Abstract: In one embodiment, a polarization control system for an antenna array comprises a number of first and second antenna elements and a beam forming network. The first antenna elements have a direction of polarization that is different from a direction of polarization of the second antenna elements. The beam forming network, which is coupled to the first and second antenna elements, is operable to provide a second signal to a first subset of the plurality of first antenna elements that is different from a first signal that is provided to the other first antenna elements and provide a third signal to a second subset of the second antenna elements that is different from the first signal that is provided to the other second antenna elements.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a polarization control system for an antenna array comprises a number of first and second antenna elements and a beam forming network. The first antenna elements have a direction of polarization that is different from a direction of polarization of the second antenna elements. The beam forming network, which is coupled to the first and second antenna elements, is operable to provide a second signal to a first subset of the plurality of first antenna elements that is different from a first signal that is provided to the other first antenna elements and provide a third signal to a second subset of the second antenna elements that is different from the first signal that is provided to the other second antenna elements.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a method of increasing a phase resolution of an array antenna, comprises providing an array antenna having a plurality of rows of antenna elements, each antenna element having a first phase resolution; for at least one row of the array antenna, positioning each of the antenna elements to one of first and second phases, the first and second phases separated by at least the first phase resolution; for the at least one row of the array antenna, a number of antenna elements positioned to the first phase is the product of a number of antenna elements in the at least one row of the array antenna and a desired row phase angle divided by the first phase resolution; and for the at least one row of the array antenna, a number of antenna elements positioned to the second phase is the number of elements in the at least one row of the array antenna minus the number of antenna elements in the at least one row positioned to the first phase.

Abstract: An antenna system (30) includes a lens (40, 50) and a plurality of non-uniform feed elements (42, 52). The non-uniform feed elements (42, 52) are coupled to the lens system and operable to shape each of a plurality of beams (32) to match an angular size of a ground-based cell (20) assigned to the beam (32).

Abstract: A system for steering an antenna includes a first component that includes a first lens and is operable to perform a first focusing of a plurality of signals to form a plurality of focused signals. The system also includes a second component that includes a second lens and is operable to form a first focused beam by performing a second focusing of the plurality of focused signals. The second component further includes a first splitter and is further operable to split the first focused beam into a first set of intermediate beams. The system further includes a third component that includes a second splitter and is operable to split a particular one of the first set of intermediate beams into a second set of intermediate beams. The third component further includes a first combiner and is further operable to combine a particular one of the second set of intermediate beams with at least one other intermediate beam split from a second focused beam to generate a composite beam.

Abstract: A two-dimensionally steered antenna system (40) includes a planar lensing system (64, 94) operable to focus signals received from a plurality of ground-based cells (20). A first steering system (66) is operable to steer a beam (32) for each ground-based cell (20) in a first direction by weighing signals associated with the ground-based cell (20) based on a position of the antenna system (40) relative to the ground-based cell (20) in the first direction. A second steering system (96) is operable to steer the beam (32) for each ground-based cell (20) in a second direction by weighing signals associated with the ground-based cell (20) based on a position of the antenna system (40) relative to the ground-based cell (20) in the second direction.

Abstract: A method of performing a soft hand-off between a first and second satellite traveling on first and second orbiting paths with an one-dimensional active electronically scanned array includes tracking and communicating with a first satellite orbiting in a first orbiting path. A scan plane of the array is then mechanically positioned and aligned so that the scan plane intersects both the first and second orbiting paths of the first and second satellites. The array continues to track and communicate with the first satellite until the first satellite is nearing a predetermined scan limit of the active electronically scanned array. The array is then operated to scan and acquire the second satellite, and establish communications therewith. Tracking and communications with the first satellite is then discontinued.

Abstract: An improved Lewis scanner comprising a focal lens having two best focus angles positioned with its axis at an angle other than perpendicular to the antenna aperture. The antenna aperture is maintained vertical with respect to the earth's surface to provide a planar beam at 0.degree. elevation. The focal lens axis is oriented at an angle of typically one-half the maximum elevation scan angle. The angle of the microwave reflector between the parallel plates of the Lewis scanner is changed from the conventional 45.degree. by one-half the angle between the focal lens axis and the 0.degree. elevation angle. An asymmetric feed lens improves the beam shape over the entire scan range.

Abstract: An antenna system forming a cluster of closely spaced beams filling a desired angular scan sector is disclosed. A transmit signal amplitude applied to each beam is modulated as a function of time to form a composite beam which scans smoothly across the scan sector. The RF transmit signal is initially split into a plurality of equal amplitude signals and fed to a plurality of attenuators by power dividers for selective amplitude modulation of the RF signals. The amplitude modulating signals are supplied the attenuator by a digital controller which also supplies switch control signals to selectively switch amplitude modulating transmit signals of varying amplitude to selected feed elements of an array of radiating elements in a time sequence for feeding an antenna reflector.