The invention provides an antenna structure comprising a plurality of wire segments formed in a loop. Connecting units are provided between the wire segments, each of which is switchable between a conductive state and a reactive state. With the connecting units in the conductive state a loop antenna is formed with a first (longer) signal range and with the connecting units in the reactive state an antenna structure is formed with a second (shorter) signal range. Said reactive state is adapted to introduce a phase delay between the adjacent wire segments. This enables the same antenna to be used for long range signal communication and short range communication, for example for system configuration or commissioning. The antenna structure may be used with luminaires of a lighting system.

The invention provides an antenna structure comprising a plurality of wire segments formed in a loop. Connecting units are provided between the wire segments, each of which is switchable between a conductive state and a reactive state. With the connecting units in the conductive state a loop antenna is formed with a first (longer) signal range and with the connecting units in the reactive state an antenna structure is formed with a second (shorter) signal range. Said reactive state is adapted to introduce a phase delay between the adjacent wire segments. This enables the same antenna to be used for long range signal communication and short range communication, for example for system configuration or commissioning. The antenna structure may be used with luminaires of a lighting system.

An electronic modulating device is provided. The electronic modulating device includes a substrate, a plurality of first modulating electrodes disposed on the substrate, and a plurality of second modulating electrodes disposed on the substrate. The area of one of the first modulating electrodes is greater than the area of one of the second modulating electrodes. The ratio of the number of first modulating electrodes to the number of second modulating electrodes is in a range from 0.5 to 2.0.

An electronic modulating device is provided. The electronic modulating device includes a substrate, a plurality of first modulating electrodes disposed on the substrate, and a plurality of second modulating electrodes disposed on the substrate. The area of one of the first modulating electrodes is greater than the area of one of the second modulating electrodes. The ratio of the number of first modulating electrodes to the number of second modulating electrodes is in a range from 0.5 to 2.0.

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.

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.

In one aspect, an apparatus is described that includes a transparent pane having a first surface and a second surface. An electrochromic device is arranged over the second surface that includes a first conductive layer adjacent the second surface, a second conductive layer, and an electrochromic layer between the first and the second conductive layers. The apparatus further includes at least one conductive antenna structure arranged over the second surface.

Methods and systems are provided for designing, implementing, and/or using communication cables comprising a leaky feeder structure, which may be configurable for homogeneous distribution of data signals. An example communication cable may comprise a core conductor, an insulation shield surrounding the core conductor, an outer conductor around the insulation shield and having one or more apertures arranged along its length, and a jacket at least partly covering the outer conductor. The communication cable may also comprise an illumination arrangement which may be arranged at least along sections of the length of the cable. The illumination arrangement may comprise a plurality of light emitting units.