Embodiments of the present invention provide a reflector antenna and a reflector antenna feed. The reflector antenna feed includes a transmit antenna array and a receive antenna array, where the transmit antenna array includes at least two transmit antenna units. The receive antenna array includes at least two receive antenna units. Also, a phase center of the transmit antenna array coincides with that of the receive antenna array, where at least one coupling unit is disposed between at least one group of a transmit antenna unit and a receive antenna unit that are adjacent to each other.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a reflector antenna and a reflector antenna feed. The reflector antenna feed includes a transmit antenna array and a receive antenna array, where the transmit antenna array includes at least two transmit antenna units. The receive antenna array includes at least two receive antenna units. Also, a phase center of the transmit antenna array coincides with that of the receive antenna array, where at least one coupling unit is disposed between at least one group of a transmit antenna unit and a receive antenna unit that are adjacent to each other.

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 apparatus includes a plurality of antenna feed elements arranged in an array and a reflector or lens. The reflector or lens is configured to focus a first signal generated by the plurality of antenna feed elements or focus a second signal not generated by the plurality of antenna feed elements onto the plurality of antenna feed elements. The apparatus further includes a controller or processor configured to control the plurality of antenna feed elements to generate the first signal or receive the second signal. The first signal and the second signal have a nominal wavelength. The plurality of antenna feed elements are spaced from one another in the array at a distance greater than half of the nominal wavelength.

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.

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.

An antenna system of a satellite may consist of an antenna receiver that is coupled to a plurality of flexible couplings. The couplings may each be affixed to one or more antenna elements. The couplings may be deployed in space in an uncontrolled manner. Additionally, the spacing between the couplings, and in turn the antenna elements, may be spaced in an uncontrolled manner. The antenna elements may have no pointing requirements. The antenna system may receive training signals and associate an antenna element to a time of arrival based on the training signal. Upon receiving a data signal, the antenna system may apply coefficients determined from the association of the antenna element to the time of arrival to the data signal to discover wanted signal coherence among the antenna elements.

An antenna system of a satellite may consist of an antenna receiver that is coupled to a plurality of flexible couplings. The couplings may each be affixed to one or more antenna elements. The couplings may be deployed in space in an uncontrolled manner. Additionally, the spacing between the couplings, and in turn the antenna elements, may be spaced in an uncontrolled manner. The antenna elements may have no pointing requirements. The antenna system may receive training signals and associate an antenna element to a time of arrival based on the training signal. Upon receiving a data signal, the antenna system may apply coefficients determined from the association of the antenna element to the time of arrival to the data signal to discover wanted signal coherence among the antenna elements.

An antenna includes a reflector and a waveguide assembly. The waveguide assembly includes a feed assembly and a support member that extends from behind the reflector to orient the feed assembly for direct illumination of the reflector. The waveguide assembly includes a first waveguide coupled to a first portion of a common waveguide, a second waveguide coupled to a second portion of the common waveguide, and a septum layer that includes a septum polarizer coupled between the common waveguide and the first and second waveguides.