Aspect of the present disclosure are directed to methods and apparatus producing enhanced radiation characteristics, e.g., wideband behavior, in or for antennas and related components by providing concentric sleeves, with air or dielectric material as a spacer, where the sleeves include one or more conductive layers, at least a portion of which includes fractal resonators closely spaced, in terms of wavelength. A further aspect of the present disclosure is directed to surfaces that include dual-use or multiple-use apertures. Such aperture engine surfaces can include a first layer of antenna arrays, a second layer including a metal-fractal backplane player, and a third layer including solar cells for solar cell or solar oriented power collection. Fractal metamaterial ribbons with multiple closely-packed fractal resonators are also disclosed.

Aspect of the present disclosure are directed to methods and apparatus producing enhanced radiation characteristics, e.g., wideband behavior, in or for antennas and related components by providing concentric sleeves, with air or dielectric material as a spacer, where the sleeves include one or more conductive layers, at least a portion of which includes fractal resonators closely spaced, in terms of wavelength. A further aspect of the present disclosure is directed to surfaces that include dual-use or multiple-use apertures. Such aperture engine surfaces can include a first layer of antenna arrays, a second layer including a metal-fractal backplane player, and a third layer including solar cells for solar cell or solar oriented power collection. Fractal metamaterial ribbons with multiple closely-packed fractal resonators are also disclosed.

Apparatus and methods for reconfigurable antenna systems are provided herein. In certain configurations, an antenna system includes an antenna element, a tuning conductor adjacent to and spaced apart from the antenna element, and a switch electrically connected between the tuning conductor and a reference voltage, such as ground. The tuning conductor is operable to load the antenna element, and the switch selectively connects the tuning conductor to the reference voltage to provide tuning to the antenna element.

The present disclosure refers to a radiating element comprising a support structure, a first dipole arranged on the support structure, and at least one electrically closed ring arranged on the support structure. The at least one electrically closed ring surrounds the first dipole and is galvanically isolated from the first dipole, and a resonance frequency of the first dipole is higher than a center frequency of an operational bandwidth of the radiating element.

The invention provides an antenna module of improved performances; the antenna module may comprise a plurality of first antennas for signaling at a first band, and a plurality of second antennas for signaling at a second band different from the first band. Each said first antenna may comprise a main radiator which resonates at a mode-one frequency and a mode-two frequency different from the mode-one frequency; and the main radiator may be configured such that the mode-one frequency may be in the first band, and the mode-two frequency may not be in the first band and the second band.

A communication system utilizing reconfigurable antenna systems is described where beam steering and null forming techniques are incorporated to limit the region or volume available for communication with client devices. The communication system described restricts communication to defined or desired area and degrades signal strength coverage outside of a prescribed region. An algorithm is used to control the antenna system to monitor and control antenna system performance across the service area. This antenna system technique is applicable for use in communication systems such as a Local Area Network (LAN), cellular communication network, and Machine to Machine (M2M).

An antenna array has plurality of active antennas and passive antennas, wherein the passive antennas being arranged such that the radiation patterns of the active antennas adjacent to the passive antennas match the radiation pattern of the active antennas adjacent only to other active antennas. Further, a calibration system and a method for calibrating an antenna array are shown.

An antenna apparatus having directivity includes an antenna portion having a power feeding portion, a plate-like first antenna element, and a second antenna element connected to a side of the first antenna element through the power feeding portion, the second antenna element having a width smaller than that of the first antenna element; and a plate-like parasitic element disposed opposite to the antenna portion. The parasitic element has a length that is approximately one-half or more of a wavelength of an operating frequency. The second antenna element has a length that is shorter than one-fourth of the wavelength of the operating frequency. The antenna portion and the parasitic element have a distance capable of being connected electromagnetically to each other.

An antenna apparatus having directivity includes an antenna portion having a power feeding portion, a plate-like first antenna element, and a second antenna element connected to a side of the first antenna element through the power feeding portion, the second antenna element having a width smaller than that of the first antenna element; and a plate-like parasitic element disposed opposite to the antenna portion. The parasitic element has a length that is approximately one-half or more of a wavelength of an operating frequency. The second antenna element has a length that is shorter than one-fourth of the wavelength of the operating frequency. The antenna portion and the parasitic element have a distance capable of being connected electromagnetically to each other.

A conical radiator coupled to an antenna patch disposed along a first end of the radiator, said patch disposed on an insulator. A ground plane is connected to the insulator and a radome is disposed opposite a second end of the radiator. The radome has a first region presenting a convex surface towards the radiator, and a second region presenting a concave surface towards the radiator. The first end of the conical radiator is the apex of the cone. A ground plane is included and a portion of the ground plane is a planar surface and another portion extends away from the planar portion towards the radome. Also disclosed is a method for forming a radiation pattern by shaping the radome to effectuate a predetermined radiation pattern using localized convex and concave surfaces positioned on the radome at different points in relation to the conical radiator.