Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a reconfigurable groundplane are provided. In one embodiment, the invention relates to an antenna assembly having a reconfigurable groundplane, the assembly including a radio frequency (RF) feed, a plurality of radiating elements, a plurality of interconnects, each coupling one of the plurality of radiating elements to the RF feed, a first groundplane positioned between the RF feed and the plurality of radiating elements, a second groundplane positioned between the RF feed and the plurality of radiating elements, the second groundplane including at least one cavity for enclosing a liquid metal.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of a dual band antenna array includes a folded thin circuit board structure with a thin dielectric layer and a conductor layer pattern formed on a first surface of the dielectric layer, the circuit board structure folded in a plurality of folds to form a pleated structure. A first array of radiator structures on the first surface is configured for operation in a first frequency band in a first polarization sense. A second array of radiator structures is configured for operation in a second frequency band in a second polarization sense. A conductor trace pattern is formed on the folded circuit board to carry control signals, DC power and RF signals. Active RF circuit devices are attached to the folded circuit board in signal communication with the conductor trace pattern.

Abstract: Systems and methods for assembling lightweight RF antenna structures are provided. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a process for forming a lightweight antenna including a process for forming a first feed assembly for the antenna, the process for forming the first feed assembly including providing a flat flexible circuit substrate, providing a formed flexible circuit substrate, applying an adhesive to a plurality of locations on a surface of the flat substrate or the formed substrate, joining the flat substrate and the formed substrate using the adhesive, and heating the joined flat substrate and the formed substrate to bond the substrates.

Abstract: A distributed control system for an active array antenna system is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, the array system employs many transmit/receive (T/R) modules each with an associated radiator element, a phase shifter element and a set of RF switch elements to set the module to transmit or receive modes. The array system is arranged to generate a transmit or receive array beam. The distributed control system in an exemplary embodiment includes an array processor for controlling the array, the processor configured to generate command signals to set the T/R module elements to transmit or receive mode and to steer the array beam to a desired direction. The command signals to steer the array beam include phase slopes common to all T/R modules in a given array or subarray.

Abstract: A switchable 0°/180° phase shifter on a balanced transmission line is provided. In one embodiment, the invention relates to an apparatus for providing 0°/180° phase shifting for a transmit/receive antenna pair including a transmit element and a receive element coupled by a balanced transmission line having two sections, the apparatus including a first section of the balanced transmission line, the first section including a first conductor and a second conductor, a second section of the balanced transmission line, the second section including a third conductor and a fourth conductor, and a switch disposed between the first section and the second section, wherein in a first configuration, the switch couples the first conductor to the third conductor and the second conductor to the fourth conductor, and in a second configuration, the switch couples the first conductor to the fourth conductor and the second conductor to the third conductor.

Abstract: A reconfigurable fluidic shutter for selectively shielding an antenna array includes a first surface and second surface spaced apart and defining a cavity; and a pump configured to pump liquid that attenuates electromagnetic radiation, such as a liquefied metal or alloy composition, into and out of the cavity. The first and second surface are transparent to electromagnetic radiation, for instance, microwave or other RF radiation.

Abstract: A low cost multi-channel thinned transmit/receive (TR) module architecture is provided. In one embodiment, the invention relates to an active antenna assembly including at least one multi-channel TR module for reducing power consumption, the antenna assembly including the at least one TR module including a first phase shifter, a first switch coupled to the first phase shifter, the first switch configured to switch between a transmit circuit and a receive circuit, the transmit circuit including a first power amplifier coupled to the first switch and to a plurality of second phase shifters, and a plurality of second power amplifiers, each second power amplifier coupled to one of the second phase shifters, the receive circuit including a low noise amplifier coupled to the first switch and to a plurality of third phase shifters, and a plurality of second switches, each second switch configured to switch between one of the second power amplifiers and one of the third phase shifters.

Abstract: The present invention relates to panel array antennas, and more particularly to a cooling system for an antenna such as a jet stream conformal panel array antenna. In one embodiment, a panel array antenna for an aircraft includes a closed-loop fluid flow path that passes through the panel array assembly and dissipates heat to the jet stream outside the aircraft. A fluid such as pressurized air passes through this closed-loop path, flowing through strategically-placed openings in the layers of the panel array assembly and flowing over and around the hot electrical components in the panel assembly. The air is heated by these electrical components, and the heated air then flows through the flow path under the top sheet, dissipating the heat to the jet stream outside. In one embodiment, a panel array antenna includes a panel assembly having a top layer through which the antenna radiates or receives a signal, and a fluid flow path through the panel assembly.

Abstract: A reconfigurable fluidic shutter for selectively shielding an antenna array includes a first surface and second surface spaced apart and defining a cavity; and a pump configured to pump liquid that attenuates electromagnetic radiation, such as a liquefied metal or alloy composition, into and out of the cavity. The first and second surface are transparent to electromagnetic radiation, for instance, microwave or other RF radiation.

Abstract: Systems and methods for assembling lightweight RF antenna structures are provided. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a process for forming a lightweight antenna including a process for forming a first feed assembly for the antenna, the process for forming the first feed assembly including providing a flat flexible circuit substrate, providing a formed flexible circuit substrate, applying an adhesive to a plurality of locations on a surface of the flat substrate or the formed substrate, joining the flat substrate and the formed substrate using the adhesive, and heating the joined flat substrate and the formed substrate to bond the substrates.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) transition for a three dimensional molded RF structure is provided. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a radio frequency (RF) transition for an RF structure, the RF transition includes an assembly having a first flexible layer, a second flexible layer, and a third flexible layer, wherein a first section of the assembly includes a microstrip transmission line, wherein a second section of the assembly includes a dielectric stripline transmission line, and wherein a third section of the assembly includes a suspended substrate stripline transmission line.

Abstract: A switchable microwave fluidic polarizer is provided. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a switchable polarizer for polarizing radio frequency (RF) signals associated with an antenna, the switchable polarizer including a plurality of radiating elements, an RF feed coupled to the plurality of radiating elements, an antenna input coupled to the RF feed, and an antenna cover disposed in proximity to the plurality of radiating elements, the antenna cover including a dielectric substrate including a plurality of channels for enclosing a liquid metal.

Abstract: In one or more embodiments, a method of producing a stacked integrated circuit assembly includes providing a substrate having a top surface with at least one substrate connection pad. A first flip chip integrated circuit (FFIC) is disposed above the substrate, and a second flip chip integrated circuit (SFIC) is disposed above the FFIC. The FFIC may be disposed between the substrate and the SFIC. The method includes making at least one solder connection between the substrate connection pad and the FFIC and at least one solder connection between the FFIC and the SFIC.

Abstract: A multi-layer microwave corrugated printed circuit board is provided. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a method for interconnecting components of a corrugated printed circuit board, the components including a first flexible layer having a first signal line on a surface of the first flexible layer and a second flexible layer having a second signal line on a surface of the second flexible layer, the method including forming at least one first hole in the first flexible layer, forming a conductive pad on the second flexible layer, forming at least one second hole in a non-conductive adhesive layer, aligning the at least one second hole with the at least one first hole and the conductive pad, bonding the first flexible layer and the second flexible layer, with the non-conductive adhesive layer disposed there between, and filling the at least one first hole and the at least one second hole with a conductive paste to electrically couple the first signal line with the second signal line.

Abstract: An asymmetrically thinned transmit/receive (TR) module and antenna architecture is provided. In one embodiment, the invention relates to an active antenna assembly including at least one multi-channel transmit/receive (TR) module for reducing power consumption, the antenna assembly including the at least one TR module including a first phase shifter, a first switch coupled to the first phase shifter, the first switch configured to switch between a transmit circuit and a receive circuit, the transmit circuit including a plurality of first power amplifiers coupled to the first switch, the receive circuit including a low noise amplifier coupled to the first switch and to a plurality of second switches, where each of the plurality of second switches is configured to switch between one of the plurality of first power amplifiers and the low noise amplifier.

Abstract: A light weight stowable antenna lens array assembly is provided. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a stowable lens antenna array including at least one antenna pair including a transmit antenna on a first layered composite, a receive antenna on a second layered composite, a ground plane on a third layered composite, the ground plane being between and spaced apart from the transmit antenna and the receive antenna, and a balanced transmission line coupling the transmit antenna to the receive antenna, and an articulating structure attached to at least one of the first layered composite, the second layered composite and the third layered composite, the articulating structure having a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, wherein at least one of the first layered composite, the second layered composite and the third layered composite includes a polymeric film.

Abstract: A switchable 0°/180° phase shifter on a balanced transmission line is provided. In one embodiment, the invention relates to an apparatus for providing 0°/180° phase shifting for a transmit/receive antenna pair including a transmit element and a receive element coupled by a balanced transmission line having two sections, the apparatus including a first section of the balanced transmission line, the first section including a first conductor and a second conductor, a second section of the balanced transmission line, the second section including a third conductor and a fourth conductor, and a switch disposed between the first section and the second section, wherein in a first configuration, the switch couples the first conductor to the third conductor and the second conductor to the fourth conductor, and in a second configuration, the switch couples the first conductor to the fourth conductor and the second conductor to the third conductor.

Abstract: An asymmetrically thinned transmit/receive (TR) module and antenna architecture is provided. In one embodiment, the invention relates to an active antenna assembly including at least one multi-channel transmit/receive (TR) module for reducing power consumption, the antenna assembly including the at least one TR module including a first phase shifter, a first switch coupled to the first phase shifter, the first switch configured to switch between a transmit circuit and a receive circuit, the transmit circuit including a plurality of first power amplifiers coupled to the first switch, the receive circuit including a low noise amplifier coupled to the first switch and to a plurality of second switches, where each of the plurality of second switches is configured to switch between one of the plurality of first power amplifiers and the low noise amplifier.

Abstract: A low cost multi-channel thinned transmit/receive (TR) module architecture is provided. In one embodiment, the invention relates to an active antenna assembly including at least one multi-channel TR module for reducing power consumption, the antenna assembly including the at least one TR module including a first phase shifter, a first switch coupled to the first phase shifter, the first switch configured to switch between a transmit circuit and a receive circuit, the transmit circuit including a first power amplifier coupled to the first switch and to a plurality of second phase shifters, and a plurality of second power amplifiers, each second power amplifier coupled to one of the second phase shifters, the receive circuit including a low noise amplifier coupled to the first switch and to a plurality of third phase shifters, and a plurality of second switches, each second switch configured to switch between one of the second power amplifiers and one of the third phase shifters.

Abstract: A space-fed conformal array for a high altitude airship includes a primary array lens assembly adapted for conformal mounting to a non-planar airship surface. The lens assembly includes a first set of radiator elements and a second set of radiator elements, the first set and the second set spaced apart by a spacing distance. The first set of radiators faces outwardly from the airship surface to provide a radiating aperture. The second set of radiators faces inwardly toward an inner space of the airship, for illumination by a feed array spaced from the second set of radiators.