A concealed communication antenna and lighting feature comprises a mount having base configured to be mounted to a structure and having a circumferentially disposed side wall adjacent the circumference of the base. The outer side wall defining a seat extending a radial distance from the outer side wall to the edge of the base circumference, and an inner wall disposed concentrically within the outer side wall. A plurality of solid state lighting elements adapted to direct light away from the base. A communications antenna is mounted to the inner side wall and a radome is disposed about the antenna and extends above the inner side wall. The radome is closed at an upper end and a lighting feature lens mounted to the outer wall. The lighting feature lens being closed at a top end such that the solid state lighting elements direct light intermediate the radome and the lighting feature lens.

An antenna assembly includes a radio frequency (RF) connector having a connector plug electrically connected to an antenna receptacle. The connector plug has a central terminal configured for connection to a wireless transceiver, and an end of the wire antenna is inserted in the antenna receptacle. Examples of RF connectors include U.FL, IPEX, IPAX, IPX, AMC, MHF and UMCC connectors that allow the wire antenna to be removably attached to a printed circuit board (PCB) of a lighting control device and to avoid hardwiring the antenna to the PCB. The wire antenna may be made of a shape memory alloy, such as nitinol. The device that includes the antenna assembly may be incorporated into a luminaire for wireless control of the luminaire, such that the wire antenna is positioned between a light source and a diffuser. A number of such luminaires may be combined to provide an intelligent lighting system.

An antenna assembly includes a radio frequency (RF) connector having a connector plug electrically connected to an antenna receptacle. The connector plug has a central terminal configured for connection to a wireless transceiver, and an end of the wire antenna is inserted in the antenna receptacle. Examples of RF connectors include U.FL, IPEX, IPAX, IPX, AMC, MHF and UMCC connectors that allow the wire antenna to be removably attached to a printed circuit board (PCB) of a lighting control device and to avoid hardwiring the antenna to the PCB. The wire antenna may be made of a shape memory alloy, such as nitinol. The device that includes the antenna assembly may be incorporated into a luminaire for wireless control of the luminaire, such that the wire antenna is positioned between a light source and a diffuser. A number of such luminaires may be combined to provide an intelligent lighting system.

Methods and systems are described for providing end-to-end beamforming. For example, end-to-end beamforming systems include end-to-end relays and ground networks to provide communications to user terminals located in user beam coverage areas. The ground segment can include geographically distributed access nodes and a central processing system. Return uplink signals, transmitted from the user terminals, have multipath induced by a plurality of receive/transmit signal paths in the end to end relay and are relayed to the ground network. The ground network, using beamformers, recovers user data streams transmitted by the user terminals from return downlink signals. The ground network, using beamformers generates forward uplink signals from appropriately weighted combinations of user data streams that, after relay by the end-end-end relay, produce forward downlink signals that combine to form user beams.

Methods and systems are described for providing end-to-end beamforming. For example, end-to-end beamforming systems include end-to-end relays and ground networks to provide communications to user terminals located in user beam coverage areas. The ground segment can include geographically distributed access nodes and a central processing system. Return uplink signals, transmitted from the user terminals, have multipath induced by a plurality of receive/transmit signal paths in the end to end relay and are relayed to the ground network. The ground network, using beamformers, recovers user data streams transmitted by the user terminals from return downlink signals. The ground network, using beamformers generates forward uplink signals from appropriately weighted combinations of user data streams that, after relay by the end-end-end relay, produce forward downlink signals that combine to form user beams.

An accessory component having a co-formed light pipe is disclosed. In one embodiment the accessory component is formed by a co-extrusion operation that co-extrudes the accessory component with a connecting portion and a light pipe supporting portion, wherein the light supporting portion has a light pipe integrated into the light pipe supporting portion. The co-forming of the light pipe enables exposed mounting of the light pipe over its full length. The co-formed supporting portion encapsulates the light pipe providing additional protection to the surface of the light pipe while causing little to no impedance of the light emissions from the light pipe itself. The co-formed accessory component itself may be optically clear, diffuse, or tinted to provide color or appearance variations to the light emitted by the light pipe. The surface finish of the co-formed accessory component may also be varied to provide light diffusion or to alter the appearance of the accessory component. The co-formed accessory component may be formed with features that enable it to be readily attached to other vehicle components with or without external fasteners or adhesives.

Methods and systems are provided for enhanced communication cables which may be configured for supporting at least two separate functions, including distribution of data and at least one other different function. An example enhanced cable may include an arrangement along at least a section of the cable, with that arrangement configured for supporting at least the other different function. The other different function may include illumination. The arrangement may include an illumination arrangement. The cable may include light guiding material configured for use in conjunction with the illumination arrangement. The cable may include a jacket configured to accommodate the arrangement. The cable may include one or more apertures arranged on at least one component of the cable, in accordance with a specific pattern based on the arrangement. A location and/or a shape of at least one aperture may be configured based on at least one component of the arrangement.

Methods and systems are provided for enhanced communication cables which may be configured for supporting at least two separate functions, including distribution of data and at least one other different function. An example enhanced cable may include an arrangement along at least a section of the cable, with that arrangement configured for supporting at least the other different function. The other different function may include illumination. The arrangement may include an illumination arrangement. The cable may include light guiding material configured for use in conjunction with the illumination arrangement. The cable may include a jacket configured to accommodate the arrangement. The cable may include one or more apertures arranged on at least one component of the cable, in accordance with a specific pattern based on the arrangement. A location and/or a shape of at least one aperture may be configured based on at least one component of the arrangement.

Methods and systems are described for providing end-to-end beamforming. For example, end-to-end beamforming systems include end-to-end relays and ground networks to provide communications to user terminals located in user beam coverage areas. The ground segment can include geographically distributed access nodes and a central processing system. Return uplink signals, transmitted from the user terminals, have multipath induced by a plurality of receive/transmit signal paths in the end to end relay and are relayed to the ground network. The ground network, using beamformers, recovers user data streams transmitted by the user terminals from return downlink signals. The ground network, using beamformers generates forward uplink signals from appropriately weighted combinations of user data streams that, after relay by the end-end-end relay, produce forward downlink signals that combine to form user beams.

Methods and systems are described for providing end-to-end beamforming. For example, end-to-end beamforming systems include end-to-end relays and ground networks to provide communications to user terminals located in user beam coverage areas. The ground segment can include geographically distributed access nodes and a central processing system. Return uplink signals, transmitted from the user terminals, have multipath induced by a plurality of receive/transmit signal paths in the end to end relay and are relayed to the ground network. The ground network, using beamformers, recovers user data streams transmitted by the user terminals from return downlink signals. The ground network, using beamformers generates forward uplink signals from appropriately weighted combinations of user data streams that, after relay by the end-end-end relay, produce forward downlink signals that combine to form user beams.