Abstract: The waveguide structure is for determining Direction-of-Arrival of a signal received by first and second antennas spaced-apart from one another. The waveguide structure has a first input port connectable to the first antenna and connected to a first splitter; a second input port connectable to the second antenna and connected to a second splitter, the second input port being located adjacent to the first input port; a third splitter; and a fourth splitter. The waveguide structure has branches that connect input ports, splitters and output ports such that each output port provides a superposition of the signal received via the first antenna and the signal received by the second antenna. The waveguide structure has a phase shifting system that imparts at least a relative phase shift between the corresponding branches leading away from each corresponding splitter and has at least one cross-over junction formed between two of the branches.

Abstract: A dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) array having an array feeding network and a parasitic patch array made up of individual antenna elements is provided with a dielectric lens made from a single piece of dielectric material in the form of a generally planar sheet. The sheet may be substantially coextensive with the DRA array so as to cover all of the antenna elements. The single piece of dielectric material has a plurality of dielectric portions defined by a plurality of holes through the sheet. Each dielectric portion may be positioned over one of the antenna elements. Adjacent dielectric portions are connected to each other along connecting edge portions thereof, and a single hole is defined through the sheet between connecting edge portions of a group of mutually adjacent dielectric portions.

Abstract: A receiver for receiving a radio frequency (RF) signal that comprises a carrier signal modulated with a baseband symbol. The receiver includes a plurality of spatially-distributed antennas to receive the RF signal; a local reference signal generator configured to generate a local reference signal; a plurality of power couplers, each power coupler having a first input connected to a respective one of the antennas to receive a respective version of the RF signal, a second input connected to the local reference signal generator to receive the local reference signal, and an output to output a corresponding coupled signal; and a differentiator circuit connected to the power coupler outputs for determining a power differential between at least one pair of the coupled signals to recover the baseband symbol from the RF signal.

Abstract: A phase shifter and a method of making a phase shifter are disclosed herein. The phase shifter may include a housing, a dielectric, an electrode, and a liquid crystal layer. The housing includes first, second, third, and fourth conductive walls, each conductive wall being opposite one of the other walls. The dielectric is situated within the housing and defines a compartment within the housing. The electrode is aligned with the compartment. The liquid crystal layer fills the space of the compartment. A bias line is coupled to the electrode. The phase shifter may be integrated with as substrate integrated waveguide.

Abstract: The waveguide structure is for determining Direction-of-Arrival of a signal received by first and second antennas spaced-apart from one another. The waveguide structure has a first input port connectable to the first antenna and connected to a first splitter; a second input port connectable to the second antenna and connected to a second splitter, the second input port being located adjacent to the first input port; a third splitter; and a fourth splitter. The waveguide structure has branches that connect input ports, splitters and output ports such that each output port provides a superposition of the signal received via the first antenna and the signal received by the second antenna. The waveguide structure has a phase shifting system that imparts at least a relative phase shift between the corresponding branches leading away from each corresponding splitter and has at least one cross-over junction formed between two of the branches.

Abstract: Embodiments are provided for an antenna element design with high aperture efficiency and stable gain across a frequency range. In an embodiment, the antenna element is obtained by placing a conductive layer on a dielectric substrate, forming a slot in the conductive layer, and forming two feed lines inside the dielectric substrate. A dielectric layer is placed on the dielectric substrate and over the conductive layer and the slot. A circular or elliptical conductive wall is formed inside the dielectric layer. A conductive element is also formed on the dielectric layer and over the slot. One or more second dielectric layers are placed on the dielectric layer and over the conductive element. A second circular or elliptical conductive wall is formed inside each second dielectric layer. A second conductive element is also formed on each second dielectric layer, over the conductive element.

Abstract: A dielectric antenna element for emitting or receiving radio frequencies is disclosed. In an embodiment the dielectric antenna element includes a substrate, a microstrip element supported by the substrate, and at one first dielectric superstrate disposed over the substrate and spaced apart from the substrate, wherein the at least one superstrate comprises a permittivity between 2 and 10.

Abstract: Embodiments are provided for an antenna element design with high aperture efficiency and stable gain across a frequency range. In an embodiment, the antenna element is obtained by placing a conductive layer on a dielectric substrate, forming a slot in the conductive layer, and forming two feed lines inside the dielectric substrate. A dielectric layer is placed on the dielectric substrate and over the conductive layer and the slot. A circular or elliptical conductive wall is formed inside the dielectric layer. A conductive element is also formed on the dielectric layer and over the slot. One or more second dielectric layers are placed on the dielectric layer and over the conductive element. A second circular or elliptical conductive wall is formed inside each second dielectric layer. A second conductive element is also formed on each second dielectric layer, over the conductive element.

Abstract: A dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) array having an array feeding network and a parasitic patch array made up of individual antenna elements is provided with a dielectric lens made from a single piece of dielectric material in the form of a generally planar sheet. The sheet may be substantially coextensive with the DRA array so as to cover all of the antenna elements. The single piece of dielectric material has a plurality of dielectric portions defined by a plurality of holes through the sheet. Each dielectric portion may be positioned over one of the antenna elements. Adjacent dielectric portions are connected to each other along connecting edge portions thereof, and a single hole is defined through the sheet between connecting edge portions of a group of mutually adjacent dielectric portions.

Abstract: A phase shifter and a method of making a phase shifter are disclosed herein. The phase shifter may include a housing, a dielectric, an electrode, and a liquid crystal layer. The housing includes first, second, third, and fourth conductive walls, each conductive wall being opposite one of the other walls. The dielectric is situated within the housing and defines a compartment within the housing. The electrode is aligned with the compartment. The liquid crystal layer fills the space of the compartment. A bias line is coupled to the electrode. The phase shifter may be integrated with as substrate integrated waveguide.

Abstract: There is provided a test fixture for testing a planar circuit. The test fixture comprises a body adapted to retain therein the planar circuit and to be connected to test equipment. The body provides a transition between the planar circuit and the test equipment and comprises a base member having a first surface and a fixation member having a second surface and connected to the base member through a first connection allowing movement along a first axis of the fixation member relative to the base member, a spacing defined between the first surface and the second surface for retaining therein an end of the planar circuit, the fixation member movable along the first axis relative to the base member for adjusting the spacing.