A field-assembled satellite communications terminal has a plurality of discrete, modular aperture blocks. Each aperture block contains an electrically steered antenna aperture, and a plurality of interconnection ports for power and data communications between the plurality of aperture blocks. The plurality of interconnection ports are removably connectable by the end user in the field, The terminal further has a signal processing system for receiving, processing, and generating signals to and from the apertures. The aperture blocks are connected to each other in the field and self-configure to form an electrically-steered antenna,

The present invention provides phased array antenna apparatus (200) for operation in frequencies above six gigahertz. The apparatus (200) comprises: a plurality of sub-arrays (208) together configured to form a phased array antenna, each sub-array (208) comprising at least four antenna elements (220), each antenna element (220) for receiving an input signal from the sub-array (220) and comprising: an antenna (230) for transmission of the input signal; and a signal modification component (222) to adjust a phase of the input signal during propagation to the antenna (230); and a plurality of power amplifiers (212), wherein each sub-array (208) is provided with a one of the plurality of power amplifiers (212), wherein each sub-array (208) is arranged to be provided with an amplified input signal, and each antenna element (220) of the sub-array (208) is configured to be provided with the amplified input signal of the respective sub-array (208) as the input signal to the antenna element (220), and wherein the power amplifier (212) for each sub-array (208) is configured to receive a phased array input signal for amplification and to output the respective amplified input signal to the respective sub-array (208). The power amplifier (212) for each sub-array (208) may be physically separate and distinct from each sub-array (208).

A phase shift element includes an antenna, a first dielectric layer, a ground plane mounted to a first surface of the first dielectric layer, a reflecting circuit, and a single antenna-reflector line connected between the antenna and the reflecting circuit through the ground plane and the first dielectric layer. The antenna-reflector line is formed of a conducting material. The reflecting circuit is mounted to a second surface of the first dielectric layer. The first surface is opposite the second surface. The reflecting circuit is configured to reflect a signal received on the single antenna-reflector line from the antenna back to the antenna on the single antenna-reflector line. The reflecting circuit is further configured to be switchable between four different impedance levels that each provide a different phase shift when the signal is reflected by the reflecting circuit.

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.

An attenuator is configured to attenuate and phase-shift a radiofrequency signal according to a control signal, having a plurality of first attenuation cells (A.sub.1, A.sub.N−1), configured to attenuate said radiofrequency signal by a predetermined value and activated according to a particular bit of the control signal, and implementing a combinatorial logic on the bits of the control signal that are used to control the first attenuation cells, and at least one second attenuation cell (B.sub.1, B.sub.M) configured to attenuate said radiofrequency signal by a predetermined value and activated according to a particular output implementing the combinatorial logic. A control node is also provided for an array antenna having such an attenuator, and an array antenna having an array of such control node and a satellite.

An attenuator is configured to attenuate and phase-shift a radiofrequency signal according to a control signal, having a plurality of first attenuation cells (A.sub.1, A.sub.N−1), configured to attenuate said radiofrequency signal by a predetermined value and activated according to a particular bit of the control signal, and implementing a combinatorial logic on the bits of the control signal that are used to control the first attenuation cells, and at least one second attenuation cell (B.sub.1, B.sub.M) configured to attenuate said radiofrequency signal by a predetermined value and activated according to a particular output implementing the combinatorial logic. A control node is also provided for an array antenna having such an attenuator, and an array antenna having an array of such control node and a satellite.

Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for initialization and operation of intelligent reflecting surface. The method may include transmitting a synchronization signal block burst to a reflection surface device. The method may also include receiving a first measurement report of the synchronization signal block burst received at the reflection surface device. The method may further include determining a transmit beam for a subsequent synchronization signal block burst based on a highest strength of signals in the synchronization signal block burst. In addition, the method may include receiving a second measurement report of the subsequent synchronization signal block burst. Further, the method may include determining an arrival angle of the subsequent synchronization signal block burst at the reflection surface device. The method may also include establishing a connection with the reflection surface device based on the transmit beam and the arrival angle.

Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for initialization and operation of intelligent reflecting surface. The method may include transmitting a synchronization signal block burst to a reflection surface device. The method may also include receiving a first measurement report of the synchronization signal block burst received at the reflection surface device. The method may further include determining a transmit beam for a subsequent synchronization signal block burst based on a highest strength of signals in the synchronization signal block burst. In addition, the method may include receiving a second measurement report of the subsequent synchronization signal block burst. Further, the method may include determining an arrival angle of the subsequent synchronization signal block burst at the reflection surface device. The method may also include establishing a connection with the reflection surface device based on the transmit beam and the arrival angle.

A phased array may include a clock stage configured to generate shifted clock signals. Each shifted clock signal may include a different phase. The phased array may also include a beamforming stage configured to generate a beamformed signal that includes a beam formed in a direction based on summed signals. In addition, the phased array may include slices. Each slice may include a filter stage and a feedback stage. The filter stage may be configured to generate a corresponding summed signal by filtering a portion of blocker and noise interference in a corresponding receive signal based on blocking signals and the shifted clock signals. The feedback stage may be configured to generate the blocking signals based on the shifted clock signals and the corresponding summed signal. The blocking signals may be representative of the blocker and noise interference in the corresponding receive signal.