A low profile phased array antenna that is configured to be manufactured using additive manufacturing techniques is provided. In one or more embodiments, the phased array can include a plurality of signal ears, ground ears, and clustered pillars that can be arranged in relation to a base plate such that each component of the antenna can be manufactured from a single piece of material, thereby allowing for the use of additive manufacturing techniques which can substantially reduce the cost and time of the manufacturing process. The phased array can include a signal ear that include one or more posts that interface with an airgap located within a base plate of the array, wherein the size of the airgap in relation to the size of the post is configured to achieve an optimal level of impedance matching.

Systems and methods are directed to configuring antenna systems. An antenna system may be coupled to a first communication unit and may be responsive to another communication unit. The first communication unit may alter its antenna system to accommodate various attributes of both units. The first communication unit may have a plurality of antennae which may be configured to be driven actively, deactivated completely, or tuned and driven in a parasitic mode. By configuring the antenna system, the range of the antenna system may be increased, the power to drive the antenna system may be decreased, and other various attributes of the communication system may be accommodated.

A beacon network includes a plurality of beacons arranged at predetermined positions to periodically or intermittently emit a signal wave including identification information, and a radio wave absorber to adjust an emission angle of the signal wave emitted from at least one of the plurality of beacons.

A low profile phased array antenna that is configured to be manufactured using additive manufacturing techniques is provided. In one or more embodiments, the phased array can include a plurality of signal ears, ground ears, and clustered pillars that can be arranged in relation to a base plate such that each component of the antenna can be manufactured from a single piece of material, thereby allowing for the use of additive manufacturing techniques which can substantially reduce the cost and time of the manufacturing process. The phased array can include a signal ear that include one or more posts that interface with an airgap located within a base plate of the array, wherein the size of the airgap in relation to the size of the post is configured to achieve an optimal level of impedance matching.

A main antenna arrangement is configured to receive with a pre-configured first directional radiation pattern having a first beam with a first beamwidth and to provide first received signals at a first output, and at least one auxiliary antenna is configured to receive with a pre-configured respective second directional radiation pattern having a second beam with a second beamwidth, different from the first beamwidth and to provide second received signals at a second output. Interference cancelling circuitry is configured to control the amplitude and phase of the second received signals received from the at least one auxiliary antenna to produce weighted second received signals and combine the weighted second received signals with the first signals received from the main antenna arrangement to reduce a level of interference signals received by the main antenna arrangement in relation to a level of wanted signals received in the main antenna arrangement.

In a method for calibrating at least two cross coupled antenna element groups in an antenna array, calibrating (S1) the antenna elements within each group of antenna elements. Further, in a respective calibration transceiver in each group, measuring (S2) a coupled signal within each group and a cross-coupled signal originating in another of the at least two groups. In addition, determining (S3) a respective relative phase and amplitude difference between said at least two groups based on the measured coupled signal and said cross-coupled signal, and determining (S4) the true phase and amplitude difference between the at least two groups based on the determined respective relative phase and amplitude differences. Finally, calibrating (S5) the at least two antenna groups based on the determined true phase and amplitude difference.

A hybrid antenna having an active array on a tracking pedestal is configured to facilitate simultaneous multibeam operation with first and second satellites. The hybrid antenna system includes a pedestal having a base and a support pivotally mounted with respect to the base about a first axis, a one-dimensional active electronically scanned array (AESA) configured to scan along a scanning plane and rotatably mounted on the support about a skew axis, and a skew positioner configured to rotate the AESA about the skew axis for aligning the scanning plane with the first and second satellites to facilitate the simultaneous multibeam operation with the first and second satellites. A method of using the hybrid antenna having an active array on a tracking pedestal is also disclosed.

Systems and methods for beamforming based on mixing elements together instead of conventional phase shifting are provided. A beamformer can be used to cross-mix the elements with one another to compensate for delays in signal reception. By replacing phase shifters with mixers, the system becomes agnostic to frequency of operation and angle of arrival.

A low profile phased array antenna that is configured to be manufactured using additive manufacturing techniques is provided. In one or more embodiments, the phased array can include a plurality of signal ears, ground ears, and clustered pillars that can be arranged in relation to a base plate such that each component of the antenna can be manufactured from a single piece of material, thereby allowing for the use of additive manufacturing techniques which can substantially reduce the cost and time of the manufacturing process. The phased array can include a signal ear that include one or more posts that interface with an airgap located within a base plate of the array, wherein the size of the airgap in relation to the size of the post is configured to achieve an optimal level of impedance matching.

Disclosed is a self-calibration method and apparatus for an array antenna system. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a correction method of an array antenna system includes: deriving, at a first time, a correction factor R.sub.i,j for a path connecting an i-th (i is an integer equal to or greater than one and equal to or less than m) transmission antenna and a j-th (j is an integer equal to or greater than one and equal to or less than n) reception antenna; deriving, at a second time, a calibration factor {circumflex over (Q)}.sub.i,j for the path connecting the i-th transmission antenna and the j-th reception antenna; and performing, based on the {circumflex over (Q)}.sub.i,j, calibration on the path connecting the i-th transmission antenna and the j-th reception antenna.