The Boeing Company

Hughes Electronics Corporation

Guy Goyette

Sudhakar K Rao

Parthasarathy Ramanujam

Cameron G Massey

Arun K Bhattacharyya

Daniel F Mathews

George Voulelikas

Joel A Fink

Systems, methods, and apparatus for re-pointing at least one beam are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, the disclosed method involves receiving and/or transmitting, with at least one feed, electromagnetic (EM) energy towards a non-parabolic reflector. In at least one embodiment, reflected EM energy that is reflected from the non-parabolic reflector originates from and/or generates at least one beam. The method further involves rotating, at least one feed, from at least one first angular position to at least one second angular position, such that at least one beam shifts from at least one first coverage location to at least one second coverage location.

Feed re-pointing technique for multiple shaped beams reflector antennas

A method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and a memory structure for generating reconfigurable beams is disclosed herein. The apparatus comprises a stationary feed array having a plurality of selectably activatable feed array elements, the feed array having a feed array sensitive axis; a reflector, illuminated by the selectably activatable feed array elements; a first mechanism, coupled to the reflector, for varying a position of the reflector along the feed array axis; wherein a desired beam size of the antenna system is selected by varying the reflector position along the feed array sensitive axis and by selectably activating the feed array elements.

Beam reconfiguration method and apparatus for satellite antennas

A method and apparatus for reconfigurably transmitting shaped beam satellite signals via reflector array antennas are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a reflector for reflecting RF signals having a reflector focal plane and a feed array comprising a plurality of feed elements wherein said feed array is defocused from said reflector focal plane, yet produces a wavefront substantially similar to a wavefront that would be produced by a feed array located at the reflector focal plane. The method of transmitting a signal in accordance with the present invention comprises forming a wavefront with a feed array, wherein said feed array is defocused from a reflector focal plane, yet produces a wavefront substantially similar to a wavefront that would be produced by a feed array located at the reflector focal plane and reflecting said wavefront to a coverage area.

Phase-only reconfigurable multi-feed reflector antenna for shaped beams

A multi-step circular horn system may have several steps and may use more than one flared section based upon design considerations. In order to achieve high aperture efficiency, the aperture field distribution is close to uniform. For good cross-polar performance, the field distribution is circularly symmetric. Location and shape of the steps is determined by the wavelength of the signal being transmitted and the space constraints imposed by the antenna design. The step discontinuities generate desired modes of operation in the right proportion.

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Marina Del Rey, CA, United States of America

Guy Goyette