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reflectorParabolic

Create parabolic reflector antenna

Description

The default reflectorParabolic object creates a parabolic reflector antenna resonating around 10 GHz. Parabolic reflector antennas are electrically large structures and are at least 10 wavelengths in diameter. These reflectors are used in TV antennas and satellite communications, for example.

Creation

Description

ant = reflectorParabolic creates a dipole-fed parabolic reflector antenna with default property values. The default dimensions are chosen for an operating frequency of around 10 GHz. The reflector is 10λ in diameter, where λ corresponds to the value of wavelength.

example

ant = reflectorParabolic(PropertyName=Value) sets properties using one or more name–value arguments. PropertyName is the property name and Value is the corresponding value. You can specify several name-value arguments in any order as PropertyName1=Value1,...,PropertyNameN=ValueN. Properties that you do not specify, retain their default values.

For example, ant = reflectorParabolic(FocalLength=0.5) creates a parabolic reflector antenna with 0.5 meters focal length.

Properties

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Exciter antenna or array type, specified as either:

  • Antenna object from the catalog (except reflector type, cavity type and platform-installed antennas)

  • Array object from the catalog (except conformal and infinite arrays)

  • Custom antennas: customAntennaGeometry, customAntennaMesh, customAntenna

  • Measured pattern data of an antenna or array: measuredAntenna

  • Empty array

To create the reflector backing structure without an exciter, specify this property as an empty array.

Example: horn

Example: linearArray(Element=patchMicrostrip)

Example: customAntenna

Example: measuredAntenna

Example: []

Radius of the parabolic reflector, specified as a positive scalar in meters.

Example: 0.22

Data Types: double

Focal length of the parabolic reflector, specified as a positive scalar in meters.

Example: 0.0850

Data Types: double

Signed distance from the focus of the parabolic reflector, specified as a three-element vector in meters. By default, the antenna exciter is at the focus of the parabola. Using the FeedOffset property, you can place the exciter anywhere on the parabola.

Example: [0.0850 0 0]

Data Types: double

Type of the metal used as a conductor, specified as a metal object. You can choose any metal from the MetalCatalog or specify a metal of your choice. For more information on metal conductor meshing, see Meshing.

Example: metal("Copper")

Lumped elements added to the antenna feed, specified as a lumpedElement object. You can add a load anywhere on the surface of the antenna. By default, the load is at the feed.

Example: lumpedElement(Impedance=75)

Tilt angle of the antenna in degrees, specified as a scalar or vector. For more information, see Rotate Antennas and Arrays.

Example: 90

Example: Tilt=[90 90],TiltAxis=[0 1 0;0 1 1] tilts the antenna at 90 degrees about the two axes defined by the vectors.

Data Types: double

Tilt axis of the antenna, specified as one of these values:

  • Three-element vector of Cartesian coordinates in meters. In this case, each coordinate in the vector starts at the origin and lies along the specified points on the x-, y-, and z-axes.

  • Two points in space, specified as a 2-by-3 matrix corresponding to two three-element vectors of Cartesian coordinates. In this case, the antenna rotates around the line joining the two points.

  • "x", "y", or "z" to describe a rotation about the x-, y-, or z-axis, respectively.

For more information, see Rotate Antennas and Arrays.

Example: [0 1 0]

Example: [0 0 0;0 1 0]

Example: "Z"

Data Types: double | string

Solver for antenna analysis, specified as a string. Default solver is "MoM-PO"(Method of Moments-Physical Optics hybrid). Other supported solvers are: "MoM" (Method of Moments), "PO" (Physical optics) or "FMM" (Fast Multipole Method).

Example: SolverType="MoM"

Data Types: string

Object Functions

axialRatioCalculate and plot axial ratio of antenna or array
bandwidthCalculate and plot absolute bandwidth of antenna or array
beamwidthBeamwidth of antenna
chargeCharge distribution on antenna or array surface
currentCurrent distribution on antenna or array surface
designCreate antenna, array, or AI-based antenna resonating at specified frequency
efficiencyCalculate and plot radiation efficiency of antenna or array
EHfieldsElectric and magnetic fields of antennas or embedded electric and magnetic fields of antenna element in arrays
feedCurrentCalculate current at feed for antenna or array
impedanceCalculate and plot input impedance of antenna or scan impedance of array
infoDisplay information about antenna, array, or platform
memoryEstimateEstimate memory required to solve antenna or array mesh
meshGenerate and view mesh for antennas, arrays, and custom shapes
meshconfigChange meshing mode of antenna, array, custom antenna, custom array, or custom geometry
msiwriteWrite antenna or array analysis data to MSI planet file
optimizeOptimize antenna and array catalog elements using SADEA or TR-SADEA algorithm
patternPlot radiation pattern of antenna, array, or embedded element of array
patternAzimuthAzimuth plane radiation pattern of antenna or array
patternElevationElevation plane radiation pattern of antenna or array
peakRadiationCalculate and mark maximum radiation points of antenna or array on radiation pattern
rcsCalculate and plot monostatic and bistatic radar cross section (RCS) of platform, antenna, or array
resonantFrequencyCalculate and plot resonant frequency of antenna
returnLossCalculate and plot return loss of antenna or scan return loss of array
showDisplay antenna, array structures, shapes, or platform
solverAccess FMM solver settings for electromagnetic analysis
sparametersCalculate S-parameters for antenna or array
stlwriteWrite mesh information to STL file
vswrCalculate and plot voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) of antenna or array element

Examples

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Create and view a default parabolic reflector antenna.

ant = reflectorParabolic
ant = 
  reflectorParabolic with properties:

        Exciter: [1×1 dipole]
         Radius: 0.1500
    FocalLength: 0.0750
     FeedOffset: [0 0 0]
           Tilt: 0
       TiltAxis: [1 0 0]
           Load: [1×1 lumpedElement]
     SolverType: 'MoM-PO'

show(ant)

Figure contains an axes object. The axes object with title reflectorParabolic antenna element, xlabel x (mm), ylabel y (mm) contains 5 objects of type patch, surface. These objects represent PEC, feed.

Plot the radiation pattern of the parabolic reflector at 10 GHz.

pattern(ant,10e9)

Figure contains 2 axes objects and other objects of type uicontrol. Axes object 1 contains 5 objects of type patch, surface. Hidden axes object 2 contains 18 objects of type surface, line, text, patch.

Create a circular array of equiangular spiral antennas.

circA = circularArray(Element=spiralEquiangular,Radius=0.1);

Create a parabolic reflector-backed antenna.

ant = reflectorParabolic(Exciter=circA)
ant = 
  reflectorParabolic with properties:

        Exciter: [1×1 circularArray]
         Radius: 0.1500
    FocalLength: 0.0750
     FeedOffset: [0 0 0]
           Tilt: 0
       TiltAxis: [1 0 0]
           Load: [1×1 lumpedElement]
     SolverType: 'MoM-PO'

show(ant)

Figure contains an axes object. The axes object with title reflectorParabolic antenna element, xlabel x (mm), ylabel y (mm) contains 15 objects of type patch, surface. These objects represent PEC, feed.

This example shows how to create a hole in a parabolic reflector antenna for a mounting structure.

Create a mesh for the reflectorParabolic antenna catalog object. Use the mesh points and triangles data to create a triangulation object. Create a parabolic reflector shape from this triangulation object using the shape.Custom3D object.

p = reflectorParabolic;
m = mesh(p,MaxEdgeLength=0.05);
pts1 = m.Points';
tri1 = m.Triangles';
tp = triangulation(tri1(:,1:3),pts1);
pShape = shape.Custom3D(tp);

Create a cylinder to punch a hole in the parabolic reflector shape.

h = p.Exciter.Length;
r1 = 0.2*p.Radius;
hole = shape.Cylinder(Radius=r1,Height=h);
pShapeWithHole = pShape - hole;

Create the custom parabolic reflector antenna using the customAntenna object and add a feed to it using the createFeed function. View the custom parabolic reflector antenna.

c = customAntenna(Shape=pShapeWithHole);
createFeed(c,[0,0,26],1);
figure
show(c)
view([54 52])
title("Custom Parabolic Reflector Antenna")

Figure contains an axes object. The axes object with title Custom Parabolic Reflector Antenna, xlabel x (mm), ylabel y (mm) contains 3 objects of type patch, surface. These objects represent PEC, feed.

View the exciter element.

figure
show(c)
zoom(15)
view([-32.36 72.36])

Figure contains an axes object. The axes object with title customAntenna antenna element, xlabel x (mm), ylabel y (mm) contains 3 objects of type patch, surface. These objects represent PEC, feed.

figure
show(c)
view([0 90])
zoom(15)
title("Exciter Element")

Figure contains an axes object. The axes object with title Exciter Element, xlabel x (mm), ylabel y (mm) contains 3 objects of type patch, surface. These objects represent PEC, feed.

Version History

Introduced in R2018b