An antenna device, for a mobile body, of this disclosure includes an antenna configured to be installed in the mobile body, and a reflector having a reflection surface configured to change a beam direction of the antenna.

Methods and apparatuses for improving satellite broadcasting services by enhancing set-top box (STB) signal reception during weather conditions that obstruct the transmission of RF signals from one or more satellites to a receiving antenna (e.g., a dish antenna) are described. To prevent loss of satellite broadcasting services, an enhanced STB signal system may be arranged between the receiving antenna and an STB in order to provide an enhanced signal to the STB in the event that the RF signals received by the receiving antenna are not able to be decoded. The enhanced STB signal system may transmit an enhanced signal to the STB instead of a signal that was only derived from the receiving antenna. The enhanced signal may comprise a combination of signals that derive from other receiving antennas different from the receiving antenna, as well as the signal derived from the receiving antenna.

Disclosed is a system including a content receiver and an antenna coupled to the content receiver. A camera is mounted on the antenna. The content receiver includes a processor and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the content receiver to: output a control signal to the camera mounted on the antenna, receive image data from the camera mounted on the antenna, determine that the image data received from the camera mounted on the antenna indicates a potential or actual obstruction of the antenna or movement of the antenna, and output a message indicating that the potential or actual obstruction of the antenna or movement of the antenna device has been detected, in response to determining that the image data received from the camera mounted on the antenna indicates the potential or actual obstruction of the antenna or movement of the antenna.

An aerial deployed radio antenna system includes a primary aerial vehicle and a plurality of secondary aerial vehicles coupled to the primary aerial vehicle with a primary tether, wherein the plurality of secondary aerial vehicles are coupled to each other with a plurality of secondary tethers. The system also includes a radar-reflective sheet suspended between and supported by a plurality of cables coupled to the plurality of secondary aerial vehicles, wherein the radar-reflective sheet forms a parabolic reflector shape when deployed and towed by the primary aerial vehicle. A radar transmitter/receiver is positioned relative to the radar-reflective sheet to transmit radar signals toward the radar-reflective sheet and receive radar signals focused by the radar-reflective sheet, and a plurality of solar cells is positioned on the radar-reflective sheet. The plurality of solar cells are electrically coupled to a power collector configured to supply solar-generated electrical power to the radar transmitter/receiver.

An antenna system for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes one or more antennas, a reflector, and a control system. The control system is configured to determine a density of antenna towers near the UAV, determine a position for an active antenna of the one or more antennas based on the density, and adjust the active antenna to the determined position. In some embodiments, the antenna system further includes one or more switches, each of the one or more antennas is a different distance from the reflector, and the switches are used to adjust the active antenna to the determined position by selecting a one of the one or more antennas closest to the determined position as the active antenna. In some embodiments, the antenna system further includes an actuator and the active antenna is moved to the determined position using the actuator.

An antenna system for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes one or more antennas, a reflector, and a control system. The control system is configured to determine a density of antenna towers near the UAV, determine a position for an active antenna of the one or more antennas based on the density, and adjust the active antenna to the determined position. In some embodiments, the antenna system further includes one or more switches, each of the one or more antennas is a different distance from the reflector, and the switches are used to adjust the active antenna to the determined position by selecting a one of the one or more antennas closest to the determined position as the active antenna. In some embodiments, the antenna system further includes an actuator and the active antenna is moved to the determined position using the actuator.

This device combines multiple elements that function like a single smart antenna that performs both connectivity and spatial discrimination functions. The antenna functions in both receive and transmit modes. The apparatus utilizes commonly used components to distinguish and separate desired satellite signals from those signals of satellites in close directional proximity. Disclosed are six methods for optimizing simultaneously reception of multiple desired satellite signals performed either mechanically or electronically and also included is an optimization technique. The transmission apparatus uses many of the same components as the receiver antenna and additionally uses in-beam nulling to fine tune transmission.

This device combines multiple elements that function like a single smart antenna that performs both connectivity and spatial discrimination functions. The antenna functions in both receive and transmit modes. The apparatus utilizes commonly used components to distinguish and separate desired satellite signals from those signals of satellites in close directional proximity. Disclosed are six methods for optimizing simultaneously reception of multiple desired satellite signals performed either mechanically or electronically and also included is an optimization technique. The transmission apparatus uses many of the same components as the receiver antenna and additionally uses in-beam nulling to fine tune transmission.

An antenna system includes N movable antenna elements configured to generate concurrently M receiving beams pointing respectively at M satellites radiating in a common frequency band, N and M being integers and NM2. A beam forming system is coupled to the N movable antenna elements and configured to shape the M receiving beams using weights inputted from a beam controller. The beam controller optimizes the M receiving beams by computing spatial displacements to spatially reposition the N movable antenna elements relative to each other, using an iterative optimization processing to satisfy a plurality of constraints concurrently. A position driver system spatially re-positions the N movable antenna elements in accordance to the spatial displacements inputted from the beam controller.

An antenna system includes N movable antenna elements configured to generate concurrently M receiving beams pointing respectively at M satellites radiating in a common frequency band, N and M being integers and NM2. A beam forming system is coupled to the N movable antenna elements and configured to shape the M receiving beams using weights inputted from a beam controller. The beam controller optimizes the M receiving beams by computing spatial displacements to spatially reposition the N movable antenna elements relative to each other, using an iterative optimization processing to satisfy a plurality of constraints concurrently. A position driver system spatially re-positions the N movable antenna elements in accordance to the spatial displacements inputted from the beam controller.