A radio frequency antenna for radiating electromagnetic energy into a reservoir filled with a target material, the antenna being operatively connected to a feed transmission line. The antenna includes a waveguide, at least one slot formed in the outer waveguide layer, and a sleeve portion enclosing at least a portion of the waveguide. The sleeve portion comprises at least first and second dielectric layers where the permittivity of the second dielectric layer is higher than the permittivity of the first dielectric layer and the first dielectric layer is positioned in closer proximity to the waveguide than the second dielectric layer. When the antenna is inserted into the reservoir, the input impedance of the antenna remains matched to the feed transmission line for a wide range of target materials.

The present disclosure relates to a dual-polarized phased array antenna and a dual-polarized phased array weather radar. According to the dual-polarized phased array antenna, a plurality of dual-polarized row feeds are arranged on a horizontal cylindrical support surface to form a dual-polarized antenna in a horizontal cylindrical shape. This allows two polarized signals in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction to be simultaneously received and transmitted, and ensures digital multi-beam signals with constant beam bandwidth, antenna gain, and dual polarization performance. The dual-polarized phased array weather radar provided in the present disclosure uses the formed dual-polarized microstrip patch antenna or a dual-polarized waveguide slot antenna in the horizontal cylindrical shape. This can ensure consistency of weather detected at different scan angles, and improve the accuracy of weather target 3D construction. In addition, this can simplify the calibration requirement of an existing phased array weather radar.

The present disclosure relates to a dual-polarized phased array antenna and a dual-polarized phased array weather radar. According to the dual-polarized phased array antenna, a plurality of dual-polarized row feeds are arranged on a horizontal cylindrical support surface to form a dual-polarized antenna in a horizontal cylindrical shape. This allows two polarized signals in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction to be simultaneously received and transmitted, and ensures digital multi-beam signals with constant beam bandwidth, antenna gain, and dual polarization performance. The dual-polarized phased array weather radar provided in the present disclosure uses the formed dual-polarized microstrip patch antenna or a dual-polarized waveguide slot antenna in the horizontal cylindrical shape. This can ensure consistency of weather detected at different scan angles, and improve the accuracy of weather target 3D construction. In addition, this can simplify the calibration requirement of an existing phased array weather radar.

A slot antenna is provided with a metal cylindrical antenna element. The antenna element is formed at a height of λ/4 or less when λ is a wavelength of an antenna frequency to be used. Further, the antenna element has a slot for vertical polarization having a length of λ/2 or more in a circumferential direction.

A slot antenna is provided with a metal cylindrical antenna element. The antenna element is formed at a height of λ/4 or less when λ is a wavelength of an antenna frequency to be used. Further, the antenna element has a slot for vertical polarization having a length of λ/2 or more in a circumferential direction.

A geodesic antenna includes an outer cone. The geodesic antenna also includes an inner cone positioned partially within the outer cone and, together with the outer cone, defining an electromagnetic waveguide. The geodesic antenna further includes multiple driven elements configured to generate electromagnetic waves in a space between the outer and inner cones. In addition, the geodesic antenna includes a ground plane configured to reflect first electromagnetic waves of the generated electromagnetic waves back into the space between the outer and inner cones. The ground plane has a geometric design that prevents at least some second electromagnetic waves of the generated electromagnetic waves from being reflected from the ground plane and forming an interferometer pattern.

A geodesic antenna includes an outer cone. The geodesic antenna also includes an inner cone positioned partially within the outer cone and, together with the outer cone, defining an electromagnetic waveguide. The geodesic antenna further includes multiple driven elements configured to generate electromagnetic waves in a space between the outer and inner cones. In addition, the geodesic antenna includes a ground plane configured to reflect first electromagnetic waves of the generated electromagnetic waves back into the space between the outer and inner cones. The ground plane has a geometric design that prevents at least some second electromagnetic waves of the generated electromagnetic waves from being reflected from the ground plane and forming an interferometer pattern.

A nanosatellite or drone, including an antenna; a dielectric waveguide coupled to the antenna, the waveguide comprising at least one of a slot or a taper and the waveguide (1) focusing electromagnetic radiation incident from free space into the waveguide and (2) waveguiding the electromagnetic radiation to the antenna. Also disclosed is a system for deploying a support structure, or device having electromagnetic functionality, including one or more bags each having a wall comprising a membrane; one or more conduits each having an outlet transferring fluid into the one or more of the bags in fluidic communication with the conduits, wherein the fluid pressurizes each of the one or more bags and expands the membrane so as to deploy and form each of the one or more bags into a support or the device having electromagnetic functionality.

An electromagnetic wave radiator may include: a first metal layer; a plurality of metal side walls vertically protruding along an edge of the first metal layer; and a second metal layer suspended over the first metal layer. The second metal layer includes a plurality of ports radially extending from edges of the second metal layer and a plurality of slots penetrating the second metal layer in a radial direction.

An electromagnetic wave radiator may include: a first metal layer; a plurality of metal side walls vertically protruding along an edge of the first metal layer; and a second metal layer suspended over the first metal layer. The second metal layer includes a plurality of ports radially extending from edges of the second metal layer and a plurality of slots penetrating the second metal layer in a radial direction.