Abstract: A device and method are provided for tracking a signal in a satellite-on-the-move application using an antenna that exhibits beam walk over frequency. An antenna that exhibits beam walk over frequency is used to receive, from a remote device, a first signal at a first frequency with a first beam direction, and the antenna that exhibits beam walk over frequency is used to communicate with the remote device a second signal at a second frequency, the second frequency offset from the first frequency and with a second beam direction offset in angle from the first beam direction. A periodic physical scan of the antenna about a current pointing direction of the antenna is performed over a prescribed time period, a strength of the received first signal over the prescribed time period is compared to a predetermined signal profile.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) polarizer includes a frame having a first side and a second side spaced apart from and opposite the first side, a first polarizer substrate attached to the first side and including a plurality of conductor patterns formed on a surface of the first polarizer substrate, and a second polarizer substrate attached to the second side. The first polarizer substrate and the second polarizer substrate are attached to the first side and the second side, respectively, under tension.

Abstract: A scanning true time delay antenna includes a first layer including at least one first corporate feed having a first port and a plurality of second ports communicatively coupled to the first port, and a second layer disposed over the first layer and rotatable relative to the first layer. The second layer includes a plurality of second corporate feeds each having a third port and a plurality of fourth ports communicatively coupled to the respective third port, and a plurality of radiators, wherein each of the plurality of radiators is communicatively coupled to a respective one of the plurality of fourth ports. A plurality of first variable time delay lines are arranged at least partially in at least one of the first layer or the second layer, wherein each of the plurality of second ports is communicatively coupled to a respective one of the plurality of first variable time delay lines, and each third port is communicatively coupled to a respective one of the plurality of first variable time delay lines.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) polarizer includes a frame having a first side and a second side spaced apart from and opposite the first side, a first polarizer substrate attached to the first side and including a plurality of conductor patterns formed on a surface of the first polarizer substrate, and a second polarizer substrate attached to the second side. The first polarizer substrate and the second polarizer substrate are attached to the first side and the second side, respectively, under tension.

Abstract: A dual-mode polarizer for selectively switching between linear polarization and circular polarization includes a first meander-line polarizer, and a second meander-line polarizer spaced apart from the first meander-line polarizer to define a first gap therebetween. A first angular orientation between the first and second meander-line polarizers produces variably-oriented linear polarization of a signal passing through the first and second meander-line polarizers, and a second angular orientation between the first and second meander-line polarizers produces variably-oriented circular polarization of a signal passing through the first and second meander-line polarizers.

Abstract: A variable inclination continuous transverse stub (VICTS) antenna system includes a support structure, a plurality of VICTS antenna elements attached to the support structure, and a controller operatively coupled to the plurality of VICTS antenna elements, the controller configured to coherently combine signals through each of the plurality of VICTS antenna elements.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling pointing of a transmit antenna aperture of a phased array antenna are described herein. A modem may be configured to modulate carrier wave signals for transmission to an end target via the transmit antenna aperture. A transmit power level of the modem may be monitored, and pointing of the transmit antenna aperture may be adjusted based on the transmit power level. Additionally or alternatively, an indication of a carrier-to-noise level may be received, and pointing of the transmit antenna aperture may be adjusted based on the carrier-to-noise level.

Abstract: A system and method provide simultaneous dual polarization operation using a linearly-polarized planar antenna and a polarizer spaced apart from the linearly-polarized planar antenna, the polarizer including a first polarization state having primarily one of left-hand circular polarization (LHCP) or right-hand circular polarization (RHCP), and a third polarization state having linear polarization from which a combination of both LHCP and RHCP is simultaneously derived. The polarizer is placed in the first polarization state to at least one of transmit or receive a signal having primarily one of LHCP or RHCP, and the polarizer is placed in the third polarization state to simultaneously transmit and/or receive two different signals, where a first signal of the two different signals has primarily LHCP and a second signal of the two different signals has primarily RHCP.

Abstract: A system and method provide simultaneous dual polarization operation using a linearly-polarized planar antenna and a polarizer spaced apart from the linearly-polarized planar antenna, the polarizer including a first polarization state having primarily one of left-hand circular polarization (LHCP) or right-hand circular polarization (RHCP), and a third polarization state having linear polarization from which a combination of both LHCP and RHCP is simultaneously derived. The polarizer is placed in the first polarization state to at least one of transmit or receive a signal having primarily one of LHCP or RHCP, and the polarizer is placed in the third polarization state to simultaneously transmit and/or receive two different signals, where a first signal of the two different signals has primarily LHCP and a second signal of the two different signals has primarily RHCP.

Abstract: A dual-mode polarizer for selectively switching between linear polarization and circular polarization includes a first meander-line polarizer, and a second meander-line polarizer spaced apart from the first meander-line polarizer to define a first gap therebetween. A first angular orientation between the first and second meander-line polarizers produces variably-oriented linear polarization of a signal passing through the first and second meander-line polarizers, and a second angular orientation between the first and second meander-line polarizers produces variably-oriented circular polarization of a signal passing through the first and second meander-line polarizers.

Abstract: A linear-to-circular polarizer includes a meanderline polarizer having a plurality of meanderline conductor patterns, and a gridline polarizer having a plurality of conductors arranged in a grid pattern. The gridline polarizer is spaced apart from the meanderline polarizer by a first prescribed distance and the gridline polarizer is spaced apart from a planar antenna aperture of a planar antenna by a second prescribed distance.

Abstract: A method for pointing an antenna at an inclined geostationary satellite includes obtaining an analemma of the inclined geostationary satellite, and determining a plurality of points that are to be searched, wherein determining the plurality of points comprises selecting points that follow a centerline of the analemma. One point of the plurality of points is selected and the antenna is pointed at the selected point. While the antenna is pointing at the selected point, the inclined geostationary satellite is queried an RF power level of a response to the query received from the inclined geostationary satellite is recorded. Another point of the plurality of points and the query/recording step is repeated for each of the plurality of points. A determination is made regarding which point of the plurality of points produced a response to the query having the highest power level. The antenna then is pointed at the point having the highest power level.

Abstract: A multiport microwave device includes a first reactive three-port microwave device, a second reactive three-port microwave device, a third reactive three-port microwave device, and a matched four-port microwave device. The four-port microwave device includes first and second input ports and first and second output ports communicatively coupled to one another. A first port of each of the first, second and third three-port microwave devices is operative to receive a microwave signal, and a first output port and a second output port of the four-port microwave device are each operative to output a microwave signal. A second port of the first microwave device is communicatively coupled to a second port of the second microwave device, a second port of the third microwave device is communicatively coupled to a third port of the second microwave device, and a third port of the first microwave device is communicatively coupled to the first input port the four-port microwave device.

Abstract: A variable inclination continuous transverse stub antenna includes a first conductive plate and a second conductive plate spaced relative to the first conductive plate. The first conductive plate includes a first surface partitioned into a first region and a second different region, a first group of CTS radiators on the first region, and a second group of CTS radiators on the second region. A spacing and a width in an E-field direction of the first group of radiators is different in respect to a spacing and width in the E-field direction of the second group of radiators. The second conductive plate includes a second surface parallel to the first surface, the second surface partitioned into a first parallel plate transmission line and a second different parallel plate transmission line, the first and second parallel plate transmission lines configured to receive or output a different radio frequency signals from one another.

Abstract: A waveguide coupler includes a waveguide having a first and a second port, and a slot formed in a broadwall of the waveguide between the first and second ports, the slot centered on the first broadwall. A plurality of shifted waveguide sections are arranged between the first and second ports and extend along a length of the waveguide. A parallel-plate transmission line structure is coupled to the slot, wherein RF signals within one of the waveguide or the parallel-plate transmission line are communicated to the other of the waveguide and the parallel-plate transmission line through the slot.

Abstract: A waveguide-to-parallel-plate twist transition includes at least one waveguide-to-parallel plate twist transition element comprising an input port comprising an input waveguide portion, the input waveguide portion configured to orient an E-field of an electromagnetic wave along a first plane, and an output port comprising a multi-mode parallel plate portion, the multi-mode parallel plate portion configured to orient an E-field of an electromagnetic wave along a second plane, wherein an angle of orientation of the second plane is different from an angle of orientation of the first plane.

Abstract: A waveguide rotary joint includes a first waveguide member comprising a first waveguide portion, and a second waveguide member comprising a second waveguide portion, the second waveguide member rotatably connected via a curved circumferential path to the first waveguide member, wherein the second waveguide portion is adjacent to the first waveguide portion to define a first split rectangular waveguide. A first waveguide input/output port is communicatively coupled to the first waveguide portion, and a second waveguide input/output port is communicatively coupled to the second waveguide portion. Relative rotation between the first waveguide member and the second waveguide member changes an angular length of the first waveguide connecting the first waveguide input/output port to the second waveguide input/output port.

Abstract: A parallel-plate diplexer includes a first parallel-plate transmission line and a second parallel-plate transmission line, a first end of the second parallel-plate transmission line including a first port and a second end of the second parallel-plate transmission line including a second port, and a first end of the first parallel-plate transmission line including a third port and a second end of the first parallel-plate transmission line being coupled to the second parallel-plate transmission line at a T-junction between the first port and the second port. The second parallel-plate transmission line includes a first parallel-plate transmission line tuning network located between the T-junction and the first port, and a second parallel-plate transmission line tuning network located between the T-junction and the second port.

Abstract: A waveguide-to-parallel-plate twist transition includes at least one waveguide-to-parallel plate twist transition element comprising an input port comprising an input waveguide portion, the input waveguide portion configured to orient an E-field of an electromagnetic wave along a first plane, and an output port comprising a multi-mode parallel plate portion, the multi-mode parallel plate portion configured to orient an E-field of an electromagnetic wave along a second plane, wherein an angle of orientation of the second plane is different from an angle of orientation of the first plane.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling pointing of a transmit antenna aperture of a phased array antenna are described herein. A modem may be configured to modulate carrier wave signals for transmission to an end target via the transmit antenna aperture. A transmit power level of the modem may be monitored, and pointing of the transmit antenna aperture may be adjusted based on the transmit power level. Additionally or alternatively, an indication of a carrier-to-noise level may be received, and pointing of the transmit antenna aperture may be adjusted based on the carrier-to-noise level.