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: Aspects of this disclosure relate to an antenna array. An antenna array may include a first circularly polarized dipole antenna that includes a first pair of conductive elements. The antenna array may include a second circularly polarized dipole antenna that includes a second pair conductive elements, the second pair of conductive elements being geometrically orthogonal to the first pair of conductive elements. The antenna array may include a beamformer integrated circuit configured to drive the second circularly polarized dipole antenna such that the second circularly polarized dipole antenna transmits a first radio frequency signal while the first circularly polarized dipole antenna receives a second radio frequency signal. The first radio frequency signal can have a different polarization and be in a different frequency band than the second radio frequency signal.

Abstract: Aspects of this disclosure relate to an antenna cell. An antenna cell may include a first circularly polarized dipole antenna that includes a first pair of differently fed conductive elements, the first circularly polarized dipole antenna being right hand circularly polarized. The antenna cell may include a second circularly polarized dipole antenna that includes a second pair of differently fed conductive elements, the second circularly polarized dipole antenna being left hand circularly polarized. The first circularly polarized dipole antenna and the second circularly polarized dipole antenna may be geometrically orthogonal and configured to radiate concurrently. The first circularly polarized dipole antenna may be positioned adjacent to the second circularly polarized dipole antenna.

Abstract: A radio frequency stacked die assembly can include a laminate substrate with a layer of conductive traces between a first plurality of laminate layers. The stacked die assembly can include surface mount antenna packages mounted to an exterior surface of the substrate, each antenna package including a radio frequency patch antenna embedded within a second plurality of laminate layers. The stacked die assembly further includes one or more surface mount passive devices and a flip chip semiconductor die mounted to opposite sides of the substrate. A plurality of solder balls are provided for mounting the substrate to a printed circuit board. The flip chip die, radio frequency antennas, passive devices, and solder balls are connected by the layer of conductive traces. Separating the patch antenna(s) from the substrate and into an antenna package simplifies construction and testing of the stacked die assembly, and can yield improved antenna performance.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for circularly polarized antenna arrays are disclosed. In certain embodiments, a dual-band dual-polarized antenna array is provided. The antenna array uses separate frequency bands for transmit and receive signals, and supports a right hand circular polarization (RHCP) and a left hand circular polarization (LHCP). The antenna array can be formed on a circuit board to which a beamforming integrated circuit (IC) can be attached. For example, the antennary array can formed form a low-cost printed circuit board (PCB) stack-up construction. The antenna array can provide circular polarization without needing a polarizer or coupler. Furthermore, the antenna array achieves good isolation and axial ratio under scan.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for electronic testing using beamforming integrated circuits (ICs) as impedance tuners are disclosed herein. In certain embodiments, an electronic testing setup for a device-under-test (DUT) includes a radio frequency (RF) coupler including a through line connected to an output of the DUT, a first coupled line coupled to the through line, and a second coupled line coupled to the through line. Additionally, the electronic testing setup includes a beamforming IC including a first transmit channel having an output connected to the first coupled line, and a second transmit channel having an output connected to the second coupled line. A gain and a phase of the first transmit channel and a gain and a phase of the second transmit channel are each controllable to provide impedance tuning at the output of the DUT.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for circularly polarized antenna arrays are disclosed. In certain embodiments, a dual-band dual-polarized antenna array is provided. The antenna array uses separate frequency bands for transmit and receive signals, and supports a right hand circular polarization (RHCP) and a left hand circular polarization (LHCP). The antenna array can be formed on a circuit board to which a beamforming integrated circuit (IC) can be attached. For example, the antennary array can formed form a low-cost printed circuit board (PCB) stack-up construction. The antenna array can provide circular polarization without needing a polarizer or coupler. Furthermore, the antenna array achieves good isolation and axial ratio under scan.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for staircase antennas are disclosed. In certain embodiments, patch antenna elements are formed on two or more conductive layers of a circuit board with the patch antenna elements interconnected by vias to form a staircase-shaped antenna. The staircase antenna communicates using a tilted beam during normal operation (for instance, with no phase shift). Thus, the staircase antenna radiates at an angle, for instance, a diagonal relative to a planar surface of the circuit board.

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.