Kevin A Sutton

US Patent:

63205378, Nov 20, 2001

Filed:

Feb 8, 2000

Appl. No.:

9/500754

Inventors:

Chih-Hsien Chien - Rancho Palos Verdes CA
Dale A. Londre - Anaheim Hills CA
Kevin L. Sutton - Moorpark CA

Assignee:

Hughes Electronics Corporation - El Segundo CA

International Classification:

H01Q 2106
G01S 328

US Classification:

342361

Abstract:

A beam forming network having a division network for a hexagonal structure of elements, where the neighboring elements in the same column, having the same primary polarization, have three-way power division. The neighboring elements in adjacent columns, having a different primary polarization, have four-way power division. In the combining network, seven signals are combined from outputs of elements having the same polarization. Three of the signals will come from adjacent elements in the same column, and four signals will come from feeds in adjacent columns that are diagonal to the center element. The overlapping element configuration covers a large geographical area with reduced interference between neighboring elements. A waveguide implementation of the beam-forming network of the present invention is provided in which waveguides are structures so as to avoid crossovers, thereby eliminating interference and simplifying construction and assembly techniques.