Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.

Ian S Rumsey

Farzin Lalezari

P Keith Kelly

Anne Rice

An antenna apparatus that includes a beam control system and a beam collimating system having a compound curve antenna structure is provided. The compound curve antenna structure can be two-dimensional or three-dimensional. In one embodiment, the curve is parabolic and the compound curve antenna structure includes first and second parabolic reflector sections that are spaced from each other. A feed array of the beam control system is disposed therebetween at the base ends of the two parabolic reflector sections. When the compound curve antenna structure is three-dimensional, the two parabolic reflector sections are part of a body of revolution. The control system also includes memory storage that stores predetermined data related to controlling activation of each of a plurality of feed elements of the feed array. The predetermined data is based on information obtained using a reference beam with the compound curve antenna structure. In that regard, reflections and contact of EM radiation of the reference beam are monitored for a number of different scan angles. Based on the identities of the particular feed elements that are involved or receive EM radiation associated with the reference beam, determinations are made regarding the content of the predetermined data to be stored to be subsequently used in controlling activation of desired feed elements in generating a transmit beam or receiving a return beam at a desired angle of a number of scan angles.

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Broomfield, CO, United States of America

Ian S Rumsey