Motorola Corporation

General Dynamics C4 Systems, Inc.

Archer David Munger

David W Corman

Kevin Duane House

Deborah Sue Dendy

Keith Vaclav Warble

Joseph P Kobus

Russell Thomas Thompson

Stephen Chih-hung Ma

James Emanuel Teran

A dual-frequency conformal multi-filiar helical antenna system () provides a low-profile, low drag antenna useable in flying equipment. This antenna system () securely holds within its shell () signal distribution circuitry (), signal combining circuitry (), and any other circuit components necessary for antenna system () to communicate with other stations or devices. Antenna system () has radiating conductors () tuned to two different frequencies such that simultaneous transmission and reception of signals is possible in the same and opposite directions.

Dual frequency antenna system

A planar array antenna for use with an earth-based subscriber unit generates receive or transmit communications beams through the use of digital beamforming networks (,) which provide beam steering in a first dimension. In another dimension, the communications beams are synthesized by way of a waveguide structure (,, FIG.,) which is repeated for each row of the antenna array. The waveguide outputs are weighted due to the positioning of coupling slots (,) or coupling probes (,) which transfer carrier signals to and from each waveguide. The slots or coupling probes from the waveguides are coupled to a group of barium strontium titanate (BST) (,, FIG.,) or micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) switch (,, FIG.,) phase shift elements which are under the control of a control network (,, FIG.,). The resulting signals are radiated by the antenna elements of the planar antenna array (,, FIG.,) to form a communications beam.

Low cost beam steering planar array antenna

A dual pattern antenna (FIG. 1, 20) functions as a bi-filar or quadrifilar helical antenna depending of the location of the feed element (FIG. 4, 120). When the feed element (120), within the hollow dielectric tube (FIG. 4, 140), is used to feed the antenna (20) at a distal end portion (FIG. 4, 142) the antenna functions as a bi-filar helical antenna and exhibits a relatively omnidirectional radiation pattern (FIG. 3, 70). When the feed element is used to feed the antenna at a proximal end portion (FIG. 4, 141), the antenna (20) functions as a quadrifilar helical antenna having a radiation pattern which exhibits desirable gain properties in the area above the antenna (FIG. 4, 40). The use of capacitive coupling allows the feed element (120) to slide within the hollow dielectric tube (140) so that the pattern of the antenna can be quickly changed, thus making the antenna well-suited for portable communications devices such as satellite cellular telephones.

Dual pattern antenna for portable communications devices

A scanning array antenna (300) produces a directional beam by differentially rotating two, co-axial, flat phasing plate assemblies (302, 304). Each plate (302, 304) consists of a phase shifting means designed to efficiently pass incident radio frequency (RF) energy while imparting a particular phase shift to the energy. The energy can be supplied by a feedhorn (406) located behind the plates (402, 404) or can be introduced above the plates (508) and reflected by a ground plane (506) on the bottom plate (504). A method for producing the directional beam using the scanning array antenna (300) determines (804) the desired beam direction, calculates (806) the appropriate plate rotation angles (326, 328), and rotates (808) the plates (302, 304) at the appropriate time.

Scanning array antenna using rotating plates and method of operation

A resistively terminated antenna and method of fabricating a resistively terminated antenna comprising providing a resistor-conductor laminate, selectively removing portions of the resistive and conductive layers to produce an antenna design and mounting the resistor-conductor laminate on the dielectric substrate. Etching selectively removes portions of the conductive and resistive layers, and mounting is accomplished using a spacer, film resistor, and ground plane, where the resistor-conductor laminate is fixed to the surface of the dielectric substrate opposite the film resistor. The film resistor may have a central aperture.

Thin film resistive loading for antennas

An artificial resistive card which prevents scattering due to diffraction, and which forms impedance transitions from ground planes to antenna apertures or to free spaces, incorporates resistive and conductive layers formed on a substrate. The conductive layer is etched away, either partially or entirely, using integrated circuit technology in order to vary the resistivity of the resistive card. Portions of the resistive layer may also be etched away to expose the underlaying substrate and increase the resistivity of the resistive card. The size and dimension of the resistive and conductive pattern left after etching determines the value of the resistivity and is easily and accurately reproduced.

Artificial resistive card

An antenna having more than four elements positioned in a predetermined regular pattern with equal angles between adjacent elements and a mode former connected to the elements to shift signals from the elements by first equal electrical angles and superimposing the signals to provide a first output mode and shifting the signals by second equal electrical angles and superimposing the signals to provide a second output mode, the two output modes providing sufficient information to determine the direction of the radiated signal impinging on the antenna.

Growing community of inventors

Mesa, AZ, United States of America

Archer David Munger