Abstract: A reflector for an antenna includes a first shaped region, wherein a curvature of the first shaped region is defined by a corresponding scan angle, and a second shaped region, wherein a curvature of the second shaped region is based on a corresponding scan angle. The curvature of the first shaped region is different than the curvature of the second shaped region.

Abstract: In examples, systems and methods for waveguide antenna arrays with integrated filters are described. An example waveguide antenna array element a waveguide section has a first end and second end. The waveguide section is configured to propagate electromagnetic energy. The waveguide antenna array element also includes a feed configured to launch an electromagnetic wave into the first end of the waveguide section. The waveguide antenna array element also includes a waveguide filter having at least one waveguide cavity coupled to the second end of the waveguide section. The waveguide filter is configured to pass a first set of electromagnetic frequencies and reject a second set of electromagnetic frequencies. Yet further, the waveguide antenna array element includes an antenna coupled to the waveguide filter configured to radiate a portion of the electromagnetic energy passed by the waveguide filter.

Abstract: In examples, systems and methods for waveguide antenna arrays with integrated filters are described. An example waveguide antenna array element a waveguide section has a first end and second end. The waveguide section is configured to propagate electromagnetic energy. The waveguide antenna array element also includes a feed configured to launch an electromagnetic wave into the first end of the waveguide section. The waveguide antenna array element also includes a waveguide filter having at least one waveguide cavity coupled to the second end of the waveguide section. The waveguide filter is configured to pass a first set of electromagnetic frequencies and reject a second set of electromagnetic frequencies. Yet further, the waveguide antenna array element includes an antenna coupled to the waveguide filter configured to radiate a portion of the electromagnetic energy passed by the waveguide filter.

Abstract: An antenna platter comprises a plurality of antenna elements arranged as a thin array according to a polygonal grid. The polygonal grid comprises a plurality of paired polygons arranged symmetrically about a central polygon of the grid. In each polygon of the grid, the plurality of antenna elements is arranged in symmetrical pairs about a center point such that the first and second antenna elements of each symmetrical pair are complex conjugates of one another.

Abstract: An antenna platter comprises a plurality of antenna elements arranged as a thin array according to a polygonal grid. The polygonal grid comprises a plurality of paired polygons arranged symmetrically about a central polygon of the grid. In each polygon of the grid, the plurality of antenna elements is arranged in symmetrical pairs about a center point such that the first and second antenna elements of each symmetrical pair are complex conjugates of one another.

Abstract: A beam waveguide may include a first set of dual offset reflectors and a second set of dual offset reflectors. The first set of dual offset reflectors and the second set of dual offset reflectors may each include reflector geometries to produce a radiation pattern that is symmetric about a first axis between the first and second set of dual offset reflectors and to produce an axi-symmetric beam from the second set of dual offset reflectors that is unaffected by any rotation of the first and second set of dual offset reflectors relative to one another about the first axis.

Abstract: A beam waveguide may include a first set of dual offset reflectors and a second set of dual offset reflectors. The first set of dual offset reflectors and the second set of dual offset reflectors may each include reflector geometries to produce a radiation pattern that is symmetric about a first axis between the first and second set of dual offset reflectors and to produce an axi-symmetric beam from the second set of dual offset reflectors that is unaffected by any rotation of the first and second set of dual offset reflectors relative to one another about the first axis.

Abstract: A method and system for optimizing transmit beam and receive beam antenna radiation patterns. The method includes inputting initial estimate of beam weights for a transmit beam and a receive beam to an optimizer; and using a cost function to optimize beam weights so that a response peaks in a main region and is minimized in a sidelobe region; wherein the cost function is based on using receive beam and transmit beam characteristics.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide intermodulation reduction techniques for multiple beam phased array antennas. For example, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, an optimization approach is employed to determine array element excitations that reduce IM interference.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining and correcting for phased array mispointing errors, particularly those due to structural deformation, is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of receiving a signal from each of a plurality of signal sources at at least one receiving sensor disposed away from the phased array in a direction at least partially toward a receiver of a transmitted signal from the phased array, and determining the phased array pointing from the received signals. The apparatus comprises a receiving sensor for receiving a signal from each of a plurality of signal sources, the receiving sensor disposed away from the phased array in a direction at least partially toward a receiver of a transmitted signal from the phased array, and an array pointing computer for determining the direction of the phased array from the received signals.

Abstract: A method for detecting calibration probe displacement for a phased array antenna includes steps of: creating a gold standard set of antenna element phases of the phased array antenna; determining a set of element phase sensitivities of the phased array antenna; measuring a set of antenna element phases relative to array displacement of the phased array antenna; and forming a set of equations using the gold standard set of antenna element phases, the set of element phase sensitivities, and the set of antenna element phases relative to array displacement. The set of equations has an array displacement vector x as unknown; and solving the set of equations for the array displacement vector x provides the location and orientation of the calibration probe displacement.

Abstract: A digital spacecraft antenna tracking system and method are provided which utilize an array of antenna feed elements oriented relative to a shaped spacecraft reflector antenna system each of which generates an output signal corresponding to a received incident signal. The outputs can be processed by a mixer/multiplexer (M/MUX) before processing by a digital tracking control receiver. The direction of a beacon signal incident on the spacecraft reflector antenna system is obtained by the TCR by comparing the beacon response of the M/MUX to a set of premeasured responses to incident signals having a known direction or orientation relative to a reference tracking grid. The premeasured responses are stored in a memory as a set of reference responses. Once the direction of the signal is obtained, the TCR assigns control voltages which are used by the spacecraft to steer the spacecraft antenna to a desired pointing direction relative to the beacon signal.