An antenna array and a wireless communications device are disclosed. The antenna array includes at least two directional antennas in different directions. Each directional antenna includes an antenna element, a reflector, a feed line coupled to the antenna element, and a switch for controlling the feed line. The antenna element is a microstrip dipole antenna element. The reflector is a parasitic microstrip antenna element. A length of the reflector is greater than a length the antenna element. Two ends of the reflector are bent toward the antenna element. A distance between midpoints of reflectors of any two directional antennas is less than a distance between midpoints of antenna elements thereof. Because the reflectors of the antenna array are located on an inner side of a pattern enclosed by the antenna elements of directional antennas, a size of the antenna array is small.

Microwave antenna systems include a parabolic reflector antenna having a feed bore and a feed assembly. The feed assembly includes a coaxial waveguide structure that extends through the feed bore, a sub-reflector, and a first dielectric block that is positioned between the coaxial waveguide structure and the sub-reflector. The coaxial waveguide structure includes a central waveguide and an outer waveguide that circumferentially surrounds the central waveguide. One of the central waveguide and the outer waveguide extends further from the feed bore towards the sub-reflector than the other of the central waveguide and the outer waveguide.

An article, integrated device, apparatus and a method for mounting a satellite antenna feed structure to an antenna reflector unit. The device comprises, in combination, a housing associated with the feed structure and a cup mounted to the antenna reflector unit. The housing includes a plurality of members projecting radially therefrom, the members being arranged and configured for cooperative engagement with slots correspondingly arranged and configured in the cup, a resilient gasket lining at least a bottom interior surface of the cup. Alternatively, the cup includes a plurality of inwardly projecting members arranged and configured for cooperative engagement with slots correspondingly arranged and configured in the housing. Upon positioning the housing axially relative to, and in mating engagement with, the cup, engaging the members with and sliding them into receiving ports of the slots, rotating the housing such that the members engage with and slide along the slots, and thereby biasing a mating portion of the housing against the gasket lining, the housing is engaged firmly within the cup.

An article, integrated device, apparatus and a method for mounting a satellite antenna feed structure to an antenna reflector unit. The device comprises, in combination, a housing associated with the feed structure and a cup mounted to the antenna reflector unit. The housing includes a plurality of members projecting radially therefrom, the members being arranged and configured for cooperative engagement with slots correspondingly arranged and configured in the cup, a resilient gasket lining at least a bottom interior surface of the cup. Alternatively, the cup includes a plurality of inwardly projecting members arranged and configured for cooperative engagement with slots correspondingly arranged and configured in the housing. Upon positioning the housing axially relative to, and in mating engagement with, the cup, engaging the members with and sliding them into receiving ports of the slots, rotating the housing such that the members engage with and slide along the slots, and thereby biasing a mating portion of the housing against the gasket lining, the housing is engaged firmly within the cup.

Disclosed are devices and methods for selecting, at an antenna reflector, electromagnetic waves with a certain polarization and frequency and rejecting electromagnetic waves with different polarizations and/or frequencies. In one aspect, a directional antenna includes a shaped reflector surface with a series of conforming layers attached to the surface. The layers include a reflecting layer that causes reflection of electromagnetic waves at a specific frequency and polarization. Underneath the reflecting layer is a frequency selective surface (FSS) layer that absorbs electromagnetic waves not at the specific frequency or polarization which pass through the reflecting layer. Underneath the absorbing layer is a conductive layer.

Methods and apparatuses are described for communicating primary signals over a high-speed primary channel, the primary signals having a beam pattern having a full lobe at a center of an axis of propagation and communicating auxiliary signals over a low-speed auxiliary channel, the auxiliary signals having a decoupled beam pattern having a null at the center of axis of propagation, the high-speed primary channel and low-speed auxiliary channel operating in full duplex.

A multi-beam antenna including a reflector having a single reflector surface defining a first focal region and a second focal region. A first feed group located within the first focal region includes a first feed oriented relative to the reflector to define a first beam pointed in a first direction. The multi-beam antenna further includes a fixed attachment mechanism attaching the first feed group to the reflector such that a position of the first feed group is fixed relative to the reflector. The multi-beam antenna further includes a second feed group located within the second focal region that includes a second feed oriented relative to the reflector to define a second beam pointed in a second direction. The multi-beam antenna further includes an adjustable attachment mechanism attaching the second feed group to the reflector, whereby a difference between the first direction and the second direction is adjustable.

Methods and systems are described for providing end-to-end beamforming. For example, end-to-end beamforming systems include end-to-end relays and ground networks to provide communications to user terminals located in user beam coverage areas. The ground segment can include geographically distributed access nodes and a central processing system. Return uplink signals, transmitted from the user terminals, have multipath induced by a plurality of receive/transmit signal paths in the end to end relay and are relayed to the ground network. The ground network, using beamformers, recovers user data streams transmitted by the user terminals from return downlink signals. The ground network, using beamformers generates forward uplink signals from appropriately weighted combinations of user data streams that, after relay by the end-end-end relay, produce forward downlink signals that combine to form user beams.

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.