Space Exploration Technologies Corp.

Ersin Yetisir

Javier Rodriguez De Luis

Alireza Mahanfar

Nil Apaydin

Siamak Ebadi

Shaya Karimkashi Arani

David Milroy

Duncan Edwin Adams

Souren Shamsinejad

Peter Sung Tri Hoang

Anthony Sims

Kim Willi Schulze

Eric Pepin

Andrea Papi

Scott Kaufman

Trevor Cameron

A calibration system includes a beamformer lattice including at least a first beamformer, the first beamformer corresponding to a first subset of antenna cells of a plurality of antenna cells including a plurality of feed lines extending between the first beamformer and each of the first subset of antenna cells, and the first beamformer including a first calibration section for comparing a reference signal to a non-reference signal; and a first calibration line corresponding with the first beamformer, wherein the first calibration line is configured to deliver a first reference signal (mTx) from the first beamformer to be received by a first antenna feed line for comparison with a first non-reference signal (Rx) in the first beamformer, and/or wherein the first calibration line is configured to deliver a second non-reference signal (Tx) from a second antenna feed line for comparison with a second reference signal (mRx) in the first beamformer.

Antenna apparatus and in-line calibration system for same

A method of calibration a transmit (Tx) phased array antenna is provided. The method includes transmitting a first RF signal to a first signal chain associated with a first antenna element of the plurality of antenna elements, wherein the first RF signal is generated in the at least one transmit (Tx) section; transmitting a second RF signal to a second signal chain associated with a second antenna element of the plurality of antenna elements. The method includes determining one or more characteristics associated with propagation of RF signals along a portion of a calibration line disposed between antenna elements and adjusting one or more signal chains associated with the antenna elements based at least in part on determined characteristics associated with propagation of RF signals along a portion of the calibration line.

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 antenna calibration system for a phased array antenna in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure generally includes: a beamformer corresponding to a subset of antenna cells of a plurality of antenna cells, wherein the beamformer includes a calibration section for comparing a reference signal to a non-reference signal and a first operating antenna within the subset of antenna cells corresponding with the beamformer. In some implementations, the first operating antenna is configured to deliver a first reference signal (mTx) from the beamformer to be received by a second operating antenna for comparison with a first non-reference signal (Rx) in the beamformer, and/or the first operating antenna is configured to deliver a second non-reference signal (Tx) from a third operating antenna for comparison with a second reference signal (mRx) in the beamformer.

System and method for over-the-air antenna calibration

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a housing for an antenna system having a plurality of antenna elements defining an antenna aperture includes a chassis portion, and a radome portion configured for coupling to the chassis portion to define an inner chassis chamber, the radome portion having a planar top surface, wherein the radome portion is configured to have equal spacing between the planar top surface and a top surface of each of the plurality of antenna elements defining the antenna aperture.

Antenna apparatus having radome spacing

An antenna assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a stack patch antenna assembly defining a plurality of antenna cells made from a plurality of patches, wherein the stack patch antenna assembly includes a first patch layer separated from a second patch layer by a spacer; a beamformer lattice including one or more beamformers, wherein each beamformer corresponds to a subset of antenna cells of the plurality of antenna cells; and a PCB assembly made up from a plurality of layers, the PCB assembly having a feed structure from the stack patch antenna assembly to the beamformer lattice disposed in the PCB assembly, wherein the stack patch antenna assembly is external to the PCB assembly.

Stack patch antenna assembly

Systems, methods, and non-transitory media are provided for cross-coupling modeling and compensation. An example method can include determining one or more cross-coupling coefficients representing electrical cross-coupling between a first signal path through a component and a second signal path through the component; based on the one or more cross-coupling coefficients, determining a first modified beamforming weight for a first signal associated with the first signal path through the component and a second modified beamforming weight for a second signal associated with the second signal path through the component, wherein the first and second modified beamforming weights compensate for the electrical cross-coupling between the first signal path through the component and the second signal path through the component; applying the first modified beamforming weight to the first signal associated with the first signal path; and applying the second modified beamforming weight to the second signal associated with the second signal path.

Cross-coupling modeling and compensation for antenna apparatus

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

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, an antenna apparatus includes a housing assembly including a radome portion and a lower enclosure portion, wherein the radome portion and lower enclosure portion are couplable to form an inner compartment for housing antenna components of the antenna assembly, an antenna stack assembly disposed within the inner compartment, wherein the antenna stack assembly generates heat when in operation, and a heat transfer system within the inner compartment configured to facilitate the flow of heat toward the radome portion.

Antenna apparatus having heat dissipation features

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, an antenna assembly includes a patch antenna array including an upper patch antenna layer, a lower patch antenna layer, and a spacer therebetween, wherein the spacer includes a plurality of apertures defined by cell walls, wherein the each aperture aligns with an upper patch antenna element and a lower patent antenna element from the patch antenna array.

Antenna apparatus having antenna spacer

An antenna calibration system for a phased array antenna in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure generally includes: a beamformer lattice including at least first and second beamformers, each corresponding to a subset of antenna cells, and each including a calibration section for comparing a reference signal to a non-reference signal; and a first operating antenna within the subset of antenna cells corresponding with the first beamformer, wherein the first operating antenna is configured to deliver a first reference signal (mTx) from the first beamformer to be received by a second operating antenna for comparison with a first non-reference signal (Rx) in the first beamformer or in the second beamformer, and/or wherein the first operating antenna is configured to deliver a second non-reference signal (Tx) from a third operating antenna for comparison with a second reference signal (mRx) in the first beamformer or in the second beamformer.

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 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.

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Redmond, WA, United States of America

Ersin Yetisir