Abstract: A radiator element includes a pair of substrates each having a transition section and a feed surface, each of the substrates is spaced apart from one another. The radiator element further includes a balanced symmetrical feed having a pair of radio frequency (RF) feed lines disposed adjacent to and electromagnetically coupled to the feed surface of one of a corresponding one of the pair of transition sections, and the pair of radio frequency feed lines forms a signal null point adjacent the transition sections.

Abstract: An array antenna includes a radiator layer having first and second opposing surfaces and a plurality of radiators disposed on a first surface of the radiator layer. Additionally the antenna includes a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) layer with a plurality of MEMS phase shifters disposed adjacent to the second surface of the radiator layer, each one of the plurality of MEMS phase shifters electromagnetically coupled to at least one of the plurality of radiators. Finally, a beamformer layer is electromagnetically coupled to the MEMS layer, and a spacer layer is disposed between the MEMS layer and the beamformer layer. A second embodiment is provided from multiple layers and utilizes a plurality of subarray structures which are coupled to form the entire array aperture.

Abstract: An array antenna includes a radiator layer having first and second opposing surfaces and a plurality of radiators disposed on a first surface of the radiator layer. Additionally the antenna includes a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) layer with a plurality of MEMS phase shifters disposed adjacent to the second surface of the radiator layer, each one of the plurality of MEMS phase shifters electromagnetically coupled to at least one of the plurality of radiators. Finally, a beamformer layer is electromagnetically coupled to the MEMS layer, and a spacer layer is disposed between the MEMS layer and the beamformer layer. A second embodiment is provided from multiple layers and utilizes a plurality of subarray structures which are coupled to form the entire array aperture.

Abstract: An antenna includes a lower plate assembly having at least one antenna port and including a beamformer which provides a uniform excitation on the first surface of the lower plate assembly in response to a signal fed to the at least one antenna port and an upper plate having a radiating aperture, the upper plate movably disposed on the first surface of the lower plate assembly to couple energy from the beamformer in the lower plate assembly to a plurality of radiating elements, wherein the position of the upper plate relative to the lower plate determines a scan angle of the antenna.

Abstract: An antenna includes a lower plate assembly having at least one antenna port and including a beamformer which provides a uniform excitation on the first surface of the lower plate assembly in response to a signal fed to the at least one antenna port and an upper plate having a radiating aperture, the upper plate movably disposed on the first surface of the lower plate assembly to couple energy from the beamformer in the lower plate assembly to a plurality of radiating elements, wherein the position of the upper plate relative to the lower plate determines a scan angle of the antenna.

Abstract: A microwave solid interface module having transmit and receive functionality includes a substrate supporting microwave, logic, and DC bias circuits. In one embodiment, the substrate can be formed from BeO. The module can include a BGA package that provides a connector-less interface for RF, DC, and thermal connections to a supporting module. The BGA structure provides vertical connections between the BGA solder balls and a respective DC signal layer, a microwave signal layer, and a thermally conductive core within the supporting module.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for self-contained calibration and failure detection in a phased array antenna having a beamforming network. The beamforming network includes a plurality of array ports and a plurality of beam ports or a space fed system. A plurality of antenna elements and a plurality of transmit/receive modules are included. Each one of the modules is coupled between a corresponding one of the antenna elements and a corresponding one of the array ports. A calibration system is provided having: an RF input port; an RF detector port; an RF detector coupled to the RF detector port; and an antenna element port. A switch section is included for sequentially coupling each one of the antenna elements through the beam forming/space-fed network and the one of the transmit/receive modules coupled thereto selectively to either: (a) the detector port during a receive calibration mode; or, (b) to the RF input port during a transmit calibration mode.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for self-contained calibration and failure detection in a phased array antenna having a beamforming network. The beamforming network includes a plurality of array ports and a plurality of beam ports or a space fed system. A plurality of antenna elements and a plurality of transmit/receive modules are included. Each one of the modules is coupled between a corresponding one of the antenna elements and a corresponding one of the array ports. A calibration system is provided having: an RF input port; an RF detector port; an RF detector coupled to the RF detector port; and an antenna element port. A switch section is included for sequentially coupling each one of the antenna elements through the beam forming/space-fed network and the one of the transmit/receive modules coupled thereto selectively to either: (a) the detector port during a receive calibration mode; or, (b) to the RF input port during a transmit calibration mode.

Abstract: A biconical antenna for ultra broad-band linear polarization operation in which capacitive sleeve VSWR tuning is effected between the apex regions of the two cones and zig-zag substantially V-shaped spokes are provided conically diverging from the cone base peripheries.

Abstract: A high current lateral transistor for an integrated circuit device is disclosed. The emitter and collector regions extend into the base region for a distance of approximately one half the thickness of the base region. A second region of the same conductivity type as the collector, surrounds the collector and is spaced therefrom. The base contact shorts together this second region and the base region so that when the transistor goes into saturation excess current will not flow into the substrate.

Abstract: A television broadcast antenna includes a high-gain pylon consisting of a vertical array of slots in a conductive cylinder for radiating with high gain towards distant locations. An auxiliary low-gain vertically-polarized portion of the antenna has its phase center coincident with or near the phase center of the pylon for radiating a vertically polarized signal component. This position of the auxiliary portion reduces wind load and feed-line length by comparison with a location above the pylon. In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the horizontally-polarized radiation pattern of the pylon in the region within a few degrees below the main beam, which is the region directed towards local television viewers, has a low but relatively constant amplitude and phase.

Abstract: A slotted-cylinder antenna especially adapted for television broadcasting use radiates a circularly-polarized pattern. Each radiating slot is associated with an elongated conductive parasitic radiator in close proximity to the slot for good power coupling therebetween. The parasitic radiator is almost but not quite parallel with the slot (preferably being at a six degree orientation with the slot), so that energy is coupled into the parasite and reradiated almost vertically polarized. The combination of the radiated field of the slot and reradiated field of the parasite is made circularly polarized by selection of that length of the parasite which gives the correct phase-shift.

Abstract: A broad-band antenna device comprising a variable aperture element which radiates or receives signals in the high frequency portion of the band and a pair of fixed aperture elements which radiate or receive signals in the low frequency portion, the variable aperture element comprising a planar spiral antenna element with a double winding which is electrically coupled to the fixed aperture elements comprising a pair of oppositely positioned center fed slot antenna elements.