With Reflector Patents (Class 343/779)
  • Patent number: 11673352
    Abstract: A method of monitoring a curing process for fiber reinforced composite materials that includes positioning an actuator on uncured composite material at a first location. At least one sensor is positioned at a second location that is spaced apart from the first location. The actuator excites waves in the composite part at the first location. At least one sensor is positioned at a second location that is spaced apart from the first location. The actuator excites waves in the composite part at the first location. The waves propagate through the composite part due to internal reflection. At least one wave metric is measured at the second location utilizing the sensor. At least one parameter of the curing process may be adjusted based, at least in part, on a wave metric measured by the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Administrator of NASA
    Inventors: Tyler B. Hudson, Fuh-Gwo Yuan, Brian W. Grimsley
  • Patent number: 11482791
    Abstract: A phased array antenna includes an array of antenna element modules. Each of the array of antenna element modules includes a dielectric substrate having a lower surface and a radiating element. Each of the antenna element modules also includes an integrated circuit (IC) chip adhered to the lower surface of the dielectric substrate. The IC chip includes a circuit to adjust a signal communicated with the radiating element. The phased array antenna also includes a multi-layer substrate underlying the array of antenna element modules, the multi-layer substrate including a beam forming network (BFN) circuit formed on a layer of the multi-layer substrate and the BFN circuit is in electrical communication with the IC chip of each of the array of antenna element modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: VIASAT, INC.
    Inventors: Maria Carolina Vigano, Kenneth V. Buer, Douglas J. Mathews
  • Patent number: 11329391
    Abstract: Disclosed is a shaped horn in conjunction with a dielectric tube for enhanced aperture directivity that can achieve a near optimum efficiency. The shaped horn provides additional mode control to provide an improved off-axis cross-polarization response. The horn shape can be individually optimized for isolated horns or for horns in a feed array. The feed array environment can produce results that lead to a different optimized shape than the isolated horn. Lower off axis cross-polarization can result in improved efficiency and susceptibility to interference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Viasat, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald L. Runyon, Anders Jensen
  • Patent number: 11303044
    Abstract: A main antenna arrangement is configured to receive with a pre-configured first directional radiation pattern having a first beam with a first beamwidth and to provide first received signals at a first output, and at least one auxiliary antenna is configured to receive with a pre-configured respective second directional radiation pattern having a second beam with a second beamwidth, different from the first beamwidth and to provide second received signals at a second output. Interference cancelling circuitry is configured to control the amplitude and phase of the second received signals received from the at least one auxiliary antenna to produce weighted second received signals and combine the weighted second received signals with the first signals received from the main antenna arrangement to reduce a level of interference signals received by the main antenna arrangement in relation to a level of wanted signals received in the main antenna arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: CAMBIUM NETWORKS LTD
    Inventors: Antony Jamin, Peter Strong, Nigel King
  • Patent number: 11190250
    Abstract: A system and method for enhancing an aerospace coverage capability of a mobile communication base station includes a baseband processing unit, a remote radio unit and a full-airspace array antenna. The full-airspace array antenna includes a conversion channel module, an interface processing module, a digital beamforming module, a transceiver channel module and an antenna array. The baseband processing unit is connected to the remote radio unit, the remote radio unit is connected to the conversion channel module through a radio-frequency cable, and the conversion channel module is connected to the antenna array successively through the interface processing module, the digital beamforming module, and the transceiver channel module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: iShareCloud Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yongsheng Gui
  • Patent number: 11088459
    Abstract: Examples reflectors for an antenna is provided. One example reflector comprises a support structure for supporting radiating elements and for providing mechanical stiffness of the reflector, and a separate conductive member acting as an electrically reflective surface attached to the support structure and covering at least a portion of the support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Serban Rebegea, Christian Helbig, Johann Baptist Obermaier
  • Patent number: 10879621
    Abstract: Provided is an antenna for satellite communication capable of receiving multi-band signals. The antenna includes: a main reflector; a first feed horn which is provided on the main reflector and receives a signal of a first band; a first reflector which is disposed to be spaced apart from a reflective surface of the main reflector at a predetermined interval and transmits the signal of the first band to the first feed horn; a second feed horn which is provided on the main reflector and receives a signal of a second band; and a second reflector which is disposed to be spaced apart from the reflective surface of the main reflector at a predetermined interval and transmits the signal of the second band to the second feed horn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: INTELLIAN TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventor: Jung Pil Noh
  • Patent number: 10862189
    Abstract: An apparatus that combines an antenna and telescope to minimize system mass without compromising performance of either the antenna or telescope. The apparatus includes a sub-reflector placed before a prime focus feed of a hybrid reflector system. The apparatus also includes a radio frequency (RF) reflector is rigidly attached to a body of a spacecraft and an optical section is attached to a vibration isolation platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Robert R. Romanofsky
  • Patent number: 10826165
    Abstract: A satellite system may include a reflector and a mast extending outwardly from the reflector. A radio frequency (RF) assembly may be carried by a distal end of the mast and include a conductive waveguide body having an RF cavity therein coupled with the reflector and a pin-receiving opening therein. An RF circuit module may include a housing carried by the conductive waveguide body, RF circuitry contained within the housing, and a signal coupling pin coupled to the RF circuitry and extending through the pin-receiving opening into the RF cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: EAGLE TECHNOLOGY, LLC
    Inventors: Hector Deju, Stephen Rego, Joey D. Sartin, Daniel C. Lizana
  • Patent number: 10700407
    Abstract: The invention concerns an acquisition aid antenna device (3), intended to be secured to a main antenna device, the acquisition aid antenna device (3) comprising: —a multiband acquisition aid antenna feed (7), suitable for receiving radiation emitted by a target, and—a lens (9) arranged in the main reception lobe of the acquisition aid antenna feed (7) for concentrating the radiation received from the target towards the acquisition aid antenna feed (7). This device makes it possible to detect targets that are outside the useful beam of the main antenna device, and to use an acquisition aid antenna feed identical to the feed of the main antenna device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Zodiac Data Systems
    Inventors: Pascal Cousin, Christophe Melle, Alain Karas
  • Patent number: 10615504
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an antenna for satellite communication having a structure for switching multiband signals. The antenna for satellite communication according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a main reflecting plate configured to be rotatable in a predetermined direction so as to be oriented in a direction in which a satellite is located, a first feed horn configured to be detachably installed in a region of an edge of the main reflecting plate, a sub-reflecting plate configured to be installed so as to be spaced apart from a reflecting surface of the main reflecting plate by a predetermined distance by at least one support means provided in a region of the main reflecting plate, and a second feed horn configured to be detachably installed on a side opposite to the reflecting surface of the sub-reflecting plate, wherein an installation position of the sub-reflecting plate is changeable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: INTELLIAN TECHNOLOGIES INC
    Inventors: Kwangsik Eom, Jeongwoo Park
  • Patent number: 10615498
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a multi-beam antenna is described. The multi-beam antenna includes a reflector having a single reflector surface defining a first focal region and a second focal region. A first feed group is located within the first focal region. The first feed group includes a first feed oriented relative to the reflector define a first beam pointed in a first direction. The multi-beam antenna further includes a fixed attachment mechanism attaching the first feed group to the reflector such that a position of the first feed group is fixed relative to the reflector. The multi-beam antenna further includes a second feed group located within the second focal region. The second feed group includes a second feed oriented relative to the reflector to define a second beam pointed in a second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Viasat, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald L Runyon, Sharad V Parekh
  • Patent number: 10524216
    Abstract: A system for transmitting and receiving wireless signals through a physical barrier, such as walls or windows, to wireless computing devices that are located internal to a structure that is formed in part by the physical barrier. The wireless signals are millimeter waveforms with gigahertz frequencies that are communicated with 5G communication protocols by one or more remote base station nodes located external to the physical barrier. One or more external antennas are configured to communicate RF wireless signals with HMA waveforms to remote wireless base station. In one or more embodiments, the RF wireless signals are amplified and communicated bi-statically through the window barrier between customer premises equipment and an authorized remote wireless base station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Pivotal Commware, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric James Black, Mersad Cavcic, Brian Mark Deutsch, Alexander Remley Katko, Jay Howard McCandless, Adam Deloss Rea, Ryan Dale Rutledge, Shannon Lee Hitchen, Seyed Ali Malek Abadi, Jordan Philip Dole{hacek over (z)}ílek Read
  • Patent number: 10476141
    Abstract: An antenna system includes a reflector, an offset feed horn and a support platform. The reflector has a reflector surface. The reflector and offset feed horn are attached to the support platform. The offset feed horn transmits RF microwave energy toward the reflector surface. The antenna system further includes a turntable which has a single rotation axis. The turntable rotates about the antenna rotation axis. The support platform is attached to the turntable such that the turntable rotates the support platform. The reflector surface has a perturbed paraboloid geometrical shape that reflects most RF microwave energy along a beam peak pointing direction. The reflector surface reflects RF microwave energy towards the earth's surface in such a manner that the reflected RF microwave energy illuminates a narrow strip of the earth's surface from nadir to a point near the earth's horizon with substantially constant intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Administrator of NASA
    Inventors: Victor J. Marrero-Fontanez, Cornelis F. DuToit
  • Patent number: 10425905
    Abstract: A system for transmitting and receiving wireless signals through a physical barrier, such as walls or windows, to wireless computing devices that are located internal to a structure that is formed in part by the physical barrier. The wireless signals are millimeter waveforms with gigahertz frequencies that are communicated with 5G communication protocols by one or more remote base station nodes located external to the physical barrier. One or more external antennas are configured to communicate RF wireless signals with HMA waveforms to remote wireless base station. In one or more embodiments, the RF wireless signals are amplified and communicated bi-statically through the window barrier between customer premises equipment and an authorized remote wireless base station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Pivotal Commware, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric James Black, Mersad Cavcic, Brian Mark Deutsch, Alexander Remley Katko, Jay Howard McCandless, Adam Deloss Rea, Ryan Dale Rutledge, Shannon Lee Hitchen, Seyed Ali Malek Abadi, Jordan Philip Dole{hacek over (z)}ílek Read
  • Patent number: 10355775
    Abstract: An RF communications transmitter system comprising a processor, a switch and a plurality of feedhorns. The switch is configured to receive a feed signal of a frequency bandwidth. The processor is configured to control the switch to provide the feed signal to each of at least two of the feedhorns for a respective time period. Each of the at least two feedhorns is configured to generate a beam during the respective time period that the feed signal is provided thereto, wherein the beam is formed based on the feed signal and is transmitted to cover a geographic area of the Earth. The formation and transmission of the beams by the feedhorns is controlled by the processor to provide a time-based allocation of bandwidth amongst the beams based on the time period that the feed signal is provided to each of the feedhorns and a respective frequency/polarization reuse scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Hughes Network Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Stanley Kay, Dave Roos, Paul Gaske, Anthony Noerpel
  • Patent number: 10326201
    Abstract: There are provided a communication excitation distribution calculating unit (11) that calculates an excitation distribution W1(t) of a communication beam using an excitation phase distribution S that directs a main lobe of the communication beam in a communication direction; an interference excitation distribution calculating unit (14) that calculates an excitation distribution W2(t) of an interference beam using an excitation phase distribution D that forms a null of an antenna pattern in the communication direction; and an excitation distribution combining unit (20) that combines the excitation distribution W1(t) of the communication beam and the excitation distribution W2(t) of the interference beam. An amplitude/phase controlling unit (30) controls amplitudes and phases of carrier signals to be provided to element antennas (3-1) to (3-K), in accordance with the combined excitation distribution obtained by the excitation distribution combining unit (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tasuku Kuriyama, Satoshi Yamaguchi, Masataka Otsuka, Toru Fukasawa
  • Patent number: 10326203
    Abstract: A system for forming a beam includes one or more wave sources; one or more surface scattering antennas (for example, one or more holographic metasurface antennas) coupled to the one or more wave sources, wherein each of the one or more surface scattering antennas comprises an array of scattering elements that are dynamically adjustable in response to one or more waves provided by the one or more wave sources to produce a beam; and a beam shaper configured to receive the beam from each of the one or more surface scattering antennas and to redirect the beam, preferably, with gain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Pivotal Commware, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric James Black, Jay Howard McCandless
  • Patent number: 10199734
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an antenna for satellite communication having a structure for switching multiband signals. The antenna for satellite communication according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a main reflecting plate configured to be rotatable in a predetermined direction so as to be oriented in a direction in which a satellite is located, a first feed horn configured to be detachably installed in a region of an edge of the main reflecting plate, a sub-reflecting plate configured to be installed so as to be spaced apart from a reflecting surface of the main reflecting plate by a predetermined distance by at least one support means provided in a region of the main reflecting plate, and a second feed horn configured to be detachably installed on a side opposite to the reflecting surface of the sub-reflecting plate, wherein an installation position of the sub-reflecting plate is changeable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: INTELLIAN TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Kwangsik Eom, Jeongwoo Park
  • Patent number: 10181643
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for calibration for an offset antenna are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, the disclosed method involves calculating an estimated gimbal angle between the offset antenna and at least one target. Also, the method involves transmitting, by at least one target, at least one signal; and receiving, by the offset antenna, at least one signal. The method further involves pointing the offset antenna to an optimum gimbal angle to maximize received signal power. Additionally, the method involves comparing the optimum gimbal angle with the estimated gimbal angle to determine a difference in the gimbal angles. Also, the method involves calculating a bus, reflector, and/or feed error estimate by using the difference in the gimbal angles. Further, the method involves determining an azimuth and/or elevation correction for bus, reflector, and/or feed errors by using the bus, reflector, and/or feed error estimate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: Yong Liu
  • Patent number: 9843104
    Abstract: Disclosed is a shaped horn in conjunction with a dielectric tube for enhanced aperture directivity that can achieve a near optimum efficiency. The shaped horn provides additional mode control to provide an improved off-axis cross-polarization response. The horn shape can be individually optimized for isolated horns or for horns in a feed array. The feed array environment can produce results that lead to a different optimized shape than the isolated horn. Lower off axis cross-polarization can result in improved efficiency and susceptibility to interference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: VIASAT, INC.
    Inventors: Donald L Runyon, Anders Jensen
  • Patent number: 9831549
    Abstract: Systems and methods for high power microwave combining and switching are provided. In at least one implementation a system includes a plurality of inputs, wherein there are M inputs in the plurality of inputs and a plurality of phase shifters, wherein there are N phase shifters in the plurality of phase shifters and N is a multiple of two times M, wherein a signal received through the plurality of inputs is divided and coupled to N/M phase shifters. The system further includes an N:N Butler matrix coupled between outputs of the N phase shifters in the plurality of phase shifters and a plurality of outputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Adam M. Kroening
  • Patent number: 9774076
    Abstract: A compact millimeter-wave radio system is comprised of an antenna body with reflector region and waveguide region all made from a single piece of material, and a radio receiver that is mounted on a substrate which is mechanically fixed to and held by the waveguide region. The system presents compact, relatively inexpensive, and relatively effective heat dissipation, solution for receiving and transmitting millimeter waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Siklu Communication Ltd.
    Inventor: Yigal Leiba
  • Patent number: 9634399
    Abstract: An antenna system can impart orbital angular momentum (OAM) to an incident electromagnetic (EM) signal from a feed antenna. The antenna system can include a partial OAM antenna with a reflective surface that has only part of a full OAM shaped surface. The antenna system can thus reflect the incident EM signal as a partial OAM beam rather than a full OAM beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: L-3 Communications Corp.
    Inventors: Johnny M. Harris, Osama S. Haddadin, Zachary C. Bagley, Brandon G. Walsh, Jonathan C. Landon
  • Patent number: 9537222
    Abstract: A method is provided for defining an antenna with weak sidelobes having at least two sources, in which the sources are regularly distributed and the reflectors have suitable shapes, obtained by the implementation of a specific algorithm, the reflectors being illuminated by sources composed of a single part. The obtained antenna will offer a gain close to 0 in the direction of the array lobes, so these will be as low as possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: THALES
    Inventors: Pierre Boutigny, Laurent Collin, Laurent Beguet
  • Patent number: 9513361
    Abstract: A system and related method is disclosed including a symmetrical array of Balanced Antipodal Vivaldi Antenna (BAVA) elements. Within the array a plurality of dual polarization sub-arrays comprised of individual BAVA elements oriented in a first polarization and individual BAVA elements oriented in a second polarization. The plurality of sub-arrays maintains low mutual coupling and cross polarization rejection between sub-arrays within the array and between elements within the sub-array. As a signal is received by each of the individual BAVA elements, signals from each first polarized BAVA element and each second polarized BAVA element of a sub-array are combined to produce a single signal of the first polarization and a single signal of the second polarization per sub-array. A DF processor receives the two signals and determines the angle of arrival of the signal. A communications link within the array sends and receives information and commands for array operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: M. Wajih A. Elsallal, James B. West
  • Patent number: 9496621
    Abstract: A large deployable reflector for an antenna suitable for being installed on board a satellite and provided with a support structure, a parabolic mirror carried by the support structure and a connection arm for mounting the support structure on the satellite; the support structure being a jointed reticulate structure that is able to assume a compact inoperative stowed configuration and an operative deployed configuration and is composed of ‘n’ elements articulated to form tetrahedrons having respective triangular bases, which are connected to each other at the axial ends of respective first sides and have respective external vertices, which are opposite to said respective first sides and, when the reflector is arranged in the deployed configuration, ideally lie on a cone tangent to the parabolic mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Thales Alenia Space Italia S.p.A. Con Unico Socio
    Inventors: Alberto Meschini, Riccardo Rigato, Davide Scarozza
  • Patent number: 9397820
    Abstract: Radio devices having separate transmission and reception reflectors for transmitting and receiving wireless signals that detect interference in a transmission channel and may be automatically or manually switch duplexing schemes when reflections, radar or other interference is detected. These devices typically include both a transmission antenna reflector and a receiving transmitter reflector, which may be connected or formed of a single housing, that are operatively coupled to radio circuitry for transmission and reception of wireless signals. Interference, and particularly reflected signals between the transmitter and receiver, are avoided by including a detector coupled to either (or both) reflectors that monitors the transmitting frequency channel; reflections and/or radar signals may be detected and may trigger switching (manual or automatic switching) to a different duplexing modes such as frequency-division duplexing (FDD), time-division duplexing (TDD), etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Ubiquiti Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary D. Schulz, Paul Odlyzko, Christopher Fay
  • Patent number: 9379457
    Abstract: A radome for a feed horn includes a cover and at least a protrusion having an elliptic protruding portion shaped as a part of a hollow ellipsoid and provided with a convex surface and a concave surface opposite to the convex surface. The radome is defined with a plurality of first and second cross-sections. Curves of the convex and the concave surfaces in the first cross-sections are different from those in the second cross-sections. The convex and concave surfaces are substantially perpendicular to an advancing direction of a co-polarization wave and unperpendicular to an advancing direction of a cross polarization wave. As a result, the radome can be so thick as to be easily manufactured and not easily damaged and enhance the performance of the feed horn covered by the radome in sending and receiving signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: PRIME ELECTRONICS AND SATELLITICS INCORPORATION
    Inventor: Li-Chun Shiue
  • Patent number: 9312606
    Abstract: An antenna device includes a reflector which forms an offset antenna with a portion of a rotational paraboloid being cut out, and a primary radiator which radiates a beam having an elliptical cone shape to an aperture plane of the reflector. A reflector contour of the aperture plane of the reflector is formed in an elliptical shape along an isolux line of an elliptical beam radiated from the primary radiator. Accordingly, a loss due to spillover of the reflector is compensated for in a space in which the reflector contour of the present embodiment protrudes from a general reflector contour having a virtual elliptical shape formed to be perpendicular to an axis of a beam incident on an aperture plane of the reflector. In a space in which the general reflector contour protrudes from the reflector contour of the present embodiment, degradation of illuminance efficiency of the reflector is compensated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Kosuke Tanabe
  • Publication number: 20150145741
    Abstract: An antenna system capable of achieving simultaneous transmit and receive (STAR.) operation over a wide bandwidth includes a ring array of TEM horn elements and a centrally located monocone or bicone antenna. The TEM horn elements each include a capacitive feed. The elements of the ring array are excited using a phasing scheme that results in signal cancellation, at the location of the central element. The ring array may serve as either the transmit antenna or the receive antenna.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: William F. Moulder, Bradley T. Perry, Jeffrey S. Herd
  • Patent number: 9035839
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to diversity receive systems and methods. An antenna system may comprise a reflector and a plurality of feed antennas configured to receive a wireless signal from a common source with directional diversity. A receive system may comprise such antenna system in combination with a plurality of receivers and/or demodulators, and in combination with a combiner and/or controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: TROLL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Julian Scott, Jeff Hopkins
  • Publication number: 20150084820
    Abstract: The antenna comprises main and sub reflectors, each of which being made with nonaxisymmetric curvilinear surfaces and having two planes of symmetry at the intersection. A feed is arranged between the main and sub reflectors and capable of illuminating, first, the sub-reflector and, through it, the main reflector to form plane wave front. The common focuses of the nonaxisymmetric curvilinear surfaces of the reflectors in all sections passing through the longitudinal axis Z of the antenna, is located at the portion Z0 of Z, wherein the length of said portion being restricted by limits Fmin?Z0?Fmax, where Fmin, Fmax are the minimum and maximum distances from the ends of the portion Z0 to the main reflector along Z. The length of Z0 satisfies the following relation; Fmin/Dmax?Zo/Dmax?Fmax/Dmax and 0.21?Zo/Dmax?0.47, 1>Dmin/Dmax>0.5, where Dmax and Dmin are the maximum and minimum transverse sizes of the main reflector aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Jiho Ahn, Elena V. Frolova
  • Publication number: 20140354499
    Abstract: A multi-beam former comprises: two stages connected together and intended to synthesize beams focused along two directions in space; each stage comprises at least two multi-layer plane structures, superposed one above the other; each multi-layer structure comprises an internal reflector, at least two first internal sources disposed in front of the internal reflector and linked to two input/output ports aligned along an axis, at least two second internal sources disposed in a focal plane of the internal reflector and linked to two second input/output ports aligned along an axis perpendicular to the axis; the two second internal sources of the same multi-layer structure of the first stage are respectively linked to two first internal sources of two different multi-layer structures of the second stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Hervé Legay, Ronan Sauleau, Mauro Ettorre
  • Patent number: 8878743
    Abstract: Stepped radio frequency (RF) reflector antennas are disclosed in which an inner RF reflector is disposed in a central opening of at one or more annular RF reflectors. The RF reflecting surface of the inner RF reflector and the RF reflecting surface(s) of the one or more annular RF reflectors can be shaped and positioned relative to each other to have different focal lengths but nevertheless reflect an RF signal to the same focal plane. The depth of the inventive reflector antenna system can be less than the depth of prior art reflector antennas with a comparable RF aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: L-3 Communications Corp.
    Inventors: Alan M. Buchanan, Trevis D. Anderson, Douglas H. Ulmer, Jeffrey J. McGill, Scott M. Lyon, Rory K. Sorensen, Neil K. Harker
  • Patent number: 8780000
    Abstract: A high-throughput multi-beam telecommunication antenna is configured to cover a geographical area from a geostationary orbit. It comprises a single reflector and a feed block configured so that each elementary feed is able to generate a different unique beam, the angular separation of any two adjacent primary beams is substantially equal to the angular separation of any two adjacent secondary beams, and the spillover energy losses associated with each source are between 3 and 10 dB, preferably between 3 and 7.5 dB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales
    Inventors: Baptiste Palacin, Xavier Deplancq
  • Patent number: 8743004
    Abstract: A feed assembly for a parabolic dish reflector is described. The feed assembly includes a waveguide cavity locatable at the focal point, or any other desired off-boresight location corresponding point, of the parabolic dish, at least one first radiating element optimized for operation at a first frequency band and provided on a top surface of the waveguide cavity, and a plurality of second radiating elements each optimized for operation at a second band of frequencies and provided on the top surface of the waveguide cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Inventor: Dedi David Haziza
  • Patent number: 8698683
    Abstract: A dual polarized reflector antenna assembly, provided with a reflector dish coupled to a feed hub with a feed port there through; a transceiver support bracket coupled to a backside of the feed hub; a circular to square waveguide transition coupled to the feed port; a square waveguide coupled to the circular to square waveguide transition; an OMT coupled to the square waveguide; the OMT provided with an OMT intersection between a square waveguide and a pair of rectangular waveguides oriented at ninety degrees to one another, an output port of each rectangular waveguide arranged normal to a longitudinal axis of the dual polarized reflector antenna assembly. Alternatively, a circular waveguide may be applied between the feed port and the circular to square waveguide transition, eliminating the square waveguide, or the rectangular waveguides may be extended longitudinally, also eliminating the square waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Andrew LLC
    Inventors: Junaid Syed, Keith Tappin, Allan Tasker, Gary MacLeod, Wenjie Zhu, Haidong Chen
  • Patent number: 8674893
    Abstract: An antenna feed assembly is provided which includes at least two elongate feed chains lying adjacent one another. Each feed chain is adapted to transmit or receive electromagnetic radiation between itself and the antenna along a longitudinal feed axis thereof via a transmit/receive element. The feed chains are held in fixed lateral relationship to one another by first and second mountings spaced apart axially of the feed chains. The transmit/receive elements extend axially from the first mounting towards the antenna and the second mounting is positioned on a side of the first mounting remote from the antenna. The first mounting has a lower coefficient of thermal expansion in the lateral direction than the second mounting whereby translational movement of each transmit/receive element in the lateral direction owing to temperature change of the assembly will be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Astrium Limited
    Inventor: Timothy John Ecclestone
  • Publication number: 20140071010
    Abstract: In the field of satellite communications and more particularly to a multi-beam antenna system for the coverage of a given geographical region broken down into several spots on the ground, a radio frequency feed block comprises several radio frequency chains intended to transmit or to receive an electromagnetic wave in the direction of a reflector and waveguides connected to outputs of the chains, characterized in that it comprises a plate inside which the waveguides are made, and to which the radio frequency chains are fastened. A satellite comprising a feed block is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: THALES
    Inventors: Stephane POUYEZ, Michael POTIER, Jean-Luc BOUGUEREAU, Pierre BOSSHARD, Alain GERARD
  • Patent number: 8649742
    Abstract: A radio communication system according to the present invention includes a scatterer configured to reflect, refract, or transmit a radio wave radiated primarily from a transmission side apparatus to radiate the radio wave secondarily to a desired area and a metamaterial is used for the scatterer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: NTT DoCoMo, Inc.
    Inventors: Tamami Maruyama, Shinji Uebayashi, Tatsuo Furuno
  • Patent number: 8593362
    Abstract: A multi band antenna feed, for supporting multiple frequency bands, is coupled to a reflector and includes a cylindrical core waveguide and at least three coaxial cylinders, encircling said cylindrical core waveguide and forming at least three coaxial waveguides, bounded between pairs of consecutive coaxial cylinders. The cylindrical core waveguide and the at least three coaxial waveguides provide a pair of sum and difference radiation patterns, for each frequency band: a C-band, an S-band and an L-band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Orbit Communication System Ltd.
    Inventors: Donald F. Shea, Ofir Nahshon, Joe Pein, Izik Krepner, George R. Blake
  • Patent number: 8583360
    Abstract: A navigation system determines its usage mode. In some embodiments, a method comprises determining a usage mode of a navigation system based on at least one of an acceleration indicator, a speed indicator, and a magnet sensor. The usage mode is at least one of a pedestrian mode, a vehicular mode, an aerial mode, a train mode, and a marine mode. The method further comprises configuring a navigation subsystem based on the usage mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Deric W. Waters, Tarkesh Pande
  • Patent number: 8552917
    Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for wide angle multibeam antennas. The method and system involve a multibeam antenna system for generating high performance multiple spot beams. In one or more embodiments, the multibeam antenna system includes an oversized antenna reflector and a plurality of antenna feeds. The oversized antenna reflector has its surface shape optimized from a normal parabolic shape in order to broaden and shape the reflected spot beams to improve antenna performance. In addition, the diameter of the oversized antenna reflector is greater than ((100*?)/?), where ? is the wavelength in inches and ? is the beam to beam spacing in degrees. In some embodiments, the ratio of the focal length of the oversized antenna reflector to the diameter of the oversized antenna reflector (F/D) is greater than 0.7. In at least one embodiment, the system further includes an antenna sub-reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Daniel F. Mathews, Parthasarathy Ramanujam, Robert B. Mathews, Thomas M. Hikido, Louis R. Fermelia, Gary J. Gawlas
  • Patent number: 8462067
    Abstract: An apparatus for an antenna system comprising one or more blades for splitting the electromagnetic field received by an antenna into a plurality of sections corresponding to separate beams and redirecting said plurality of sections for detection by a plurality of detectors. The apparatus may comprise a plurality of blades for splitting the field into successively smaller and smaller portions. The plurality of detectors can be positioned outside the focal region of the antenna system. The apparatus may further comprise focusing means for focusing the sections of the field onto another blade or a detector. There is also provided an antenna system comprising a plurality of feed horns for producing a plurality of beams; and a plurality of elements for redirecting said beams towards a focal region of the antenna system so as to form a group of closely packed beams for transmission by the antenna system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Astrium Limited
    Inventor: Graham Maxwell-Cox
  • Publication number: 20120182195
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved single antenna system that allows reception of RF energy at multiple frequencies. In one embodiment, the antenna is implemented as a multi-beam, multi-feed antenna having a primary reflector fitted with a dual mode feed tube and a switchable LNB that supports both Ka band and Ku band reception. In another embodiment, the antenna is implemented as a multi-beam, multi-feed antenna having a primary reflector fitted with a feed horn and a LNB that is capable of providing movement such that the feed horn with the LNB is at a focal point with the primary reflector for both Ka and Ku band reception. In another embodiment, the antennae is implemented as a multi-beam, multi-feed antenna having a primary reflected fitted with a feed horn assembly and a switchable LNB that supports both Ka band and Ku band reception.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Inventors: Thomas D. Monte, Bosui Liu, Cory Z. Bousquet
  • Patent number: 8169356
    Abstract: A motion sensing method and apparatus includes a housing enclosing a microwave motion sensor including an antenna, and a security system. The antenna may be a patch antenna which includes microwave radiating elements for transmitting and receiving a microwave signal for sensing motion. A reflector is attached to the housing and positioned above the antenna for downward shaping of the microwave signal. The microwave radiating elements together with the reflector provide a radiation pattern where a main beam is transmitted in a direction orthogonal to a surface of the antenna and a sided lobe is transmitted downward in amplitude below the microwave motion sensor. An alarm circuit indicates when the microwave sensor detects motion in armed mode, and a masking circuit indicates when the microwave sensor detects motion in a mask zone when the security system is unarmed. A second sensor may be positioned beneath the microwave motion sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaodong Wu, James N. Helland, Leslie K. Green
  • Patent number: 8149174
    Abstract: An antenna system includes plural antennas. Each antenna is different than every other antenna. Each antenna is characterized by a principal plane. A principal plane of a first antenna is oblique to a principal plane of a second antenna. The first antenna includes a first insulating substrate extending in the principal plane of the first antenna. The first antenna further includes a first radiating element and a connected first conductor and includes a second radiating element and a connected second conductor. The first antenna further includes a coupling conductor coupling the second radiating element and the first conductor. The first antenna further includes a first coupler having a first signal conductor and a second signal conductor. The first signal conductor is coupled to the second conductor, and the second signal conductor is coupled to the first radiating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Kaonetics Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: James Cornwell
  • Publication number: 20120019424
    Abstract: A dual polarized reflector antenna assembly, provided with a reflector dish coupled to a feed hub with a feed port there through; a transceiver support bracket coupled to a backside of the feed hub; a circular to square waveguide transition coupled to the feed port; a square waveguide coupled to the circular to square waveguide transition; an OMT coupled to the square waveguide; the OMT provided with an OMT intersection between a square waveguide and a pair of rectangular waveguides oriented at ninety degrees to one another, an output port of each rectangular waveguide arranged normal to a longitudinal axis of the dual polarized reflector antenna assembly. Alternatively, a circular waveguide may be applied between the feed port and the circular to square waveguide transition, eliminating the square waveguide, or the rectangular waveguides may be extended longitudinally, also eliminating the square waveguide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: ANDREW LLC
    Inventors: Junaid Syed, Keith Tappin, Allan Tasker, Gary Macleod, Wenjie Zhu, Haidong Chen
  • Publication number: 20120013516
    Abstract: The inventive device enables to ensure its compactness, that is, a minimum thickness at a high antenna efficiency of an antenna in the frequency range 10.7-12.75 GHz. This technical effect can be achieved because the antenna comprises a main reflector (1), at least two feeds (2) and at least two sub-reflectors (3). Each sub-reflector is provided with such a shape of its external surface that ensures reflection of the feed directional pattern central beam to the edge of the main reflector and reflection of a lateral beam to the central area of the main reflector, the sub-reflector adjoining surfaces being truncated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2009
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Inventors: Jiho Ahn, Alexander Venetskiy, Elena Frolova