Abstract: Embodiments of a radio frequency feedline structure. A first printed circuit board (PCB) includes upper and lower metal layers and at least one cutout defining an upper portion of an open channel. The upper and lower metal layers are electrically connected by vias on opposite walls of the cutout. A second PCB includes upper and lower metal layers and elongated slots defining a suspended signal path within the open channel. The upper and lower metal layers are electrically connected by vias. A third PCB includes upper and lower metal layers and at least one cutout defining a lower portion of the open channel. The upper and lower metal layers are electrically connected by vias on opposite walls of the cutout. Respective upper and lower ground planes are electrically connected to the upper metal layer of the first PCB and the lower metal layer of the third PCB.

Abstract: An antenna-filter array module and method of manufacturing an antenna-filter array module are provided. One method of manufacturing includes bonding a low temperature co-fired ceramic, LTCC, tile having a plurality of antennas and corresponding filters to a first side of the module PCB via a first set of solder balls, a coefficient of thermal expansion, CTE, of the module PCB being within a predetermined amount of a CTE of the radio PCB. The method further includes cutting the LTCC tile into a plurality of reliability units after the bonding, each reliability unit having a size that is less than a predetermined largest reliable size.

Abstract: According to one aspect, an integrated antenna and filter unit, IAFU, is provided. The IAFU includes a filter portion including at least one filter configured to filter RF signals to generate filtered RF signals and a plurality of filter pins configured to output filtered RF signals, and an antenna portion securable to the filter portion where the antenna portion includes a PCB including a plurality of conductor traces each mateable with a corresponding one of the plurality of filter pins to electrically couple the plurality of filter pins directly to corresponding ones of the plurality of conductor traces on the PCB, and a plurality of antennas securable to the PCB where the plurality of antennas are electrically coupled to the plurality of conductor traces.

Abstract: Sliding phase shifters for use in phased array antennas are disclosed. According to one aspect, a sliding phase shifter includes a fixed dielectric having first striplines to couple power into the sliding phase shifter. The sliding phase shifter also includes a sliding dielectric having second striplines electrically slidingly coupled to the first striplines. An amount of phase shift is determined by an amount of overlap of the first striplines and the second striplines, a width of the second striplines being at least partially tapered along a portion of the second striplines to improve performance.

Abstract: An antenna-filter array module and method of manufacturing an antenna-filter array module are provided. One method of manufacturing includes bonding a low temperature co-fired ceramic, LTCC, tile having a plurality of antennas and corresponding filters to a first side of the module PCB via a first set of solder balls, a coefficient of thermal expansion, CTE, of the module PCB being within a predetermined amount of a CTE of the radio PCB. The method further includes cutting the LTCC tile into a plurality of reliability units after the bonding, each reliability unit having a size that is less than a predetermined largest reliable size.

Abstract: According to one aspect, an integrated antenna and filter unit, IAFU, is provided. The IAFU includes a filter portion including at least one filter configured to filter RF signals to generate filtered RF signals and a plurality of filter pins configured to output filtered RF signals, and an antenna portion securable to the filter portion where the antenna portion includes a PCB including a plurality of conductor traces each mateable with a corresponding one of the plurality of filter pins to electrically couple the plurality of filter pins directly to corresponding ones of the plurality of conductor traces on the PCB, and a plurality of antennas securable to the PCB where the plurality of antennas are electrically coupled to the plurality of conductor traces.

Abstract: According to one or more embodiments, a proximity radio frequency connector for electromagnetically coupling a first circuit board with a second circuit board is provided. The proximity radio frequency connector includes: a housing defining an exterior mounting surface and an interior void opposite the exterior mounting surface where the housing is mountable to the second circuit board and the housing is movable in a direction at least one of perpendicular and tangential to the second circuit board, a proximity circuit board mountable to the exterior mounting surface of the housing, and a coupling first transmission line for electromagnetically coupling a signal to the first circuit board when the first circuit board is proximate the proximity circuitry board.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) coupler is configured to carry RF signals from a first printed circuit board (PCB) to a second PCB. The RF coupler includes a first trace on an outer surface of the first PCB and a second trace on an outer surface of the second PCB. The first trace and the second trace at least partially overlap to form an RF broadside coupler when the first PCB is positioned adjacent the second PCB. Each of the first trace and the second trace are covered by respective dielectric coatings such that a direct current (DC) electrical connection between the first trace and the second trace is prevented when the first PCB is positioned adjacent the second PCB.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for advanced antenna system subarray splitter having advanced upper sidelobe suppression. An antenna system includes a plurality of antenna subarrays. Each of the plurality of antenna subarrays having a subarray input; and at least one subarray splitter in communication with the subarray input. Each of the at least one subarray splitter splits a subarray into a plurality of branches, at least one of the branches including a phase taper function and an amplitude taper function. For each of the plurality of antenna subarrays, the phase taper function and the amplitude taper function includes a plurality of fixed phase values and a plurality of fixed amplitude values, respectively, that are configured to not exceed a predetermined sidelobe suppression target for a plurality of electrical tilt angles across a predetermined angular range for the antenna subarray of the plurality of antenna subarrays.

Abstract: Embodiments of an antenna module include first and second radiator elements separated by a gap, and a dielectric body configured to support the first and second radiator elements. The dielectric body includes at least one wall defining a cavity that encompasses a region of high electromagnetic field strength between the first and second radiator elements during operation of the antenna radiator.

Abstract: A method and antenna system for achieving remote electrical tilt by a hybrid use of analog and digital phase shifting are disclosed. According to one aspect, a hybrid remote electrical tilt (HRET) antenna system includes a digital beamformer configured to apply a first set of at least one phase shift to each antenna subarray of at least one group of at least one antenna subarray. The at least one phase shift is determined to suppress sidelobes when a beam is steered to an elevation by the digital beamformer. The HRET antenna system also includes at least one analog phase shifter configured to apply a second set of at least one phase shift to at least one antenna subarray of each group of at least one antenna subarray so that a combined phase shift applied to each antenna element steers the beam to the elevation while suppressing the sidelobes.

Abstract: A low passive intermodulation (PIM) coaxial-to-printed circuit board (PCB) interface and method of constructing the same. According to one aspect, a coaxial-to-PCB interface couples signals between an electrical conductor trace in the PCB and an inner conductor of a coaxial structure having an insulator surrounded by an outer conductor. A metallic cylinder is inserted over the outer conductor of the coaxial structure and positioning the coaxial structure with respect to the PCB so that the outer conductor and insulator of the coaxial structure lie below a lower surface of the PCB. The inner conductor of the coaxial structure is inserted into a via extending from the lower surface of the PCB to an upper surface of the PCB. Solder is deposited in the via to provide an electrically conductive path between the electrical conductor trace of the PCB and the inner conductor of the coaxial structure.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for calibrating an antenna array in a receiver. A training signal for calibrating the antenna array is injected into a data signal received on each receive path to generate combined signals on each receive path. The combined signals are equalized by respective equalizers. The coefficients of the equalizers are determined by comparing a feedback signal for each receive path with the equalized signal to estimate the impairment on each received path. The estimated impairment on each receive path is used to adapt the equalize coefficients for a respective equalizer to compensate for the impairment. After equalization, an estimate of the observed training signal on each receive path is subtracted from the equalized signal for the same receive path to generate estimates of the received data signals for demodulation and decoding.

Abstract: An antenna-filter array module and method of manufacturing an antenna-filter array module are provided. One method of manufacturing includes bonding a low temperature co-fired ceramic, LTCC, tile having a plurality of antennas and corresponding filters to a first side of the module PCB via a first set of solder balls, a coefficient of thermal expansion, CTE, of the module PCB being within a predetermined amount of a CTE of the radio PCB. The method further includes cutting the LTCC tile into a plurality of reliability units after the bonding, each reliability unit having a size that is less than a predetermined largest reliable size.

Abstract: According to one aspect, an integrated antenna and filter unit, IAFU, is provided. The IAFU includes a filter portion including at least one filter configured to filter RF signals to generate filtered RF signals and a plurality of filter pins configured to output filtered RF signals, and an antenna portion securable to the filter portion where the antenna portion includes a PCB including a plurality of conductor traces each mateable with a corresponding one of the plurality of filter pins to electrically couple the plurality of filter pins directly to corresponding ones of the plurality of conductor traces on the PCB, and a plurality of antennas securable to the PCB where the plurality of antennas are electrically coupled to the plurality of conductor traces.

Abstract: An insect trap and a method of using the same. The insect trap includes a housing. The insect trap also includes a glue board receiving space located inside the housing. The insect trap further includes one or more light sources for attracting insects into the housing. The insect trap also includes a camera having a lens. The lens has a front element. The camera is positioned to capture images of a glue board when the glue board is received in the glue board receiving space. There is no line of sight between the or each light source and the front element of the lens. This may prevent light from the or each light source reaching the front element directly. The method can include using an image captured by the camera to determine that a glue board received in the glue board receiving space needs to be replaced.

Abstract: An antenna element comprises a housing having a base and a conducting plate, and a feeding element. The housing has a cavity formed between the base and the conducting plate. The conducting plate has a radiating slot with a length and a width that extends longitudinally along a first axis and a second axis, respectively. The radiating slot has a first and a second edge along the first axis. The feeding element has a feeding point, a feeding line, and a stub. The feeding line extends along the second axis of the conducting plate across the width of the radiating slot such that a first end of the feeding line is coupled with the feeding point on one side of the radiating slot, and a second end of the feeding line extends past the second edge, and the stub extends laterally of the feeding line.

Abstract: An antenna, an antenna structure and antenna element are disclosed. The antenna includes a radiator structure having four radiators, each located within a different quadrant of a plane. Diagonally opposite radiators form a pair. A first ground strip connects a first radiator of a first pair of the set to a ground conductor. A first signal strip connects a second radiator of the first pair to a first terminal. The first ground strip and the first signal strip are orientable to form a balanced transmission line. A second ground strip connects a first radiator of a second pair of the set to a ground conductor and a second signal strip is connects a second radiator of the second pair to a second terminal. The second ground strip and the second signal strip are orientable to form a balanced transmission line.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for calibrating an antenna array are described. Input signals and feedback signals are received, where the feedback signal is a combination of the input signals as captured after having traversed transmit paths and prior to being transmitted at a plurality of sub-arrays. A first interference reduced feedback signals is determined. A current estimation of the impairment function is determined. A second interference reduced feedback signals based on the current estimation of the impairment function, the input signals and the feedback signal. Responsive to determining that the power of the second interference reduced feedback signal satisfies a selection criteria, the current estimation of the impairment function is caused to be used for each one of the plurality of transmit paths for calibration of the antenna array and removing distortion.

Abstract: An antenna element is described. The antenna element comprises a housing having a base and a conducting plate, and a feeding element. The housing has a cavity formed between the base and the conducting plate. The conducting plate has a radiating slot with a length and a width that extends longitudinally along a first axis and a second axis, respectively. The radiating slot has a first and a second edge along the first axis. The feeding element has a feeding point, a feeding line, and a stub. The feeding line extends along the second axis of the conducting plate across the width of the radiating slot such that a first end of the feeding line is coupled with the feeding point on one side of the radiating slot, and a second end of the feeding line extends past the second edge, and the stub extends laterally of the feeding line.