According to one embodiment, an antenna apparatus includes at least four first to Nth circularly polarized antennas in a planar shape; and phase adjustment circuitry adjusting phase relationship between first to Nth signals of the first to Nth circularly polarized antennas. The first to Mth circularly polarized antennas and the M+1th to Nth circularly polarized antennas are arranged at positions surface-symmetrical to each other. The first to Nth circularly polarized antennas are rotated in direction at first to Nth angles with respect to a first direction parallel to the first to Nth circularly polarized antennas. The phase adjustment circuitry is configured to set phases of the first to Mth signals to first to Mth phases corresponding to the first to Mth angles, and set phases of the M+1th to Nth signals to M+1th to Nth phases added by a first value to phases corresponding to the M+1th to Nth angles.

According to one embodiment, an antenna apparatus includes at least four first to Nth circularly polarized antennas in a planar shape; and phase adjustment circuitry adjusting phase relationship between first to Nth signals of the first to Nth circularly polarized antennas. The first to Mth circularly polarized antennas and the M+1th to Nth circularly polarized antennas are arranged at positions surface-symmetrical to each other. The first to Nth circularly polarized antennas are rotated in direction at first to Nth angles with respect to a first direction parallel to the first to Nth circularly polarized antennas. The phase adjustment circuitry is configured to set phases of the first to Mth signals to first to Mth phases corresponding to the first to Mth angles, and set phases of the M+1th to Nth signals to M+1th to Nth phases added by a first value to phases corresponding to the M+1th to Nth angles.

Systems and methods are provided for a digital beamformed phased array feed. The system may include a radome configured to allow electromagnetic waves to propagate; a multi-band software defined antenna array tile; a power and clock management subsystem configured to manage power and time of operation; a thermal management subsystem configured to dissipate heat generated by the multi-band software defined antenna array tile; and an enclosure assembly. The multi-band software defined antenna array tile may include a plurality of coupled dipole array antenna elements; a plurality of frequency converters; and a plurality of digital beamformers.

Systems and methods are provided for a digital beamformed phased array feed. The system may include a radome configured to allow electromagnetic waves to propagate; a multi-band software defined antenna array tile; a power and clock management subsystem configured to manage power and time of operation; a thermal management subsystem configured to dissipate heat generated by the multi-band software defined antenna array tile; and an enclosure assembly. The multi-band software defined antenna array tile may include a plurality of coupled dipole array antenna elements; a plurality of frequency converters; and a plurality of digital beamformers.

An apparatus for determining information on a position of a transmitter. In one example, the apparatus includes an antenna apparatus, a control apparatus and a data processing apparatus. The antenna apparatus includes several different directional characteristics, wherein the directional characteristics are each related to an amount of spatially different receive sensitivities of the antenna apparatus. The control apparatus influences the antenna apparatus such that at least one of the directional characteristics of the antenna apparatus is activated. With the activated directional characteristic, the antenna apparatus receives a signal originating from the transmitter. The data processing apparatus processes the received signal and the amount of spatially different receive sensitivities allocated to the related activated directional characteristic to an amount of weighted receive values and determines the information on the position of the transmitter therefrom. Further, the invention relates to a respective method.

An apparatus for determining information on a position of a transmitter. In one example, the apparatus includes an antenna apparatus, a control apparatus and a data processing apparatus. The antenna apparatus includes several different directional characteristics, wherein the directional characteristics are each related to an amount of spatially different receive sensitivities of the antenna apparatus. The control apparatus influences the antenna apparatus such that at least one of the directional characteristics of the antenna apparatus is activated. With the activated directional characteristic, the antenna apparatus receives a signal originating from the transmitter. The data processing apparatus processes the received signal and the amount of spatially different receive sensitivities allocated to the related activated directional characteristic to an amount of weighted receive values and determines the information on the position of the transmitter therefrom. Further, the invention relates to a respective method.

Antenna assemblies for vehicles, such as RADAR sensor antenna assemblies, and related waveguide assemblies. In some embodiments, the assembly may comprise a waveguide groove having a waveguide ridge positioned therein. The waveguide groove may extend along an axis with the waveguide ridge intermittently extending on opposite sides of the axis in a periodic or at least quasiperiodic manner along at least a portion of the waveguide ridge. An antenna structure, such as a plurality of slots, may be operably coupled with the waveguide ridge and may be positioned and configured to deliver electromagnetic radiation from the waveguide groove therethrough.

Antenna assemblies for vehicles, such as RADAR sensor antenna assemblies, and related waveguide assemblies. In some embodiments, the assembly may comprise a waveguide groove having a waveguide ridge positioned therein. The waveguide groove may extend along an axis with the waveguide ridge intermittently extending on opposite sides of the axis in a periodic or at least quasiperiodic manner along at least a portion of the waveguide ridge. An antenna structure, such as a plurality of slots, may be operably coupled with the waveguide ridge and may be positioned and configured to deliver electromagnetic radiation from the waveguide groove therethrough.

A multi-band software defined antenna array tile including a set of pairs of frequency converters associated with a respective coupled dipole array antenna element and comprising a principal polarization converter for applying an oscillating signal to a first partial beam-formed data stream to generate an oscillating partial beam-formed data stream, where the oscillating signal is associated with an oscillating signal frequency received from a memory operatively connected to a system controller. The principal polarization converter applies a three-stage halfband filter to the first oscillating partial beam-formed data stream to generate a filtered partial beam-formed data stream, applies time delay to the filtered partial beam-formed data stream to generate a first partial beam and transmits a partial beam along with other partial beams to a digital software system interface through a data transport bus.

A multi-band software defined antenna array tile including a set of pairs of frequency converters associated with a respective coupled dipole array antenna element and comprising a principal polarization converter for applying an oscillating signal to a first partial beam-formed data stream to generate an oscillating partial beam-formed data stream, where the oscillating signal is associated with an oscillating signal frequency received from a memory operatively connected to a system controller. The principal polarization converter applies a three-stage halfband filter to the first oscillating partial beam-formed data stream to generate a filtered partial beam-formed data stream, applies time delay to the filtered partial beam-formed data stream to generate a first partial beam and transmits a partial beam along with other partial beams to a digital software system interface through a data transport bus.