A single stage unequal power combiner is proposed. Instead of conventional combiner plus impedance transformer of 2-stage unequal combiner, the single stage combiner gets rid of the input impedance transformer. The single stage combiner supports adjustable transmission line impedance and reasonable mismatch loss, assuming the that power ratio of the input signals is within a certain range. The single stage combiner also has an adjustable isolation resistor for different power ratios. A structure of switchable branch characteristic impedance, switchable isolation resistor for the unequal combiner is proposed as the preferred embodiment. In one advantageous aspect, broader coverage angle in a single array module can be realized via an antenna diversity switch.

In order to reduce large sidelobes that may result from using a base station antenna with increased electronic downtilt, base station antennas according to the present disclosure may have a plurality of modules in which the columns of radiating elements of at least one of the modules are staggered or offset with respect to each other. For example, a multi-beam cellular antenna may include an antenna array having a plurality of modules, each module comprising at least three columns of radiating elements each having first polarization radiators, wherein the columns of radiating elements of at least one of the modules are staggered with respect to each other; and an antenna feed network configured to couple at least a first input signal and a second input signal to each first polarization radiator of each of the radiating elements included in a first of the plurality of modules.

An apparatus is disclosed for bidirectional amplification with phase-shifting. In example implementations, an apparatus includes a phase shifter with a bidirectional amplifier. The bidirectional amplifier includes a first transistor coupled between a first plus node and a second minus node, a second transistor coupled between a first minus node and a second plus node, a third transistor coupled between the first plus node and the second minus node, and a fourth transistor coupled between the first minus node and the second plus node. The bidirectional amplifier also includes a fifth transistor coupled between the first plus node and the second plus node, a sixth transistor coupled between the first minus node and the second minus node, a seventh transistor coupled between the first plus node and the second plus node, and an eighth transistor coupled between the first minus node and the second minus node.

An apparatus is disclosed for bidirectional amplification with phase-shifting. In example implementations, an apparatus includes a phase shifter with a bidirectional amplifier. The bidirectional amplifier includes a first transistor coupled between a first plus node and a second minus node, a second transistor coupled between a first minus node and a second plus node, a third transistor coupled between the first plus node and the second minus node, and a fourth transistor coupled between the first minus node and the second plus node. The bidirectional amplifier also includes a fifth transistor coupled between the first plus node and the second plus node, a sixth transistor coupled between the first minus node and the second minus node, a seventh transistor coupled between the first plus node and the second plus node, and an eighth transistor coupled between the first minus node and the second minus node.

The disclosed invention provides a distributed directional aperture (DDA) system that is installed in a vertical lift aircraft that comprises a fuselage and a rotor system including rotary wings rotatably coupled to the fuselage. The DDA system provides capability to receive and/or transmit signals in one or more frequency bands, and provides communications, signals intelligence (SIGNINT), positional sensing, jamming, and offensive cyber on the vertical lift aircraft. The DDA system of the vertical lift aircraft includes a sensor and emitter array subsystem that includes a plurality of sensors and emitters distributed in the rotary wings, a beamformer subsystem that processes the sensor signals and emitter signals, and a telemetry subsystem that conveys signals between the sensor and emitter array subsystem and the beamformer subsystem.

An imaging array fed reflector for a spacecraft is included in a spacecraft payload subsystem. The payload subsystem includes a multi-beam antenna including a reflector, a plurality of amplifiers, and a plurality of radiating feed elements, the feed elements configured as a phased array, illuminating the reflector, operable at a frequency having a characteristic wavelength (λ), and configured to produce, in a far field at the reflector, a set of contiguous abutting beams. The amplifiers are disposed proximate to the plurality of radiating feed elements. Each radiating feed element has a respective coupling with at least one respective amplifier of the plurality of amplifiers. Each radiating feed element, together with the at least one respective amplifier, is disposed in a closely packed triangular lattice such that separation between adjacent radiating feed elements is not greater than 1.5λ.

An imaging array fed reflector for a spacecraft is included in a spacecraft payload subsystem. The payload subsystem includes a multi-beam antenna including a reflector, a plurality of amplifiers, and a plurality of radiating feed elements, the feed elements configured as a phased array, illuminating the reflector, operable at a frequency having a characteristic wavelength (λ), and configured to produce, in a far field at the reflector, a set of contiguous abutting beams. The amplifiers are disposed proximate to the plurality of radiating feed elements. Each radiating feed element has a respective coupling with at least one respective amplifier of the plurality of amplifiers. Each radiating feed element, together with the at least one respective amplifier, is disposed in a closely packed triangular lattice such that separation between adjacent radiating feed elements is not greater than 1.5λ.

A multi-beam phased antenna structure and a controlling method are provided. The multi-beam phased antenna structure includes a main antenna array and a passive beam forming circuit. The main antenna array includes a plurality of first main antennas and a plurality of second main antennas. The first main antennas are spaced out a predetermined distance. The predetermined distance is related to a coverage of the multi-beam phased antenna structure. The first main antennas and the second main antennas are interleaved. The second main antennas are spaced out the predetermined distance. The passive beam forming circuit includes a plurality of main phase shifters. The main phase shifters are electrically coupled to the second main antennas, such that a different between a first phase of each of the first main antennas and a second phase of each of the second main antennas is substantially 180°.

A feed array is provided that may be installed in a reflector antenna provided with a single or dual reflector optics. The feed array includes a radiating array for transmitting/receiving radiofrequency signals, a digital beam forming network, a reception conversion unit for applying a frequency down-conversion and an analog-to-digital conversion to incoming radiofrequency signals to obtain incoming digital signals. The feed array includes a transmission conversion unit for applying a digital-to-analog conversion and a frequency up-conversion to outgoing digital signals generated by the digital beam forming network to obtain outgoing radiofrequency signals. The digital beam forming network processes the incoming digital signals by using a reception matrix, and generates the outgoing digital signals by using a transmission matrix, with the matrices computed based on electric field values measured by the radiating array in the focal region.

A feed array is provided that may be installed in a reflector antenna provided with a single or dual reflector optics. The feed array includes a radiating array for transmitting/receiving radiofrequency signals, a digital beam forming network, a reception conversion unit for applying a frequency down-conversion and an analog-to-digital conversion to incoming radiofrequency signals to obtain incoming digital signals. The feed array includes a transmission conversion unit for applying a digital-to-analog conversion and a frequency up-conversion to outgoing digital signals generated by the digital beam forming network to obtain outgoing radiofrequency signals. The digital beam forming network processes the incoming digital signals by using a reception matrix, and generates the outgoing digital signals by using a transmission matrix, with the matrices computed based on electric field values measured by the radiating array in the focal region.