Abstract: A waveguide (100) including at least one outer surface (105, 110, 115, 120) defining a waveguide cavity (140) and at least one inner surface (130, 135) positioned within the waveguide cavity (140). The inner surface (130, 135) includes a frequency selective surface (FSS) having a plurality of FSS elements (145) coupled to at least one substrate. The substrate defines a first propagation medium such that an RF signal having a first wavelength in the first propagation medium can pass through the FSS (130, 135). The FSS (130, 135) is coupled to a second propagation medium such that in the second propagation medium the RF signal has a second wavelength which is at least twice as long as a physical distance between centers of adjacent FSS elements (145). The second wavelength can be different than the first wavelength.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a system and method by which radio transceiver equipment may be coupled to antenna equipment polarized in either of two orthogonal polarizations without requiring any adaptation or additional componentry while providing the same signal path attributes irrespective of the polarization chosen. Accordingly, a single transceiver/antenna unit may be utilized for providing communications polarized vertically, or slant right, and polarized horizontally, or slant left.

Abstract: A reflector antenna system may include at least one antenna reflector having an arcuate shape and defining an antenna beam, a feed device spaced apart from the at least one antenna reflector, and a phased array antenna positioned in the antenna beam between the at least one antenna reflector and the feed device. More particularly, the phased array antenna may include a substrate and a plurality of back-to-back pairs of first antenna elements carried by the substrate and configured for defining at least one feed-through zone for the antenna beam. The phased array antenna may further include a plurality of back-to-back pairs of second antenna elements carried by the substrate and defining at least one active beamsteering zone for the antenna beam.

Abstract: A reflector antenna system may include at least one antenna reflector having an arcuate shape and defining an antenna beam, and a phased array antenna positioned in the antenna beam. More particularly, the phased array antenna may include a substrate and a plurality of back-to-back pairs of first antenna elements carried by the substrate and configured for defining at least one feed-through zone for the antenna beam. Moreover, the phased array antenna may further include a plurality of second antenna elements carried by the substrate and defining at least one active zone for the antenna beam.

Abstract: A low profile, wide band gap antenna having a high impedance surface, the high impedance surface including a conductive plane and an array of conductive elements spaced from the conductive plane by a distance which is no greater than 10% of a wavelength of an operating frequency of the antenna structure. The conductive plane has an opening therein which is driven by an antenna driving element adjacent the opening in the conductive plane.

Abstract: A waveguide diplexing and filtering device for separating two polarities of one frequency band and at least one polarity of another frequency band of an electromagnetic or microwave signal. The waveguide diplexing and filtering device of the present invention provides an enclosure having a longitudinal axis with a common channel formed in the enclosure and terminating at a common port. The common channel and the common port are adapted to receive the electromagnetic or microwave signal. A side channel is formed in the enclosure and terminates at a side port. The side channel is in communication with a common channel, and the side channel is adapted to cut off the lower frequency of the microwave signal and allow the upper frequency of the microwave signal to propagate through the side channel to the side port. The main channel is formed in the enclosure and terminates at a main port and is in communication with the common channel.

Abstract: A microwave downconverter apparatus and scheme is hereby presented for the simultaneous reception of both linearly and circularly polarized signals from collocated satellites. A single antenna and waveguide feed is used for reception from two collocated satellites, wherein one satellite employs both right and left hand circular polarizations and the other employs both vertical and horizontal linear polarizations. The vertical and horizontal components of the linearly polarized signals and the vertical and horizontal components of the circularly polarized signals are separated by the antenna feed apparatus and applied to the input of the downconverter of this invention. Following a stage of RF amplification, both the horizontal and vertical components are further separated into two distinct paths by means of a diplexer. Since the linearly and circularly polarized signals are displaced one from the other by means of frequency, the diplexer provides a means of separating the two polarization techniques.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an antenna that is integrally encompassed within a three-dimensional shaped substance that has a permittivity or permeability constant greater than one. Such an encompassed antenna results in the production of radiated energy at a particular frequency and gain that can conventionally only be produced by a larger antenna.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to twist the field polarization of an electromagnetic wave over a desired frequency band is described. In one embodiment, a transmission twister rotates the polarization of a linearly-polarized incident field to produce a transmitted field. In one embodiment, the transmission twister includes a resonant polarization-twisting array between two linearly-polarized arrays. In one embodiment, the transmission twister rotates the polarization by 90 degrees. In one embodiment, the transmission twister produces low reflection of a desired incident polarization. In one embodiment, the transmission twister has a transmission coefficient (with respect to the desired incident field polarization and a correspondingly rotated transmitted field polarization) close to unity.

Abstract: A circular polarized wave reception antenna has a monopole antenna having a pole portion and an ground plate for grounding one terminal of the pole portion and a polarization converting arrangement disposed around the monopole antenna. The polarization converting arrangement has a plurality of helical leads extending in a helical fashion along the pole portion with apart from the pole portion by a predetermined distance. Each of the helical leads has an end grounded in said ground plate. The helical leads are disposed at equal angular spaces around the pole portion. When a resonance wavelength ? is equal to 128.3 mm, the predetermined space is equal to 20 mm. Each helical lead has a length of ?/4. A pitch angle included between the ground plate and each helical lead is equal to 40 degrees.

Abstract: An antenna system includes a ground plane and/or antenna elements forming an antenna array. A spatial filtering surface is positioned adjacent the antenna array through which electromagnetic radiation to or from the antenna array passes. The spatial filtering surface includes a dielectric substrate and a plurality of spaced, geometric configured, resonant elements printed on the dielectric substrate and configured and spaced from each other to have a resonant frequency to filter an electromagnetic field at a selected frequency with respect to an angle of incidence to the dielectric substrate. A dielectric filler is positioned between, above and below each resonant element printed on the dielectric substrate. A spatial filter taper transform is imparted when electromagnetic radiation passes therethrough. A standing wave is created between the ground plane and spatial filtering surface.

Abstract: Ad device substantially transparent to electromagnetic radiation of a certain frequency band is presented. The device comprises at least one dielectric structure of a predetermined thickness defined by the central frequency of the operational frequency band of the device, and comprises a predetermined substantially periodic inner pattern inside the dielectric structure composed of a two-dimensional array of substantially identical sub-resonant capacitive elements made of an electrically conducting material and capable of scattering said electromagnetic radiation arranged in a disconnected from each other spaced-apart relationship.

Abstract: Antenna for sending and receiving microwave radiation, e.g. for use in a transponder in a transponder system for wireless payment of tolls, or the like. It has an excited antenna element (13) placed on a dielectric antenna carrier or substratum (11), e.g. on a printed circuit board laminate with a copper covered plastic basis suitable for manufacturing of so-called printed circuits. To increase the performance of the antenna for high production rates with cheap materials, the antenna element is placed such that it gets a directional effect mainly perpendicular to a bearing plane (12) of the substratum (11).

Abstract: An antenna (100) for microwave radiation including a first horn (135) which includes a plurality of corrugations (150). At least one of the corrugations (150) is formed of a frequency selective surface (FSS) (138). The FSS has a plurality of FSS elements (305) coupled to at least one substrate (310). The substrate (310) can define a first propagation medium such that an RF signal having a first wavelength in the first propagation medium can pass through the FSS (300). The FSS (300) is coupled to a second propagation medium such that in the second propagation medium the RF signal has a second wavelength which is at least twice as long as a physical distance between centers of adjacent FSS elements (305).

Abstract: A wireless modem contains a power inserter circuit along with the traditional modem components. The power inserter circuit isolates the modem components from DC power that is inserted on the coaxial cable to a transverter. One embodiment of the present invention provides for a wireless modem that contains separate power connections for the modem components and the transverter. Another embodiment of the present invention provides for one power connection for the wireless modem and a DC-to-DC converter for the modem component power. The power source is selected based on the power requirements of the transverter and the DC-to DC-converter converts the input voltage into the voltage level required by the modem components. By incorporating the power inserter within the modem enclosure, power cannot be accidentally inserted into the modem.

Abstract: A method for designing a multiple layer frequency selective surface structure. An overall response for the structure is specified. The desired response may be modeled as a filter response. Parameters for each of the layers making up the structure that provide the overall response are determined based on the polarization modes between the layers being decoupled. To provide for decoupling, the individual layers are rotated with respect to each other. The overall response of the structure is then calculated and compared to the desired response. Adjustments are made in the parameters of each layer until the calculated response is equal or nearly equal to the desired response.

Abstract: A converter main body is formed from composite material wherein reinforcing material comprising carbon fiber is combined with plastic material comprising ABS resin in an amount that is 30 wt % thereof. The coefficient of linear expansion of that composite material is made to be less than or equal to the coefficient of linear expansion of aluminum die cast alloy.

Abstract: The septum is extended through the opening to the radio wave receiving portion to separate respective polarized waves received by a pair of radio wave receiving portions, and a space between the septum and the radio wave receiving portion is set such that an end surface of the waveguide on the side of the substrate is surely in contact with a grounding surface provided on one surface of the substrate, and an end surface of the radio wave reflecting portion on the side of the substrate is surely in contact with the grounding surface provided on the other surface of the substrate.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a system and method by which radio transceiver equipment may be coupled to antenna equipment polarized in either of two orthogonal polarizations without requiring any adaptation or additional componentry while providing the same signal path attributes irrespective of the polarization chosen. Accordingly, a single transceiver/antenna unit may be utilized for providing communications polarized vertically, or slant right, and polarized horizontally, or slant left.

Abstract: A radio frequency reconfigurable lens is provided. In particular, a lens comprising at least two opposed frequency selective surface sheets is provided. A relative phase shift may be imparted to an incident radio frequency wave by varying the distance between at least some of the unit cells of a first of the FSS sheets and adjacent unit cells on a second of the FSS sheets. In order to provide a desired phase taper across the width of a lens, and/or to provide different phase shift amounts, pairs of FSS surfaces having controllable columns or rows can be cascaded together. According to an additional aspect of the present invention, radio frequency waves can be scanned by cascading multiple tunable stages. The present invention also provides a radio frequency shutter.

Abstract: A multibeam antenna apparatus is disclosed. The multibeam antenna apparatus includes a main reflector (1), a sub-reflector (2), a focused beam feeder (3), a primary radiator array (5) having a plurality of primary radiators (5a), and a lens array (10) having a plurality of wavefront transformation lenses (10a) corresponding to the plurality of primary radiators (5a), respectively. The lens array (10) can be placed in the vicinity of a front end of the primary radiator array (5). As an alternative, the lens array (10) is placed in an electric wave propagation range of the focused beam feeder (3) where multiple beams which constitute a multibeam are spatially isolated from one another in terms of electric power. Thus the multibeam antenna apparatus can prevent an error from occurring in the orientation of each beam.

Abstract: Dual polarisation antenna having low side lobes, useful in a satellite radio communication system. The antenna includes a reflector assembly (12) illuminated by a feed source (11). The reflector assembly (12) includes a front reflector (15) that reflects two electromagnetic waves orthogonally polarized and each at a different frequency, an auxiliary reflector (16) that reflects one of the orthogonally polarized electromagnetic waves, and a deflecting surface (13) that totally diffracts the orthogonally polarized electromagnetic wave that passes through the auxiliary reflector (16).

Abstract: The invention proposes a transmitting/receiving device comprising at least one transition zone which comprises a means of transforming a polarized wave of a first polarization into an electrical signal; a second means of transforming an electrical signal into a polarized wave of the second polarization; and a first filtering zone placed between the antenna and the transition zone, the first filtering zone comprising a waveguide filter polarized in the second polarization direction, the said filter being transparent in the first polarization direction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to planar materials having bandgap properties. The materials are formed by depositing conductive fractal patterns on a non-conducting substrate. The bandgap location(s) are defined by parameters including the number of fractal levels, and the dimension of the fractal mother element. The bandgaps can also be actively controlled by injecting current into the conducting pattern.

Abstract: A circular polarized wave reception antenna has a monopole antenna having a pole portion and an ground plate for grounding one terminal of the pole portion and a polarization converting arrangement disposed around the monopole antenna. The polarization converting arrangement has a plurality of helical leads extending in a helical fashion along the pole portion with apart from the pole portion by a predetermined distance. Each of the helical leads has an end grounded in said ground plate. The helical leads are disposed at equal angular spaces around the pole portion. When a resonance wavelength &lgr; is equal to 128.3 mm, the predetermined space is equal to 20 mm. Each helical lead has a length of &lgr;/4. A pitch angle included between the ground plate and each helical lead is equal to 40 degrees.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for converting a circularly polarized electromagnetic radiation into linearly polarized electromagnetic radiation. The device includes a depolarizer with depolarizing elements supported in a polarization mode converter for rotation between a vertical output and a horizontal output. A depolarization position for circularly polarized radiation exists between the horizontal output and the vertical output. The rotation direction of the depolarizer can be adjusted to selectively direct left-handed circularly polarized and right-handed circularly polarized radiation either to the vertical or the horizontal output.

Abstract: In an artificial magnetic conductor, the distance between the frequency selective surface and the ground plane is mechanically varied to adjust the effective inductance or capacitance of the structure and thus the resonant frequency of the device.

Abstract: The present invention provides antenna feed assemblies that allow the common waveguide portion of an antenna feed assembly to be rotated independent of a fixed communication waveguide. When rotated, the ports of the common waveguide are altered in terms of polarization with respect to signals propagating in the common waveguide, while the predetermined polarization between the ports remains the same. A rotatable coupling between the common waveguide and the fixed communication waveguide allows for communication of signals between the two waveguides, even though their ports are rotated with respect to each other. As such, the polarization of the waveguides associated with the antenna may be reconfigured, even though one of the waveguides remains at a fixed position.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to twist the field polarization of an electromagnetic wave over a desired frequency band is described. In one embodiment, a transmission twister rotates the polarization of a linearly-polarized incident field to produce a transmitted field. In one embodiment, the transmission twister includes a resonant polarization-twisting array between two linearly-polarized arrays. In one embodiment, the transmission twister rotates the polarization by 90 degrees. In one embodiment, the transmission twister produces low reflection of a desired incident polarization. In one embodiment, the transmission twister has a transmission coefficient (with respect to the desired incident field polarization and a correspondingly rotated transmitted field polarization) close to unity.

Abstract: In a horn antenna apparatus for use in an antenna system for radar, some of the excited radio waves in a TE11 mode in a radio-wave input portion 1 are converted to those in a higher mode in a waveguide portion 5. As the inclination of a line of intersection S of the waveguide portion 5 is not fixed but continuously varied, the higher mode such as a TM11 mode and TE12 mode and the like is excited everywhere in the direction of the axis Z of the waveguide portion 5. Then the configuration of the line of intersection is determined so that an amplitude and a phase as the generated quantity of higher mode such as the TM11 mode generated in the waveguide portion 5 conform to desired values with respect to each higher mode.

Abstract: A frequency selective surface includes a pattern of electromagnetic material formed on a substrate suspendable over a ground plane for reflecting or transmitting electromagnetic waves at one or more particular frequencies. The frequency selective surface may include one or more meandering line inductors and/or one or more interdigitated capacitors formed within the pattern of electromagnetic materials for adjusting the frequencies at which the electromagnetic waves are reflected or transmitted. The frequency selective surface may also or instead include one or more inductors and/or one or more capacitors arranged in series within the pattern of electromagnetic materials to adjust the frequencies at which the electromagnetic waves are reflected or transmitted. In addition, the pattern of electromagnetic materials may be formed within the substrate in such a manner that the frequencies at which the electromagnetic waves are reflected or transmitted are tunable.

Abstract: An approach for providing a multiple-beam antenna system for receiving and transmitting electromagnetic signals from a plurality of closely spaced satellites is disclosed. Dielectric inserts are selectively coupled to the feedhorn bodies to alter the radiation patterns according to dielectric constants of the dielectric inserts. A reflector produces multiple antenna beams based upon the altered radiation patterns of the feedhorn bodies. The antenna provides simultaneous transmissions to satellites that are spaced about 2° or less.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved optical switches in which no mechanical movement is required to direct optical pathways between plural fiber ports and light transmission is bi-directional. Advantageously, the inventive switches permit bi-directional light transmission. The inventive switches also incorporate light bending devices to allow two fibers to be coupled to the light beams using a single lens for compactness. In the inventive switch, an optical signal is spatially split into two polarized beams by a birefringent element, which passes through a polarization rotation device that comprises waveplates, walk-off elements, and an electrically controllable polarization rotator, and recombine into an output fiber, achieving polarization independent operation. The switches of the present invention rely on electro-magnetically or electro-optically switching the beam polarizations from one state to another to rapidly direct the light path.

Abstract: A high performance multi-band antenna reflector having low sidelobe and cross polarization levels, and a superior carrier-to-interference ratio has two concentric zones (12, 14 in a first embodiment and 102, 104 in a second embodiment). In the first embodiment, the outer concentric zone (14) is a frequency selective absorber (20) made of a metallic pattern (22) dimensioned to reflect signals in one frequency band and absorb signals in a second frequency band. In the second embodiment, the outer concentric zone (104) is a frequency selective surface (106) that reflects signals in one frequency band and passes signals in a second frequency bands. Resistance cards (122) overlay the top and bottom sides of the junction between the frequency selective surface (106) and a reflective layer (110) on an inner surface (112) of the central concentric zone (102).

Abstract: A high impedance (Hi-Z) wire effectively transparent to electromagnetic radiation polarized in the direction of the wire, within an operating frequency band. The Hi-Z wire is sheathed with a thin layer of resonant structures that are small compared to the wavelength, and behave as a kind of photonic band gap (PBG) material. A frequency-selective polarizer comprising a plurality of Hi-Z wires disposed parallel to one other in a grid. A wire grid reflector that enables stepwise phase control of the reflected wave and focusing of radiative power, the reflector comprising Hi-Z wires interspersed with conventional wires disposed parallel to one another in a grid.

Abstract: An artificial anisotropic dielectric material can be used as a microstrip patch antenna substrate. The artificial dielectric can be easily designed for the purpose of weight reduction. Preferably, the artificial dielectric is comprised of a periodic stack of low and high permittivity layers. The layers can be oriented vertically below the patch to support electric fields consistent with desired resonant modes. Substrates may be engineered for both linearly and circularly polarized patch antennas. Antenna weight can be reduced to ⅙th up to {fraction (1/30)}th of the original weight using different types of high permittivity layers. This concept has numerous applications in electrically small and lightweight antenna elements such as PIFA antennas. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the artificial dielectric is comprised of an interlocking structure of low and high permittivity layers for ease of assembly and for overall stability.

Abstract: A composite antenna reflector architecture for improving beam-to-beam isolation in a multi-spot illuminated reflector antenna employs a plurality of annular rings surrounding a central reflective dish and having respectively different controlled reflectivity profiles. The reflectivity-tailored reflector rings alter illumination taper and reduce selected sidelobe energy, and minimize degradation in coverage performance and gain slope in the radiation profile of the antenna. A respective ring employs a frequency selective surface laminate of layers containing different elements that resonate at different frequencies spectrally spaced to provide at least one composite frequency response characteristic.

Abstract: An antenna system that employs an antenna element for both transmit and receive functions, where a dual band polarizer is used to convert linearly polarized signals to circularly polarized signals and vice versa for two frequency bands. The dual band polarizer includes a waveguide including corrugated structures extending from opposing sidewalls, where ridges in the structures extend perpendicular to the propagation direction of the signal. The height of the ridges taper from a lowest height at the ends of the waveguide to a largest height at the middle of the waveguide. The corrugated structures interact with the field components of the signal in the direction perpendicular to the ridges that cause that component to be delayed relative to the field components parallel to the ridges so that the signal changes accordingly and maintains the same magnitude.

Abstract: An antenna includes a probe capable of transforming electrical energy into electromagnetic energy and inversely. It further includes an assembly of elements made of at least two materials different in permittivity and/or permeability and/or conductivity within which the probe is arranged, the arrangement of the elements in the assembly ensuring radiation and spatial and frequency filtering of the electromagnetic waves produced or received by the probe, which filtering allows in particular one or several operating frequencies (f) of the antenna inside a frequency band gap (B).

Abstract: An antenna system for receiving both circularly polarized electromagnetic signals and linearly polarized electromagnetic signals, the circularly polarize signals arriving at the antenna system from a direction normal or oblique to a major surface of the antenna system and the linearly polarized signals arriving at the planar antenna system from a direction acute to said major surface. The antenna system includes a high impedance surface and a plurality of antenna elements disposed on said high impedance surface, the plurality antenna elements arranged in a pattern on said surface such first selected ones of said antenna elements are responsive to circular polarization and second selected ones of said antenna elements are responsive to linear polarization.

Abstract: An optical signal transmission system equipped with a magneto-optical modulator is provided. The magneto-optical modulator works to modulate an optical beam emitted from a light source and consists of a polarizer, a magneto-optical element, an analyzer, a dc field generator, a high-frequency field generator, and an impedance adjuster. The dc field generator works to apply a dc bias field to the magneto-optical element. The high-frequency generator is responsive to the high-frequency signal from said high-frequency signal generator to apply a high-frequency field to the magneto-optical element. The impedance adjuster works to adjust impedance of the high-frequency field generator for establishing effective transmission of the high-frequency signal to the high-frequency field generator, thereby increasing a modulation range up to frequencies higher than an upper limit of typical magneto-optical modulators.

Abstract: The present invention refers to an arrangement in an antenna, the arrangement comprising: an electrically thin microwave phasing structure including a support member, a reflective arrangement for reflecting microwaves within a frequency operating band and supported by said supporting member, and a phasing arrangement of electromagnetically-loading structures, said electromagnetically-loading structures being interspaced from each other and disposed at a distance from said reflective arrangement by a support matrix to provide said emulation of said desired reflective surface of selected geometry. The electromagnetically-loading structures are arranged on at least two substrate layers in at least two planes.

Abstract: A frequency reconfigurable artificial magnetic conductor (AMC) includes a ground plane, a spacer layer disposed adjacent the ground plane and a plurality of vias in electrical contact with the ground plane and extending from a surface of the ground plane in direction of the spacer layer. The AMC further includes a frequency selective surface (FSS) disposed on the spacer layer and including a periodic pattern of bias node patches alternating with ground node patches, the ground node patches being in electrical contact with respective vias of the plurality of vias, and components between selected bias node patches and ground node patches, the components having a capacitance which is variable in response to a bias voltage. A network of bias resistors between adjacent bias node patches provides the tuning voltage.

Abstract: A polarizer for a dual frequency band is formed of square waveguides of a dual structure. A section is formed which extends in a step-like manner as deeper inside between outer and inner square waveguides. The section is connected to the inner square waveguide at an output portion. A third section protrudes from the sidewall of the inner square waveguide, which section extends in a step-like manner as deeper inside and connected to the other sidewall of the square waveguide at the output portion to provide two divided rectangular waveguides.

Abstract: A steerable antenna and method of steering a radio frequency wave received by and/or transmitted from the antenna. The antenna includes a tunable high impedance surface and at least one end-fire antenna disposed on said surface. The method includes varying the impedance of the tunable high impedance surface.

Abstract: An antenna system that employs an antenna element for both transmit and receive functions, where a dual band polarizer is used to convert linearly polarized signals to circularly polarized signals and vice versa for two frequency bands. The dual band polarizer includes a waveguide including corrugated structures extending from opposing sidewalls, where ridges in the structures extend perpendicular to the propagation direction of the signal. The height of the ridges taper from a lowest height at the ends of the waveguide to a largest height at the middle of the waveguide. The corrugated structures interact with the field components of the signal in the direction perpendicular to the ridges that cause that component to be delayed relative to the field components parallel to the ridges so that the signal changes accordingly and maintains the same magnitude.

Abstract: An antenna system that employs antenna elements for both transmit and receive functions. Signals received by each antenna element are directed to a dual band polarizer that converts the signals to linearly polarized signals, and signals to be transmitted by each antenna element are converted to circularly polarized signals by the polarizer. The orientation of the polarizer and whether the circularly polarized signals are LHCP or RHCP determines whether the linearly polarized signals are vertically or horizontally polarized. A dual-band orthomode transducer is employed to separate the receive and transmit signals into their respective frequency bands based on whether they are vertically or horizontally polarized. The transducer is a waveguide device having only three signal ports. A high pass filter is used to help separate the received signals, and a low pass filter is used to help separate the transmit signals.

Abstract: A frequency reconfigurable artificial magnetic conductor (AMC) includes a ground plane, a spacer layer disposed adjacent the ground plane and a plurality of vias in electrical contact with the ground plane and extending from a surface of the ground plane in direction of the spacer layer. The AMC further includes a frequency selective surface (FSS) disposed on the spacer layer and including a periodic pattern of bias node patches alternating with ground node patches, the ground node patches being in electrical contact with respective vias of the plurality of vias, and components between selected bias node patches and ground node patches, the components having a capacitance which is variable in response to a bias voltage. A network of bias resistors between adjacent bias node patches provides the tuning voltage.

Abstract: An electronically reconfigurable artificial magnetic conductor (RAMC) includes a frequency selective surface (FSS) having an effective sheet capacitance which is variable to control resonant frequency of the RAMC. In one embodiment, the RAMC further includes a conductive backplane structure and a spacer layer separating the conductive backplane structure and the FSS. The spacer layer includes conductive vias extending between the conductive backplane structure and the FSS, and voltage variable capacitive circuit elements coupled with the FSS and responsive to bias voltages applied on one or more bias signal lines routed through the conductive backplane structure and the conductive vias.

Abstract: An improved phased array antenna having a low profile is disclosed. The antenna has a polarizer and a rotating phased array. MEMS phase shifters are used for electronically controlling relative phase shift between antenna elements and MEMS switches employed to provide beam steering and polarization switching.