Abstract: A directional coupler (100) comprises two hollow bodies (200, 201) forming two waveguide portions. Each hollow body has an open end arranged at a first side (10) of the hollow body and another open end arranged at a second side (20) of the hollow body opposite to the first side in a longitudinal direction (30) of the hollow body. The hollow body has a first cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. A second cross section along the longitudinal direction defines a first plane of propagation of the electric field. The two waveguide portions have a common wall along the longitudinal direction (30) forming a septum (400) between the two waveguide portions on a second plane orthogonal to the first plane. The septum has an aperture (410) for coupling the two waveguide portions. The aperture has a shape comprising a part (420) slanted with respect to the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A directional coupler (100) comprises two hollow bodies (200, 201) forming two waveguide portions. Each hollow body has an open end arranged at a first side (10) of the hollow body and another open end arranged at a second side (20) of the hollow body in opposite to the first side in a longitudinal direction (30) of the hollow body. The hollow body has a first cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. A second cross section along the longitudinal direction defines a first plane of propagation of the electric field. The two waveguide portions have a common wall along the longitudinal direction (30) forming a septum (400) between the two waveguide portions on a second plane orthogonal to the first plane. The septum has an aperture (410) for coupling the two waveguide portions. The aperture has a shape comprising a part (420) slanted with respect to the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: Reconfigurable RF front-end circuit for a multi-beam array fed reflector antenna system having a first plurality of NB input beam signals and a second plurality of NE radiating elements (RE), and method of operating such a front-end circuit. The front-end circuit comprises a reconfigurable beam forming network (LLRBFN), having a set of NB input ports and distributing each input port signal to a plurality of NA output ports with phase and amplitude control, a plurality of NA high power amplifiers (HPA) connected to the plurality of NA output ports of the reconfigurable beam forming network (LLRBFN) and an output network (ONET, OSN), arranged for recombining signals output by the high power amplifiers (HPA) and feeding the recombined signals to the second plurality of NE radiating elements (RE). The high power amplifiers (HPA) are variable bias high power amplifiers (VB-HPA).

Abstract: Reconfigurable RF front-end circuit for a multi-beam array fed reflector antenna system having a first plurality of NB input beam signals and a second plurality of NE radiating elements (RE), and method of operating such a front-end circuit. The front-end circuit comprises a reconfigurable beam forming network (LLRBFN), having a set of NB input ports and distributing each input port signal to a plurality of NA output ports with phase and amplitude control, a plurality of NA high power amplifiers (HPA) connected to the plurality of NA output ports of the reconfigurable beam forming network (LLRBFN) and an output network (ONET, OSN), arranged for recombining signals output by the high power amplifiers (HPA) and feeding the recombined signals to the second plurality of NE radiating elements (RE). The high power amplifiers (HPA) are variable bias high power amplifiers (VB-HPA).

Abstract: A method and system for creating a constellation of electronic devices for providing optical or radio-frequency operations relating to earth surface data collection applications on a predetermined geographical area. On each of a plurality of (commercial) airplanes at least one electronic device from the constellation is provided, and during its flight each airplane has a flight path over at least a portion of the geographical area. Each electronic device is configured for the operations during the flight with an earth coverage range for the operations determined by an individual airplane coverage range of a portion of the earth surface as provided by the associated airplane. One or more electronic devices are activated for the operations when the individual airplane coverage of the one or more airplanes associated with the one or more electronic devices is within the geographical area.