Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing a low loss printed circuit board (PCB). The PCB includes an antenna patch, a ground plane, and a polarizer. The antenna patch consists of a plastic base having a first plurality of circuit patterns formed directly on its top surface. The ground plane is formed directly on a bottom surface of the plastic base used for the antenna patch, and contains one or more coupling circuit patterns. A polarizer spacer is provided on the antenna patch to provide separation from the polarizer. The polarizer also consists of a second plastic base having a second plurality of circuit patterns formed directly thereon.

Abstract: Various antenna systems are presented that have independently steerable receive and transmit beams. The antenna system may include multiple antenna element systems. Each antenna element system may include multiple phase shifters that alter the phase of received signals and signals to be transmitted. Directions of a first transmit beam, a second transmit beam, a first receive beam, and a second receive beam may be steered independently using the phase shifters. Each antenna element system may include a polarization system.

Abstract: A phase shifter having both digital and analog shifting components is disclosed. The digital-analog phase shifter includes an input/output port configured, in part, for receiving an input radio frequency (RF) signal from an external source and outputting a phase shifted RF signal. A digital shifter performs coarse phase shifts of the input RF signal, while an analog shifter variably shift the phase of the input RF signal relative to the coarse phase shift. This produces a phase shifted RF signal having a total phase range that is output is continuously variable from 0° to 360°.

Abstract: A digital phase shifter is described where each bit of the phase shifter has a circuit block including one PIN diode in parallel with one transmission line. The phase shifter requires only one PIN diode and one transmission line per bit circuit block. Each PIN diode behaves like a simple switch for phase shifting. When the PIN diode is forward biased (“on” state), current flows through the PIN diode and the RF signal is not phase shifted. When the pin diode is not forward biased (“off” state), current flows through the transmission line parallel to the PIN diode and the RF signal is phase shifted by the transmission line. The digital phase shifter may have n circuit blocks in series, and adjacent PIN diodes may share a current when both are on. The phase shifter may be implemented in a phased array or reflect array antenna including multiple phase shifters.

Abstract: Various antenna systems are presented that have independently steerable receive and transmit beams. The antenna system may include multiple antenna element systems. Each antenna element system may include multiple phase shifters that alter the phase of received signals and signals to be transmitted. Directions of a first transmit beam, a second transmit beam, a first receive beam, and a second receive beam may be steered independently using the phase shifters. Each antenna element system may include a polarization system.

Abstract: A method for providing frequency selective surface zoning includes selecting a location for positioning a frequency selective surface (FSS) panel along a support arm of a reflector antenna system, and positioning a second feed horn on the support arm on an opposite side of the FSS panel. A number of unit cells are used to populate the FSS panel, and metallic patterns are formed on each unit cell. Multiple zones are subsequently defined on the surface of the FSS panel. Each zone is optimized for a predetermined range of incident angles.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for producing meander-line polarizers. In some implementations, a meander-line polarizer includes a dielectric substrate made of a polyester polymer material and meander-line arrays formed on a surface of the dielectric substrate. Each meander-line array includes a sequence of alternating perpendicular conductive traces that are formed the surface of the dielectric substrate by applying conductive ink to the surface of the dielectric substrate using a template that defines a location and dimensions of each conductive trace of each meander-line array.

Abstract: A device and method are described for duplex satellite communication over a single satellite antenna. A satellite ground terminal may utilize a frequency-selective surface module including a frequency-selective surface as a subreflector acting as a frequency diplexer to separate signals received and/or transmitted by a first feed and a second feed of a satellite ground terminal, where each feed has a separate antenna horn. The frequency-selective surface module may be used in combination with a second subreflector such that a first feed and a second feed of the satellite ground terminal are implemented on the same side of the frequency-selective surface module.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for mitigating polarization mismatch in reflector antenna systems. A feed unit is configured to determine a polarization mismatch between a first polarization associated with a first wave and a second polarization associated with a reflector unit. The feed unit pre-distorts the first wave to achieve a compensated polarization for reducing and/or eliminating a polarization mismatch. The pre-distorted first wave having the compensated polarization is used to illuminate the reflector unit. A re-radiated wave is reflected by the reflector unit. Furthermore, the level of the re-radiated wave is increased as a result of the pre-distortion.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for separating the uplink signal from the downlink signal in a satellite communication system. A communication terminal for satellite communications is provided, comprising a reflector having a prime focus; a first feed located at the prime focus of the reflector and in optical communication with the reflector; a frequency-selective surface module having a reflected focus and located at a point along a communication path between the main reflector and the first feed; and a second feed located at the reflected focus of the frequency-selective surface module and in optical communication with the frequency-selective surface module.

Abstract: A phase shifter having both digital and analog shifting components is disclosed. The digital-analog phase shifter includes an input/output port configured, in part, for receiving an input radio frequency (RF) signal from an external source and outputting a phase shifted RF signal. A digital shifter performs coarse phase shifts of the input RF signal, while an analog shifter variably shift the phase of the input RF signal relative to the coarse phase shift. This produces a phase shifted RF signal having a total phase range that is output is continuously variable from 0° to 360°.

Abstract: A phase shifter having both digital and analog shifting components is disclosed. The digital-analog phase shifter includes an input/output port configured, in part, for receiving an input radio frequency (RF) signal from an external source and outputting a phase shifted RF signal. A digital shifter performs coarse phase shifts of the input RF signal, while an analog shifter variably shift the phase of the input RF signal relative to the coarse phase shift. This produces a phase shifted RF signal having a total phase range that is output is continuously variable from 0° to 360°.

Abstract: A radio frequency waveguide is disclosed. The radio frequency waveguide includes: a dielectric including an exterior input surface, an exterior output surface and other exterior surfaces; and a metal disposed on the other exterior surfaces of the dielectric, wherein the dielectric is voidless and adapted to propagate radio frequency radiation from the exterior input surface to the exterior output surface.

Abstract: Various antenna systems are presented that have independently steerable receive and transmit beams. The antenna system may include multiple antenna element systems. Each antenna element system may include multiple phase shifters that alter the phase of received signals and signals to be transmitted. Directions of a first transmit beam, a second transmit beam, a first receive beam, and a second receive beam may be steered independently using the phase shifters. Each antenna element system may include a polarization system.

Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed herein provide techniques for reducing quantization errors and side lobe levels in phased array antennas. The states of a quantized phase shifter of a phased array antenna may be dithered to achieve a time-averaged value that reduces quantization errors. By rapidly switching between the different states of the quantized phase shifter, a time-average value close to a desired phase state may be achieved with a low resolution phase shifter.

Abstract: A phase shifter having both digital and analog shifting components is disclosed. The digital-analog phase shifter includes an input/output port configured, in part, for receiving an input radio frequency (RF) signal from an external source and outputting a phase shifted RF signal. A digital shifter performs coarse phase shifts of the input RF signal, while an analog shifter variably shift the phase of the input RF signal relative to the coarse phase shift. This produces a phase shifted RF signal having a total phase range that is output is continuously variable from 0° to 360°.

Abstract: A digital phase shifter is described where each bit of the phase shifter has a circuit block including one PIN diode in parallel with one transmission line. The phase shifter requires only one PIN diode and one transmission line per bit circuit block. Each PIN diode behaves like a simple switch for phase shifting. When the PIN diode is forward biased (“on” state), current flows through the PIN diode and the RF signal is not phase shifted. When the pin diode is not forward biased (“off” state), current flows through the transmission line parallel to the PIN diode and the RF signal is phase shifted by the transmission line. The digital phase shifter may have n circuit blocks in series, and adjacent PIN diodes may share a current when both are on. The phase shifter may be implemented in a phased array or reflect array antenna including multiple phase shifters.

Abstract: An antenna system comprises an antenna feed support and a driver. The antenna feed support is configured to mount a circularly polarized antenna feed to an antenna dish to extend outward along a longitudinal axis of the circularly polarized antenna feed with respect to a reflective surface of the antenna dish. The driver is configured to rotate the circularly polarized antenna feed to adjust alignment between the circularly polarized antenna feed and a remote antenna. The driver can rotate the circularly polarized antenna feed mechanically, electrically or both to adjust alignment between the circularly polarized antenna feed and a remote antenna to reduce cross-pol discrimination at the circularly polarized antenna feed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for continuously shifting the phase of an input signal includes a quadrature hybrid having an input/output port for receiving an input radio frequency (RF) signal and outputting a phase shifted RF signal. An analog shifting unit is connected to the quadrature hybrid for performing an intermediate phase shift on the input RF signal. An additional analog shifting unit is connected to an isolation port of the quadrature hybrid to receive an intermediate output signal based on the intermediate phase shift, and shifting a phase of the intermediate output signal to produce an intermediate input signal. The analog shifting unit performs a final phase shift of the intermediate input signal and the final phase shifted intermediate input signal is output, at the input/output port, as the phase shifted RF signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed herein provide techniques for reducing quantization errors and side lobe levels in phased array antennas. The states of a quantized phase shifter of a phased array antenna may be dithered to achieve a time-averaged value that reduces quantization errors. By rapidly switching between the different states of the quantized phase shifter, a time-average value close to a desired phase state may be achieved with a low resolution phase shifter.