An antenna includes: a dielectric layer having first and second surfaces opposite to each other; a radiating layer on the first surface, and having therein a slit; a first shielding layer on the second surface, and being electrically connected to the radiating layer; a first insulating layer on an upper side of the radiating layer; and a switch unit on an upper side of the first insulating layer, and corresponding to the slit. Each switch unit includes: a first electrode, a second insulating layer, a connecting portion, and a second electrode on the first insulating layer sequentially. Orthogonal projections of the first and second electrodes on the dielectric layer overlap each other. The connecting portion is connected to the second electrode to form a gap between the first and second electrodes. Orthogonal projections of the second electrode and a corresponding slit on the dielectric layer overlap each other.

A multibeam antenna and method of using the same are described. In one embodiment, the antenna comprises an aperture having a plurality of radio-frequency (RF) radiating antenna elements. The RF radiating antenna elements generate a plurality of beams simultaneously in different directions in response to a first modulation pattern for holographic beamforming applied to the plurality of RF radiating antenna elements to establish all beams of the plurality of beams such that antenna elements of the plurality of RF radiating antenna elements contribute to all beams in the plurality of beams concurrently. The antenna also includes a controller coupled to the aperture to generate the first modulation pattern.

Techniques and mechanisms for enabling the positioning of a communication terminal in or on a vehicle, building or other structure. In an embodiment, the communication terminal includes an electronically steerable antenna which is disposed in a housing. A plurality of support legs, coupled to the housing, are each configured to rotate about a respective first axis, and to further rotate about a respective second axis. For a given support leg, an orientation of the respective second axis varies with rotation of that support leg about the respective first axis. Two such support legs are mechanically coupled to one another with respect to their respective first axis rotations or with respect to their respective second axis rotations. In another embodiment, the communication terminal is operable by a user to selectively enable or disable first axis rotation and/or second axis rotation of a given support leg.

A non-circular center-fed antenna and method for using the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, the antenna comprises: a non-circular antenna aperture with radio-frequency (RF) radiating antenna elements; and a non-radially symmetric directional coupler to supply a RF feed wave to the aperture at a central location within the antenna aperture to enable the feed wave to propagate outward from the central location to an edge of the aperture.

A method of assembling an antenna aperture from a plurality of antenna aperture segments is described. The method may include placing a first aperture segment relative to a second aperture segment to partially form the antenna aperture. Furthermore, an overlap of the first aperture segment overlaps a complementary underlap of the second aperture segment at a seam. The method may also include joining the overlap of the first aperture segment to the underlap of the second aperture segment to partially form the antenna aperture.

An antenna with a heater and method for using the same are disclosed. The antenna may comprise: an antenna aperture having a plurality of radio-frequency radiating antenna elements, the antenna aperture having a ground plane and a material for tuning permittivity or capacitance; and a heater structure in thermal contact with the material.

A non-circular center-fed antenna and method for using the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, the antenna comprises: a non-circular antenna aperture with radio-frequency (RF) radiating antenna elements; and a non-radially symmetric directional coupler to supply a RF feed wave to the aperture at a central location within the antenna aperture to enable the feed wave to propagate outward from the central location to an edge of the aperture.

A 5G antenna system is disclosed that comprises a substrate and at least one antenna element configured to transmit and receive 5G radio frequency signals. The at least one antenna element is coupled to the substrate. The substrate comprises a polymer composition that comprises a polymer matrix containing at least one polymer having a glass transition temperature of about 30° C. or more and at least one laser activatable additive wherein the polymer composition exhibits a dissipation factor of about 0.1 or less, as determined at a frequency of 2 GHz.

An RF power combiner functioning as a higher-order harmonics filter comprises: at least one pair of coaxially arranged disc-shaped metal conductors, at least one of the conductors having a central axial opening to accommodate a waveguide is provided. Facing surfaces of the disk-shaped metal conductors are shaped symmetrically with respect to the plane of symmetry of the disk-shaped metal conductors to form a plurality of consecutive, radially communicating concentric cavities having isosceles trapezoids with different bases in section. The smaller base of each trapezoid disposed closer to the central axis. The number of the concentric cavities is (2 k+1), where K is the number of signal harmonics being filtered.

A scanning antenna includes a transmission and/or reception region including a plurality of antenna units and a non-transmission and/or reception region other than the transmission and/or reception region. The scanning antenna includes a TFT substrate, a slot substrate, a liquid crystal layer provided between the TFT substrate and the slot substrate, a seal portion provided in the non-transmission and/or reception region and surrounding the liquid crystal layer, a reflective conductive plate disposed opposing a second main surface of a second dielectric substrate with a dielectric layer interposed between the reflective conductive plate and the second main surface, a first spacer structure defining a first gap between a first dielectric substrate and the second dielectric substrate in the transmission and/or reception region, and a second spacer structure defining a second gap between the first dielectric substrate and the second dielectric substrate in the non-transmission and/or reception region, the second gap being wider than the first gap. The second spacer structure is disposed within the seal portion or within a region surrounded by the seal potion.