Abstract: A low cost antenna horn for outdoor use having an extended housing with a unibody construction to enclose a waveguide and polarizing septum, the assembly of which rigidly retains and orients the waveguide and polarizing septum without using traditional hardware or sealants.

Abstract: A low cost antenna horn for outdoor use having an extended housing with a unibody construction to enclose a waveguide and polarizing septum, the assembly of which rigidly retains and orients the waveguide and polarizing septum without using traditional hardware or sealants.

Abstract: Controlling an antenna's polarization sense. An antenna system includes a polarized antenna and a mechanism for controlling the polarization sense of the antenna. The controlling mechanism can include rotatable polarizer panels disposed between the antenna's aperture and the antenna's target. The polarizer panels are rotated to switch between polarization senses. The polarizer panels can comprise meander line polarizers that convert the polarization sense of a linear polarized antenna to a circularly polarized antenna and vice-versa. The meander line polarizers can be rotated from a position in which the meander line polarizer panels convert between linear polarization and right-hand-circular (“RHC”) polarization to a position that converts between linear polarization and left-hand-circular (“LHC”) polarization. The polarizer panels can be rotated using a mechanical system that rotates the polarizer panels based on a signal received from a remote device.

Abstract: A broadband bicone antenna supports frequency selective control of electrical length. Frequency selective control of the electrical length of an antenna can provide an antenna exhibiting two or more different electrical lengths where use of each length depends upon the operating frequencies of the signals. The electrical length of the bicone antenna may be reduced in response to higher operating frequencies. Such reduction in electrical length at higher frequencies can provide improved antenna radiation patterns for the antenna. Further, the electrical length of the bicone antenna may be increased in response to low frequency operation. Such increase in electrical length may improve VSWR performance at lower frequencies. Simultaneous operation of the bicone antenna at varied electrical lengths for varied frequency bands can provide improved broadband performance of the antenna.

Abstract: Controlling an antenna's polarization sense. An antenna system includes a polarized antenna and a mechanism for controlling the polarization sense of the antenna. The controlling mechanism can include rotatable polarizer panels disposed between the antenna's aperture and the antenna's target. The polarizer panels are rotated to switch between polarization senses. The polarizer panels can comprise meander line polarizers that convert the polarization sense of a linear polarized antenna to a circularly polarized antenna and vice-versa. The meander line polarizers can be rotated from a position in which the meander line polarizer panels convert between linear polarization and right-hand-circular (“RHC”) polarization to a position that converts between linear polarization and left-hand-circular (“LHC”) polarization. The polarizer panels can be rotated using a mechanical system that rotates the polarizer panels based on a signal received from a remote device.

Abstract: A high impedance bicone antenna system supporting ultra wideband operation. The antenna may comprise a reduced aperture size and reduced half-angles of the conductive cones forming the antenna. Reduction in cone angles may increase the impedance of the cones. An impedance matching mechanism for interfacing to the high impedance bicone may be positioned within one of the cones by a dielectric material. The impedance matching mechanism may be a flat conductive taper functioning as an impedance matching transmission line between an external feed line and the antenna. The conductive taper may function as a center conductor of a coaxial feed mechanism where the inside of the cone around the taper serves as the outside conductor, or return, of the tapered feed. The geometry of the cones may be modified to provide one or more end segments that are substantially cylindrical.

Abstract: A broadband omni-directional bicone antenna. The antenna can comprise conductive surfaces of conical voids provided within a solid dielectric structure. The outside surface of the solid structure can support a radio frequency (RF) lens geometry operable for beam forming. The beam forming can modify the elevation pattern of the electromagnetic radiation from the bicone antenna. The solid dielectric structure may be machined or molded from a single piece of material. The conical voids provided within the solid structure can be metallized to provide conductive bicone radiators. The outer surface beam shaping lenses can be zoned or continuous and can provide elevation patterns with increased gain, cosecant squared falloff, or various other patterns. The beam shaping lens may be formed from any low-loss dielectric. Alternatively, the lens may be formed from a less dense material such as dielectric foam that can support radial conductive beam forming vanes.

Abstract: A broadband bicone antenna supports frequency selective control of electrical length. Frequency selective control of the electrical length of an antenna can provide an antenna exhibiting two or more different electrical lengths where use of each length depends upon the operating frequencies of the signals. The electrical length of the bicone antenna may be reduced in response to higher operating frequencies. Such reduction in electrical length at higher frequencies can provide improved antenna radiation patterns for the antenna. Further, the electrical length of the bicone antenna may be increased in response to low frequency operation. Such increase in electrical length may improve VSWR performance at lower frequencies. Simultaneous operation of the bicone antenna at varied electrical lengths for varied frequency bands can provide improved broadband performance of the antenna.

Abstract: A broadband bicone antenna system supports improved VSWR operation of a high-impedance bicone antenna having a reduced aperture size, high input impedance at the central vertex of the cones, one or more pattern tuning filters associated with the cones, and input filtering for frequency selective impedance matching. Pattern tuning filters can improve the radiation pattern at different frequencies by controlling the electrical length of the antenna in response to the frequency components of the associated wideband signal. Impedance matching input filters can improve the signal matching to couple radio frequency energy into the antenna system from a feed line. Mutual tuning of the pattern tuning filters; the impedance matching input filters; and the impedance of the bicone antenna itself can improve the overall voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) performance of the bicone antenna system over a broad range of operating frequencies.