A metal-only flat metasurface antenna is described. The antenna includes a pillbox beamformer combined with a metasurface structure provided by an array of non-resonant subwavelength unit elements having opening sizes that are strictly smaller than half of the guided-mode wavelength. The pillbox beamformer includes bottom and top parallel plate waveguides (PWPs) forming respective bottom and top cavities for propagation of the guided-mode. Bottom, middle and top metal plates form the two PWPs. Arranged at one end of the bottom and top PWPs is a respective parabolic structure. An all-metal horn structure is centrally arranged at a second end of the bottom PWP opposite the parabolic structure. According to one aspect, the horn structure includes a single feed port arranged at a focal point of the parabolic structure. According to another aspect, the horn structure includes two feed ports arranged at an offset of the focal point.

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.

Provided is a rail-type portable satellite communication antenna including an antenna communication module, a supporting module, a rail base and a driving module for driving the supporting module to rotate horizontally and to regulate its pitch angle; the rail base, the supporting module and driving module are located at bottom of the antenna communication module, the driving modules are located at each corner of the supporting module, the supporting module is connected slidably to the rail base. The rail-type portable satellite communication antenna features light weight, compact size, easy to carry and manufacture.

A communication system where a central node (base-station or access point) communicates with multiple clients in its neighbourhood using transparent immediate beam-forming. Resource allocation and channel access is such that the central node does not necessarily know when each client starts its transmission. Receive beam-forming in such a system is not possible, as beam-forming coefficients for each client should be selected according to the particular channel realization from that client to the central node. Each client is detected early in its transmission cycle, based on either a signature that is part of the physical characteristics unique to that client, or based on a signature that is intentionally inserted in the clients' signal, and accordingly adjusts its beam-forming coefficients.

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.

Disclosed is a shaped horn in conjunction with a dielectric tube for enhanced aperture directivity that can achieve a near optimum efficiency. The shaped horn provides additional mode control to provide an improved off-axis cross-polarization response. The horn shape can be individually optimized for isolated horns or for horns in a feed array. The feed array environment can produce results that lead to a different optimized shape than the isolated horn. Lower off axis cross-polarization can result in improved efficiency and susceptibility to interference.

The present application discloses a horn antenna, including a frequency selective surface (FSS), a connection structure, and a waveguide tube. The connection structure includes a first dielectric slab, a second dielectric slab, and a dielectric wall, which jointly form a hollow structure. A first surface of the first dielectric slab is a hyperboloid whose surface is protruding, a second surface of the first dielectric slab is connected to the dielectric wall. The dielectric wall has a tubular structure, a first surface of the dielectric wall is covered by the first dielectric slab, a second surface of the dielectric wall is covered by the second dielectric slab. There is a hole at a middle position of the second dielectric slab. The FSS covers the first surface of the first dielectric slab. A part of the waveguide tube is inserted into the hole of the second dielectric slab.

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.

The present invention discloses a dual-frequency feed-source module and a dual-frequency microwave antenna, wherein the dual-frequency feed-source module mainly comprises two coaxially arranged waveguides, the two waveguides respectively provide microwave energy of two different frequency bands to radiating portions for feeding, so that the antenna can be operated in different frequency bands at the same time. The combination of the two coaxial waveguides, a reflector and other structures can form different microwave antennas such as a feedforward dual-band microwave antenna and a feedback Cassegrain dual-band microwave antenna. The invention feeds microwave energy through the two waveguides, so that the antenna can be operated in two frequency bands at the same time, thus greatly expanding an application range of the microwave antenna.

A method for providing frequency selective surface zoning includes selecting a location for positioning a frequency selective surface (FSS) panel along a support arm of a reflector antenna system, and positioning a second feed horn on the support arm on an opposite side of the FSS panel. A number of unit cells are used to populate the FSS panel, and metallic patterns are formed on each unit cell. Multiple zones are subsequently defined on the surface of the FSS panel. Each zone is optimized for a predetermined range of incident angles.