A system and method reconfiguring an antenna for reducing and/or eliminating the effects of multipath on a phase-based measurement system. The method includes steering an antenna unit into a first direction to cause the antenna unit to generate a first constant tone (CT) signal based on a plurality of multipath signals. The method includes performing a phase measurement on the first CT signal to generate a first phase measurement value. The method includes steering the antenna unit into a second direction to cause the antenna unit to generate a second CT signal based on the plurality of multipath signals. The method includes performing a phase measurement on the second CT signal to generate a second phase measurement value. The method includes determining a change in multipath interference at the antenna unit among the plurality of multipath signals. The method includes re-steering the antenna unit into the first direction.

A hybrid scanning antenna including: a reflector having a focal line; a first mechanical movement to move the reflector about a first axis; a second mechanical movement to move the reflector about a second axis; a linear array fixedly disposed along the focal line to electronically scan at a scan angle about a third axis; and a controller to control the first mechanical movement, the second mechanical movement and the scan angle of the linear array to orient the hybrid scanning antenna to a look angle of a remote transceiver.

The present invention relates to a blind area tracking method and apparatus for a directional antenna and a motion tracking system. The method includes: acquiring a position and a velocity of a tracking target relative to the directional antenna; determining, according to the position and the velocity, whether the tracking target is located in a tracking blind area of the directional antenna; and driving, in a preset blind area guidance mode and when the tracking target is located in the tracking blind area, the directional antenna to rotate. The method may help switch to a corresponding blind area guidance mode when an unmanned aerial vehicle enters a tracking blind area, to implement all-the-way tracking of a tracking target without temporarily losing the tracking target within the tracking blind area. In this way, a better tracking effect is ensured.

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.

The present disclosure relates to a transmission mechanism for a base station antenna, and a base station antenna including the transmission mechanism. The transmission mechanism comprises: a worm gear unit, which is arranged on the first side of the reflector of the base station antenna and includes a worm driven by a motor and a worm gear meshed with the worm; a bevel gear pair unit, which is arranged on the second side of the reflection plate opposite to the first side and includes a first bevel gear and a second bevel gear meshed with each other, wherein the first bevel gear and the worm gear are coaxially installed on a first drive shaft; and at least one rack-and-pinion unit arranged on the second side of the reflection plate, wherein each rack-and-pinion unit includes a third gear and a rack element meshed with each other, all the third gears and the second bevel gears of the at least one rack-and-pinion unit are coaxially installed on a second drive shaft, and each rack element is fixed on the connecting rod of the phase shifter of the base station antenna for driving the connecting rod to move longitudinally. The transmission mechanism not only occupies a small total volume, but can also be installed in different spaces dispersedly, so that it can better adapt to the trend that the inner space of the base station antenna is getting smaller and more dispersed.

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include a generator that facilitates generation of an electromagnetic wave, a core, and a waveguide that facilitates guiding the electromagnetic wave towards the core to induce a second electromagnetic wave that propagates along the core. The core and/or the waveguide can be configured to reduce radiation loss of the second electromagnetic wave, propagation loss of the second electromagnetic wave, or a combination thereof. Other embodiments are disclosed.

In one embodiment, an antenna system is described. The antenna system includes a primary antenna on an aircraft. The primary antenna is mechanically steerable and has an asymmetric antenna beam pattern with a narrow beamwidth axis and a wide beamwidth axis at boresight. The antenna system also includes a secondary antenna on the aircraft, the secondary antenna including an array of antenna elements. The antenna system also includes an antenna selection system to control communication of a signal between the aircraft and a target satellite via the primary antenna and the secondary antenna. The antenna selection system switches communication of the signal from the primary antenna to the secondary antenna when an amount of interference with an adjacent satellite reaches a threshold due to the wide beamwidth axis of the asymmetric antenna beam pattern.

In one embodiment, an antenna system is described. The antenna system includes a primary antenna on an aircraft. The primary antenna is mechanically steerable and has an asymmetric antenna beam pattern with a narrow beamwidth axis and a wide beamwidth axis at boresight. The antenna system also includes a secondary antenna on the aircraft, the secondary antenna including an array of antenna elements. The antenna system also includes an antenna selection system to control communication of a signal between the aircraft and a target satellite via the primary antenna and the secondary antenna. The antenna selection system switches communication of the signal from the primary antenna to the secondary antenna when an amount of interference with an adjacent satellite reaches a threshold due to the wide beamwidth axis of the asymmetric antenna beam pattern.

An antenna alignment apparatus may include magnetic field sensors as an alternative to or in addition to GNSS sensors. The magnetic field sensors may measure the earth's magnetic fields at corresponding locations, and a processor may use the measurements to calculate at least one of a roll, tilt, or azimuth of an antenna. A declination based on GNSS based alignment and magnetic field sensor alignment may be stored for an adjustment of magnetic field sensor based azimuth calculations. For an optical alignment, the antenna alignment apparatus may, additionally or alternately, include a reference object (e.g., a printed mark or a physical stud) located within a field of view of a camera. A location of the reference object may indicate the alignment of the antenna vis-à-vis the structures within the field of view.