The Boeing Company

John Baldauf

William J Ceely

James M Barker

Enrique M Alvelo

Tom M Hikido

Eric D Lee

Joel R Dixon

Murat Veysoglu

Paul Christian Werntz

Christ P Tzelepis

Brian M Park

David Bressler

Miguel A Estevez

Daniel F Mathews

Louis R Fermelia

A system includes a direct radiating array antenna and one or more processors. The antenna includes an array of elements configured to radiate radiofrequency (RF) energy to form a beam having multiple frequency channels. The one or more processors are configured to generate an excitation plan for powering the elements to form the beam. The excitation plan assigns multiple corresponding beamforming coefficients to each element in a group of the elements. Each beamforming coefficient designates power allocated to the assigned element for radiating RF energy at an associated frequency channel. The excitation plan provides a substantially uniform power distribution among the elements in the group, and at least some of the elements in the group have different allocations of power among the multiple frequency channels of the beam than other elements in the group.

Systems and methods of controlling a direct radiating array antenna

An apparatus includes a signal splitter configured to receive an input signal for transmission and to split the input signal to form two or more sub-signals. The apparatus further includes a first amplifier configured to generate a first amplified sub-signal, a second amplifier configured to generate a second amplified sub-signal, a first launcher coupled to the first amplifier and to a waveguide, and a second launcher coupled to the second amplifier and to the waveguide. The first and second launchers are coupled to the waveguide such that a first radiative signal generated by the first launcher responsive to the first amplified sub-signal and a second radiative signal generated by the second launcher responsive to the second amplified sub-signal are combined in the waveguide to form a transmission signal corresponding to the input signal.

Apparatus for splitting, amplifying and launching signals into a waveguide to provide a combined transmission signal

An apparatus includes a first conductive patch coupled to a first surface of a dielectric layer, a second conductive patch coupled to a second surface of the dielectric layer, and a probe coupled to the second conductive patch. The apparatus further includes a waveguide having a wall conductively coupled to the first conductive patch. Responsive to a signal provided to the second conductive patch by the probe, interaction of the waveguide, the first conductive patch, and the second conductive patch generates a transmission signal that propagates in the waveguide.

Half-patch launcher to provide a signal to a waveguide

Foldable dipole array antennas are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus includes a helical communication line of a dipole array antenna, and hinges spaced along the helical communication line. The apparatus also includes dipole branches operatively coupled to the helical communication line, where the dipole branches are to be moved, at the hinges, between deployed and un-deployed states.

Foldable dipole array antennas

Systems and methods for providing an antenna enabling hemispherical coverage are disclosed. The system includes a conductive enclosure having an open portion and a closed portion. The system further includes a pair of perpendicularly-disposed dipole antennas. Each antenna of the perpendicularly-disposed dipole antennas includes a pair of conductors extending to a pair of tips disposed outside of the open portion of the conductive enclosure. The system further includes a hybrid coupler having a pair of output terminals coupled to each pair of conductors of each antenna of the perpendicularly-disposed dipole antennas. The hybrid coupler is configured to apply signals of equal magnitude to the each antenna of the perpendicularly-disposed dipole antennas that differ in phase by ninety degrees.

Dipole for hemispherical coverage antenna

A beam waveguide may include a first set of dual offset reflectors and a second set of dual offset reflectors. The first set of dual offset reflectors and the second set of dual offset reflectors may each include reflector geometries to produce a radiation pattern that is symmetric about a first axis between the first and second set of dual offset reflectors and to produce an axi-symmetric beam from the second set of dual offset reflectors that is unaffected by any rotation of the first and second set of dual offset reflectors relative to one another about the first axis.

Beam waveguide including Mizuguchi condition reflector sets

In one embodiment, a backfire antenna comprises a cup-shaped member defining an outer aperture and an interior cavity, a splash-plate disposed within a plane, and a dipole assembly comprising first and second arms. The first and second arms are both oriented non-parallel to the splash-plate towards the plane.

Backfire antenna with upwardly oriented dipole assembly

In one embodiment, a gimbaled reflector antenna is provided that includes only four reflectors comprising: a first flat plate reflector, a second flat plate reflector, and an ellipsoidal reflector, and a parabolic reflector. By rotating some or all of the reflectors with respect to a fixed feed, a projected beam may be scanned across a hemispherical field of regard.

Gimbaled gregorian antenna

In one embodiment, a gimbaled reflector antenna is provided that includes: a Dragonian antenna having a sub-reflector and a main reflector; a feed; a third reflector adapted to reflect a beam from the feed to the sub reflector; an azimuth gimbal adapted to rotate the Dragonian antenna with respect to the third reflector; and an elevation gimbal adapted to rotate the flat reflector with respect to the feed.

Growing community of inventors

Redondo Beach, CA, United States of America

John Baldauf