Abstract: A system for properly illuminating a toll collection zone without illuminating any areas outside the toll collection zone in which vehicles may be found, while minimizing lost tolls due to shadowing of shorter vehicles by taller vehicles. In one embodiment, a linear array antenna is configured to illuminate a rectangular collection zone from a point offset from the center of the roadway. The linear array antenna is configured to produce an asymmetric antenna pattern providing RF illumination over the rectangular collection zone sufficient for reliable reading of vehicle RF tags in the collection zone, and which also minimizes spillover of RF power outside the collection zone.

Abstract: An antenna array includes a plurality of radiating elements disposed on a layer that is situated above an egg crate structure that is formed of interconnected dielectric panels. In some embodiments, balun circuitry is disposed on at least some of the dielectric panels of the egg crate structure for use in feeding corresponding radiating elements of the array in a balanced manner. Ground plane blocks may also be coupled to some or all of the dielectric panels to provide circuit shielding and/or to form a ground plane for the array antenna.

Abstract: A system for properly illuminating a toll collection zone without illuminating any areas outside the toll collection zone in which vehicles may be found, while minimizing lost tolls due to shadowing of shorter vehicles by taller vehicles. In one embodiment, a linear array antenna is configured to illuminate a rectangular collection zone from a point offset from the center of the roadway. The linear array antenna is configured to produce an asymmetric antenna pattern providing RF illumination over the rectangular collection zone sufficient for reliable reading of vehicle RF tags in the collection zone, and which also minimizes spillover of RF power outside the collection zone.

Abstract: An antenna array includes a plurality of radiating elements disposed on a layer that is situated above an egg crate structure that is formed of interconnected dielectric panels. In some embodiments, balun circuitry is disposed on at least some of the dielectric panels of the egg crate structure for use in feeding corresponding radiating elements of the array in a balanced manner. Ground plane blocks may also be coupled to some or all of the dielectric panels to provide circuit shielding and/or to form a ground plane for the array antenna.

Abstract: A modular plug-in antenna array capable of low cost and automated manufacturing is disclosed. The antenna element is designed to work efficiently over a broadband with simplified assembly requirements and to be used in discrete or array applications. Plug-in antennas eliminate the need for external tools, and allow the antenna to be removed, for service, test, and ease of assembly. Many transceivers are assembled using printed circuit board techniques whereon electronic components are mounted using a pick and place process. The plug-in antenna connects directly onto the circuit board; with connectors that are compatible with a pick and place process and which are produced in mass quantities for the computer and telecommunications industry, thus yielding lower costs than traditional high performance RF coaxial connectors.

Abstract: A dual-patch antenna includes a ground plane, a first patch plate parallel to and separated from the ground plane by a separation distance, and a second patch plate separated from the ground plane by the separation distance. The first and second patch plates are coplanar and separated by a radiating slot. An excitation probe isolatedly passes through the ground plane and connects to the first patch plate. A first wall connects an edge of the first patch plate to the ground plane. The first wall is located approximately ¼ wavelength of a mid-band operating frequency from the radiating slot. A second wall connects an edge of the second patch plate to the ground plane. The second wall is located approximately ¼ wavelength of the mid-band operating frequency from the radiating slot. The dual-patch antennas may be organized in an array.

Abstract: A modular plug-in antenna array capable of low cost and automated manufacturing is disclosed. The antenna element is designed to work efficiently over a broadband with simplified assembly requirements and to be used in discrete or array applications. Plug-in antennas eliminate the need for external tools, and allow the antenna to be removed, for service, test, and ease of assembly. Many transceivers are assembled using printed circuit board techniques whereon electronic components are mounted using a pick and place process. The plug-in antenna connects directly onto the circuit board; with connectors that are compatible with a pick and place process and which are produced in mass quantities for the computer and telecommunications industry, thus yielding lower costs than traditional high performance RF coaxial connectors.

Abstract: A dual-patch antenna includes a ground plane, a first patch plate parallel to and separated from the ground plane by a separation distance, and a second patch plate separated from the ground plane by the separation distance. The first and second patch plates are coplanar and separated by a radiating slot. An excitation probe isolatedly passes through the ground plane and connects to the first patch plate. A first wall connects an edge of the first patch plate to the ground plane. The first wall is located approximately ¼ wavelength of a mid-band operating frequency from the radiating slot. A second wall connects an edge of the second patch plate to the ground plane. The second wall is located approximately ¼ wavelength of the mid-band operating frequency from the radiating slot. The dual-patch antennas may be organized in an array.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a wide bandwidth, reduced depth transmit/receive antenna array includes unit cells having continuous slots, a transceiver, unbalanced feeds, impedance transformers, and exciters. The continuous slots are formed in a conductive antenna plane, and the transceiver generates and/or receives electrical signals. The unbalanced feeds may be electrically connected between the transceiver and impedance transformers which match the impedance between feed lines and the exciter. They may be located in a plane perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the radiation, and also may be arranged between the conductive antenna plane and a backplane. The exciter spans a continuous slot, and emits and/or receives radiation from the slot. The antenna array is capable of operating without a radome or balun.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a wide bandwidth, reduced depth transmit/receive antenna array includes unit cells having continuous slots, a transceiver, unbalanced feeds, impedance transformers, and exciters. The continuous slots are formed in a conductive antenna plane, and the transceiver generates and/or receives electrical signals. The unbalanced feeds may be electrically connected between the transceiver and impedance transformers which match the impedance between feed lines and the exciter. They may be located in a plane perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the radiation, and also may be arranged between the conductive antenna plane and a backplane. The exciter spans a continuous slot, and emits and/or receives radiation from the slot. The antenna array is capable of operating without a radome or balun.

Abstract: An amplifier system includes a power divider for dividing an input RF signal into M RF signals of equal power and phase. The system has M low power selectable phase shifters each for phase shifting one of the M RF signals. M high power amplifiers are coupled to respective ones of the phase shifters. The system includes an M×N power distribution network having M input ports and N output ports, such as a Butler matrix. The M high power amplifiers are connected to a respective one of the M input ports of the distribution network. The phase of the M phase shifters may be adjusted to obtain a maximum output at the desired output with all the other outputs nulled.

Abstract: A conformal end-fire antenna with a high impedance ground surface structure and an array of radiating elements formed thereon. The ground surface structure includes an array of metal protrusions on a electrically conductive sheet, the metal protrusions arranged in a two-dimensional lattice. The ground surface structure acts as a magnetic surface at an RF frequency band of interest, functioning as an electrical short at DC, and as a mirror which reflects an RF field in the frequency band with virtually no phase reversal.

Abstract: A conformal end-fire antenna with a high impedance ground surface structure and an array of radiating elements formed thereon. The ground surface structure includes an array of metal protrusions on a electrically conductive sheet, the metal protrusions arranged in a two-dimensional lattice. The ground surface structure acts as a magnetic surface at an RF frequency band of interest, functioning as an electrical short at DC, and as a mirror which reflects an RF field in the frequency band with virtually no phase reversal.

Abstract: An amplifier system includes a power divider for dividing an input RF signal into M RF signals of equal power and phase. The system has M low power selectable phase shifters each for phase shifting one of the M RF signals. M high power amplifiers are coupled to respective ones of the phase shifters. The system includes an M×N power distribution network having M input ports and N output ports, such as a Butler matrix. The M high power amplifiers are connected to a respective one of the M input ports of the distribution network. The phase of the M phase shifters may be adjusted to obtain a maximum output at the desired output with all the other outputs nulled.

Abstract: An antenna array includes an array of continuous slots formed in a ground plane structure. A feed structure for exciting the slots includes a periodic set of probe feeds disposed behind the ground plane structure.

Abstract: A foldable radiator assembly includes a flexible dielectric substrate structure having a radiator conductor pattern formed therein. The flexible substrate structure can be flexible for movement between a folded position and a deployed position, or can be fixed in position by dielectric structures. An excitation circuit excites the radiator conductor pattern with RF energy. Strips of the radiator assemblies can be used to form an array aperture.

Abstract: A reconfigurable wide band phased array antenna for generating multiple antenna beams for multiple transmit and receive functions. The antenna array comprises multiple long non-resonant TEM slot antenna apertures with RF MEMS switches disposed within the slots. The RF MEMS switches are positioned directly within the feed lines across the slots to directly control the coupling of RF energy to the slots. Multiple RF MEMS switches are used within each slot, which allows multiple transmit/receive functions and/or multiple frequencies to be supported by each slot. The frequency coverage provided by the slot antenna has a greater than 10:1 frequency range.

Abstract: A microwave transmitter circuit including a divider series feed signal line, collector series feed signal line, a plurality of parallel solid state amplifier coupler circuits connected between the divider series feed line and the collector series feed line, and phase shifting circuitry distributed along the collector series feed line for compensating phase tracking error between the divider series feed line and the collector series feed line.

Abstract: A microwave transmitter circuit including a divider series feed signal line, a collector series feed signal line, a plurality of parallel solid state amplifier coupler circuits connected between divider series feed line and the collector series feed line, and phase shifting circuitry distributed along the collector series feed line for compensating phase tracking error between the divider series feed line and the collector series feed line.

Abstract: A low cost array with wide band elements interleaved into an “egg-crate” structure. The radiating elements are flared notch radiators. Good impedance match over a wide band was achieved by feeding each element with a tapered quasi-TEM slot line, which transforms a 50-ohm input impedance to a 120-ohm radiation impedance. The radiating elements are fed by a true time delay beam-forming network to ensure that the main beam points.