Abstract: A radar antenna for a flight vehicle that follows a flight path comprises a radio frequency (RF) reflector, and separated first arrays of first RF feed elements to form, with the reflector, respective first fixed radar beams that are directed at the Earth and positionally offset with respect to each other, such that when the radar antenna follows the flight path, the respective first fixed radar beams trace respective first subswaths on the Earth that are separated from each other by respective subswath gaps.

Abstract: A synthetic aperture radar (SAR) generates concurrent first radar pulses in first frequency channels. The SAR transmits, and receives returns of, the concurrent first radar pulses by first antenna feeds that form first beams in the first frequency channels and that are directed to respective first subswaths of a swath on the Earth separated by subswath gaps. The SAR generates concurrent second radar pulses in second frequency channels. The SAR transmits, and receives returns of, the concurrent second radar pulses by second antenna feeds configured to form second beams in the second frequency channels and that are directed to respective second subswaths of the swath on the Earth and that coincide with the subswath gaps. The SAR processes the returns of the first radar pulses from the first subswaths and the returns of the second radar pulses from the second subswaths to form a SAR image contiguous across the swath.

Abstract: A radar antenna for a flight vehicle that follows a flight path comprises a radio frequency (RF) reflector, and separated first arrays of first RF feed elements to form, with the reflector, respective first fixed radar beams that are directed at the Earth and positionally offset with respect to each other, such that when the radar antenna follows the flight path, the respective first fixed radar beams trace respective first subswaths on the Earth that are separated from each other by respective subswath gaps.

Abstract: A synthetic aperture radar (SAR) generates concurrent first radar pulses in first frequency channels. The SAR transmits, and receives returns of, the concurrent first radar pulses by first antenna feeds that form first beams in the first frequency channels and that are directed to respective first subswaths of a swath on the Earth separated by subswath gaps. The SAR generates concurrent second radar pulses in second frequency channels. The SAR transmits, and receives returns of, the concurrent second radar pulses by second antenna feeds configured to form second beams in the second frequency channels and that are directed to respective second subswaths of the swath on the Earth and that coincide with the subswath gaps. The SAR processes the returns of the first radar pulses from the first subswaths and the returns of the second radar pulses from the second subswaths to form a SAR image contiguous across the swath.

Abstract: A wideband phased array antenna includes an array of dipole antenna elements on a flexible substrate. Each dipole antenna element has a medial feed portion and a pair of legs extending outwardly therefrom, and adjacent legs of adjacent dipole antenna elements have respective spaced apart end portions to provide increased capacitive coupling between the adjacent dipole antenna elements. Preferably, each leg has an elongated body portion, and an enlarged width end portion connected to an end of the elongated body portion. Thus, a phased array antenna with a wide frequency bandwith and a wide scan angle is obtained by utilizing tightly packed dipole antenna elements with large mutual capacitive coupling. Conventional approaches have sought to reduce mutual coupling between dipoles, but the present invention makes use of, and increases, mutual coupling between the closely spaced dipole antenna elements to prevent grating lobes and achieve the wide bandwidth.

Abstract: A feedthrough lens antenna includes first and second phased array antennas and a coupling structure connecting the first and second phased array antennas. Each phased array antenna may include a substrate and an array of dipole antenna elements on the substrate. Moreover, each dipole antenna element may include a medial feed portion and a pair of legs extending outwardly therefrom. Additionally, adjacent legs of the adjacent dipole antenna elements may include respective spaced apart end portions having predetermined shapes and relative positioning to provide increased capacitive coupling between the adjacent dipole antenna elements.

Abstract: A feedthrough lens antenna includes first and second phased array antennas and a coupling structure connecting the first and second phased array antennas. Each phased array antenna may include a substrate and an array of dipole antenna elements on the substrate. Moreover, each dipole antenna element may include a medial feed portion and a pair of legs extending outwardly therefrom. Additionally, adjacent legs of the adjacent dipole antenna elements may include respective spaced apart end portions having predetermined shapes and relative positioning to provide increased capacitive coupling between the adjacent dipole antenna elements.