With Scanning, Sweeping, Or Orienting Patents (Class 343/754)
  • Patent number: 9557547
    Abstract: A paraxial cloaking device provides a cloaking volume in which an item can be hid from view. A cloaking device includes an optical input receiving light rays and an optical output from which a continuous range of directions of the received light rays exit the paraxial cloaking device. The cloaking volume being disposed between the optical input and the optical output. For received light rays having incoming directions non-parallel to the reference optical axis up to a first angle, each of the received light rays exits the cloaking device substantially aligned with the respective received light ray and does not pass through the cloaking volume. The paraxial cloaking device has a unity magnification factor. In some instances, the paraxial cloaking device includes a phase matching element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: University of Rochester
    Inventors: Joseph S. Choi, John C. Howell
  • Patent number: 9515390
    Abstract: An electromagnetic reflector for reflecting an electromagnetic signal is provided based on meta-surface phase control using photo-capacitive materials, varactors or other tuning means. The shape of the metamaterial unit cell enhances the resonance and phase shift. The reflector includes first and second cells having respective first and second phase states, along with a switch for selecting between the first and second cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Simin Feng, Kevin A. Boulais, Frank L. Wallace, Blaise L. Corbett, Victor H. Gehman, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9485004
    Abstract: An exemplary method comprises positioning a first antenna to receive a first signal from a second antenna, the second antenna comprising energy absorbing material that functions to expand beamwidth, receiving the first signal from the second antenna, detecting a plurality of gains based on the first signal, repositioning the first antenna relative to the second antenna to a position associated with an acceptable gain based on the first signal, removing at least some of the energy absorbing material from the second antenna to narrow the beamwidth of the second antenna, receiving, by the first antenna, a second signal from the second antenna, detecting a plurality of gains based on the second signal, and repositioning the first antenna relative to the second antenna to a position associated with an increased gain of the plurality of gains based on the second signal, the increased gain being greater than the acceptable gain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Aviat U.S., Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Vilhar
  • Patent number: 9397395
    Abstract: A low complexity/cost beamsteering antenna includes a central line feed affixed to a radial waveguide structure, radiating elements positioned along the circumference of the radial waveguide structure, and a plurality of active elements interspersed along the surface of the radial waveguide structure between the central line feed and the radiating elements. The active elements may comprise PIN diodes or microelectromechanical system (MEMS) components, and may be selectively activated/deactivated by DC switches in order to direct the propagation of an RF signal over the radial waveguide structure in a manner similar to a power divider. As a result, the RF signal may be funneled to selected radiating elements, thereby effectively directionally aiming the main lobe of the emitted radiation pattern to beamsteer the wireless transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Halim Boutayeb
  • Patent number: 9323217
    Abstract: A negative index material (or metamaterial) crossbar includes a first layer of approximately parallel nanowires and a second layer of approximately parallel nanowires that overlay the nanowires in the first layer. The nanowires in the first layer are approximately perpendicular in orientation to the nanowires in the second layer. Each nanowire of the first layer and each nanowire of the second layer has substantially regularly spaced fingers. The crossbar further includes resonant elements at nanowire intersections between the respective layers. Each resonant element includes two fingers of a nanowire in the first layer and two fingers of a nanowire in the second layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shih-Yuan Wang, Alexandre M. Bratkovski, R. Stanley Williams, Jingjing Li, Wei Wu, Philip J. Kuekes
  • Patent number: 9287614
    Abstract: A frequency scanning traveling wave antenna array is presented for Y-band application. This antenna is a fast wave leaky structure based on rectangular waveguides in which slots cut on the broad wall of the waveguide serve as radiating elements. A series of aperture-coupled patch arrays are fed by these slots. This antenna offers 2° and 30° beam widths in azimuth and elevation direction, respectively, and is capable of ±25° beam scanning with frequency around the broadside direction. The waveguide can be fed through a membrane-supported cavity-backed CPW which is the output of a frequency multiplier providing 230˜245 GHz FMCW signal. This structure can be planar and compatible with micromachining application and can be fabricated using DRIE of silicon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: The Regents Of The University of Michigan
    Inventors: Mehrnoosh Vahidpour, Kamal Sarabandi, Jack East, Meysam Moallem
  • Patent number: 9252499
    Abstract: An antenna unit is provided. The antenna unit includes a first substrate, a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, a first planar conductive ring and a feed conductor. The first substrate includes a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface is opposite to the second surface. The first conductive layer is disposed on the first surface. The second conductive layer is disposed on the second surface, wherein a main opening surrounded by a plurality of first conductive vias electrically connecting the first and the second conductive surface is formed on the second conductive layer, and the main opening defines a radiation cavity and center frequency. The first planar conductive ring surrounds the radiation cavity. The feed conductor feeds a wireless signal to the antenna unit. Both the first planar conductive ring and the feed conductor are placed between the first conductor layer and the second conductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: MEDIATEK INC.
    Inventors: Ho-Chung Chen, James Wang
  • Patent number: 9225070
    Abstract: A radiating element for a radar array antenna is provided. The radiating element comprises a first dielectric layer including a circular waveguide arranged therein, a second dielectric layer having a feed element for the circular waveguide embedded therein, and a cross-slot aperture formed in a groundplane arranged generally between the first and second dielectric layers. The feed element may comprise first and second stripline traces for exciting each of a first and second slot defining the cross-slot aperture. Each of the first and second dielectric layers comprises layers of a laminated printed wire board arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Mirwais Zeweri, Chih-Chen Hsu
  • Patent number: 9219309
    Abstract: An array of geodesic lens antennas (GLAs) comprises multiple vertical radiating slots, each formed into an annulus, which are individually controlled by feeding rings. One feeding ring is provided for each of the GLA elevation elements, resulting in multiple, parallel waveguide channels that together enable elevation beam steering, thus forming a concentric stack of geodesic lenses. Accordingly, exemplary embodiments of the invention are capable of RF beam formation in azimuth and elevation by using these lenses to form, shape, and steer one or more RF beams. Each GLA in the stack forms an element in the elevation plane with separate amplitude and phase control, providing the degrees of freedom required to independently and simultaneously control azimuth and elevation beam forming and steering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Carlos R. Costas, Millage G. Burnsed, Daniel P. Jones
  • Patent number: 9203149
    Abstract: An antenna system, comprising: a phased array antenna (4); and a dielectric lens arrangement (6), for example a single solid dielectric lens (6) comprising a substantially spherical convex surface (12) and a concave surface (14); wherein the dielectric lens arrangement (6) is arranged to magnify the effective aperture of the phased array antenna (4). The concave surface (14) is positioned within the near field of the phased array antenna (4). The phased array antenna (4) is operated at a frequency greater than or equal to 50 GHz. The antenna system retains some ability to electronically scan the beam. The antenna system may be for transmission and/or reception. The antenna system may be used for example for communication between two vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: BAE SYSTEMS plc
    Inventors: Robert Ian Henderson, Christopher Ralph Pescod, Shahbaz Nawaz
  • Patent number: 9170348
    Abstract: A beamforming apparatus comprising a number of beam ports NB arranged in a circular array, the circular array having a radius a, an annular shaped lens encircling the number of beam ports NB, the annular shaped lens having an inner radius a, an outer radius b, and an inhomogeneous refractive index n(r), and a number of array ports NA coupled to the outer rim of the annular shaped lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Inventor: Abbas Abbaspour-Tamijani
  • Patent number: 9147942
    Abstract: A multibeam antenna system having a substrate forming a ground plane and a lens positioned on the substrate. At least one radiating element is positioned around the lens and configured to transmit and/or receive electromagnetic wave. A switching means enables one of the at least one radiating element to be selected. The lens is constituted by a cylindrical ring whose axis is perpendicular to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: THOMSON LICENSING
    Inventors: Jean-François Pintos, Philippe Minard, Ali Louzir, Dominique Lo Hine Tong
  • Patent number: 9118356
    Abstract: The described embodiments relate generally to a dielectric wave guide interconnect for an electronic device including a first routing circuit, a second routing circuit, and a dielectric wave guide coupling the first routing circuit to the second routing circuit. The interconnect may also include a first coupling element securing a first end of the dielectric wave guide proximal to the first routing circuit and a conductive element to insulate the dielectric wave guide from radio-frequency (RF) signals. In some embodiments, the first routing circuit is in a bottom portion of the electronic device; and the second routing circuit is in a top portion of the electronic device. An electronic device including a dielectric wave guide interconnect as above is also disclosed. A coupler for an electronic device including a first end adapted to receive an electrical signal and a propagating electromagnetic signal is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Steven C. Michalske, William P. Cornelius, Neal V. Cecil
  • Patent number: 9077087
    Abstract: Systems and methods in which antenna system configurations use over-coupling between a plurality of antenna elements for effectively providing wide-band operation are shown. Such over-coupling comprises a multiple antenna element configuration in which adaptation to one antenna element (e.g., an influencing antenna element) results in substantial operational frequency band adaptation to a second antenna element (e.g., a respondent antenna element). Over-coupling results in a frequency split at the second antenna, whereby the resonate frequency of the antenna element is split into a plurality of frequency bands. By implementing such frequency splitting with respect to otherwise narrow band antenna elements, the over-coupled antenna system may be made to effectively provide wide-band operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Hong Kong Science and Technology Research Institute Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Corbett Ray Rowell
  • Patent number: 9035838
    Abstract: An antenna implementation comprises an electromagnetic lens and at least one electromagnetically shielding member. The electromagnetic lens is adapted to guide at least one electromagnetic signal by means of at least a variation in permittivity. The at least one electromagnetically shielding member encapsulates the electromagnetic lens partially so as to direct at least one electromagnetic signal propagating through the electromagnetic lens. The at least one electromagnetically shielding member can advantageously be part of an enclosure; said enclosure encapsulates partially the electromagnetic lens. The antenna can further comprise antenna transmission means that contain wave guides. Said waveguides can advantageously be incorporated into the enclosure. The antenna is particularly suited for implementations using Substrate Integrated Waveguide techniques. SIW techniques allow miniaturization of the antenna and offer the advantage of low energy consumption as may be required in portable devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Philippe Le Bars, Hervè Merlet, Mohammed Himdi, Olivier Lafond
  • Patent number: 9014619
    Abstract: A satellite communications system includes a satellite configured to communicate with terminals, a station configured to communicate signals intended for the terminals to the satellite via a plurality of feeder links and a beamformer including an input multi-port hybrid matrix (MPHM) and a complementary output MPHM in a signal path with the plurality of feeder links. The output MPHM is positioned at the satellite and coupled to the input MPHM via the plurality of feeder links. For example, the input MPHM may be positioned at a ground-based satellite gateway. The input and output MPHMs may be configured to implement fully populated signal transformation matrices that collectively provide a substantially diagonal signal transformation matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: ATC Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ted Benjamin, Matthew Griffin, William W. Chapman
  • Patent number: 9007215
    Abstract: In the embodiments described herein, a RFID enabled license plate is constructed by using the license plate, or a retro-reflective layer formed thereon as part of the resonator configured to transmit signals generated by and RFID chip integrated with the license plate. Such an RFID enabled license plate can include a metal license plate with a slot formed in the metal license plate, and a RFID tag module positioned in the slot. The RFID tag module can include a chip and a loop, and the loop can be coupled with the metal license plate, e.g., via inductive or conductive coupling. In this manner, the metal license plate can be configured to act as a resonator providing increased performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Neology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Zhu, Chih-chuan Yen, Jason Liu, Joe Mullis
  • Publication number: 20150097743
    Abstract: System for positioning a reflector includes a base (112), yoke (104) and a reflector in the form of a lens mirror assembly (10). A motor (120) is mounted and remains substantially stationary with respect to rotation about a first axis while the yoke rotates about the first axis. A connecting rod (152) actuated for movement by the motor is mechanically coupled to the reflector so that movement of the connecting rod in relation to the yoke imparts rotation to the reflector about the second axis when the reflector is supported by the yoke. A mechanical drive system couples an output shaft of the motor to the connecting rod. The mechanical drive system is arranged so that it varies an angular position of the reflector at a rate which is linearly related to the rotation of the output shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: HARRIS CORPORATION
    Inventor: MARK EVANS
  • Patent number: 8988287
    Abstract: An apparatus having multiple mushroom structures is disclosed. Each of the multiple mushroom structures includes: a ground plate; a patch provided parallel to the ground plate with a separation of a distance to the ground plate, wherein a distance between a ground plate and a patch in a certain mushroom structure is different from a distance between a ground plate and a patch in a different mushroom structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: NTT DOCOMO, INC.
    Inventors: Tamami Maruyama, Tatsuo Furuno, Yasuhiro Oda, Jiyun Shen, Tomoyuki Ohya
  • Patent number: 8988309
    Abstract: A radar sensor for motor vehicles, having a source of radar radiation and a lens, which is situated in front of the source, is made of a material that refracts radar radiation and has a convex surface on at least one side, wherein the convex surface has a greater curvature in elevation than in azimuth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Binzer, Thomas Hansen
  • Patent number: 8976078
    Abstract: A device for receiving and/or emitting an electromagnetic wave having a free space wavelength ?0 comprised between 1 mm and 10 cm, comprising a medium (11) of solid dielectric material and the free space wavelength ?0 corresponding to a wavelength ? inside the medium, a plurality of conductor elements (12) incorporated inside the medium and spaced apart from each other of a distance lower than ?/10, and one antenna element (13). The conductor elements are not loop elements. A tuned conductor element among the conductor elements has a first end at a distance from the antenna element which is lower than ?/10, and has a length Hwire adapted to generate an electromagnetic resonance in the tuned conductor element corresponding to the wavelength ?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignees: Time Reversal Communications, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique—CNRS
    Inventors: Julien De Rosny, Geoffroy Lerosey, Arnaud Tourin, Mathias Fink, Fabrice Lemoult
  • Patent number: 8963789
    Abstract: A conformal hybrid elctro-optical/radio frequency (EO/RF) aperture including an optical phased array (OPA) in a center portion of the aperture, and a variable inclination continuous transverse stub (VICTS) RF antenna surrounding the OPA using a plurality of continuous transverse stub (CTS) subarrays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Yueh-Chi Chang, Bradley G. Porter, Gregory M. Fagerlund, Leonard C. Bennett, Thomas V. Sikina, Brandon K. Mui
  • Patent number: 8952849
    Abstract: An apparatus having multiple mushroom structures is disclosed. Each of the multiple mushroom structures includes: a ground plate; a patch provided parallel to the ground plate with a separation of a distance to the ground plate, wherein a distance between a ground plate and a patch in a certain mushroom structure is different from a distance between a ground plate and a patch in a different mushroom structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: NTT DOCOMO, INC.
    Inventors: Tamami Maruyama, Tatsuo Furuno, Yasuhiro Oda, Jiyun Shen, Tomoyuki Ohya
  • Publication number: 20140368385
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a communication system operative to form, direct, and narrow communication beams using an array of electromagnetic radiators and a beam-narrowing architecture. A beam-width of an electromagnetic beam is narrowed, thereby increasing the concentration of electromagnetic energy in the beam and achieving a significant antenna gain. In various embodiments, the direction of an electromagnetic beam may be altered to improve communication between a transmitter and a receiver. In various embodiments, the system is a millimeter-wave system with a millimeter-wave array and millimeter-wave beams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Applicant: Siklu Communication Ltd.
    Inventors: Ovadia Haluba, Naftali Chayat, Yigal Leiba, Itzik Ben Bassat, Boris Maysel
  • Patent number: 8886237
    Abstract: A smart antenna system for communicating wireless signals between a mobile device and a plurality of fixed base stations using different channels and beams. The system comprises a control subsystem, a radio transceiver and an antenna subsystem, providing a plurality of beams. Each beam has a main lobe, one or more nulls, and one or more lateral and back lobes with at least some attenuation, so as to reduce interference. The system performs scanning of different combinations of base stations, channels and beams using one or more test links established with one or more of the fixed base stations. The test links use at least some of the different channels and the different beams, select a first combination of base station, channel and beam based on the scanning, and establish a first operating link for transmitting a wireless signal to the selected base station using the selected channel and beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Redline Communications Inc.
    Inventors: Octavian Sarca, Serban Cretu, Aurel Picu
  • Patent number: 8854257
    Abstract: A Luneburg lens is used in conjunction with a patch antenna array. The patch antenna array is conformed or adapted to cover a portion or backside of the Luneburg len's surface with the backplane of the conformed antenna array defining a field of regard (FOR) in which objects are detected and tracked. A processor is connected to a receiver/exciter module which connects to transmit/receive modules which are connected to the individual patch antennas through a network of MEMS switches. In a receive mode, selected subarrays of the conformed patch antenna array are scanned during selected time intervals with the sum and delta beams being formed coherently in amplitude and phase to realize amplitude monopulse sensing and angle tracking of an object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Christopher A. Hamner, Robert A. Spencer
  • Patent number: 8847822
    Abstract: An apparatus having multiple mushroom structures is disclosed. Each of the multiple mushroom structures including: a ground plate; a first patch provided parallel to the ground plate with a separation of a distance to the ground plate; and a second patch provided parallel to the ground plate with a separation of another distance to the ground plate, which another distance being different from the distance from the first patch to the ground plate, wherein the second patch is a passive element which is capacitatively coupled with at least the first patch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: NTT DoCoMo, Inc.
    Inventors: Tamami Maruyama, Tatsuo Furuno, Yasuhiro Oda, Jiyun Shen, Tomoyuki Ohya
  • Patent number: 8830126
    Abstract: An apparatus having multiple mushroom structures is disclosed. Each of the multiple mushroom structures includes: a ground plate; a first patch provided parallel to the ground plate with a separation of a distance to the ground plate; and a second patch provided parallel to the ground plate with a separation of another distance to the ground plate, which another distance being different from the distance from the first patch to the ground plate, wherein the second patch is a passive element which is capacitatively coupled with at least the first patch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: NTT DoCoMo, Inc.
    Inventors: Tamami Maruyama, Tatsuo Furuno, Yasuhiro Oda, Jiyun Shen, Tomoyuki Ohya
  • Patent number: 8810464
    Abstract: A compact mobile satellite communications system, including an integrated direct wave antenna and a low profile precision antenna positioning system, where the integrated direct wave antenna is configured to provide the minimum swept volume when steered and pointed such that it moves completely within a ten inch sphere, which provides an advantage when the system is mounted on a moving vehicle such as an aircraft, and the integrated direct wave antenna includes a refractive component as well as down conversion electronics to provide a L band signal output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Anderson Aerospace
    Inventors: Richard B. Anderson, Matthew Flannery, Geoffrey Rochat
  • Patent number: 8803733
    Abstract: A method of optimizing an antenna system can include determining a desired angle to rotate an antenna based on an axial ratio of electromagnetic waves exiting a radome that surrounds the antenna. The desired angle can be determined by a computing device based on a set of axial ratio values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Mitre Corporation
    Inventors: Frank Kolak, Aleksandra Markina-Khusid
  • Patent number: 8779984
    Abstract: An apparatus having multiple mushroom structures is disclosed. Each of the multiple mushroom structures includes: a ground plate; a first patch provided parallel to the ground plate with a separation of a distance to the ground plate; and a second patch provided parallel to the ground plate with a separation of another distance to the ground plate, which another distance being different from the distance from the first patch to the ground plate, wherein the second patch is a passive element which is capacitatively coupled with at least the first patch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: NTT DoCoMo, Inc.
    Inventors: Tamami Maruyama, Tatsuo Furuno, Yasuhiro Oda, Jiyun Shen, Tomoyuki Ohya
  • Patent number: 8773318
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system of multi-beam antennas comprising a network of N radiating elements, N being an even whole number, the elements of the network being connected two by two via transmission lines. The system comprises in addition M radiating sources, M being a whole number greater than or equal to 1, the radiating source(s) each being positioned at a distance Li from the center of the network such that the distance Li is strictly less than the distance of fields called far fields and i varies from 1 to M. This system can be used notably in MIMO devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Jean-François Pintos, Ali Louzir, Dominique Lo Hine Tong
  • Patent number: 8736503
    Abstract: Apparatus for receiving and transmitting electromagnetic signals are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a positive refractive index (PRI) medium; a negative refractive index (NRI) medium having a first side and a second side disposed in the PRI medium; a plurality of first transmission lines, each first transmission line having a first end extending toward the first side of the NRI medium; and a plurality of second transmission lines, each second transmission line having a second end extending toward the second side of the NRI medium, wherein a plurality of electromagnetic signals travelling in a first direction, enters the PRI medium and travels along the plurality of first transmissions lines and exits into first side of the NRI medium, passes through the NRI medium and exits through the second side of the NRI medium into the PRI medium along a first one of the second transmission lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Amir I. Zaghloul, Eric D. Adler
  • Patent number: 8730114
    Abstract: An antenna is provided for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic energy. A circular-shaped lens is disposed within a volume that has a first surface, a second surface, and a center, has an axis of rotation that passes substantially through the first surface, the second surface and the center. A plurality of feed elements are positioned at a plurality of focal points of the circular-shaped lens along at least a portion of a circle which is centered substantially on the axis of rotation. The thickness of the antenna is ? or less of the diameter of the antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Mitre Corporation
    Inventors: Paul G. Elliot, Kiersten C. Kerby Patel
  • Publication number: 20140104124
    Abstract: Present configuration concerns microelectronics; for instance, compact antenna devices applied in mobile communications and other equipment operating in millimeter range. The controlled lens antenna apparatus may include antenna elements in an integrated circuit configured to transmit beams. The apparatus may also include a dielectric lens antenna configured to generate a plane wave based in the beams transmitted. The apparatus may include a plate configured to deflect the generated plane wave at a random angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Alexander Guennadievich CHERNOKALOV, Artem Yurievich NIKISHOV, Maria Andreevna DUNAEVA
  • Publication number: 20140077995
    Abstract: An electronically beam-steerable antenna device comprises a dielectric lens having at least one flat surface, a high frequency dielectric board, a plurality of at least one primary antenna element with at least one transmission line formed on the high frequency dielectric board, and a switching network electrically connected to the said plurality of at least one primary antenna element and at least one transmission line and adapted to apply electric power to the at least one primary antenna element. The switching network is a semiconductor integrated circuit mounted in or on the high frequency dielectric board, and the high frequency dielectric board with the plurality of at least one antenna element and at least one transmission line formed thereon is adjacent to the flat surface of the dielectric lens. The electronically beam steerable antenna device according to the present invention allows for electronic beam steering in a continuous angle sector while increasing radiation efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: RADIO GIGABIT
    Inventors: Aleksey Andreevich Artemenko, Roman Olegovich Maslennikov
  • Patent number: 8674792
    Abstract: A metamaterial comprises a support medium, such as a planar dielectric substrate and a plurality of resonant circuits supported thereby. At least one resonant circuit is a tunable resonant circuit including a conducting pattern and a tunable material, so that an electromagnetic parameter (such as resonance frequency) may be adjusted using an electrical control signal applied to the tunable material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Serdar H. Yonak, Frederick W. Mau, II, Vinh N. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 8675617
    Abstract: A client station in a wireless local area network (WLAN) communication system includes a beam commutation algorithm and a smart antenna responsive to the beam commutation algorithm for selecting one of a plurality of directional antenna beams. The smart antenna is configured as a virtual omni-directional antenna by using a commutation of switched directional antenna beams. A switched directional antenna system that performs a commutation sequencing can be blind to environmental conditions and changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Inhyok Cha, Keith Baldwin, Yingxue Li
  • Patent number: 8648768
    Abstract: A switched beam antenna system is provided. The antenna system includes a plurality of feed elements arranged radially about a center point. A feed switch provides equidistant signal paths between each antenna element and a transceiver. The production of an antenna beam in a desired direction is achieved by controlling a switch to selectively operate a feed element associated with a beam coverage area that encompasses the desired steering angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.
    Inventor: Michael E. Mussler
  • Patent number: 8643564
    Abstract: A triplate line inter-layer connector and a planar array antenna are provided. The triplate line inter-layer connector has an electrical connection structure between a first triplate line and a second triplate line, a first patch pattern formed at a connection-side terminal end of a first feeder line, a first feed substrate having a first shield spacer disposed therebeneath, and a second shield spacer disposed thereabove. Each of the first and second shield spacers has a hollow portion hollowed out to a size encompassing the first feeder line and the first patch pattern so as to define a corresponding one of first and second dielectrics. A second feeder line is provided on a second feed substrate together with a second patch pattern, and a second ground conductor has a first slit formed in a portion thereof located approximately intermediate between the first and second patch patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Chemical Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuuichi Shimayama, Masahiko Oota, Takashi Saitou
  • Patent number: 8638272
    Abstract: An array antenna includes: a plurality of first antenna elements arrayed at specified element intervals on a plane of a board; a plurality of second antenna elements arrayed at the element intervals in parallel to an array direction of the first antenna elements on the plane; a first power supply circuit for supplying electric power to the respective first antenna elements by a line branched at a first branch point on the plane; and a second power supply circuit for supplying electric power to the respective second antenna elements by a line branched at a second branch point shifted by a specified distance in the array direction with respect to the first branch point on the plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Kosuke Tanabe, Atsushi Ooshima
  • Publication number: 20140022126
    Abstract: An array of geodesic lens antennas (GLAs) comprises multiple vertical radiating slots, each formed into an annulus, which are individually controlled by feeding rings. One feeding ring is provided for each of the GLA elevation elements, resulting in multiple, parallel waveguide channels that together enable elevation beam steering, thus forming a concentric stack of geodesic lenses. Accordingly, exemplary embodiments of the invention are capable of RF beam formation in azimuth and elevation by using these lenses to form, shape, and steer one or more RF beams. Each GLA in the stack forms an element in the elevation plane with separate amplitude and phase control, providing the degrees of freedom required to independently and simultaneously control azimuth and elevation beam forming and steering.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Carlos R. COSTAS, Millage G. BURNSED, Daniel P. JONES
  • Patent number: 8604989
    Abstract: An integrated phased array including an array of antenna elements (130), a plurality of waveguides (122), a beam forming network (120), and an RF switch (110). The phased array may further comprise a monolithic integration module (160) comprising a dielectric layer (165) sandwiched between two conductive layers (166, 167).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Inventor: Randall B. Olsen
  • Patent number: 8581775
    Abstract: A method for determining a target angle. Optical frequency or radio frequency energy is received through a pair of fixed, foreshortened, and opposing subwavelength apertures in a lensing system. A lens of the lensing system positions at least one of the pair of fixed, foreshortened, and opposing subwavelength apertures and includes a dielectric medium, and a substrate encased in the dielectric medium and defining at least one of the pair of fixed, foreshortened, and opposing subwavelength apertures. A target angle is determined from a steep change of amplitude versus angle presented by the pair of fixed, foreshortened, and opposing subwavelength aperture's beamwidth from the received optical frequency or radio frequency energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Brett A. Williams
  • Patent number: 8552743
    Abstract: A microwave diffraction system includes two plates, a lattice model, a transmitter and a detector. The two plates are electrically conductive and configured in a parallel manner so as to form a planar waveguide. The lattice model includes a plurality of cylinders arranged in regular order and is placed between the two plates. The transmitter is arranged at an outside edge of the planar waveguide and configured for providing a microwave towards the lattice model. The detector is arranged at outside edge of the planar waveguide and configured for detecting the microwave reflected from the lattice model. The diffraction pattern obtained by the above-mentioned microwave diffraction system is similar to theoretical value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: National Tsing Hua University
    Inventors: Tsun-Hsu Chang, Ching-Pin Yuan
  • Patent number: 8548525
    Abstract: Systems and methods which utilize antenna pattern or antenna beam scanning techniques to provide communication of payload traffic are shown. A base station radio is provided wireless communication links with a plurality of stations for communication of payload traffic between the base station and stations using a succession of antenna patterns. The antenna patterns are scanned in succession, such as randomly, quasi-randomly, sequentially, or according to a schedule. An antenna pattern scheduler may be used to implement antenna pattern scanning and traffic timing. Cooperative scheduling with respect to a plurality of base stations may be provided. Selection of the plurality of antenna patterns used by a base station is preferably adjusted from time to time, such as based upon environment, usage patterns, etcetera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: FiMax Technology Limited
    Inventors: Piu Bill Wong, Hang Ching Jason Leung, Chun Kit Chan
  • Patent number: 8548516
    Abstract: A smart antenna system is provided for communicating wireless signals between a mobile device and a plurality of different fixed base stations using different channels and different beams, said smart antenna system comprising a control subsystem, a radio transceiver and an antenna subsystem coupled to each other and adapted to perform scanning of different combinations of base stations, channels and beams using one or more test links established with one or more of said different fixed base stations, said one or more test links using at least some of the different channels and the different beams, select a first combination of base station, channel and beam based on the scanning, and establish a first operating link for transmitting a wireless signal to the selected base station using the selected channel and beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Redline Communications Inc.
    Inventors: Octavian Sarca, Serban Cretu, Aurel Picu
  • Publication number: 20130220011
    Abstract: A dielectric antenna (1) having at least one supply element (2) and at least one lens (3) formed of a dielectric material. The dielectric antenna makes it possible to measure the surface of a medium with an essentially consistent measuring accuracy in that the lens (3) has an outer component (4) and an inner component (5). The outer component (4) has a radiating surface (6) that is spherical and an inner surface (7) that is spherical, and the inner component (5) has a contact surface (8) that spherical. Furthermore, the antenna is usable as part of a fill level sensor operating on the radar principle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: KROHNE MESSTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Christoph BAER, Christian SCHULZ, Michael GERDING
  • Patent number: 8504111
    Abstract: In various embodiments of the present disclosure, an apparatus for wirelessly transmitting or receiving communication signals may include multiple active elements to transmit or receive communication signals wirelessly; and multiple active modules correspondingly coupled to the multiple active elements and configured to cooperate with respective ones of the multiple active elements; in which the respective ones of the multiple active modules include a power amplifier configured to amplify communication signals to be transmitted and a low noise amplifier configured to amplify communication signals received, and in which the respective ones of the multiple active modules further include a first phase shift configured to shift phases of the communication signals to be transmitted and a second phase shift configured to shift phases of the communication signals received. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC.
    Inventor: Jigang Liu
  • Patent number: 8482479
    Abstract: A large periodic array of ideally isotropic antenna elements permits electronic beam scanning and has a performance of power coupling from signal sources at the antenna inputs which is independent of the azimuth (?) scanning direction, dependent only on one spatial variable (elevation angle, ?) of scanning Such performance from an antenna array normally can not be achieved using conventional designs. Such an antenna array may be used in communications and radars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Polytechnic Institute of New York University
    Inventor: Nirod K. Das