Abstract: Antenna arrays, antenna elements for said arrays, and methods of fabricating and using the same are provided. Antenna arrays can be operated at multiple frequencies, such as at two different frequencies for Radio Detection And Ranging (RADAR) communication and for imaging applications. Each antenna element can include a driven patch that is excited directly and a parasitic patch that is excited by the driven patch.

Abstract: Dual-band antenna systems and methods of fabricating and using the same are provided. A tunable dual-polarization (left-hand circular polarized (LHCP) and right-hand circular polarized (RHCP)) antenna can be used both for L-band (1.215 gigahertz (GHz)-1.85 GHz) and Ka-band (32.3 GHz-34.2 GHz) operation. The antenna system can be an embedded antenna system, which can be used for 3U CubeSats, with full polarization diversity able to operate in two widely spaced frequency bands (L-band and Ka-band) of the spectrum. The antenna system can include three layers, including a top substrate, a bottom substrate, and a ground plane disposed between the top substrate and the bottom substrate.

Abstract: Systems and methods for beamforming based on mixing elements together instead of conventional phase shifting are provided. A beamformer can be used to cross-mix the elements with one another to compensate for delays in signal reception. By replacing phase shifters with mixers, the system becomes agnostic to frequency of operation and angle of arrival.

Abstract: Antenna devices that include a frequency selective surface (FSS) resistive card (R-card) to suppress ground plane interference are provided. The antenna device can include a tightly coupled dipole array (TCDA), and the FSS R-card can be a saw-tooth ring that only attenuates the intended frequencies. The antenna device can be an extremely wideband phased array with integrated feeding network and spatial scanning down to 60°.

Abstract: Systems and methods for beamforming using a cross-mixing architecture are provided. A beamformer can use an element-to-element mixing concept and can avoid the use of conventional bulky analog phase shifters. Incident signals can be sent through a phase-locked loop and then mixed with a signal from an antenna element oppositely spaced about a phase center of the antenna element array. Beamformers can be integrated into existing hybrid structures by substituting the traditional analog part of the beamforming process.

Abstract: A balanced wideband impedance transformer can include a first conductor layer including a first metal line and a second metal line, a second conductor layer including a first feed line and disposed on the first conductor layer, a third conductor layer including a second feed line and disposed on the second conductor layer, and a fourth conductor layer including a third metal line and a fourth metal line, and disposed on the third conductor layer.