Systems and methods for operating a phased array are described. In an example, a system may convert a desired beam direction of a desired beam into at least one phase slope parameter. The phased array may include a plurality of antennas connected to a plurality of front-end circuits of a beam forming circuit, and each antenna may be connected to a respective front-end circuit. For each antenna among the plurality of antennas, the system may determine a phase shift parameter of the antenna based on the at least one phase slope parameter and a physical location of the antenna. For each antenna among the plurality of antennas, the system may map the determined phase shift parameter of the antenna to control settings for a front-end circuit connected to the antenna.

An aviation antenna assembly may include a plurality of antenna elements, a directional control switch associated with each of the antenna elements to enable each of the antenna elements to transition between transmitting via a transmission via a transmit chain or receive via a receive chain, beam forming network elements disposed in the transmit chain and the receive chain, and an electronically controlled phased array stirring assembly operably coupled to the directional control switch of each of the antenna elements and to the beam forming network elements to perform electrical stirring with respect to signals in the transmit chain and the receive chain. The antenna elements, the directional control switch, the beam forming network elements, and the electronically controlled phased array stirring assembly of the antenna assembly are all disposed within a single radome attachable to an aircraft body.

An aviation antenna assembly may include a plurality of antenna elements, a directional control switch associated with each of the antenna elements to enable each of the antenna elements to transition between transmitting via a transmission via a transmit chain or receive via a receive chain, beam forming network elements disposed in the transmit chain and the receive chain, and an electronically controlled phased array stirring assembly operably coupled to the directional control switch of each of the antenna elements and to the beam forming network elements to perform electrical stirring with respect to signals in the transmit chain and the receive chain. The antenna elements, the directional control switch, the beam forming network elements, and the electronically controlled phased array stirring assembly of the antenna assembly are all disposed within a single radome attachable to an aircraft body.

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 radio frequency antenna array uses lenses and RF elements, to provide ground-based coverage for cellular communication. The antenna array can include two spherical lenses, where each spherical lens has at least two associated RF elements. Each of the RF elements associated with a given lens produces an output beam with an output area. Each lens is positioned with the other lenses in a staggered arrangement. The antenna includes a control mechanism configured to enable a user to move the RF elements along their respective tracks, and automatically phase compensate the output beams produced by the RF elements based on the relative distance between the RF elements.

A radio frequency antenna array uses lenses and RF elements, to provide ground-based coverage for cellular communication. The antenna array can include two spherical lenses, where each spherical lens has at least two associated RF elements. Each of the RF elements associated with a given lens produces an output beam with an output area. Each lens is positioned with the other lenses in a staggered arrangement. The antenna includes a control mechanism configured to enable a user to move the RF elements along their respective tracks, and automatically phase compensate the output beams produced by the RF elements based on the relative distance between the RF elements.

There is provided a beam steerable antenna system including: an antenna array including a plurality of first radiating elements; a first phase control section coupled to the plurality of first radiating elements, the first phase control section being configured to control a phase of signals from the plurality of first radiating elements to output first phase controlled signals; a first combiner coupled to the first phase control section, the first combiner being configured to combine the first phase controlled signals to output a first combined signal; a first frequency converter coupled to the first combiner, the first frequency converter being configured to downconvert a frequency of the first combined signal to output a first downconverted signal; and a second phase control section coupled to the first frequency converter, the second phase control section being configured to control a phase of the first downconverted signal to output a second phase controlled signal. There is also provided a method of manufacturing the beam steerable antenna system, and a method of beam steering an antenna array.

There is provided a beam steerable antenna system including: an antenna array including a plurality of first radiating elements; a first phase control section coupled to the plurality of first radiating elements, the first phase control section being configured to control a phase of signals from the plurality of first radiating elements to output first phase controlled signals; a first combiner coupled to the first phase control section, the first combiner being configured to combine the first phase controlled signals to output a first combined signal; a first frequency converter coupled to the first combiner, the first frequency converter being configured to downconvert a frequency of the first combined signal to output a first downconverted signal; and a second phase control section coupled to the first frequency converter, the second phase control section being configured to control a phase of the first downconverted signal to output a second phase controlled signal. There is also provided a method of manufacturing the beam steerable antenna system, and a method of beam steering an antenna array.

Technologies directed to binning methods for electronically steered transmit phased arrays with amplitude tapering are described. One communication system includes a first and a second set of power amplifiers. The first set operates with a first peak power level and the second set operates with a second peak power level that is lower than the first peak power level. A digital beamforming (DBF) device sends a first set of signals to the first set of power amplifiers causing the first set of power amplifiers to operate in a first range. The DBF also sends a second set of signals to the second set of power amplifiers causing the second set of power amplifiers to operate in a second range.