Viasat, Inc.

Daniel Llorens Del Rio

Stefano Vaccaro

Ferdinando Tiezzi

Maria Carolina Vigano

Stefano Vacarro

Kenneth V Buer

Donald Lawson Runyon

David W Corman

Roberto Torres Sanchez

Manuel Fajardo

Alessandro Valentino Matheoud

Alexander Butler

Noel A Lopez

Martin Gimersky

Donald E Crockett, Iii

Donald E Crockett

John Filreis

Don Crockett

Steffano Vaccaro

Ferdinanco Tiezzi

An antenna system having an antenna array including at least first and second phased array antennas, and a method for field-calibrating the antenna array. Before and after a handover period, communication with respective first and second external satellites or other communication systems is performed using both the first and second antennas. A first beam is formed prior to the handover period. During a first portion of the handover period: a second beam is formed for the communication with the first satellite using the first antenna; the second antenna is deactivated for external communication; and the second antenna is calibrated. During a second portion of the handover period, the second antenna is reactivated for a handed over communication with the second satellite by forming a third beam using the second antenna, while the first antenna maintains its communication with the first satellite via the second beam.

Systems and methods for calibrating phased array antennas

An antenna array can include multiple radiating cells, each comprising a radiating element and a phase shifter. Further, each radiating element can comprise a first radiating element port and a second radiating element port. Each of the radiating cells can be configured to selectively connect the phase shifter to one of the radiating element ports. Each of the radiating cells can further comprise a phase delay difference between the signal paths associated with the radiating element ports. Further, the radiating cells can have physical polarization orientations that can be different from at least one other radiating cell.

Aperiodic phased array antenna with single bit phase shifters

An antenna array can include multiple radiating cells, each comprising a radiating element and a phase shifter. Further, each radiating element can comprise a first radiating element port and a second radiating element port. Each of the radiating cells can be configured to selectively connect the phase shifter to one of the radiating element ports, Each of the radiating cells can further comprise a phase delay difference between the signal paths associated with the radiating element ports. Further, the radiating cells can have physical polarization orientations that can be different from, at least one other radiating cell.

In an exemplary embodiment, an antenna architecture comprises a single aperture having both receive elements and transmit elements, where the single aperture has the performance of a dual-aperture but in about half the size. Moreover, in the case of an array with inclined elements, there is the need to interconnect a planar substrate with an inclined substrate at an angle. An exemplary single aperture comprises a metal core having a thick pass-through slot from a first side to a second side; connecting the inclined substrate to the first side of the metal core, and connecting a second substrate to the second side of the metal core. Furthermore, an RF signal is communicated between the first substrate and the second substrate in a contactless manner through the thick pass-through slot.

Hybrid single aperture inclined antenna

In various embodiments, a radiating cell of an antenna array can comprise a compacted hybrid as part of a stripline feed network, a radiating element having slots rotated with respect to the compacted hybrid, and a feed circuit layer in communication with the stripline feed network. The radiating cell radius can be a &#xbd; wavelength or less. Furthermore, the compacted hybrid has two input ports and two output ports, where the input and output ports of the compacted hybrid are non-orthogonal and non-parallel to the slots of the radiating element. A radiating cell can comprise a ground plane with a first side and a second side, where the ground plane comprises a slot. The slot can be non-orthogonal and non-parallel to the two output ports of the feed network.

Method and apparatus for a compact modular phased array element

In an exemplary embodiment, a modular phased array comprises a ground plane with a first side and a second side, where the ground plane has a slot. The modular phased array also comprises a patch antenna located on the first side of the ground plane, and a feed network located on the second side of the ground plane. In an exemplary embodiment, the ground plane isolates the patch antenna from the feed network. The feed network includes a compacted hybrid with two output ports. In an exemplary embodiment, the ground plane comprises slots that are nonorthogonal and nonparallel to the two output ports of the feed network. In another exemplary embodiment, the distance from the center of the patch antenna to the farthest output port of the two output ports of the compacted hybrid is &#xbd; wavelengths or less.

In an exemplary embodiment, a phased array solid-state architecture has dual-polarized feeds and is manufactured, for example, on highly flexible silicon germanium (SiGe). The implementation of dual-polarized feeds facilitates the operation of phased arrays where the polarization can be statically or dynamically controlled on a subarray or element basis. In an exemplary embodiment, the sub-component control is configured to optimize a performance characteristic associated with polarization, such as phase or amplitude adjustment. An active phased array architecture may replace traditional distributed and GaAs implementations for the necessary functions required to operate electronically steerable phased array antennas. The architecture combines active versions of vector generators, power splitters, power combiners, and RF hybrids in a novel fashion to realize a fully or substantially monolithic solution for a wide range of antenna applications that can be realized with radiating elements having single-polarized or dual-polarized feeds.

Active phased array architecture

In accordance with various aspects of the present invention, a method and system for designing an inclined antenna array with a hybrid mechanical-electronic steering system with improved radiation performances at low elevation angles is presented. In an exemplary embodiment, a radiating element structure is attached to a mounting surface and includes a patch antenna and a ground plane. The bottom edge of the patch antenna is farther from the mounting surface than the top edge of the patch antenna. If the radiating element structure is used in an inclined array antenna, then the patch antenna has an uncovered view of a low elevation angle. Furthermore, at least a portion of a patch antenna may be uncovered and have a clear view. A clear view of the low elevation angle results in increased directivity and increased polarization quality due to reduced signal scattering.

Inclined antenna systems and methods

A system and method of minimizing a polarization quantization error associated with an antenna sub-array. The antenna sub-array includes at least two radiating elements, with the radiating elements having different polarization orientations from other radiating elements in the antenna sub-array. The radiating elements are dual polarized and have electronic polarization control. In an exemplary embodiment, the radiating elements are configured to reduce the polarization quantization error to be less than half of a polarization quantization step size. In various embodiments, rotating the radiating elements and implementing a phase delay, individually or in combination, is used to change the polarizations of the radiating elements.

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Lausanne, Switzerland

Daniel Llorens Del Rio