Abstract: A phased array antenna includes a substrate, and an array of dipole antenna elements on the substrate. Each dipole antenna element includes a medial feed portion, and a pair of legs extending outwardly therefrom. Pairs of adjacent legs of adjacent dipole antenna elements include respective spaced apart end portions. The phased array antenna further includes selectable impedance elements and switches. Each switch is for selectively coupling at least one impedance element between a respective pair of adjacent legs of adjacent dipole antenna elements for changing the capacitive coupling therebetween.

Abstract: A multi-band ring focus antenna system includes a main reflector (408) that is operable at a plurality spectrally offset frequency bands. A first feed (301, 403) includes a first feed horn (301) and a first sub-reflector (403), which are positioned spaced apart from each other at respective locations along a boresight axis of the main reflector. The locations are selected so that the first feed horn and the first sub-reflector share a commonly located first phase center (401). A second feed (302, 404) designed for operation on a second RF frequency band includes a second feed horn (302) and a second sub-reflector (404), each positioned at a location along the boresight axis of the main reflector so that they share a commonly located second phase center.

Abstract: A compact multi-band ring-focus antenna system. The antenna system includes a first and a second main reflector 304, 306, each having a shaped surface of revolution about a common boresight axis (322) of the antenna. A first backfire type RF feed system (302, 312) is provided for feeding the first main reflector (304) on a first frequency band. A second RF feed (301) coaxial with the first RF feed (300) is provided for feeding the second main reflector (306) on a second frequency band spectrally offset from the first frequency band. Further a portion of the second RF feed passes through a first sub-reflector (302) of the backfire feed. The second RF feed is terminated a distance from the first sub-reflector to illuminate a second sub-reflector (303).

Abstract: A phased array antenna includes a substrate, and an array of dipole antenna elements on the substrate. Each dipole antenna element includes a medial feed portion, and a pair of legs extending outwardly therefrom. Pairs of adjacent legs of adjacent dipole antenna elements include respective spaced apart end portions. The phased array antenna further includes selectable impedance elements and switches. Each switch is for selectively coupling at least one impedance element between a respective pair of adjacent legs of adjacent dipole antenna elements for changing the capacitive coupling therebetween.

Abstract: An antenna feed system includes a plurality of RF horn antennas (201, 202) for operating on a plurality of RF frequency bands. A first one of the feed horns (202) can have a boresight axis and is configured for operating at a first one of the frequency bands. A second one of the feed horns (201) is positioned coaxially within the first one of the feed horns (202) and is configured for operating at least at a second one of the frequency bands. Further, the first one of the feed horns (202) is a corrugated horn that has a plurality of corrugations (204) formed on an interior surface defining a profile. The profile extends substantially from a throat (205) of the first feed horn and along a tapered portion of the first feed horn. The profile substantially minimizes an interaction of the corrugations with the second feed horn.

Abstract: A phased array antenna includes a substrate, and an array of dipole antenna elements on the substrate. Each dipole antenna element comprises a medial feed portion, and a pair of legs extending outwardly therefrom, and adjacent legs of adjacent dipole antenna elements include respective spaced apart end portions. A respective impedance element is electrically connected between the spaced apart end portions of adjacent legs of adjacent dipole antenna elements for providing increased capacitive coupling therebetween.

Abstract: A phased array antenna includes a substrate, and an array of dipole antenna elements on the substrate. Each dipole antenna element comprises a medial feed portion, and a pair of legs extending outwardly therefrom, and adjacent legs of adjacent dipole antenna elements include respective spaced apart end portions. A respective impedance element is electrically connected between the spaced apart end portions of adjacent legs of adjacent dipole antenna elements for providing increased capacitive coupling therebetween.

Abstract: An antenna incorporating slow wave structures. The antenna comprises at least two conductive serpentine structures disposed on a dielectric substrate and further comprising an oppositely disposed conductive top plate electrically connected to the conductive serpentine structures and farther electromagnetically connected thereto. In one embodiment the antenna further comprises a ground plane below the dielectric substrate.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for feeding a compact main reflector of an RF antenna on a plurality of spectrally offset frequency bands. The method can include the steps of forming a focal ring for a main reflector (304) by positioning an RF source (301) at a first frequency within a first frequency band in the far field relative to a shaped non-linear surface of revolution so that the shaped non-linear surface of revolution forms a subreflector (302). A second focal ring can be formed for the main reflector (304) by positioning a second RF source (300) in the nearfield of the shaped non-linear surface of revolution.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for feeding a compact main reflector of an RF antenna on a plurality of spectrally offset frequency bands. The method can include the steps of forming a focal ring for a main reflector (304) by positioning an RF source (301) at a first frequency within a first frequency band in the far field relative to a shaped non-linear surface of revolution so that the shaped non-linear surface of revolution forms a subreflector (302). A second focal ring can be formed for the main reflector (304) by positioning a second RF source (300) in the nearfield of the shaped non-linear surface of revolution.

Abstract: An antenna having a plurality of conductive layers formed on a dielectric substrate. A ground plate and a feed plate are oriented in substantially parallel relation on two opposing sides of the dielectric substrate. A top plate, which is electrically connected to the ground plate and electrically insulated from the feed plate, is disposed on a third surface of the dielectric substrate perpendicular to the first and the second surfaces. One or more conductive layers are also disposed within the interior of the dielectric substrate parallel to the first and the second surfaces. One or more conductive vias extend between the feed plate and the ground plate through the interior of the dielectric substrate. In various embodiments these conductive vias are connected to one or more of the feed plate, the ground plate, and the interior conductive surfaces.

Abstract: An monolithic surface mountable antenna. The antenna comprises a ground plane, two dielectric layers separated by a conductive intermediate layer and a plurality of conductive regions on a top surface. Ground vias pass through the dielectric layers and connect one or more of the conductive regions to the ground plane. At least one signal via is connected to one of the plurality of conductive regions.

Abstract: A ring focus antenna and method of using same. The ring focus antenna can have a main reflector of revolution shaped as a non-regular paraboloid about a boresight axis of the antenna. A sub-reflector/feed pair is provided comprising a sub-reflector of revolution shaped as a non-regular ellipsoid having a ring-shaped focal point about the boresight axis. A feed element is installed at a feed element location separated spaced from a vertex of the sub-reflector on the boresight axis of the antenna. The main reflector is adapted for operation with multiple sub-reflector/feed pairs having a coupled configuration, and multiple sub-reflector/feed pairs having a decoupled configuration (i.e. classical optical dual reflector system). The main reflector is operable at a plurality of spectrally offset frequency bands. For example, the antenna can be designed for operation over C-band, X-band, Ku-band, and Ka-band.

Abstract: A ring focus antenna and method of using same. The ring focus antenna can have a main reflector of revolution shaped as a non-regular paraboloid about a boresight axis of the antenna. A sub-reflector/feed pair is provided comprising a sub-reflector of revolution shaped as a non-regular ellipsoid having a ring-shaped focal point about the boresight axis. A feed element is installed at a feed element location separated spaced from a vertex of the sub-reflector on the boresight axis of the antenna. The main reflector is adapted for operation with multiple sub-reflector/feed pairs having a coupled configuration, and multiple sub-reflector/feed pairs having a decoupled configuration (i.e. classical optical dual reflector system). The main reflector is operable at a plurality of spectrally offset frequency bands. For example, the antenna can be designed for operation over C-band, X-band, Ku-band, and Ka-band.

Abstract: An antenna incorporating slow wave structures. The antenna comprises at least two conductive serpentine structures disposed on a dielectric substrate and further comprising an oppositely disposed conductive top plate electrically connected to the conductive serpentine structures and farther electromagnetically connected thereto. In one embodiment the antenna further comprises a ground plane below the dielectric substrate.

Abstract: An antenna system comprising a plurality of antennas designed and oriented to provide one or more of radiation pattern, signal polarization and spatial diversity. The various diversity operational characteristics are achieved by using similar antennas physically oriented to provide the diversity attributes or by using dissimilar antennas, that is, antennas having different radiation pattern and/or signal polarization characteristics.

Abstract: A composite antenna reflector architecture for improving beam-to-beam isolation in a multi-spot illuminated reflector antenna employs a plurality of annular rings surrounding a central reflective dish and having respectively different controlled reflectivity profiles. The reflectivity-tailored reflector rings alter illumination taper and reduce selected sidelobe energy, and minimize degradation in coverage performance and gain slope in the radiation profile of the antenna. A respective ring employs a frequency selective surface laminate of layers containing different elements that resonate at different frequencies spectrally spaced to provide at least one composite frequency response characteristic.

Abstract: An antenna having a plurality of conductive layers formed on a dielectric substrate. A ground plate and a feed plate are oriented in substantially parallel relation on two opposing sides of the dielectric substrate. A top plate, which is electrically connected to the ground plate and electrically insulated from the feed plate, is disposed on a third surface of the dielectric substrate perpendicular to the first and the second surfaces. One or more conductive layers are also disposed within the interior of the dielectric substrate parallel to the first and the second surfaces. One or more conductive vias extend between the feed plate and the ground plate through the interior of the dielectric substrate. In various embodiments these conductive vias are connected to one or more of the feed plate, the ground plate, and the interior conductive surfaces.

Abstract: There is disclosed a meanderline-loaded antenna comprising a ground plane, a non-driven element affixed thereto, a driven or receiving element affixed thereto and a horizontal element between the driven and the non-driven elements. The non-driven and the driven elements comprise meanderline-loaded couplers that are oriented parallel to the ground plane and the horizontal element so as to present a low-profile meanderline-loaded antenna.

Abstract: A spaceborne hybrid antenna reflector for dual frequency band illumination of common spot beam coverage regions contains an interior solid reflector region, that is adjacent at its perimeter to a ring-shaped exterior dichroic reflector region and adjoined by a common backing structure. The solid interior region is reflective to RF energy at each of first and second spaced apart frequency bands, while the exterior dichroic reflector region is reflective at the first frequency band, but non-reflective at the second frequency band. This allows the hybrid reflector to realize the same beamwidth coverage for a transmitter operating at one frequency band and a receiver operating at the other frequency band. The backing support frame at the rear side of the reflector is electrically decoupled from the exterior dichroic ring.