Space Exploration Technologies Corp.

Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Amazon Technologies, Inc.

Alireza Mahanfar

Javier Rodriguez De Luis

Nil Apaydin

Benjamin J Shewan

Ersin Yetisir

Souren Shamsinejad

Siamak Ebadi

Tara Yousefi

Shaya Karimkashi Arani

Peter James Hetzel

Peter Sung Tri Hoang

Paul O'Brien

Murat Veysoglu

Stanley Yu Tao Ng

Mark William Casebolt

Chiara Pelletti

Gordon Michael Coutts

Kim Willi Schulze

Sidharath Jain

Iyappan Ramachandran

Billy Pingli Kao

Ben Shewan

Javier R De Luis

Rod G Fleck

Vinod L Hingorani

Jeffrey A Griffis

Gregory Kim Justice

Christopher Steven Merola

Ronald B Smith

Robert Baummer, Jr

Tse-Ching Yu

Elmer S Cajigas

Pia Ivonne Santelices

Gregorio Tellez

Javier R DeLuis

Jeff Reents

Stanley Ng

Remy Carole

Benjamin Shewan

In some embodiments, an antenna module includes an antenna element having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the first side comprising a radiating side of the antenna element and a support structure disposed at the second side of the antenna element and configured to define a cavity, the support structure including a portion configured to reduce signal leakage between the antenna element and the cavity.

Antenna modules for phased array antennas

An apparatus includes a plurality of conductive structures having first sides and second sides opposite the first sides, wherein the second sides of the plurality of conductive structures are configured to be physically coupleable with a printed circuit board (PCB) of a receiver, a transmitter, or a transceiver. The first sides of the plurality of conductive structures are configured to be spaced from the PCB by a first distance when the plurality of conductive structures is physically coupled with the PCB. The apparatus includes an antenna having a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The second side of the antenna is disposed closer to the plurality of conductive structures than the first side of the antenna when the plurality of conductive structures is physically coupled with the PCB.

Antenna modules in phased array antennas

Technologies directed to a directional calibration antenna for calibration of an array antenna of a communication system are described. The communication system includes the array antenna which includes a number of antenna elements. The number of antenna elements are located in an area on a first side of a support structure. A directional antenna is located at a first height above a plane of the array antenna and at a periphery of the area. The directional antenna is pointed towards the array antenna and is located within a near field of the array antenna.

Peripheral antenna placement for calibration for a phased array antenna

Technologies directed to a slot antenna as a calibration antenna for a phased array antenna are described. A communication system includes an antenna array with a first antenna module with a plurality of antenna elements and a conductive wall structure isolating each of the plurality of antenna elements. The conductive wall structure includes a portion separating a first antenna element and a second antenna element of the plurality of antenna elements. The portion includes a slot antenna.

Array wall slot antenna for phased array calibration

In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a first layer having a first plurality of electrically conductive traces comprising a first portion of a plurality of hierarchical networks; a second layer having a second plurality of electrically conductive traces comprising a second portion of the plurality of hierarchical networks; and a plurality of vias electrically connecting the first plurality of electrically conductive traces of the first layer to the respective second plurality of electrically conductive traces of the second layer to define the plurality of hierarchical networks. The first plurality of electrically conductive traces is orientated in a first direction and the second plurality of electrically conductive traces is orientated in a second direction different from the first direction.

Hierarchical network signal routing apparatus and method

Techniques are described for detecting whether a phased array antenna is to be calibrated. In an example, a controller communicatively coupled with the phased array antenna measures a characteristic of a probe signal. The probe signal is communicated between an antenna element of the phased array antenna and a probe antenna mounted to the phased array antenna. The probe antenna is over-resonant. The controller further determines a drift of the phased array antenna based at least in part on the characteristic. Based at least in part on the drift, the controller initiates a calibration of the phased array antenna.

Calibration of a phased array antenna by using a probe antenna

An apparatus includes a plurality of conductive structures having first sides and second sides opposite the first sides, wherein the second sides of the plurality of conductive structures are configured to be physically coupleable with a printed circuit board (PCB) of a receiver or a transmitter. The first sides of the plurality of conductive structures are configured to be spaced from the PCB by a first distance when the plurality of conductive structures is physically coupled with the PCB. The apparatus includes an antenna having a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The first side of the antenna includes a radiating side of the antenna and the second side of the antenna is disposed closer to the plurality of conductive structures than the first side of the antenna when the plurality of conductive structures is physically coupled with the PCB.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a phased array antenna system includes a first portion carrying an antenna lattice including a plurality of antenna elements, wherein the plurality of antenna elements are arranged in a first configuration, and a second portion carrying a beamformer lattice including a plurality of beamformer elements, wherein the plurality of beamformer elements are arranged in a second configuration different from the first configuration, wherein each of the plurality of antenna elements are electrically coupled to one of the plurality of beamformer elements.

Phased array antenna systems

In some embodiments, a phased array antenna includes a carrier; a first plurality of antenna elements carried by the carrier and configured to transmit and/or receive signals at a first value of a parameter, and a second plurality of antenna elements carried by the carrier and configured to transmit and/or receive signals at a second value of the parameter different from the first value of the parameter. The antenna elements of the first plurality of antenna elements and the second plurality of antenna elements are located within a common aperture of the phased array antenna.

Antenna aperture in phased array antenna systems

In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a plurality of first conductive traces oriented in a first direction in a first layer and plurality of second conductive traces oriented in a second direction in a second layer coupled by vias to define first hierarchical networks. A plurality of third conductive traces oriented in the first direction in a third layer and a plurality of fourth conductive traces oriented in the second direction in a fourth layer are coupled by vias to define second hierarchical networks. Open ends of the first or second traces at a last stage of the first hierarchical networks comprise first ends and open ends of the third or fourth traces at a last stage of the second hierarchical networks comprise second ends. A first end and a corresponding second end are non-collinear to each other and perpendicular to a major plane of the first layer.

Beamformer lattice for phased array antennas

Technologies directed to interleaved phased array antennas are described. One apparatus includes a support structure, a fist antenna array, and a second antenna array. The first antenna array includes a first set of antenna elements disposed on a surface of the support structure. The first set of antenna elements is spaced apart by a first distance. The second antenna array includes a second set of antenna elements disposed on the surface of the support structure. The second set of antenna elements is located in spaces between the first set of antenna elements on the surface and the second set of antenna elements is spaced apart by a second distance that is less than the first distance.

Interleaved phased array antennas

Technologies directed to a slot antenna as a calibration antenna for a phased array antenna are described. The antenna structure includes a ground plane, a first antenna element, and a second antenna element. The first antenna element and the second antenna element are located in a first plane that is separated from the ground plane by a first distance. The second antenna element is separated from the first antenna element by a second distance. Conductive material is located in the first plane the first antenna element and the second antenna element. A portion of the conductive material adjacent to the first antenna element includes a slot antenna. A radio frequency feed point is located at the slot antenna. The conductive material electrically isolates the first antenna element and the second antenna element and radiates electromagnetic energy as a slot antenna.

In some embodiments, a phased array antenna, includes a plurality of antenna modules arranged in an antenna lattice configuration to form the phased array antenna, wherein an antenna module of the plurality of antenna modules includes an antenna element packaged together with an amplifier.

Growing community of inventors

Redmond, WA, United States of America

Alireza Mahanfar