The Boeing Company

William J Ceely

John Baldauf

James M Barker

Enrique M Alvelo

Paul Christian Werntz

Raenaurd D Turpin

Miguel A Estevez

Thomas Makoto Hikido

Tom M Hikido

Systems, apparatuses, and methods provides for technology that controls a confocal antenna system. The technology controls an Integrated Phased Array (IPA) feed system to emit electromagnetic energy towards a sub-reflector, where the sub-reflector reflects the electromagnetic energy to a main reflector, and further where the main reflector receives and reflects the electromagnetic energy to form a radiation pattern on an area. The radiation pattern has a first size and a first gain. The technology conducts an identification that the radiation pattern is to be adjusted so as to adjust the first size to a second size and adjust the first gain to a second gain. In response to the identification, the technology moves the main reflector linearly along a first axis, and electronically steers a beam of the electromagnetic energy emitted from the IPA feed system towards the sub-reflector.

Reconfigurable feed array fed confocal antenna system that can adjust the radiation pattern beam size and the gain performance on-orbit

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.

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Fontana, CA, United States of America

William J Ceely