Parasitic element control apparatus and method for a single radio frequency (RF) chain-based antenna array. The apparatus includes an arranger configured to arrange antenna elements, each including a single active element and a plurality of parasitic elements, and generate an antenna structure, a designer configured to design a control parameter for controlling the parasitic elements based on the antenna structure, and an adjuster configured to adjust the parasitic elements based on the control parameter.

A smart antenna module includes an omni-directional antenna and at least one reflecting unit for adjusting a radiation pattern of the smart antenna module, wherein the one reflecting unit includes a reflector and a switch coupled between the reflector and a ground of the omni-directional antenna for electrically connecting the reflector with the ground or separating the reflector from the ground according to a control signal to adjust the radiation pattern of the smart antenna module.

A smart antenna module includes an omni-directional antenna and at least one reflecting unit for adjusting a radiation pattern of the smart antenna module, wherein the one reflecting unit includes a reflector and a switch coupled between the reflector and a ground of the omni-directional antenna for electrically connecting the reflector with the ground or separating the reflector from the ground according to a control signal to adjust the radiation pattern of the smart antenna module.

Disclosed are exemplary embodiments of omnidirectional broadband antennas. In an exemplary embodiment, an antenna generally includes a ground element, an antenna element, and an annular patch element. The antenna element may be electrically isolated from the ground element. The antenna element may include at least one portion that is substantially conical, substantially pyramidal, and/or that tapers in a longitudinal direction. The annular patch element is electrically grounded to the ground element. The annular patch element surrounds at least a portion of the antenna element and is parasitically coupled to the antenna element.

A lightweight deployable antenna assembly for, e.g., microsatellites including multifilar (e.g., quadrifilar) antenna (MHA) structures rigidly maintained in an array pattern by a lightweight linkage and collectively controlled by a central antenna feed circuit and local antenna feed circuits to perform phased array antenna operations. The linkage is preferably an expandable (e.g., flexural-scissor-grid) linkage capable of collapsing into a retracted/stowage state in which the MHA elements are maintained in a closely-spaced (e.g., hexagonal lattice close-packed) configuration optimized for payload storage. To deploy the antenna for operation, the linkage unfolds (expands) such that the MHA elements are moved away from each other and into an evenly spaced (e.g., wide-spaced hexagonal) pattern optimized for phased array operations. The MHA structures utilize modified helical filar elements including metal plated/printed on polymer/plastic beams/ribbons, or thin-walled metal tubes. The helical filar elements are radially offset (e.g., by 90°) and wound around a central axis.

An antenna assembly includes a plurality of active antenna elements disposed in a first linear array along a reference line and equidistant from each adjacent antenna element by a first linear distance, and a plurality of passive antenna elements disposed in a second linear array extending parallel to the reference line such that each passive antenna element is a second linear distance away from a corresponding one of the active antenna elements. The antenna assembly includes or is operably coupled to a phase control module configured to apply selected phase fronts to selected ones of the antenna elements to generate constructive and destructive interference patterns to define a directive beam in a desired direction in a range between about 0 and 180 degrees relative to the reference line.

Methods and devices for integrating antennas fabricated using planar laminate processes. The method includes laminating one or more conductive layers to a first dielectric material layer, forming one or more holes through at least the first dielectric material layer, forming a monopole antenna through at least a first of the holes, attaching one or more integrated circuit dies to one of the conductive layer, and connecting the integrated circuit dies to the monopole antenna. The device can include a planar laminate integrated circuit module including one or more dielectric material layers, one or more integrated circuit die on a surface of or attached to the planar laminate integrated circuit module, and an integrated monopole antenna interfaced with the integrated circuit dies. The integrated monopole antenna is formed in a through hole of the planar laminate integrated circuit module, the through hole being formed through at least one of the dielectric material layers.

An antenna system for an aircraft, comprising one or more antennas configured and arranged on the aircraft to provide a downlink rate of at least one Gbps, the one or more antennas permitting a base cell tower placement with a diameter of at least 60 km, the one or more antennas being configured and arranged to support multiple data streams simultaneously, the one or more antennas supporting multiple polarizations, the one or more antennas having a high gain over most of a hemisphere around the one or more antennas of −85°≤θ≤85°, 0°≤φ≤360°.

An antenna system for an aircraft, comprising one or more antennas configured and arranged on the aircraft to provide a downlink rate of at least one Gbps, the one or more antennas permitting a base cell tower placement with a diameter of at least 60 km, the one or more antennas being configured and arranged to support multiple data streams simultaneously, the one or more antennas supporting multiple polarizations, the one or more antennas having a high gain over most of a hemisphere around the one or more antennas of −85°≤θ≤85°, 0°≤φ≤360°.

An antenna structure includes a driven element and at least two parasitic elements. The at least two parasitic elements are disposed around the driven element and spaced apart from the driven element. Each parasitic element is provided with a switch control module, the switch control module has at least two switch statuses, and each of the switch statuses of the switch control module corresponds to one electrical length of the parasitic element.