Abstract: A cone antenna has at least one resistor electrically coupled to the radiating structure of the cone antenna. The capacitor may be part of a resistor network that is electrically connected to the cone. One or more patches may be coupled to the resistor network which act as a capacitor. A feed card may be embedded within a ground plane to enable the exterior of an antenna assembly to be conformal with an outer surface of a platform carrying the cone antenna.

Abstract: A method for forming three-dimensional periodic lattice structures through the use of additive manufacturing to achieve engineered, application specific, effective material properties that differ from that of the bulk host 3d-printable material for radio frequency (RF) applications including radomes and antenna apertures. Such structures remain mechanically robust while offering access to a range of material properties not available otherwise through the engineering of detailed wave-propagation characteristics through such lattice structures.

Abstract: The system and method for using a wideband dielectric lens array to instantaneously and unambiguously determining azimuthal angle of arrival (AoA) of RF energy over a frequency bandwidth of greater than four octaves. By forming two omnidirectional modes with a constant and linear phase response versus azimuth respectively, the AoA of the incident RF signal can be determined unambiguously using a one or two channel receiver architecture that is capable of measuring the phase between the two modal outputs.

Abstract: A method of operating a higher conductivity broadband loaded meander line antenna (10) is provided wherein the meander line is positioned on a sheet of a lower conductivity material (22) having a conductivity of from about 0.01 siemens/m to about 0.10 siemens/m; and allowing a first electrical current to flow in a first current path in the meander line. An electrical field is formed in the vicinity of the lower conductivity material and a second current flows in a second current path in the lower conductivity material, whereby anti-resonance in the meander line loaded antenna is diminished so that a broadband response can be achieved over bandwidths of 5:1 or more. An assembly for carrying out this method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A compact polarization agile antenna includes a dual-orthogonal loop structure which is excited by a single RF feed (21). The loop structure includes a pair of loops (8, 10), each loop is connected to ground (45) through a complex impedance via a solid state switch (41, 43). Current flows in the loop when the switch (41, 43) is closed. The switches (41, 43) and impedances (47, 49) in each leg are independently controlled. Additionally, the relative phase of the current in each leg can be controlled over a narrow bandwidth via a complex impedance for narrowband circular polarized applications. Using this approach, orthogonal linear, slant, or left-hand and right-hand circular polarizations can be generated.

Abstract: A lightweight broadband blade antenna assembly is incorporated into the surface of an airfoil, such as a structure component of an aircraft, or a separate airfoil (blade antenna) attached thereto. A first metallized area is formed on the airfoil adjacent a leading edge of the airfoil. A second metallized area is formed on trailing edge of the airfoil and is spaced from the first metallized area by a first gap which is configured to provide a capacitive coupling between the first and second metallized areas. A third metallized area is formed on the cap portion of the airfoil and is spaced from the first metallized area by a second gap and is electrically connected in series with the first and second metallized areas. RLC circuits are electrically connected across tuning gaps formed in the third metallized area to provide a broadband response.

Abstract: A compact polarization agile antenna includes a dual-orthogonal loop structure which is excited by a single RF feed (21). The loop structure includes a pair of loops (8, 10), each loop is connected to ground (45) through a complex impedance via a solid state switch (41, 43). Current flows in the loop when the switch (41, 43) is closed. The switches (41, 43) and impedances (47, 49) in each leg are independently controlled. Additionally, the relative phase of the current in each leg can be controlled over a narrow bandwidth via a complex impedance for narrowband circular polarized applications. Using this approach, orthogonal linear, slant, or left-hand and right-hand circular polarizations can be generated.

Abstract: A lightweight broadband blade antenna assembly is incorporated into the surface of an airfoil, such as a structure component of an aircraft, or a separate airfoil (blade antenna) attached thereto. A first metallized area is formed on the airfoil adjacent a leading edge of the airfoil. A second metallized area is formed on trailing edge of the airfoil and is spaced from the first metallized area by a first gap which is configured to provide a capacitive coupling between the first and second metallized areas. A third metallized area is formed on the cap portion of the airfoil and is spaced from the first metallized area by a second gap and is electrically connected in series with the first and second metallized areas. RLC circuits are electrically connected across tuning gaps formed in the third metallized area to provide a broadband response.

Abstract: A switched meander line structure is substituted for a lumped element antenna tuner for an order of magnitude increase in gain due to the use of the switched meander line architecture. The use of the meander line with relatively wide and thick folded legs markedly decreases I2R losses over wire inductors whose wire diameters at one-tenth of an inch contribute significantly to I2R losses. Additionally, placing solid state switches to short out various sections of a multi-leg meander line at high impedance nodes reduces I2R losses across the switching elements in the tuner.

Abstract: A hemispherical meander line loaded antenna is provided which can fit within a hemispherical radome as to minimize real estate on an aircraft such as an unmanned airborne vehicle. In one embodiment, a double monopole is recreated in a hemispherical form, thus to make what was originally a rectilinear package into a hemispherical package without materially affecting VSWR or ultra-wideband and antenna pattern characteristics. The wideband double monopole hemispherical meander line loaded antenna is provided with a single feed, with the delay associated with the meander lines equalize the reactance of the antenna, thereby to enable proper impedance matching.

Abstract: A low specific absorption rate broadband antenna assembly for use with a wireless communication device. The antenna assembly includes a driven element and a parasitic element which are operatively connected to a radio frequency input/output port and a ground plane, respectively, and which are superposed above a predetermined region of a ground plane having a predetermined configuration. The driven and parasitic elements may take the form of traces or wires which are disposed away from each other by a distance related to the frequency of operation. The traces may be formed on one side of a suitable dielectric substrate such as a printed circuit board, while the wires may be self supporting and not requiring a dielectric substrate.

Abstract: A low specific absorption rate broadband antenna assembly for use with a wireless communication device. The antenna assembly includes a driven element and a parasitic element which are operatively connected to a radio frequency input/output port and a ground plane, respectively, and which are superposed above a predetermined region of a ground plane having a predetermined configuration. The driven and parasitic elements may take the form of traces or wires which are disposed away from each other by a distance related to the frequency of operation. The traces may be formed on one side of a suitable dielectric substrate such as a printed circuit board, while the wires may be self supporting and not requiring a dielectric substrate.

Abstract: An antenna assembly for a wireless communication device. The antenna assembly is mountable onto a printed wiring board (PWB) and consists of first and second conducting elements. The first conducting element is capacitively coupled via a matchable shunt and operatively connected to a ground plane of the PWB, while the second conducting element is operatively connected to the ground plane of the PWB at two locations. The first and second conducting elements are operatively connected to each other by a tunable bridge capacitor and together form two orthogonal magnetic dipole elements. The antenna assembly provides substantially circular hemispherical polarization over a wide range of amplitudes by virtue of the geometry and orientation of the two magnetic dipole elements which are fed with equal amplitude, but in-phase quadrature. The matchable shunt acts as an impedance transformer to yield a low voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) of less than two-to-one at the operating frequency.

Abstract: A system and method for rating the performance of competing antennas under various environmental conditions is herein disclosed. The present invention provides a method to statistically characterize antenna performance, relating actual operating conditions to the likelihood of completing a reliable wireless communication link within a desired confidence level. The invention provides a system and method to predict antenna performance based upon actual usage condition factors, such as power needed for transmitting, and radiation absorption by a user, relative to the angle of orientation between the antenna under test and a corresponding antenna on the opposite side of a wireless communication link.