A bicone antenna and methods for manufacture therefor can include a feed portion, a top section and a bottom section that can be centered on a vertical axis. The top section and bottom sections can each have a respective conical surface, which can extend radially outward from the vertical axis at an inner portion at a constant angle .sub.1 with respect to a horizontal antenna axis of the antenna. For both sections, the inner portion can merge into an outer portion that can have a curved surface, with the curved surface extending radially outward from the conical surface so that the curved surface has a logarithmic profile when viewed in side profile. The above structure can allow for a multi-directional antenna with a minimum of moving parts, which can be easily manufactured, including by additive manufacturing techniques.

A radar system and method for determining location of targets, wherein the energy reflected from an object is received by the omnidirectional antenna elements and the received RF signal is downconverted to an intermediate frequency (IF) signal. The IF signals are digitized. The digitized IF signals received at the first omnidirectional antenna are digitally processed so as to form modal beams with opposite phase slope as output signals. The digitized IF signal received at the second omnidirectional antenna is digitally processed as to form a reference signal of phase reference. Phase differences between the signals and the reference signals are determined, such that each phase difference includes a first component proportional to the azimuth of the arriving signal and a second component corresponding to the elevation of the arriving signal, from which the azimuth and the elevation of the arriving signal can be extracted.

A radar system and method for determining location of targets, wherein the energy reflected from an object is received by the omnidirectional antenna elements and the received RF signal is downconverted to an intermediate frequency (IF) signal. The IF signals are digitized. The digitized IF signals received at the first omnidirectional antenna are digitally processed so as to form modal beams with opposite phase slope as output signals. The digitized IF signal received at the second omnidirectional antenna is digitally processed as to form a reference signal of phase reference. Phase differences between the signals and the reference signals are determined, such that each phase difference includes a first component proportional to the azimuth of the arriving signal and a second component corresponding to the elevation of the arriving signal, from which the azimuth and the elevation of the arriving signal can be extracted.

Disclosed herein are implementations of devices and methods for side mounting of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) transducers on tapered horn antennae. A hole may be made in a sidewall of a tapered horn antenna, where the hole may be substantially cylindrical, tapered and the like. In an implementation, an internal port opening of a MEMS microphone may be aligned with the hole and attached to the sidewall of the tapered horn antenna. In an implementation, the hole may be tapered with a diameter at one end the same or slightly larger than the diameter of the port opening of the MEMS microphone and a larger diameter at another end of the hole. In an implementation, a tube may be used to connect the internal port opening of the MEMS antenna to the hole in the tapered horn antenna. In an implementation, the tapered horn antenna may have multiple holes, each having its respective MEMS transducer.

Disclosed herein are implementations of devices and methods for side mounting of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) transducers on tapered horn antennae. A hole is made in a sidewall of a tapered horn antenna, where the hole is substantially cylindrical, tapered and the like. In an implementation, an internal port opening of a MEMS microphone is aligned with the hole and attached to the sidewall of the tapered horn antenna. In an implementation, the hole is tapered with a diameter at one end, either the same or slightly larger than the diameter of the port opening of the MEMS microphone and a larger diameter at another end of the hole. In an implementation, a tube is used to connect the internal port opening of the MEMS antenna to the hole in the tapered horn antenna. In an implementation, the tapered horn antenna may have multiple holes, each having its respective MEMS transducer.

There is described a dielectric polariser for a bicone antenna. The polariser can include radiating vanes that are spaced circumferentially around an aperture of the bicone antenna. The vanes are orientated at 45 to the polarised waves propagated from the antenna in order to circularly polarise the linearly polarised waves. The polariser can be configured for manufacture using a 3D printing process. Surfaces of a central hub of the polariser can be metallised to provide the radiating surfaces of the antenna. This removes the need to use separate antenna elements. Alternative arrangements of 3D printed dielectric polariser are disclosed for use with antenna horns.

There is described a dielectric polariser for a bicone antenna. The polariser can include radiating vanes that are spaced circumferentially around an aperture of the bicone antenna. The vanes are orientated at 45 to the polarised waves propagated from the antenna in order to circularly polarise the linearly polarised waves. The polariser can be configured for manufacture using a 3D printing process. Surfaces of a central hub of the polariser can be metallised to provide the radiating surfaces of the antenna. This removes the need to use separate antenna elements. Alternative arrangements of 3D printed dielectric polariser are disclosed for use with antenna horns.

An omnidirectional biconical antenna, which includes a first funnel-shaped plate having a wide end and a narrow end; a second funnel-shaped plate having a wide end and a narrow end; and an annular metal lens delimited by the second funnel-shaped plate and the first funnel-shaped plate. The second funnel-shaped plate is inversely positioned relative to the first funnel-shaped plate, such that the narrow ends of the second funnel-shaped plate and the first funnel-shaped plate point to each other.

An omnidirectional biconical antenna, which includes a first funnel-shaped plate having a wide end and a narrow end; a second funnel-shaped plate having a wide end and a narrow end; and an annular metal lens delimited by the second funnel-shaped plate and the first funnel-shaped plate. The second funnel-shaped plate is inversely positioned relative to the first funnel-shaped plate, such that the narrow ends of the second funnel-shaped plate and the first funnel-shaped plate point to each other.

An antenna is described. This antenna includes: a ground plane; and antenna elements that are positioned in a first horizontal plane offset along a vertical direction from the ground plane. Moreover, the antenna elements are configured to generate a beam having a horizontal polarization. Furthermore, the antenna includes a planar reflector that is positioned in a second horizontal plane offset along the vertical direction from the first ground plane, so that the antenna elements are positioned between the ground plane and the planar reflector. During operation, a first reflection from the ground plane, the beam from the antenna elements, a second reflection from the planar reflector and diffractions from edges of the ground plane and the planar reflector combine to generate an antenna radiation pattern having a main beam approximately in a horizontal direction, e.g., at 10-15 from the horizontal direction.