Abstract: A light weight antenna system and corresponding lightweight transmission lines are disclosed that are characterized as having an extremely light weight relative to prior such systems and lines. An inflatable body having an inner surface connected to an outer surface with a plurality of support structures, such as connecting tubes. Antenna elements are disposed on the outer surface of the inflatable body to form, for example, a phased array antenna. Coaxial transmission lines are used to transmit signals to and from an antenna element and are, in one embodiment, created by disposing an inner conductor within the aforementioned connecting tubes. Such a transmission line may be utilized in a number of applications, such as to connect a base station to an antenna system of a wireless communications network. In another embodiment, quasi coaxial transmission lines are formed by disposing flexible membrane shields around a transmission elements.

Abstract: A modulation method, transmission method, and transmitter circuit are described which may enable realization of a wireless link for ultra-high transmission rates in the downlink to users. In a method of modulating an input signal to obtain a desired intermediate signal, the intermediate signal is to be processed for transmission over a wireless link at a carrier frequency within a desired frequency band. The processing may include subjecting the intermediate signal to a frequency multiplier operation that exhibits an ambiguous transfer function. In the modulation method, an input signal is provided, and a set of signal states applicable to the desired intermediate signal are generated so that a signal output from the frequency multiplier operation has a substantially non-ambiguous relation to the desired intermediate signal. The input signal may thus be modulated according to I and Q baseband signals to obtain the desired intermediate signal with the generated set of signal states.

Abstract: A light weight antenna system and corresponding lightweight transmission lines are disclosed that are characterized as having an extremely light weight relative to prior such systems and lines. An inflatable body having an inner surface connected to an outer surface with a plurality of support structures, such as connecting tubes. Antenna elements are disposed on the outer surface of the inflatable body to form, for example, a phased array antenna. Coaxial transmission lines are used to transmit signals to and from an antenna element and are, in one embodiment, created by disposing an inner conductor within the aforementioned connecting tubes. Such a transmission line may be utilized in a number of applications, such as to connect a base station to an antenna system of a wireless communications network. In another embodiment, quasi coaxial transmission lines are formed by disposing flexible membrane shields around a transmission elements.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed that substantially reduces or eliminates the resonance that occurs in vias that connect the layers of a printed circuit board by electrically coupling a first transmission line in a circuit board to a second transmission line in a circuit board by two electrical paths having substantially the same electrical length. The two electrical paths are created by connecting the first transmission line to a first via which is in turn connected to a second via having a second transmission line with a plurality of connecting electrical paths between the two vias. In one illustrative embodiment, electrical traces are used to connect the top of the first via to the top of the second via and the bottom of the first via to the bottom of the second via.

Abstract: A radar sensor and a radar antenna are for monitoring the environment of a motor vehicle. A compact construction is achieved by the planar array of both the control circuit and the radar antenna, so that the radar sensor may be located, for example, in the area of a motor-vehicle bumper. Example configurations consist of the separate line support for arranging lines to transmit high-frequency signals between the control circuit and the radar antenna and the configuration of the radar antenna as a Rotman lens, in relation to the signal propagation times and the layered arrangement of Rotman lens and group antenna.

Abstract: A multiple band antenna (and an array of such antennas) includes a first radiating element that radiates at a first band, at least one second radiating element that radiates at a second band, and a frame to hold the radiating elements. The frame disposes the first and second radiating elements in different planes so that cross-band interference is substantially avoided. Alternatively, a multiple band array antenna includes a first array of radiating elements in a first plane and a second array of radiating elements in a second plane. The first plane overlays the second plane. As a result, individual radiating elements in the first array are substantially interspersed with individual radiating elements in the second array. But the first array and the second array are arranged so that individual radiating elements in the first array substantially do not overlap individual radiating elements in the second array.