A switchable antenna comprises an RF port, an antenna array that includes at least a first column of radiating elements, a second column of radiating elements and a third column of radiating elements, and a feed network coupled between the RF port and the antenna array. The feed network includes a first switch having a first output that is coupled to each of the columns of radiating elements and a second output and a second switch having a first input coupled to the first output of the first switch and a second input coupled to the second output of the first switch, and a first output coupled to the second column of radiating elements.

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).

A phased array antenna which can change the configuration of the phased array antenna by controllable quad switches on the phased array antenna is presented. The phased array antenna adapts monolithic microwave integrate circuit (MMIC) technology to have high isolation interconnection of the reconfigurable phased array antenna. The reconfigurable phased array antenna can be reusable and adaptable to different configurations so that the overall cost and lead time of the phased array antenna is reduced compared to the existing RF antennas in the market.

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 antenna using a liquid metal is provided. The antenna includes a plurality of antenna structures, each having an inner cavity of a form corresponding to a radiator pattern; and at least one actuator connected to at least two of the plurality of antenna structures to control movement of the liquid metal to supply the liquid metal to at least one of the antenna structures. Thereby, deterioration of an antenna performance due to an influence of a human body can be prevented, and deterioration of an antenna performance can be prevented due to a form change of an electronic device including the antenna. In this manner, optimal antenna radiation performance can be dynamically realized.

A modal antenna array is described where modal antenna elements capable of generating multiple radiation modes are used to form array radiation patterns. Nulls in the array radiation pattern can be formed and positioned by proper modal antenna element mode selection, with these nulls used to provide interference suppression or mitigation. The shift in array radiation pattern maxima generated by modal element mode selection can be used to improve communication system link quality by optimizing array radiation pattern characteristics. Specifically, a ring or circular array configuration is described where a simplified common feed port can be implemented to feed multiple modal antenna elements used to form the array. A switch can be used to connect or disconnect one modal element from the array, with this feature providing additional unique array beam states. The modal array can be commanded via a look-up table or algorithm.

Described embodiments include a system, method, and apparatus. The system includes an antenna comprising a sub-Nyquist holographic aperture configured to define selectable arbitrary complex radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on a surface of the antenna. A mapping engine models an environment within a space radiateable by the antenna. The environment includes a target device and a human being. An optimization circuit selects responsive to the model of the environment a power transmission regime. The power transmission regime includes radiation pattern shaped to wirelessly transfer electromagnetic power from the antenna to the target device without exceeding a radiation exposure limit for humans. A gain definition circuit selects a complex radiofrequency electromagnetic field implementing the selected power transmission regime from the at least two selectable arbitrary complex radiofrequency electromagnetic fields. An antenna controller defines the selected arbitrary complex radiofrequency electromagnetic field in the sub-Nyquist holographic aperture.

A device for transmitting and/or receiving electromagnetic signals includes an antenna array, a combiner/splitter unit, a signal processing unit, and a switch. The antenna array includes a plurality of N antenna elements adapted to transmit and/or receive electromagnetic signals. The signal processing unit comprises at least one analog-to-digital converter and/or digital-to-analog converter for each of the antenna elements of the antenna array. The switching unit is adapted to switch between a broadband mode and a spatial resolution mode.

Provided is a small switchable directional control antenna that can perform direction control according to shapes and sizes of various devices. The antenna includes a dielectric layer, a radiation patch formed on a side of the dielectric layer, a ground plane formed on a side of the dielectric layer opposite to the side on which the radiation patch is formed and configured to have a plurality of slots formed at edges thereof, and a control module insulated from the ground plane and configured to control electrical connection between the radiation patch and the ground plane.

A wireless communication device includes a plurality of antenna elements arranged in a row and M (M≧2) analog processing units that are connected to the antenna elements and that perform analog processing on signals received by or to be transmitted by the antenna elements. The antenna elements form subarrays such that antenna elements connected to a same analog processing unit form one subarray. Each of the antenna elements belonging to the formed M subarrays is arranged at a position (mM+k)d away from a reference antenna element arranged at one end of the row, where k (0≦k<M) is an integer that varies from one subarray to another subarray, m is an arbitrary integer, d is a predetermined unit spacing.