Abstract: Antenna system includes an elongated antenna feed tower structure having a tower base at one end which includes a plurality of feet arranged to align with a plurality of predetermined structural mounting points associated with a space vehicle bus. The antenna system also includes a deployable reflector assembly comprising a hub ring. The hub ring includes a reflector deployment mechanism around which a plurality of reflector ribs are disposed. The hub ring is advantageously arranged to engirdle the feed tower assembly. As such, the central aperture is configured to receive the feed tower assembly therein after the feed tower has already been mounted to the space vehicle.

Abstract: A microwave device includes a circuit board having a microstrip layer, a ground plane, and a dielectric layer therebetween. The circuit board has a shield receiving slot for longitudinally receiving the end of a shield conductor of a coaxial cable. The coaxial cable also has an inner conductor having an end that extends longitudinally outwardly from the end of the shield conductor. The microstrip layer has an inner conductor contact adjacent the shield receiving slot that connects to the end of the inner conductor. The device may include a conductive layer in the shield receiving slot to connect to the ground plane. The shield receiving slot may have a T shape and extend through the circuit board. The device may include a mounting fixture connecting an end of the shield conductor to the circuit board.

Abstract: A microwave device includes a circuit board having a microstrip layer, a ground plane, and a dielectric layer therebetween. The circuit board has a shield receiving slot for longitudinally receiving the end of a shield conductor of a coaxial cable. The coaxial cable also has an inner conductor having an end that extends longitudinally outwardly from the end of the shield conductor. The microstrip layer has an inner conductor contact adjacent the shield receiving slot that connects to the end of the inner conductor. The device may include a conductive layer in the shield receiving slot to connect to the ground plane. The shield receiving slot may have a T shape and extend through the circuit board. The device may include a mounting fixture connecting an end of the shield conductor to the circuit board.

Abstract: A multi-beam phased array antenna architecture includes a plurality of antenna modules, stacked together in a side-by-side relationship. Mutually adjacent edges of the modules have antenna elements that form a two-dimensional antenna array as a result of the stacking of the antenna modules. Opposite sides of an antenna module are tray-configured and contain amplifier modules coupled to the antenna elements, and to ‘vertical’ microstrip layers on undersides of double-sided printed wiring boards. Outersides of the double-sided printed wiring boards contain ‘horizontal’ microstrip layers, one for each beam, to which multiple beam-associated phase shift circuit elements for each antenna element on the module are ported. The phase shift circuit elements are also coupled by conductive vias to the first microstrip layers. The second microstrip layers are coupled to connectors along second edges of the modules for engagement with beam signal network modules.

Abstract: A phased array antenna includes an antenna housing including a subarray assembly and a plurality of beam forming network modules positioned on the subarea assembly. An antenna support and interconnect member are mounted on the antenna housing and include a carrier member having a front antenna mounting surface substantially orthogonal to the module support for supporting at least one antenna element. A rear surface has a receiving slot. At least one conductive via is associated with the receiving slot and positioned to extend through the carrier member to a circuit element, such as an antenna element, supported by the mounting surface. A launcher member is fitted into the receiving slot and has a module connecting end that extends rearward to a beam forming network. The launcher member includes conductive signal traces that extend along the launcher member from the conductive via to the module connecting end.