the claims contain a plurality of features in combination. Someone skilled in the art will purposefully also consider the features separately and will find further expedient combinations.

(2) FIG. 1 a waveguide radiator with a waveguide and with an internal conductor device according to the invention, in a schematic illustration,

(3) FIG. 2 the internal conductor device according to the invention with a support rail, with a dielectric unit comprising several dielectric elements and with an internal conductor, in a schematic illustration,

(4) FIG. 3 the internal conductor device with the support rail, with the dielectric unit and with the internal conductor, in a schematic sectional view along the section line III-III,

(5) FIG. 4 a dielectric element of the dielectric unit of the internal conductor device according to the invention, in a schematic illustration,

(6) FIG. 5 a flow chart of a method for producing the internal conductor device according to the invention, and

(7) FIG. 6 an alternative internal conductor device according to the invention with a support rail, with a dielectric unit and with an internal conductor, in a schematic illustration.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

(8) FIG. 1 shows a waveguide radiator 12a with a waveguide 14a and with an internal conductor device 10a. The waveguide radiator 12a is designed for a synthetic aperture radar system, in particular for a high-resolution synthetic aperture radar system. The waveguide radiator 12a forms part of a synthetic aperture radar system. The waveguide 14a is implemented by a slotted waveguide 14a. The waveguide 14a is implemented by a rectangular profile having a plurality of slots 30a along its main extension direction. The waveguide 14a comprises at least one surface having a plurality of slots 30a. The slots 30a are preferably arranged in a regular distribution. By way of example, the waveguide 14a has transversal slots 30a extending completely over an upper side and partially over two sides of the waveguide 14a. If the waveguide 14a has transversal slots 30a, the direction of the radiated polarization of the waveguide 14a corresponds to the longitudinal direction of the waveguide 14a. If alternatively the waveguide 14a has longitudinal slots, the direction of the radiated polarization of the waveguide 14a corresponds to the transversal direction of the waveguide 14a. Thus either horizontally polarized waves or vertically polarized waves can be radiated, depending on an orientation of the slots 30a.

(9) The waveguide 14a is configured for receiving the internal conductor device 10a. The internal conductor device 10a is arranged in the waveguide 14a. The internal conductor device 10a is arranged in the waveguide 14a in a positionally fixed manner. The internal conductor device 10a is arranged in the waveguide 14a in a positionally fixed manner via projections 36a, in particular via projections 36a on an underside of a support rail 16a of the internal conductor device 10a (not shown in detail). The projections 36a of the internal conductor device 10a in particular engage into recesses of the waveguide 14a (not shown in detail).

(10) The internal conductor device 10a comprises a support rail 16a. The support rail 16a is realized by an aluminum rail. However, principally a different implementation of the support rail 16a, deemed expedient by someone skilled in the art, would also be conceivable. The support rail 16a forms a base body of the internal conductor device 10a, which is configured for an accommodation and/or orientation of a dielectric unit 18a and/or of an internal conductor 22a. The support rail 16a extends along a main extension direction 38a of the internal conductor device 10a over an entire extent of the internal conductor device 10a. The support rail 16a has an at least approximately rectangular cross section, wherein the support rail 16a comprises, on two sides that face away from each other, respectively one latch edge 40a extending along the main extension direction 38a of the internal conductor device 10a. The latch edges 40a in each case run along an entire extent of the support rail 16a. The support rail 16a further comprises on an underside a plurality of projections 36a, which are configured for a connection and positioning of the internal conductor device 10a to and in the waveguide 14a.

(11) Beyond this the internal conductor device 10a comprises a dielectric unit 18a, which is arranged on the support rail 16a. The dielectric unit 18a extends along the main extension direction 38a of the internal conductor device 10a over a substantial portion of an extent of the support rail 16a. The dielectric unit 18a is recessed in a middle region of the support rail 16a. The height, respectively thickness, of the dielectric layer formed by the dielectric unit 18a along the support rail 16a is 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 slots 30a by the height progression and by a shape of an internal conductor 22a, 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.

(12) The dielectric unit 18a comprises at least one dielectric element 20a, 20a, 20a. The dielectric unit 18a comprises a plurality of dielectric elements 20a, 20a, 20a. The dielectric unit 18a comprises at least four, preferably at least eight, preferentially at least twelve and particularly preferentially at least sixteen dielectric elements 20a, 20a, 20a. The dielectric elements 20a, 20a, 20a are arranged on the support rail 16a in a form-fit manner in a row. The dielectric elements 20a, 20a, 20a are plugged on the support rail 16a behind one another. It would, however, also be conceivable that the dielectric elements 20a, 20a, 20a are arranged on the support rail 16a in several rows. The dielectric unit 18a comprises two groups of dielectric elements 20a, 20a, 20a, which are in each case arranged on opposite-situated sides of the support rail 16a. The dielectric elements 20a, 20a, 20a are arranged in an alignment. By way of example, the height of the dielectric elements 20a, 20a, 20a increases from the middle region of the support rail 16a toward the two end regions of the support rail 16a. The dielectric elements 20a, 20a, 20a of a group are implemented respectively differently from one another, the groups of dielectric elements 20a, 20a, 20a comprising dielectric elements 20a, 20a, 20a which respectively correspond to each other. The dielectric elements 20a, 20a, 20a of the dielectric unit 18a at least partly have different heights and/or different material thicknesses. The dielectric elements 20a, 20a, 20a of a group of the dielectric unit 18a have different heights. Preferentially the dielectric unit 18a comprises dielectric elements 20a, 20a, 20a having different heights, wherein respectively two dielectric elements 20a, 20a, 20a have the same height. The groups of the dielectric unit 18a in each case comprise a first dielectric element 20a, which is arranged closest to a middle of the support rail 16a. The two first dielectric elements 20a in particular have a smallest height of the dielectric elements 20a, 20a, 20a. The groups of the dielectric unit 18a furthermore in each case comprise a last dielectric element 20a, which is respectively arranged closest to one of the end regions of the support rail 16a. The two last dielectric elements 20a in particular have a greatest height of the dielectric elements 20a, 20a, 20a. Furthermore the groups of the dielectric unit 18a in each case comprise several further dielectric elements 20a, which are respectively arranged between the first dielectric element 20a and the last dielectric element 20a.

(13) The dielectric elements 20a, 20a, 20a of the dielectric unit 18a are in each case realized as an open or closed hollow body. The dielectric elements 20a, 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 elements 20a, 20a, 20a of the dielectric unit 18a is in each case realized by a rectangular volume. The dielectric elements 20a, 20a, 20a of the dielectric unit 18a in each case have an approximately U-shaped cross section. The dielectric elements 20a, 20a, 20a of the dielectric unit 18a in each case have an approximately U-shaped cross section in a sectional plane perpendicular to a main extension direction of the respective dielectric element 20a, 20a, 20a. However, principally a different shaping of the dielectric elements 20a, 20a, 20a, deemed expedient by someone skilled in the art, would also be conceivable.

(14) The dielectric elements 20a, 20a, 20a are fixed at least substantially mechanically on the support rail 16a. The dielectric elements 20a, 20a, 20a are latched onto the support rail 16a. The dielectric elements 20a, 20a, 20a are configured to latch with the latch edges 40a of the support rail 16a. The dielectric elements 20a, 20a, 20a have latch recesses 42a corresponding to the latch edges 40a. The latch recesses 42a are in each case arranged on the inner face of the free ends of the U-shaped cross section of the dielectric elements 20a, 20a, 20a. The dielectric elements 20a, 20a, 20a are fixed via the latch connection transversally to the main extension direction 38a of the internal conductor device 10a.

(15) The support rail 16a furthermore comprises at least one fixing element 27a, which is configured for fixing at least one dielectric element 20a, 20a of the dielectric unit 18a at least partially relative to the support rail 16a. The support rail 16a comprises several, in particular four, fixing elements 27a, which are configured for partially fixing the first and last dielectric elements 20a, 20a of the dielectric unit 18a relative to the support rail 16a. The fixing elements 27a are configured for fixing the first and last dielectric elements 20a, 20a along a longitudinal direction of the support rail 16a free of tolerance. The fixing elements 27a are in each case implemented by a pin configured to engage into a recess 26a of the respective dielectric element 20a, 20a. Principally, however, a different implementation of the fixing elements 27a, deemed expedient by someone skilled in the art, would also be conceivable. It would alternatively also be conceivable that the fixing elements 27a fix only the first or the last dielectric elements 20a, 20a of the dielectric unit 18a. The fixing elements 27a are also configured for positioning and fixing the first and last dielectric elements 20a, 20a of the dielectric unit 18a on the support rail 16a in a defined position relative to the support rail 16a. The fixing elements 27a are releasably connected to a base body 44a of the support rail 16a. The fixing elements 27a are screwed into the base body 44a of the support rail 16a in a region of one of the latch edges 40a. However, principally it would also be conceivable that the fixing elements 27a are connected to the base body 44a integrally.

(16) The internal conductor device 10a further comprises a positioning unit 28a, which is configured for positioning at least one of the dielectric elements 20a of the dielectric unit 18a floating relative to the support rail 16a. The positioning unit 28a is configured for positioning the further dielectric elements 20a of the dielectric unit 18a floating relative to the support rail 16a. The positioning unit 28a comprises several first positioning members which are implemented fixedly, in particular integrally, with the support rail 16a. The positioning unit 28a further comprises several second positioning members 46a which are implemented fixedly, in particular integrally, with respectively one of the further dielectric elements 20a. Respectively two of the second positioning members 46a are implemented integrally with respectively one of the further dielectric elements 20a. The positioning members 46a are in each case arranged, on opposite-situated sides, in the latch recesses 42a of the respective further dielectric element 20a. In a mounted state of the further dielectric elements 20a on the support rail 16a, the first positioning member and the second positioning members 46a interact for a positioning of the further dielectric elements 20a of the dielectric unit 18a relative to the support rail 16a. The first positioning member and the second positioning members 46a interact in such a way that the respective further dielectric element 20a is fixed on the support rail 16a with a defined tolerance. The fixing elements 27a of the support rail 16a are configured to fix the first and last dielectric elements 20a, 20a rigidly on the support rail 16a, whereas the further dielectric elements 20a are positioned by means of the positioning unit 28a in such a way that they are floating relative to the support rail 16a between the first and last dielectric elements 20a, 20a. The first positioning members of the positioning unit 28a are exemplarily implemented by deepenings in the latch edges 40a of the support rail 16a. The second positioning members 46a of the positioning unit 28a are exemplarily implemented by elevations in the latch recesses 42a of the further dielectric elements 20a. Preferably the second positioning members 46a are produced by the section-wise interruption of the latch recesses 42a.

(17) Beyond this the internal conductor device 10a comprises an internal conductor 22a, which is arranged on the dielectric unit 18a. The internal conductor 22a is realized by a copper conductor. The internal conductor 22a mounted in the waveguide 14a is arranged facing toward the slots 30a of the waveguide 14a. Depending on the orientation of the slots 30a, the internal conductor 22a is shaped so as to enable a feeding according to the traveling-wave principle, wherein all the slots 30a of the waveguide 14a can be excited in phase. The internal conductor 22a is specifically shaped depending on a polarization, so as to be capable of exciting either longitudinal or horizontal slots 30a. In a middle region of the support rail 16a, the internal conductor 10a is connected to the support rail 16a via a feed line 48a. The internal conductor 22a is actuated via the feed line 48a. The feed line 48a serves for feeding and is electrically connected to the internal conductor 22a. The feed line 48a is mechanically load-free. The internal conductor 22a is furthermore fixed mechanically on the dielectric elements 20a, 20a, 20a. The internal conductor device 10a comprises several form-fitting and/or force-fitting elements 24a, which are configured to fix the internal conductor 22a mechanically on the dielectric elements 20a, 20a, 20a. The form-fitting and/or force-fitting elements 24a are implemented by separate elements configured for a direct connection to the internal conductor 22a and/or to the dielectric elements 20a, 20a, 20a. The form-fitting and/or force-fitting elements 24a respectively comprise a molded-on latch member. The dielectric elements 20a, 20a, 20a in each case have a recess 26a. The recesses 26a are in each case arranged on an upper side of the respective dielectric element 20a, 20a, 20a. The recesses 26a are in each case implemented by a through bore. The form-fitting and/or force-fitting elements 24a are configured to latch in the recesses 26a of the dielectric elements 20a, 20a, 20a. The dielectric elements 20a, 20a, 20a respectively form a latch connection with the form-fitting and/or force-fitting elements 24a wherein, during a fastening process, the form-fitting and/or force-fitting elements 24a are in each case partly deflected elastically and then latch in behind a corresponding latch element of the recess 26a of the respective dielectric element 20a, 20a, 20a due to their internal resiliency. The recesses 26a of the dielectric elements 20a, 20a, 20a are realized by a latch recess. The dielectric elements 20a, 20a, 20a have a circumferential latch collar at a surface delimiting the recess 26a of the respective dielectric element 20a, 20a, 20a. The form-fitting and/or force-fitting elements 24a are in each case implemented by a fixing pin. The form-fitting and/or force-fitting elements 24a are in each case implemented by a pin. The form-fitting and/or force-fitting elements 24a in 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 elements 24a, deemed expedient by someone skilled in the art, would also be conceivable. The form-fitting and/or force-fitting elements 24a are in each case configured to extend into the recess 26a of one of the dielectric elements 20a, 20a, 20a through a recess in the internal conductor 22a. The internal conductor 22a has a plurality of recesses that correspond to the recesses 26a of the dielectric elements 20a, 20a, 20a. By way of example, the recesses of the internal conductor 22a are implemented by long holes, in particular by punched long holes. Due to an implementation of the recesses of the internal conductor 22a as long holes, in particular a slight movement of the dielectric elements 20a, 20a, 20a relative to the internal conductor 22a, which is in particular for example due to temperature expansion of the dielectric elements 20a, 20a, 20a, may be enabled.

(18) FIG. 5 shows a flow chart of a method for producing the internal conductor device 10a. The internal conductor device 10a is in particular produced free of glue connections. In the method, in a first coupling step 32a the dielectric elements 20a, 20a, 20a of the dielectric unit 18a are mounted mechanically onto the support rail 16a in a row in a defined sequence. For this in particular the two first dielectric elements 20a are slid, plugged and/or clipped onto the support rail 16a and are fixed by means of the fixing elements 27a. After that in particular the further dielectric elements 20a are plugged onto the support rail 16a and are positioned by means of the positioning unit 28a. Then the last dielectric elements 20a are slid, plugged and/or clipped onto the support rail 16a and are fixed by means of the fixing elements 27a. Furthermore, in a further coupling step 34a the internal conductor 22a is positioned on the dielectric unit 18a and is fixed mechanically on the dielectric unit 18a by means of the form-fitting and/or force-fitting elements 24a. The form-fitting and/or force-fitting elements 24a are plugged through the recesses in the internal conductor 22a into the recesses 26a of the dielectric elements 20a, 20a, 20a and are latched with the dielectric elements 20a, 20a, 20a. Introducing the form-fitting and/or force-fitting elements 24a may be brought about, for example, via a loading machine.

(19) In FIG. 6 a 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 of FIGS. 1 to 5 may be referred to. In order to distinguish between the exemplary embodiments, the letter a of the reference numerals of the exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 1 to 5 has been substituted by the letter b in the reference numerals of FIG. 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 of FIGS. 1 to 5 may be referred to.

(20) FIG. 6 shows an alternative internal conductor device 10b with a support rail 16b, with a dielectric unit 18b and with an internal conductor 22b. The dielectric unit 18b comprises a plurality of dielectric elements 20b. Furthermore, the internal conductor 22b is fixed mechanically on the dielectric elements 20b. The internal conductor device 10b comprises several form-fitting and/or force-fitting elements 24b, which are configured for fixing the internal conductor 22b mechanically on the dielectric elements 20b. The form-fitting and/or force-fitting elements 24b are implemented by separate elements, which are configured for a direct connection to the internal conductor 22b and/or to the dielectric elements 20b. The form-fitting and/or force-fitting elements 24b in each case comprise molded-on latch members. The dielectric elements 20b in each case have two recesses 26b. The recesses 26b are in each case arranged next to each other on an upper side of the respective dielectric element 20b. The recesses 26b are implemented in each case by blind holes. The form-fitting and/or force-fitting elements 24b are configured for latching in the recesses 26a of the dielectric elements 20b. The dielectric elements 20b in each case form a latch connection with the form-fitting and/or force-fitting elements 24b, wherein during a fastening process the form-fitting and/or force-fitting elements 24b are respectively partly deflected elastically and then latch in behind a corresponding latch element of the recess 26b of the respective dielectric element 20b due to their internal resiliency. The form-fitting and/or force-fitting elements 24b are in each case embodied by a fixing clamp. The form-fitting and/or force-fitting elements 24b have a U-shape. The form-fitting and/or force-fitting elements 24b are in each case configured to engage over the internal conductor 22b and to engage on both sides of the internal conductor 22b into the recesses 26b of one of the dielectric elements 20b.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

(21) 10 internal conductor device 12 waveguide radiator 14 waveguide 16 support rail 18 dielectric unit 20 dielectric element 22 internal conductor 24 form-fitting and/or force-fitting element 26 recess 27 fixing element 28 positioning unit 30 slot 32 coupling step 34 coupling step 36 projection 38 main extension direction 40 latch edge 42 latch recess 44 base body 46 positioning member 48 feed line