A UHF-RFID antenna having a central segmented loop surrounded by passive dipole structures provides shaping of the electric and magnetic fields to reduce the number of false positive reads by a UHF-RFID reader at a point of sale.

Relay-aided intelligent reconfigurable surfaces (IRSs) are provided. A novel relay-aided intelligent surface architecture is described herein that has the potential of achieving the promising gains of IRSs with a much smaller number of elements, opening the door for realizing these surfaces in practice. A half-duplex or full-duplex relay is connected to one or more IRSs. This merges the gains of relays and reconfigurable surfaces and splits the required signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) gain between them. This architecture can hen significantly reduce the required number of reconfigurable elements in the IRS(s) while achieving the same spectral efficiencies. Consequently, the proposed relay-aided intelligent surface architecture needs far less channel estimation/beam training overhead and provides enhanced robustness compared to traditional IRS solutions.

Relay-aided intelligent reconfigurable surfaces (IRSs) are provided. A novel relay-aided intelligent surface architecture is described herein that has the potential of achieving the promising gains of IRSs with a much smaller number of elements, opening the door for realizing these surfaces in practice. A half-duplex or full-duplex relay is connected to one or more IRSs. This merges the gains of relays and reconfigurable surfaces and splits the required signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) gain between them. This architecture can hen significantly reduce the required number of reconfigurable elements in the IRS(s) while achieving the same spectral efficiencies. Consequently, the proposed relay-aided intelligent surface architecture needs far less channel estimation/beam training overhead and provides enhanced robustness compared to traditional IRS solutions.

In one embodiment, a sub-reflector assembly for a reflector antenna has (i) a waveguide transition at a waveguide end of the sub-reflector assembly and configured to fit within a waveguide, (ii) a dielectric radiator connected to the waveguide transition and extending both laterally and back towards the waveguide end of the sub-reflector assembly, and (iii) a sub-reflector connected to the dielectric radiator. By configuring the dielectric radiator to extend both laterally and back towards the dielectric end of the assembly, radiated energy from the waveguide is directed such that the sub-reflector assembly can be used with shallow reflector dishes (e.g., F/D ratio greater than 0.25) and still achieve sufficiently high directivity.

In one embodiment, a sub-reflector assembly for a reflector antenna has (i) a waveguide transition at a waveguide end of the sub-reflector assembly and configured to fit within a waveguide, (ii) a dielectric radiator connected to the waveguide transition and extending both laterally and back towards the waveguide end of the sub-reflector assembly, and (iii) a sub-reflector connected to the dielectric radiator. By configuring the dielectric radiator to extend both laterally and back towards the dielectric end of the assembly, radiated energy from the waveguide is directed such that the sub-reflector assembly can be used with shallow reflector dishes (e.g., F/D ratio greater than 0.25) and still achieve sufficiently high directivity.

A reflective antenna apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a feeder which receives an electromagnetic wave from a transmitter and distributes the electromagnetic wave to the antenna apparatus; a sub reflector which has a step formed to generate an orbital angular momentum (OAM) mode electromagnetic wave; and a main reflector which has a step formed to generate the same electromagnetic wave as the OAM mode generated by the sub reflector and cancels the OAM mode electromagnetic wave generated by the sub reflector and an OAM mode electromagnetic wave generated by the main reflector to radiate the electromagnetic waves to a far field.

A base station antenna includes: a plurality of reflector panels; a plurality of printed circuit boards (PCBs), each of the circuit boards mounted on a respective one of the reflector panels; a plurality of radiating elements mounted on each of the PCBs, wherein the PCBs and the radiating elements are configured and arranged so that the base station antenna receives and transmits radio frequency signals in a first frequency band and a second frequency band; first and second wiper members pivotally mounted on each PCB at respective first and second pivots, the first and second wiper members being configured such that pivotal movement of the first and second wiper members induce downtilt angle adjustment in the radiating elements that transmit and receive signals in first frequency band; third and fourth wiper members pivotally mounted on each PCB at respective third and fourth pivots, the third and fourth wiper members being configured such that pivotal movement of the third and fourth wiper members induce downtilt angle adjustment in the radiating elements that transmit and receive signals in a second frequency band; and a phase shifter linkage comprising a first carrier member and a second carrier member fixed relative to the first carrier member, the first carrier member engaging the first and second wiper members and the second carrier member engaging the third and fourth wiper members. Actuation of the phase shifter linkage causes the first carrier member and the second carrier member to move in concert relative to the PCBs, so that downtilt angle adjustment of the first frequency band equals downtilt adjustment of the second frequency band.

A base station antenna includes: a plurality of reflector panels; a plurality of printed circuit boards (PCBs), each of the circuit boards mounted on a respective one of the reflector panels; a plurality of radiating elements mounted on each of the PCBs, wherein the PCBs and the radiating elements are configured and arranged so that the base station antenna receives and transmits radio frequency signals in a first frequency band and a second frequency band; first and second wiper members pivotally mounted on each PCB at respective first and second pivots, the first and second wiper members being configured such that pivotal movement of the first and second wiper members induce downtilt angle adjustment in the radiating elements that transmit and receive signals in first frequency band; third and fourth wiper members pivotally mounted on each PCB at respective third and fourth pivots, the third and fourth wiper members being configured such that pivotal movement of the third and fourth wiper members induce downtilt angle adjustment in the radiating elements that transmit and receive signals in a second frequency band; and a phase shifter linkage comprising a first carrier member and a second carrier member fixed relative to the first carrier member, the first carrier member engaging the first and second wiper members and the second carrier member engaging the third and fourth wiper members. Actuation of the phase shifter linkage causes the first carrier member and the second carrier member to move in concert relative to the PCBs, so that downtilt angle adjustment of the first frequency band equals downtilt adjustment of the second frequency band.

Systems and methods are provided for wide scan phased array fed reflector systems using ring-focus optics to significantly improve the scan volume of such systems. The subject system includes a reflector having a focal plane and a parabolic curvature configured to receive electromagnetic radiation having a first gain and provide reflected electromagnetic radiation having a second gain greater than the first gain that collimates into a focal ring. The subject system includes a feed array having feed elements positioned about the focal ring, in which each feed element is configured to receive the reflected electromagnetic radiation from the reflector and collimate the reflected electromagnetic radiation into a scanned beam for scanning an annular region. In some aspects, the feed array is centered on the focal ring such that at least one feed element overlaps with the focal ring and remaining feed elements are non-overlapping with the focal ring.

Systems and methods are provided for wide scan phased array fed reflector systems using ring-focus optics to significantly improve the scan volume of such systems. The subject system includes a reflector having a focal plane and a parabolic curvature configured to receive electromagnetic radiation having a first gain and provide reflected electromagnetic radiation having a second gain greater than the first gain that collimates into a focal ring. The subject system includes a feed array having feed elements positioned about the focal ring, in which each feed element is configured to receive the reflected electromagnetic radiation from the reflector and collimate the reflected electromagnetic radiation into a scanned beam for scanning an annular region. In some aspects, the feed array is centered on the focal ring such that at least one feed element overlaps with the focal ring and remaining feed elements are non-overlapping with the focal ring.