Abstract: A circularly-polarized antenna is provided, and includes a conductive backplane with a plurality of panels, a vertical array of patch radiators disposed on one of the backplane panels, and a feed stripline disposed on the backplane panel. The backplane panels are vertical, planar, rectangular and form a right prism. The vertical array has a radiator spacing of one wavelength, each radiator has a face and four edges, and each edge has a length of approximately one half wavelength. The feed stripline includes an input coupled to a coaxial feed cable, and a pair of outputs, orthogonal in position and phase, coupled to each of the radiators.

Abstract: A phased-array antenna radiator for a super economical cellular communication system is provided. The phased-array antenna radiator comprises two dipole radiators. The first dipole radiator includes a first monopole radiating element supported by a first outer conductor, a second monopole radiating element supported by a second outer conductor, a first inner conductor, disposed within the first outer conductor and extending therethrough, having an upper termination, a first feed strap, attached to the upper termination of the first inner conductor, and a first stub, disposed within the second outer conductor and attached to the first feed strap.

Abstract: A phased-array antenna panel for a super economical broadcast system is provided. The phased-array antenna panel system includes an antenna panel support member, a first pair of striplines and a second pair of striplines. The antenna panel support member includes a front reflector surface to support first and second columns of constantly-spaced, crossed-dipole radiators, a first pair of signal ground cavities disposed beneath the first column of crossed-dipole radiators, a second pair of signal ground cavities disposed beneath the second column of crossed-dipole radiators, and a rear surface including first and second pairs of signal distribution cable connectors. The first pair of striplines are respectively disposed within the first pair of signal ground cavities and are coupled to the first pair of signal distribution connectors and the first column of crossed-dipole radiators.

Abstract: The present invention provides a phaser pack for an elliptically polarized antenna that includes a first structural component, a second structural component and a cylindrical inner conductor. The first structural component includes a recess, coupled to an input port, that forms a first portion of a cylindrical conductive path, while the second structural component includes a recess, coupled to a plurality of output ports, that forms a second portion of the cylindrical conductive path. The recesses of the first and second structural components form a continuous cylindrical conductive path when the first and second structural components are mated. The cylindrical inner conductor includes a plurality of tee junctions and a plurality of transition segments, coupled to the input port and the plurality of output ports, disposed within the continuous cylindrical conductive path to form a coaxial conductor that provides different phase delays to at least two of the plurality of output ports.

Abstract: A circularly-polarized antenna is provided, and includes a conductive backplane with a plurality of panels, a vertical array of patch radiators disposed on one of the backplane panels, and a feed stripline disposed on the backplane panel. The backplane panels are vertical, planar, rectangular and form a right prism. The vertical array has a radiator spacing of one wavelength, each radiator has a face and four edges, and each edge has a length of approximately one half wavelength. The feed stripline includes an input coupled to a coaxial feed cable, and a pair of outputs, orthogonal in position and phase, coupled to each of the radiators.

Abstract: A dual-port IBOC® antenna provides omnidirectional radiation of orthogonal, circularly polarized analog (FM) and digital (OFDM) signals using quadruple coplanar square loops driven from a hybrid having balanced outputs. The loops are arranged in a tiled square, with proximal sides functioning as further stripline hybrids to cancel cross coupling between the loops. Each loop quad is reflector-backed and emits a directional signal; multiple loop quads oriented radially form an omni bay. Vertical spacing between bays includes a minimum position for mutual coupling, while symmetry establishes uniform input impedance on the hybrid input ports. Tuning barbs on the loops fine tune frequency response. Bandwidth is wide, so that a single antenna can radiate multiple FM analog and hybrid IBOC® channels over the VHF FM radio broadcast band.

Abstract: A phased-array antenna panel for a super economical broadcast system is provided. The phased-array antenna panel system includes an antenna panel support member, a first pair of striplines and a second pair of striplines. The antenna panel support member includes a front reflector surface to support first and second columns of constantly-spaced, crossed-dipole radiators, a first pair of signal ground cavities disposed beneath the first column of crossed-dipole radiators, a second pair of signal ground cavities disposed beneath the second column of crossed-dipole radiators, and a rear surface including first and second pairs of signal distribution cable connectors. The first pair of striplines are respectively disposed within the first pair of signal ground cavities and are coupled to the first pair of signal distribution connectors and the first column of crossed-dipole radiators.

Abstract: A vertically polarized traveling wave antenna forms peanut-type directional lobes without significant nulls between the lobes. A self-supporting coaxial line feeds quad-dipole bays coupled around the coaxial line, with opposed dipole pairs spaced along the coaxial line. Matched-layer spacing provides substantial cancellation of the reactive components of the loads. Dipoles are oriented parallel to the coaxial line axis, with opposite “hot” (center coupled) elements oppositely oriented. Radiated signals have rotating phase. Changing the spacing within quads from a quarter wavelength or rotating the second dipole pair of each quad away from a right angle causes the antenna to radiate strongly on one axis and weakly at right angles thereto, without the nulls of back-to-back panel antennas.

Abstract: The present invention provides a phaser pack for an elliptically polarized antenna that includes a first structural component, a second structural component and a cylindrical inner conductor. The first structural component includes a recess, coupled to an input port, that forms a first portion of a cylindrical conductive path, while the second structural component includes a recess, coupled to a plurality of output ports, that forms a second portion of the cylindrical conductive path. The recesses of the first and second structural components form a continuous cylindrical conductive path when the first and second structural components are mated. The cylindrical inner conductor includes a plurality of tee junctions and a plurality of transition segments, coupled to the input port and the plurality of output ports, disposed within the continuous cylindrical conductive path to form a coaxial conductor that provides different phase delays to at least two of the plurality of output ports.

Abstract: A real time apparatus for testing a DTV antenna transmitting system, wherein the DTV antenna transmitting system transmits an original signal from a DTV transmitter to a DTV transmitting antenna, is disclosed that includes a probe, wherein the probe is connected in series with the DTV antenna transmitting system, and senses signals traversing the DTV antenna transmitting system. An error detector of the testing apparatus compares the received signal to the original signal to identify the magnitude and location of errors.

Abstract: A phased-array antenna radiator for a super economical cellular communication system is provided. The phased-array antenna radiator comprises two dipole radiators. The first dipole radiator includes a first monopole radiating element supported by a first outer conductor, a second monopole radiating element supported by a second outer conductor, a first inner conductor, disposed within the first outer conductor and extending therethrough, having an upper termination, a first feed strap, attached to the upper termination of the first inner conductor, and a first stub, disposed within the second outer conductor and attached to the first feed strap.

Abstract: A horizontally polarized, substantially omnidirectional broadband transmitting antenna uses parasitic dipoles to increase azimuthal circularity over frequency. Because the magnitude of nulls in the field strength increases with frequency, the dipoles are preferentially sized for optimum reradiation at the highest frequency expected for the antenna. For maximum reinforcement of signal strength in the nulls, the longitudinal axes of the dipoles in a preferred embodiment lie in the center planes of the multiple bays of the antenna, are perpendicular to the proximal axes of radiation, and are centered on the nulls. The dipoles are suitable for use with several antenna styles, and are expressly compatible with crossed bowtie slot antennas.

Abstract: A vertically polarized traveling wave antenna forms peanut-type directional lobes without significant nulls between the lobes. A self-supporting coaxial line feeds quad-dipole bays coupled around the coaxial line, with opposed dipole pairs spaced along the coaxial line. Matched-layer spacing provides substantial cancellation of the reactive components of the loads. Dipoles are oriented parallel to the coaxial line axis, with opposite “hot” (center coupled) elements oppositely oriented. Radiated signals have rotating phase. Changing the spacing within quads from a quarter wavelength or rotating the second dipole pair of each quad away from a right angle causes the antenna to radiate strongly on one axis and weakly at right angles thereto, without the nulls of back-to-back panel antennas.

Abstract: A horizontally polarized, substantially omnidirectional broadband transmitting antenna uses parasitic dipoles to increase azimuthal circularity over frequency. Because the magnitude of nulls in the field strength increases with frequency, the dipoles are preferentially sized for optimum reradiation at the highest frequency expected for the antenna. For maximum reinforcement of signal strength in the nulls, the longitudinal axes of the dipoles in a preferred embodiment lie in the center planes of the multiple bays of the antenna, are perpendicular to the proximal axes of radiation, and are centered on the nulls. The dipoles are suitable for use with several antenna styles, and are expressly compatible with crossed bowtie slot antennas.

Abstract: A dual-port IBOC® antenna provides omnidirectional radiation of orthogonal, circularly polarized analog (FM) and digital (OFDM) signals using quadruple coplanar square loops driven from a hybrid having balanced outputs. The loops are arranged in a tiled square, with proximal sides functioning as further stripline hybrids to cancel cross coupling between the loops. Each loop quad is reflector-backed and emits a directional signal; multiple loop quads oriented radially form an omni bay. Vertical spacing between bays includes a minimum position for mutual coupling, while symmetry establishes uniform input impedance on the hybrid input ports. Tuning barbs on the loops fine tune frequency response. Bandwidth is wide, so that a single antenna can radiate multiple FM analog and hybrid IBOC® channels over the VHF FM radio broadcast band.

Abstract: A very inexpensive and on-site tunable design for a vertically polarized panel antenna system, suitable for the FCC digital broadcast 700 MHz range is provided. Bowtie-like shaped antennas having machine-stampable planar elements with an adjustable separation are configured with a stripline feed. The stipline feed enables easy feeding of doublet systems to allow the configuration of an array of vertically polarized antennas. The various components of the antenna system can be easily tuned, enabling rapid deployment and quick operation.

Abstract: A real time apparatus for testing a DTV antenna transmitting system, wherein the DTV antenna transmitting system transmits an original signal from a DTV transmitter to a DTV transmitting antenna, is disclosed that includes a probe, wherein the probe is connected in series with the DTV antenna transmitting system, and senses signals traversing the DTV antenna transmitting system. An error detector of the testing apparatus compares the received signal to the original signal to identify the magnitude and location of errors.

Abstract: An antenna system and method using a folded panel antenna system with a bow-tie slot formed therein is arranged about a tower to provide greater azimuthal beamwidth coverage with increased gain. A groundplane is positioned to the rear of the folded panel, wherein a stripline feed is utilized for exictation of the antenna. A skewed parasitic dipole is attached to the front of the bow-tie slot to generate orthogonal field components for circular and/or ellipitic polarizations.

Abstract: An outer conductor connector for helically convoluted coaxial transmission lines is provided that bonds and seals an adapter to the coaxial line, preferably using solder, then attaches an O-ring sealed outer fitting that terminates in a standard flange. The outer conductor connector adapts a helically convoluted coax to a second O-ring seal in order to support dry nitrogen cable fill. Assembly with ordinary shop tools is facilitated. Center and outer conductors may be cut to the same length, wherein cut length is noncritical. The outer conductor connector includes an adapter that allows the use of a broad range of inner conductor connectors for nonconvoluted center conductor.

Abstract: An antenna system and method using a folded panel antenna system with a bow-tie slot formed therein is arranged about a tower to provide greater azimuthal beamwidth coverage with increased gain. A groundplane is positioned to the rear of the folded panel, wherein a stripline feed is utilized for exictation of the antenna. A skewed parasitic dipole is attached to the front of the bow-tie slot to generate orthogonal field components for circular and/or ellipitic polarizations.