Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.

Nathan A Stutzke

Peter J Moosbrugger

Dean A Paschen

Mark Curtis Leifer

Bradley J Tame

Kiersten Carinne Kerby

Jennifer L Erickson

Andrea K Johnson

A continuous horn or flared radiator antenna system is provided. The antenna system provides for steering a beam within at least a first plane (e.g., in azimuth). Steering a beam includes selecting an operative portion or segment of a circular array of elements or probe feeds. Steering can also include electronically steering the resulting beam within a coverage area provided by the selected segment of probe feeds. The electronic steering within the coverage area can be performed through the selective operation of phase shifters. Multiple continuous horn radiator structures can be provided to support pointing or steering of a beam in a second plane (e.g., in elevation), operation in multiple frequency bands, and/or simultaneous transmission and reception of signals.

Continuous horn circular array antenna system

An antenna system that includes one or more radiator packages on a first side of an antenna substrate and one or more support packages on a second side of the antenna substrate are provided. Embodiments of the present invention include antenna systems incorporating a plurality of radiator packages on a first side of the antenna substrate and a plurality of support packages on the second side of the antenna substrate. The radiator packages generally include a radiator element and an integrated circuit that are incorporated into a common package. The integrated circuit of the radiator package can comprise an amplifier and/or other electronic components. The support packages generally provide one or more additional electronic components. For example, a support package integrated circuit can provide a phase shifter, amplifier, and/or other electronic components. The antenna substrate generally incorporates electrical conductors for operatively interconnecting each radiator package to at least one support package.

Antenna system with integrated circuit package integrated radiators

A low-profile lens element for steering a beam is provided. Specifically, the low-profile lens element is mechanically rotatable such that a beam can be steered in any direction within three-dimensional space. The lens element may include a number of discrete portions for differentially delaying adjacent discrete portions of a beam in order to effect beam steering. These discrete portions may vary in width. In addition, multiple lens elements may be provided.

Low-profile lens method and apparatus for mechanical steering of aperture antennas

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Westminster, CO, United States of America

Nathan A Stutzke