The present invention discloses a bi-directional flat plate foldable unit, including a first row of antenna plates and a second row of antenna plates distributed along a first direction; the first row of antenna plates and the second row of antenna plates both include three antenna plates distributed in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, three antenna plates in the first row of antenna plates and three antenna plates in the second row of antenna plates are set opposite to each other and hinged to form a first rotating pair; any two antenna plates adjacent to each other in the same row of antenna plates are hinged to form a second rotating pair; three antenna plates in the first row of antenna plates and three antenna plates in the second row of antenna plates are connected by a vertical support mechanism, and the first row of antenna plates are connected to the second row of antenna plates by a lateral support mechanism. The bi-directional flat plate foldable antenna mechanism includes at least two bi-directional flat plate foldable units mentioned above. The present invention facilitates the folding and unfolding of planar antennas with larger physical diameter and high rigidity.

The present invention discloses a bi-directional flat plate foldable unit, including a first row of antenna plates and a second row of antenna plates distributed along a first direction; the first row of antenna plates and the second row of antenna plates both include three antenna plates distributed in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, three antenna plates in the first row of antenna plates and three antenna plates in the second row of antenna plates are set opposite to each other and hinged to form a first rotating pair; any two antenna plates adjacent to each other in the same row of antenna plates are hinged to form a second rotating pair; three antenna plates in the first row of antenna plates and three antenna plates in the second row of antenna plates are connected by a vertical support mechanism, and the first row of antenna plates are connected to the second row of antenna plates by a lateral support mechanism. The bi-directional flat plate foldable antenna mechanism includes at least two bi-directional flat plate foldable units mentioned above. The present invention facilitates the folding and unfolding of planar antennas with larger physical diameter and high rigidity.

A base station antenna includes first and second reflectors that are movable relative to each other, and each of the first and second reflectors includes a plurality of radiating elements on a main reflector surface thereof. A third reflector is movably coupled to the first and second reflectors, and movement of the third reflector causes the first and second reflectors to move relative to each other. A drive mechanism is utilized to move the third reflector and includes a drive shaft, an actuator configured to rotate the drive shaft, and a threaded shaft coupled to the drive shaft and configured to rotate in response to rotation of the drive shaft. Rotational movement of the threaded shaft causes linear movement of the third reflector. A control unit, such as a remote electrical tilt (RET) controller controls the actuator to rotate the driveshaft.

A base station antenna includes first and second reflectors that are movable relative to each other, and each of the first and second reflectors includes a plurality of radiating elements on a main reflector surface thereof. A third reflector is movably coupled to the first and second reflectors, and movement of the third reflector causes the first and second reflectors to move relative to each other. A drive mechanism is utilized to move the third reflector and includes a drive shaft, an actuator configured to rotate the drive shaft, and a threaded shaft coupled to the drive shaft and configured to rotate in response to rotation of the drive shaft. Rotational movement of the threaded shaft causes linear movement of the third reflector. A control unit, such as a remote electrical tilt (RET) controller controls the actuator to rotate the driveshaft.

An inflatable tracking antenna assembly may include an inflatable antenna. The inflatable antenna may be configurable in a packed configuration and a deployed configuration. In the deployed configuration the inflatable antenna may be generally spherical in shape. The assembly may include an antenna support structure. The support structure may include a plurality of support arms that couple with lateral sides of the inflatable antenna. The support structure may include a base that is coupled with each of the plurality of support arms. The base may include an azimuth actuator that adjusts an azimuth position of the inflatable antenna and an elevation actuator that adjusts an elevation angle of the inflatable antenna. The support structure may include a plurality of support legs that extend outward from the base.

An apparatus is provided that includes a set of antenna elements and switching nodes. Each switching node has physical interconnects to a sub-set of the antenna elements for transferring communication signals and the switching nodes have physical interconnects to other switching nodes forming a network of switching nodes for transferring communication signals between switching nodes. The apparatus also includes a controller for controlling operation of switching nodes to control use of the physical interconnects between switching nodes and control creation of different patterns of antenna elements operationally interconnected via multiple operationally interconnected switching nodes.

An antenna includes a controllable conductive material that is used to form transmit and/or receive antennas in different, controllable shapes. The controllable conductive material can be manipulated by an actuation control to form a continuous shape from one electrode to another to form the antenna. The controllable conductive material can be formed into multiple antennae each having a continuous shape extending between different electrodes. The antenna can be used for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signals for determining the presence and/or amount of one or more analytes.

An antenna includes a controllable conductive material that is used to form transmit and/or receive antennas in different, controllable shapes. The controllable conductive material can be manipulated by an actuation control to form a continuous shape from one electrode to another to form the antenna. The controllable conductive material can be formed into multiple antennae each having a continuous shape extending between different electrodes. The antenna can be used for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signals for determining the presence and/or amount of one or more analytes.

An apparatus, method and computer program product is disclosed. The apparatus may comprise means for receiving a performance metric for an antenna array comprised of a plurality of radiating elements, the performance metric being based on performance data associated with the antenna array, the antenna array having a radiating configuration represented by configuration parameters. The apparatus may also comprise means for updating the configuration parameters dependent on the received performance metric by means of estimating new configuration parameters for moving the performance metric towards a target value. The apparatus may also comprise means for re-configuring the radiating configuration of the antenna array based on the updated configuration parameters such that the physical geometry of the antenna array is changed.

An apparatus, method and computer program product is disclosed. The apparatus may comprise means for receiving a performance metric for an antenna array comprised of a plurality of radiating elements, the performance metric being based on performance data associated with the antenna array, the antenna array having a radiating configuration represented by configuration parameters. The apparatus may also comprise means for updating the configuration parameters dependent on the received performance metric by means of estimating new configuration parameters for moving the performance metric towards a target value. The apparatus may also comprise means for re-configuring the radiating configuration of the antenna array based on the updated configuration parameters such that the physical geometry of the antenna array is changed.