An antenna system steerable in any direction and methods of use are provided. In an embodiment, the antenna system comprises a substantially ellipsoid-shaped shell body and a plurality of cells coupled to the body, wherein each cell comprises a conductive material. In an embodiment, the shell body comprises a metasurface. In an embodiment, the antenna system further includes a plurality of switches coupled to the plurality of cells, wherein each switch is configured to change its coupled cell between reflective, transmissive, and absorptive states. The antenna system further includes a feed radiator located at or around the center of the shell body; a radio coupled to the feed; and a processor coupled to the feed, radio, and the plurality of switches, wherein the processor is configured to produce a shaped beam by controlling a subset of the plurality of switches.

Systems and methods are provided for a digital beamformed phased array feed. The system may include a radome configured to allow electromagnetic waves to propagate; a multi-band software defined antenna array tile; a power and clock management subsystem configured to manage power and time of operation; a thermal management subsystem configured to dissipate heat generated by the multi-band software defined antenna array tile; and an enclosure assembly. The multi-band software defined antenna array tile may include a plurality of coupled dipole array antenna elements; a plurality of frequency converters; and a plurality of digital beamformers.

Systems and methods are provided for a digital beamformed phased array feed. The system may include a radome configured to allow electromagnetic waves to propagate; a multi-band software defined antenna array tile; a power and clock management subsystem configured to manage power and time of operation; a thermal management subsystem configured to dissipate heat generated by the multi-band software defined antenna array tile; and an enclosure assembly. The multi-band software defined antenna array tile may include a plurality of coupled dipole array antenna elements; a plurality of frequency converters; and a plurality of digital beamformers.

A microwave prism is used to repoint an operational Direct-to-Home (DTH) or Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) reflector antenna as part of a ground terminal to receive (or transmit) signals from a different satellite or orbital position without physically moving the reflector or the feed horn antenna. The microwave prism operates by shifting the radiated fields from the horn antenna generally perpendicular to the focal axis of the parabolic reflector in order to cause the main beam of the reflector to scan in response. For an existing reflector antenna receiving signals from an incumbent satellite, a prism has been designed to be snapped into place over the feed horn and shift the fields laterally by a calibrated distance. The structure of the prism is designed to be positioned and oriented correctly without the use of skilled labor. This system allows a satellite service provider to repoint their subscribers to a new satellite by shipping a self-install kit of the prism that is pre-configured to have the correct orientation and position on the feed antenna to correctly re-point the beam at a different satellite once the prism is applied. One benefit of the system is that unskilled labor, i.e., the subscribers themselves, can be used to repoint a large number of subscriber antennas in a satellite network rather than requiring the cost of a truck roll and a technician to visit every site. The microwave prisms to implement this functionality can be constructed in different ways, with homogeneous slabs or blocks, Gradient-Index (GRIN), multi-layered dielectric, geometric or graded-index Fresnel-zone, metasurface, or metamaterial prisms. The geometric and electrical constraints of the design are determined by the incumbent and target satellites and the ground terminal location.

An antenna comprises a main reflector, a waveguide, wherein at least part of the waveguide protrudes towards a region external to the antenna, wherein the antenna is operative to transmit electromagnetic radiations between the waveguide and the main reflector, a mechanism which enables displacement of at least part of the waveguide with respect to the main reflector, and an actuator operative to displace the at least part of the waveguide.

A horn feed including: a central conduit extending axially in a first direction from a first portion that is configured to be relatively distal from a sub-reflector and including a first aperture and a second portion that is configured to be relatively proximal to the sub-reflector and including a second aperture; and an interface configured to connect to a dielectric support including an outer cylindrical dielectric wall of a substantially cylindrical shape and an inner cylindrical dielectric wall of a substantially cylindrical shape, wherein the central conduit, the outer cylindrical dielectric wall and the inner cylindrical dielectric wall are co-axial.

An antenna system including an antenna adjustable between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration. The antenna includes a reflector having an annular array of spaced-apart ribs coupled to a hub, whereby the ribs can be adjustable between a collapsed configuration and an extended configuration in which the ribs outwardly extend from the hub. When the ribs dispose in the collapsed configuration, the antenna can be disposable in the stowed configuration; and when the antenna disposes in the deployed configuration, (i) the ribs can dispose in the extended configuration, and (ii) the reflector can be directionally adjustable, such as in both elevation and azimuth.

An antenna system including an antenna adjustable between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration. The antenna includes a reflector having an annular array of spaced-apart ribs coupled to a hub, whereby the ribs can be adjustable between a collapsed configuration and an extended configuration in which the ribs outwardly extend from the hub. When the ribs dispose in the collapsed configuration, the antenna can be disposable in the stowed configuration; and when the antenna disposes in the deployed configuration, (i) the ribs can dispose in the extended configuration, and (ii) the reflector can be directionally adjustable, such as in both elevation and azimuth.

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 antenna includes ribs that have been folded to fit within a frame, a conductive mesh coupled to the ribs, an arm that has been folded to fit within the frame, and a feed disposed at a distal end of the arm.