With Spaced Or External Radio Wave Refractor (e.g., Lens) Patents (Class 343/753)
  • Patent number: 8115697
    Abstract: An antenna for directional electronic communication and a directional communication system are provided. In one embodiment, the antenna includes: (1) a conductive shield having an opening at an end thereof and a radio frequency absorptive material located on an inner surface thereof, (2) a Luneberg lens located within said conductive shield and (3) a radio frequency signal conveyor located proximate a portion of said Luneberg lens that is distal from said opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: ATR Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Ralph E. Hayles, Jr., Thomas H. O'Mara
  • Publication number: 20120019423
    Abstract: Provided is a planar antenna based system for use as a radar level meter, microwave barrier or other suitable system. The system includes a planar radiator element arranged on a substrate, and a cover plate element made from a dielectric to cover the planar radiator element. In one alternative embodiment, the cover plate includes a cavity proximate the planar radiator element, into which the microwaves generated by the planar radiator element can be coupled. In another alternative, the cover plate is provided in a surface-flush position against the substrate in the edge region of the cavity. These arrangements may be provided in a plurality so as to support an overall system containing multiple radiator elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventor: DANIEL SCHULTHEISS
  • Patent number: 8094081
    Abstract: A dual-band antenna is provided that combines two normally disparate communications modes into a single compact aperture minimizing overall mass and volume, while maintaining high performance efficiency and reciprocity of each individual mode. The antenna is compatible with both optical (near-IR/visible) and RF (microwave/millimeter-wave) transceiver subsystems for high bandwidth communications, applicable primarily to long- to extremely long-range (space-to-ground) link distances. The optical link provides high bandwidth while the RF provides a lower data-rate weather backup, accommodation for traditional navigation techniques, and assistance in cueing the extremely tight optical beam by matching the RF beamwidth to an optical fine-steering mechanism field-of-regard. The configuration is built around a near-diffraction-limited high performance primary mirror shared by both a direct-fed RF antenna design and a Cassegrain optical telescope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: Jonathan R. Bruzzi, Bradley G. Boone
  • Patent number: 8077102
    Abstract: A deployable lens is provided for an antenna. The lens comprises an array of metallic lens elements formed on a plurality of planar sections of a dielectric substrate, each lens element comprising a first end-fire element directed towards a feed side of the lens, a second end-fire element directed towards a non-feed side of the lens and a section of transmission line for coupling signals between the first and second end-fire elements. The section of transmission line, preferably in the form of a slot-line transmission line, is integrated with the end-fire elements and is of a length determined according to the position of the lens element within the aperture of the lens as deployed. An antenna is also provided comprising a deployable lens according to the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: BAE Systems PLC
    Inventors: Ronald F. E. Guy, Bruno P. Pirollo, Robert A. Lewis
  • Patent number: 8073514
    Abstract: A dual autodiplexing antenna (300) redirects power flow (303) from an unloaded antenna to a loaded antenna, thereby improving communication performance under loaded conditions. The dual autodiplexing antenna (300) includes a first antenna (101) disposed at a first end (103) of a portable two-way communication device (100). A second antenna (102) is disposed at the distal end (104) of the portable two-way communication device (100). The first antenna (101) and second antenna (102) are coupled to a transceiver (107) by a first transmission line matching circuit (201) and a second transmission line matching circuit (202), respectively. In one embodiment, the first antenna (101) is configured to primarily operate in a first bandwidth, while the second antenna (102) is configured to primarily operate in a second bandwidth. When one of the first antenna (101) or second antenna (102) is loaded, power flow (303) is redirected to the lesser loaded antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility, Inc.
    Inventors: Greg R. Black, Vijay L. Asrani, Adrian Napoles
  • Patent number: 8068053
    Abstract: A low-profile lens element for steering a beam is provided. Specifically, the low-profile lens element is mechanically rotatable such that a beam can be steered in any direction within three-dimensional space. The lens element may include a number of discrete portions for differentially delaying adjacent discrete portions of a beam in order to effect beam steering. These discrete portions may vary in width. In addition, multiple lens elements may be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Nathan A. Stutzke, Mark C. Leifer, Bradley J. Tame, Dean A. Paschen, Kiersten Kerby
  • Patent number: 8063840
    Abstract: An antenna including a number of antenna units, each having a lens and an array of beam ports. The antenna units are arranged in a stack, and are configured to transmit or receive signals from the same field-of-view. Each unit is configured to operate in a different frequency band, with the lenses being configured such that an approximately constant beam shape is maintained across the entire operating bandwidth of the antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: BAE Systems plc
    Inventors: James Christopher Gordon Matthews, Robert Alan Lewis, Christian Rieckmann
  • Publication number: 20110267247
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is there is provided an apparatus for transmitting and receiving wireless energy using meta-material structures having a negative refractive index. The apparatus includes a wireless energy transmission unit and a wireless energy reception unit. The wireless energy transmission unit generates wireless energy to be wirelessly transmitted, and then wirelessly transmits wireless energy, which is normally propagated radially, using a magnetic resonance method while concentrating the wireless energy at a single point. The wireless energy reception unit wirelessly receives the wireless energy using the magnetic resonance method while concentrating the wireless energy at a single point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicants: SOONGSIL UNIVERISTY RESEARCH CONSORTIUM TECHNO-PARK, SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jae Won CHOI, Chul Hun SEO, Eung Ju KIM, Jeong Hoon KIM, Kwang Du LEE, Sang Hoon HWANG, Jung Ho YOON, Chul Gyun PARK
  • Patent number: 8026863
    Abstract: A distributed control system for an active array antenna system is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, the array system employs many transmit/receive (T/R) modules each with an associated radiator element, a phase shifter element and a set of RF switch elements to set the module to transmit or receive modes. The array system is arranged to generate a transmit or receive array beam. The distributed control system in an exemplary embodiment includes an array processor for controlling the array, the processor configured to generate command signals to set the T/R module elements to transmit or receive mode and to steer the array beam to a desired direction. The command signals to steer the array beam include phase slopes common to all T/R modules in a given array or subarray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Richard D. Young, Clifton Quan, Mark S. Hauhe, Mark E. Stading, Chaim Warzman, Adam C. Von
  • Patent number: 8023887
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a telecommunication network for establishing radiofrequency links between at least one gateway and ground terminals via a multispot telecommunication satellite. The network includes a service zone composed of a plurality of cells each including a plurality of ground terminals, the said service zone being split into N sub-zones, N being an integer strictly greater than 1, each sub-zone having a capacity profile evolving in time over a given period and presenting a maximum value, the said maximum values of each of the capacities being shifted with regard to time and a multispot satellite including a transponder including amplification of the signals emitted by the gateway on the forward link and the signals emitted by the cells on the return link and a continuous power supply system of the amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Eutelsat SA
    Inventors: Hector Fenech, Emmanuel Lance
  • Patent number: 8009113
    Abstract: The system contains an antenna feed. A signal is in communication with the antenna feed. The signal has a wavelength and a period. A signal lens has a periphery portion that is thicker than an interior portion, wherein the signal propagates through the signal lens. The signal lens is designed such that the signal propagates through the periphery portion of the signal lens approximately one wavelength slower than through the interior portion of the signal lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Cushcraft Corporation
    Inventor: John Sanford
  • Publication number: 20110205134
    Abstract: An REID antenna assembly configured to be energized with a carrier signal is disclosed. The REID antenna assembly includes an inductive component including a loop antenna assembly, at least one capacitive component coupled to the inductive component, and an eddy current trap positioned a predetermined distance from the loop antenna assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventor: David Blumberg, JR.
  • Publication number: 20110199252
    Abstract: A sensor device, in particular a radar sensor device for a motor vehicle, in whose beam path at least one antenna exciter and at least one lens are situated, in which at least one diaphragm having a variable azimuthal opening width for realizing a variable azimuthal detection range of the radar sensor device is situated in the beam path between the at least one antenna exciter and the at least one lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Inventors: Michael Klar, Thomas Binzer, Klaus-Dieter Miosga, Oliver Brueggemann, Joachim Hauk, Elisabeth Hauk, Rahel Hauk, Manuel Hauk, Juergen Seiz
  • Publication number: 20110199273
    Abstract: Provided is a planar meta-material (100) having negative permittivity, negative permeability, and a negative refractive index through a simple structure using a general conductor and a dielectric material (130), a planar meta-material structure including a planar meta-material (100), and a lens realized by using the planar meta-material structure or an antenna system, which has high efficiency and high gain, by including the planar meta-material structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Dongho Kim, Jeongho Ju, Jae-Ick Choi, Wangjoo Lee
  • Patent number: 7994996
    Abstract: A plurality of antenna elements on a dielectric substrate are adapted to launch or receive electromagnetic waves in or from a direction substantially away from either a convex or concave edge of the dielectric substrate, wherein at least two of the antenna elements operate in different directions. Slotlines of tapered-slot endfire antennas in a first conductive layer of a first side of the dielectric substrate are coupled to microstrip lines of a second conductive layer on the second side of the dielectric substrate. A bi-conical reflector, conformal cylindrical dielectric lens, or discrete lens array improves the H-plane radiation pattern. Dipole or Yagi-Uda antenna elements on the conductive layer of the dielectric substrate can be used in cooperation with associated reflective elements, either alone or in combination with a corner-reflector of conductive plates attached to the conductive layers proximate to the endfire antenna elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: TK Holding Inc., Electronics
    Inventors: Gabriel Rebeiz, James P. Ebling, Bernhard Schoenlinner
  • Publication number: 20110175779
    Abstract: Provided are a conductive structure for a high gain antenna and an antenna. A plurality of conductive patterns (512) of the conductive structure are formed on top and bottom surfaces of a dielectric substrate (511) positioned above the antenna and separated from an antenna body (500). A conductive upper structure of the antenna (510) is positioned above the antenna opposite to a ground plane (530) to which the antenna body is fed, separated from the antenna body. A conductive unit structure comprising a plurality of conductive patterns (512) formed on top and bottom surfaces of the dielectric substrate (511) is arranged in a plurality of layers. The conductive structure for a high gain antenna and the antenna can be readily produced by using low cost printed circuit board (PCB) technology, and a gain of the antenna can be increased regardless of a resonance distance between the ground plane of the antenna and the conductive structure disposed above the antenna.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Jeongho Ju, Jae-Ick Choi, Wangjoo Lee, Dongho Kim
  • Publication number: 20110156973
    Abstract: An antenna has an antenna body having a plurality of first antenna elements situated along a first straight line. The antenna body includes a first conductive grounded surface and a second conductive grounded surface, the first and second grounded surfaces being situated essentially parallel to one another. A dielectric is situated between the first and second grounded surfaces. A signal conductor is also situated between the first and second grounded surfaces. The first antenna elements are designed as apertures situated above the signal conductor in the first grounded surface. Furthermore, the antenna is designed to emit a signal in a direction in space, depending on a frequency of the signal. At least two of the first antenna elements differ from one another in such a way that their power emissions are different.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Inventors: Thomas Focke, Joerg Hilsebecher, Oliver Lange, Reinhard Meschenmoser, Arne Zender, Thomas Schoeberl, Thomas Hansen, Joachim Selinger, Karl Schneider
  • Patent number: 7965238
    Abstract: An antenna common to a plurality of frequencies in which a wide band of a UWB system can be covered while suppressing interference with other systems. The antenna comprises a plurality of element part conductors, coupling conductors for coupling them electrically, and a feeder for coupling one element part conductor electrically with a feeder part capable of feeding to that element part conductor, wherein respective element part conductors are concatenated sequentially by the coupling conductors. The element part conductor has a shape substantially symmetric to a line connecting the coupling conductors or the parts coupled with the feeder. Each coupling conductor is arranged substantially linearly and the plane part of each planar conductor is arranged substantially vertically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Incorporated Administrative Agency
    Inventors: Yuko Rikuta, Ryuji Kohno
  • Patent number: 7965250
    Abstract: A microwave lens having an array of electronic inductive capacitive cells wherein each cell includes an electrically conductive pattern which responds to incident microwave electromagnetic energy as an LC resonator. At least one of the cells includes at least one MEMS device which is movable in response to an electrical bias to thereby vary the resonant frequency of that cell. In order to bias the MEMS device, an electrical insulating layer extends along a portion of the pattern of the cell and to both sides of the MEMS device. An electrically conductive strip then extends over the insulating layer so that the conductive strip is electrically insulated from the pattern while electrically connected to the MEMS device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Jae Seung Lee, Serdar H. Yonak
  • Patent number: 7957692
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention recite an improved signal receiver circuit and a method of implementation. In one embodiment, a first signal pathway of a low-noise block feedhorn comprises a ceramic low-pass filter coupled with a first polarity signal input. In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a second signal pathway of the low-noise block feedhorn comprises ceramic high-pass filter coupled with a second polarity signal input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Chaparral Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Yu-Wei Liu
  • Publication number: 20110109499
    Abstract: A modular system is for assembling a fill-level radar antenna, a fill-level radar antenna, and o a fill level radar. The modular system comprises several modules that can be interconnected. In this way a host of different fill-level radar antennae may be produced that are optimally adapted to the corresponding conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Inventors: Klaus KIENZLE, Josef Fehrenbach, Juergen Motzer, Johannes Falk, Fritz Lenk
  • Publication number: 20110095964
    Abstract: Metamaterial antenna devices having one or more mechanical connection units made of electrically conductive materials to provide both mechanical engagement and electrical conduction for the antenna devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: RAYSPAN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Vaneet Pathak, Ajay Gummalla
  • Patent number: 7928900
    Abstract: An antenna array includes at least one transmit array comprising a plurality of metamaterial elements. The antenna array further includes at least one near-field stimulator for inputting electromagnetic signal to the transmit array so that a sub-wavelength target is illuminated with an electromagnetic wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Fuller, John R. Lamberg, John J Geddes, Michael J Gawronski
  • Patent number: 7898480
    Abstract: An antenna comprises a dielectric material having first and second surfaces, a discrete lens array operatively coupled to the first surface, and at least one broadside feed antenna operatively coupled to the second surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Automotive Systems Labortaory, Inc.
    Inventors: James P. Ebling, Gabriel M. Rebeiz, Carson White
  • Patent number: 7889136
    Abstract: A micro-strip antenna includes an L-shaped coupler, a set of micro-strip antennas, and an L-shaped band-stop filter. The set of micro-strip antennas includes at least one rectangular micro-strip antenna unit and a micro-strip line. The rectangular micro-strip antenna unit is coupled to the micro-strip line. The micro-strip line is coupled to the first end of the coupler. The band-stop filter is disposed along a corner of the rectangular micro-strip antenna unit, and is disposed between the antenna unit and the coupler without being physically connected to the antenna unit and the coupler. The width, length, and position of the L-shaped band-stop filter can be determined for the specific band-stop frequency and to optimize its coupling extent with the L-shaped coupler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: RichWave Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Shau-Gang Mao, Shiou-Li Chen, Min-Shou Wu, Yu-Chih Chueh, Jen-Chun Yeh, Wei-Kung Deng
  • Publication number: 20100321262
    Abstract: A dielectric antenna with an electromagnetic feed element (2) and with a lens (3) made of a dielectric material, the feed element (2) emitting electromagnetic radiation (4) and the lens (3) being supplied with electromagnetic radiation (4) in the feed region (5), the lens (3) relaying the electromagnetic radiation (4) and radiating it with the transmission region (6). To configure these dielectric antennas such that the disadvantages of the dielectric antennas known from the prior art are at least partially avoided, first of all, the lens (3) is shaped essentially ellipsoidally at least in the transmission region (6) and the lens (3) is arranged relative to the feed element (2) such that the electromagnetic radiation (4) emitted by the lens (3) in the direction of maximum radiation (7) of the antenna has an essentially planar phase front.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: KROHNE MESSTECHNIK GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Nils Pohl
  • Publication number: 20100295744
    Abstract: A lightweight convex waveguide lens for receiving and/or transmitting electromagnetic signals to/from one and/or multiple signal sources, with the ability to send and receive signals at the same time. This is achieved by assembling wave guiding channels (waveguides) in a structured array (super structure). The waveguides can be partly pre-assembled prior to assembly in the super structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Inventors: Erik Lofbom, Erik Geterud
  • Publication number: 20100283695
    Abstract: A waveguide lens antenna (WGLA) with especially wideband characteristics. The geometry of the WGLA is shaped to result in ideal phase shift over a maximum bandwidth. The specific convex shape makes it possible to modulate the phase of all waveguides to generate a plane wave over a much wider frequency band than has earlier been possible. The waveguides are circular symmetric oriented which result in a favourable S-parameter matrix and low cross polar level. The WGLA have scanning properties i.e. provide multiple beams by moving the feeds on the focal plane behind the WGLA.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Inventor: Erik Geterud
  • Publication number: 20100277381
    Abstract: In the method for operating a plurality antenna having near-field (NF) zone mounted on a vehicle, wherein the improvement comprises the step of cloaking in the near-field (NF) zone of each of said plurality of antennas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2010
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: Igor I. Smolyaninov, Nikolay K. Yushin, Louise C. Sengupta
  • Publication number: 20100238081
    Abstract: Techniques, apparatus and systems that use one or more composite left and right handed (CRLH) metamaterial structures in processing and handling electromagnetic wave signals. Antennas and antenna arrays based on enhanced CRLH metamaterial structures are configured to provide broadband resonances for various multi-band wireless communications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Inventors: Maha Achour, Ajay Gummalla, Marin Stoytchev
  • Publication number: 20100231452
    Abstract: A phased array mm-wave device includes a substrate, a mm-wave transmitter integrated onto the substrate configured to transmit a mm-wave signal and/or a mm-wave receiver integrated onto the substrate and configured to receive a mm-wave signal. The mm-wave device also includes a phased array antenna system integrated onto the substrate and including two or more antenna elements. The phased array mm-wave device also includes one or more dielectric lenses. A distributed mm-wave distributed combining tree circuit includes at least two pairs of differential transconductors with regenerative degeneration and accepts at least two differential input signals. Two mm-wave loopback methods measure the phased array antenna patterns and the performance of an integrated receiver transmitter system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Aydin Babakhani, Xiang Guan, Seyed Ali Hajimiri, Abbas Komijani, Arun Natarajan
  • Publication number: 20100220024
    Abstract: An antenna structure and a method of propagating an electromagnetic (EM) wave with the antenna structure. The antenna structure comprises a first aperture antenna element and a second element inside the first element adapted to strengthen the directivity of the wave.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. Snow, Thomas Ball
  • Patent number: 7786928
    Abstract: A monostatic multi-beam radar sensor for motor vehicles, having a group antenna, a planar lens having multiple inputs, and a homodyne mixer system, wherein the mixer system comprises multiple transfer mixers that are connected in parallel to the inputs of the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Hansen, Martin Schneider, Joerg Schoebel, Oliver Brueggemann
  • Publication number: 20100207833
    Abstract: A multibeam antenna comprising: a plurality of primary radiating elements, each associated to a respective beam; and an active radiating structure comprising a first planar array of radiating elements, a second planar array composed by a same number of radiating elements, a set of connections between each radiating element of the first planar array and one corresponding element of the second planar array, and a set of power amplifiers for amplifying signals transmitted through said connections; wherein: the relative positions of the radiating elements of the first and second planar arrays and phase delays introduced by said connections are such that the radiating structure forms an active discrete converging lens; and said primary radiating elements are clustered on a focal surface of said lens, facing the first planar array; characterized in that said first and second planar arrays are both aperiodic. A method of manufacturing such an antenna.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Inventors: Giovanni Toso, Piero Angeletti, Gianfranco Ruggerini, Giancarlo Bellaveglia
  • Patent number: 7777683
    Abstract: A lens (300, 500) is disclosed for steering the exit direction (?) of an incident electromagnetic wave. The lens comprises a main body (210, 510) of a ferroelectric material with a first main surface (207, 507) and a first transformer (220, 222). The electromagnetic wave enters and exits the lens through the transformer, and the lens comprises means (370, 380) for creating a DC-field in a first direction in the main body. The main body (210, 510) of ferroelectric material comprises a plurality (21011-210NN, 51011-510NN) of slabs of the ferroelectric material, each slab also comprising a first (403, 603) and a second electrode of a conducting material. The means for creating a DC-field can create a gradient DC-field in the first direction using the first and second electrodes, so that the dielectric constant in the main body will also be a gradient in the first direction, thus enabling steering of the existing electromagnetic wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (Publ)
    Inventors: Ola Tageman, Spartak Gevorgyan, Anatoli Deleniv, Pierre Filhol, Vladimir Cherman
  • Publication number: 20100201587
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) antenna structure includes a micro-electromechanical (MEM) area, a feed point, and a transmission line. The micro-electromechanical (MEM) area includes a three-dimensional shape, wherein the three dimensional-shape provides an antenna structure. The feed point is coupled to provide an outbound radio frequency (RF) signal to the antenna structure for transmission and to receive an inbound RF signal from the antenna structure. The transmission line electrically coupled to the feed point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Ahmadreza (Reza) Rofougaran
  • Patent number: 7773292
    Abstract: When illuminated with a plane wave a variable cross-coupling partial reflector reflects a specific amount of a cross-polarized field and a specific amount of a co-polarized field and transmits the remaining power with low attenuation. This is achieved with a pair of frequency selective surfaces (FSS) that are rotated with respect to the incident plane wave. The FSSs can be fixed with a given alignment for a particular application or a tuning mechanism can be provided to independently rotate the surfaces and adapt the reflected co- and cross-polarized fields to changing requirements. Of particular interest is the ability to provide a specific amount of cross-polarized reflected power while reflecting no co-polarized field over a certain range of wavelengths. This will be useful to increase power efficiency in, for example, wave power sources that utilize quasi-optical power by causing oscillations in reflection amplifier arrays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Jonathan J. Lynch
  • Patent number: 7768457
    Abstract: An integrated antenna and chip package and method of manufacturing thereof. The package includes a first substrate having a first surface and a second surface, The second surface is configured to interface the chip package to a circuit board. A second substrate of the package is disposed on the first surface of the first substrate and is made of a dielectric material. One or more antennas are disposed on the second substrate and a communication device is coupled to the antenna, wherein the communication device is disposed on the second substrate in substantially the same plane as the antenna. A lid is coupled to the first substrate and is configured to encapsulate the antenna and the communication device. The lid has a lens that is configured to allow radiation from the antenna to be emitted therethrough and a shoulder configured to transfer heat produced from the communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Vubiq, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Gregory Pettus, James Robert Amos Bardeen
  • Publication number: 20100188304
    Abstract: A communications system including an antenna array and electronics assembly that may be mounted on and in a vehicle. The communication system may generally comprise an external subassembly that is mounted on an exterior surface of the vehicle, and an internal subassembly that is located within the vehicle, the external and internal subassemblies being communicatively coupled to one another. The external subassembly may comprise the antenna array as well as mounting equipment and steering actuators to move the antenna array in azimuth, elevation and polarization (for example, to track a satellite or other signal source). The internal subassembly may comprise most of the electronics associated with the communication system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Inventors: Richard Clymer, Frank Blanda
  • Publication number: 20100171673
    Abstract: A deployable lens is provided for an antenna. The lens comprises an array of metallic lens elements formed on a plurality of planar sections of a dielectric substrate, each lens element comprising a first end-fire element directed towards a feed side of the lens, a second end-fire element directed towards a non-feed side of the lens and a section of transmission line for coupling signals between the first and second end-fire elements. The section of transmission line, preferably in the form of a slot-line transmission line, is integrated with the end-fire elements and is of a length determined according to the position of the lens element within the aperture of the lens as deployed. An antenna is also provided comprising a deployable lens according to the present invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Applicant: BAE SYSTEMS plc
    Inventors: Ronald F. E. Guy, Bruno P. Pirollo, Robert A. Lewis
  • Publication number: 20100149660
    Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and systems provide focusing, focus-adjusting, and sensing. In some approaches the focus-adjusting includes providing an extended depth of focus greater than a nominal depth of focus. In some approaches the focus-adjusting includes focus-adjusting with a transformation medium, where the transformation medium may include an artificially-structured material such as a metamaterial.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2010
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Bowers, Roderick A. Hyde, Edward K.Y. Jung, John Brian Pendry, David Schurig, David R. Smith, Clarence T. Tegreene, Thomas A. Weaver, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, JR.
  • Patent number: 7737903
    Abstract: A stepped reflector for being illuminated by at least one multiple-band feed is provided. The reflector includes a central region and a first annular region with an annular width of w. The first annular region is axially stepped a height h above the central region, where h is approximately equal to m × [ ? ± ( ? ? ( ? = 0 ) - ? ? ( ? = ? 0 ) ) ] × ? 180 × ? 2 ? ? × 1 2 , where m is a positive odd integer, ? is a desired amount of phase shift of an outer region of a phase front for reflecting off of the reflector, ? is a feed phase contribution for an angle ?, and ?0 is an angle formed between an axis of the at least one feed and a line connecting a phase center of the at least one feed and an inner edge of the at least one annular region. The central region and the annular region of the reflector may be parabolically curved or may alternately be shaped. The reflector may be fed by one or more multiple-band horn antennas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Sudhakar K. Rao, Minh Tang
  • Publication number: 20100134368
    Abstract: The invention concerns an inhomogeneous lens with Maxwell's Fish-eye type gradient index (1), made in the shape of a hemisphere. The invention is characterized in that the lens comprises N hemispheric concentric shells (2 to 4), with different discrete dielectric constants and mutually interlaced without void between the two successive shells, with 3?N?20, the discrete dielectric constants of the N shells being such that they define a discrete distribution close to the theoretical distribution of the index inside the lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2006
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: Universite de Rennes 1
    Inventors: Olivier Lafond, Mohamed Himdi, Sebastien Rondineau, Benjamin Fuchs
  • Patent number: 7724180
    Abstract: An example radar system for a vehicle comprises a radar antenna, operable to produce a radar beam, and a lens assembly including at least one active lens, the radar beam passing through the lens assembly. The radar beam has a field of view that is adjustable using the active lens. In some examples, the active lens comprises a metamaterial, the metamaterial having an adjustable property such as an adjustable negative index, the field of view being adjustable using the adjustable property of the metamaterial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignees: Toyota Motor Corporation, Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Serdar H. Yonak, Junzo Ooe
  • Publication number: 20100123635
    Abstract: Apparatus and techniques that provide tuning elements in antenna devices to tune frequencies of the antenna devices, including composite right and left handed (CRLH) metamaterial (MTM) antenna devices. Examples of the tuning elements for CRLH MTM antenna devices include feed line tuning elements, cell patch tuning elements, meandered stub tuning elements, via line tuning elements, and via pad tuning elements tuning elements that formed near corresponding antenna elements such as the feed line, cell patch, meander stub, via line and via pad, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Applicant: RAYSPAN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Norberto Lopez, Ajay Gummalla
  • Patent number: 7710336
    Abstract: A metamaterial having a negative refractive index is presented, which has a dielectric carrier material (12; 48), first electrically conductive sections (14.1, 14.2, 14.3, 14.4) and second electrically conductive sections (16.1, 16.2). The metamaterial is distinguished by the fact that the dielectric carrier material (12; 48) is realized as a volume which consists of one piece and which has at least one inner area which is prestructured by positive or negative rib or mesa structures (52.1, 52.2) in the dielectric carrier material (48) and is covered with first sections (14.1, 14.2, 14.3, 14.4) and second sections (16.1, 16.2) in such a way that the first sections form capacitive series impedances upon illumination with an electromagnetic wave having a specific propagation direction and polarization, while the second sections are arranged in such a way that they form inductive shunt impedances upon the illumination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Universitat Stuttgart
    Inventors: Heinz Schweizer, Hedwig Graebeldinger, Manfred Berroth, Harald Giessen, Axel Rumberg, Liwei Fu
  • Publication number: 20100073260
    Abstract: An antenna device has a divider producing first and second signals, and amplifiers amplifying the signals at a changeable amplitude ratio of the first signal to the second signal. A Rotman lens gives first phase differences to first high frequency waves, produced from the first amplified signal at an input port and transmitted to output ports, and gives second phase differences to second high frequency waves produced from the second amplified signal at another input port and transmitted to the output ports. An antenna forms a beam composed of electromagnetic waves, having the first phase differences and electric power corresponding to the first amplified signal on an antenna surface, and electromagnetic waves, having the second phase differences and electric power corresponding to the second amplified signal on the antenna surface, and radiates the beam in a particular direction corresponding to the phase differences and the amplitude ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akihisa Fujita
  • Publication number: 20100066594
    Abstract: A modular system is for assembling a fill-level radar antenna, a fill-level radar antenna, and o a fill level radar. The modular system comprises several modules that can be interconnected. In this way a host of different fill-level radar antennae may be produced that are optimally adapted to the corresponding conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventors: Klaus KIENZLE, Josef Fehrenbach, Juergen Motzer, Johannes Falk, Fritz Lenk
  • Publication number: 20100060521
    Abstract: A displaced feed antenna, operating at UHF, microwave, millimetre wave and tetrahertz frequencies, of mostly spaced conducting plate construction that incorporates electronically selectable feed points with associated antenna beam positions, which displaced feed antenna comprises: (i) a set of one or more beamforming configurations means (6) composed of layered, interlinking spaced conducting plates (1) and conducting boundaries that are separated by cavities containing dielectric material or free space; (ii) a set of one or more internal focusing means for each beamforming configuration to route radio frequency energy to or from the displaced feed points on receive and transmit respectively; (iii) a linear or curved array of displaced feed means for each beamforming configuration for coupling radio frequency energy into, or from, the cavity between the plates (2); (iv) a selection means (4) to allow definable overlapping regions of the focussing means to be illuminated for each beamforming configuration, by
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Inventors: David Hayes, Richard Brooke Keeton
  • Patent number: 7671799
    Abstract: A phased array antenna system includes an RF front end, a radome, and an optical calibrator embedded in the radome for enabling in-situ calibration of the RF front end. The optical calibrator employs an optical timing signal generator (OTSG), a Variable Optical Amplitude and Delay Generator array (VOADGA) for receiving the modulated optical output signal and generating a plurality of VOADGA timing signals, and an optical timing signal distributor (OTSD). The in-situ optical calibrator allows for reduced calibration time and makes it feasible to perform calibration whenever necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Eung Gi Paek, Mark G Parent, Joon Y Choe