Abstract: An antenna apparatus and method for use of the same are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the antenna comprises a single physical antenna aperture having at least two spatially interleaved antenna arrays of antenna elements, the antenna arrays being operable independently and simultaneously at distinct frequency bands.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for aperture segmentation are disclosed. In one embodiment, the antenna comprises an antenna feed to input a cylindrical feed wave and a physical antenna aperture coupled to the antenna feed and comprising a plurality of segments having antenna elements that form a plurality of closed concentric rings of antenna elements when combined, where the plurality of concentric rings are concentric with respect to the antenna feed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for a free space segment tester (FSST). In one example, an apparatus includes a frame, a first horn antenna, a second horn antenna, a controller, and an analyzer. The frame has a platform to support a thin film transistor (TFT) segment of a flat panel antenna. The first horn antenna transmits microwave energy to the TFT segment and receives reflected energy from the TFT segment. The second horn antenna receives microwave energy transmitted through the TFT segment. The controller is coupled to the TFT segment and provides at least one stimulus or condition to the TFT segment. The analyzer measures a characteristic of the TFT segment using the first horn antenna and the second horn antenna. Examples of a measured characteristic includes a measured microwave frequency response, transmission response, or reflection response for the TFT segment.

Abstract: An antenna having radio-frequency (RF) resonators with tunable capacitors. In one embodiment, the tunable capacitor for tuning an RF resonator comprises: a first substrate with a first electrode attached thereto; a second substrate with a second electrode attached thereto; and a membrane between the first and second electrodes, the membrane being movable between the first and second electrodes in order to change capacitance.

Abstract: An antenna having radio-frequency (RF) resonators and methods for fabricating the same are described. In one embodiment, the antenna comprises a physical antenna aperture having an array of antenna elements, where the array of antenna elements includes a plurality of radio-frequency (RF) resonators, with each RF resonator of the plurality of RF resonators having an RF radiating element with a microelectromchanical systems (MEMS) device.

Abstract: An antenna and method for using the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, an antenna comprises a radial waveguide; an aperture operable to radiate radio frequency (RF) signals in response to an RF feed wave fed by the radial waveguide; and a radio frequency (RF) choke operable to block RF energy from exiting through a gap between outer portions of the waveguide and the aperture.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for aperture segmentation are disclosed. In one embodiment, the antenna comprises an antenna feed to input a cylindrical feed wave and a physical antenna aperture coupled to the antenna feed and comprising a plurality of segments having antenna elements that form a plurality of closed concentric rings of antenna elements when combined, where the plurality of concentric rings are concentric with respect to the antenna feed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed herein for antenna element placement are disclosed. In one embodiment, an antenna comprises an antenna feed to input a cylindrical feed wave; a single physical antenna aperture having at least one antenna array of antenna elements, where the antenna elements are located on a plurality of concentric rings concentrically located relative to an antenna feed, wherein rings of the plurality of concentric rings are separated by a ring-to-ring distance, wherein a first distance between elements along rings of the plurality of concentric rings is a function of a second distance between rings of the plurality of concentric rings; and a controller to control each antenna element of the array separately using matrix drive circuitry, where each of the antenna elements is uniquely addressed by the matrix drive circuitry.

Abstract: Techniques and mechanisms for changing a permittivity of a liquid crystal (LC) cell that is to facilitate a radiating or guiding of a radio frequency electromagnetic wave. In an embodiment, a device includes electrodes coupled to variously apply different electrical fields to the LC cell at different times. At one time, a first electrical field is applied to increase an average alignment of polar LC molecules with a first axis. At another time, a second electrical field is applied to decrease the average alignment of such polar LC molecules with the first axis. The first electrical field and the second electrical field have different respective directions at a first location of the LC cell. In another embodiment, the first electrical field is applied with a first plurality of electrodes and the second electrical field is applied with a second plurality of electrodes that is different than the first plurality of electrodes.

Abstract: An antenna apparatus and method for use of the same are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the antenna comprises a single physical antenna aperture having at least two spatially interleaved antenna arrays of antenna elements, the antenna arrays being operable independently and simultaneously at distinct frequency bands.