Abstract: Different approaches that aim to extend scan range of phased array antennas by means of altering surface waves and/or altering the coupling are disclosed. One approach includes providing a phased array antenna where a surface of a substrate that houses antenna elements of the array includes openings such as trenches or grooves. Such openings in the surface effectively reduce the dielectric constant of the substrate, are easy to manufacture, and may reduce or eliminate the need to use exotic and expensive low-k dielectric materials. Another approach includes providing a phased array antenna where antenna elements are disposed over a substrate in the form of surface mount (SMT) components that are reduced in size/footprint. Using SMT antenna elements with a reduced size allows achieving the same gain while spacing antenna elements farther apart with gaps in between the antenna elements, thus also reducing the overall dielectric constant of the substrate.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods related to dual linear polarized wideband antennas for compact antenna arrangements are provided. An example antenna structure includes a multi-layered printed circuit board (PCB); a folded magnetoelectric antenna element including a first portion disposed on a first layer of the multi-layered PCB and a first fold portion contiguous to the first portion and extending to at least a second layer of the multi-layered PCB; and a patch antenna element disposed on a third layer of the multi-layered PCB, wherein the first, second, and third layers are separate layers of the multi-layered PCB. The antenna structure further includes a first feeding port electrically coupled to the patch antenna element, and a second feeding port electrically coupled to the patch antenna element, where the first and second feeding ports are associated with different polarizations.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods related to antenna elements with perforations and augmentations are provided. An example patch antenna structure includes a first conductive patch on a first layer of the structure, where the first conductive patch includes one or more perforations at a periphery of a first side of the first conductive patch, and one or more extended conductive portions at a second side of the first conductive patch, the second side opposite the first side; a ground plane on a ground layer of the structure, the ground layer spaced apart from the first layer; and a first signal feed to couple a signal to the first conductive patch. In an example, an individual extended conductive portion of the one or more extended conductive portions may compensate a radiation pattern associated with a corresponding one of the one or more perforations.

Abstract: Phased arrays to be used for Tx and Rx communications in different frequency bands are disclosed. The phased arrays presented herein are non-uniformly thinned half-duplex phased arrays with dual-band antenna elements. Such phased arrays are “half-duplex” in that they are configured for communication in one direction at a time, i.e., either for Tx or for Rx, while utilizing a common array. Such phased arrays are “with dual-band antenna elements” in that, in addition to using antenna elements configured for Tx or for Rx only, they implement some antenna elements that are configured for both Tx and Rx. Such phased arrays are “thinned” in that they are formed according to a method of optimizing array geometry known as “thinning.” Such phased arrays are thinned “non-uniformly” in that different antenna elements used for Tx may have different numbers of nearest and/or second-nearest neighbor antenna elements used for Rx, or vice versa.

Abstract: A two-port dyadic radial coupler for RF communications between PCB layers is disclosed. The coupler includes an input port, an impedance matching transformer, a coaxial conductor, and at least one coupled port. The input or coupled port has an at least partially annular conducting strip axially aligned with the coaxial conductor, causing radial coupling excitation by an RF signal to couple the signal between the input port and coupled port. The coupler is configured for coupling of RF signals within a select frequency range at 0 dB attenuation. In other embodiments, the coupler is configured for frequency-selective coupling to attenuate undesired frequencies. In various embodiments, the RF signal is parasitically coupled to a plurality of coupled ports on intermediate layers of the PCB. In additional embodiments, the coupled port may be left disconnected from additional circuit elements, causing the coupler to act as an antenna.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing calibration of antenna arrays with dual-polarization antenna elements are disclosed. An example system includes an antenna array and a calibration circuitry. The antenna array includes a plurality of antenna cells arranged in K rows and L columns, each cell including a plurality of dual-polarization antenna elements. Antenna cells in columns 1 through Y form a first sub-array, while antenna cells in columns Y+1 through L form a second sub-array. The calibration circuitry is configured to perform calibration by individually calibrating each column of antenna cells of the first sub-array, calibrating different columns of antenna cells of the first sub-array with respect to one another, individually calibrating each column of antenna cells of the second sub-array, calibrating different columns of antenna cells of the second sub-array with respect to one another, and calibrating antenna elements of the first and second sub-arrays with respect to one another.

Abstract: Phased arrays to be used for Tx and Rx communications in different frequency bands are disclosed. The phased arrays presented herein are non-uniformly thinned half-duplex phased arrays with dual-band antenna elements. Such phased arrays are “half-duplex” in that they are configured for communication in one direction at a time, i.e., either for Tx or for Rx, while utilizing a common array. Such phased arrays are “with dual-band antenna elements” in that, in addition to using antenna elements configured for Tx or for Rx only, they implement some antenna elements that are configured for both Tx and Rx. Such phased arrays are “thinned” in that they are formed according to a method of optimizing array geometry known as “thinning.” Such phased arrays are thinned “non-uniformly” in that different antenna elements used for Tx may have different numbers of nearest and/or second-nearest neighbor antenna elements used for Rx, or vice versa.

Abstract: Different approaches that aim to extend scan range of phased array antennas by means of altering surface waves and/or altering the coupling are disclosed. One approach includes providing a phased array antenna where a surface of a substrate that houses antenna elements of the array includes openings such as trenches or grooves. Such openings in the surface effectively reduce the dielectric constant of the substrate, are easy to manufacture, and may reduce or eliminate the need to use exotic and expensive low-k dielectric materials. Another approach includes providing a phased array antenna where antenna elements are disposed over a substrate in the form of surface mount (SMT) components that are reduced in size/footprint. Using SMT antenna elements with a reduced size allows achieving the same gain while spacing antenna elements farther apart with gaps in between the antenna elements, thus also reducing the overall dielectric constant of the substrate.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing calibration of antenna arrays with dual-polarization antenna elements are disclosed. An example system includes an antenna array and a calibration circuitry. The antenna array includes a plurality of antenna cells arranged in K rows and L columns, each cell including a plurality of dual-polarization antenna elements. Antenna cells in columns 1 through Y form a first sub-array, while antenna cells in columns Y+1 through L form a second sub-array. The calibration circuitry is configured to perform calibration by individually calibrating each column of antenna cells of the first sub-array, calibrating different columns of antenna cells of the first sub-array with respect to one another, individually calibrating each column of antenna cells of the second sub-array, calibrating different columns of antenna cells of the second sub-array with respect to one another, and calibrating antenna elements of the first and second sub-arrays with respect to one another.

Abstract: Aspects of this disclosure relate to an antenna array system and method of calibration using one or more probes disposed equidistant between antenna elements. In certain embodiments, calibration is performed between a probe and antenna elements, between a plurality of antenna elements, and/or between antenna elements on different antenna arrays.

Abstract: Aspects of this disclosure relate to an antenna array system and method of calibration using one or more probes disposed equidistant between antenna elements. In certain embodiments, calibration is performed between a probe and antenna elements, between a plurality of antenna elements, and/or between antenna elements on different antenna arrays.